There is a light at the end of the tunnel in Portland

12.6.2006

(Basketball News) - Even though Portland is just 7-12 and is in last place in the Northwest Division, the Trail Blazers are still much improved and have some young players who will get the team back to the postseason in the near future.

Twenty-five-year-old Zach Randolph is having a great season for Trail Blazers. The Michigan State product leads Portland in scoring (26.1 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg). Randolph has scored 30 or more points in three of his last four outings and has collected 11 double-doubles this season.

Point guard Jarrett Jack, who is averaging 12.7 points per game in his second season in the league, has dished out a team-best 5.9 assists per game. The 23- year-old Jack has registered two double-doubles and is shooting 44.8 percent from the floor.

Randolph and Jack give Portland a solid nucleus to build around, while rookies LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, who is sidelined with a sore left heel and has played just five games this season, will be a big part of the team’s success in the future.

The Trail Blazers play the second of a season-long six-game road trip on Wednesday, as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. It is the first of two meetings this season between the clubs. Portland is scheduled to host the Bucks on January 21st at the Rose Garden.

Portland has won five of seven and six of its last nine as the visitor against the Bucks. The Trail Blazers are 13-37 at Milwaukee. These teams have split the last four contests in the series.

The Trail Blazers try to win back-to-back games against the Bucks. On Tuesday, Randolph drained a go-ahead short bank shot over Tayshaun Prince with 21 seconds left, then Richard Hamilton missed two three-pointers in the final three seconds as Portland stunned the Detroit Pistons, 88-85, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Randolph led all scorers with 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Aldridge recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 boards in the win over Detroit for the Blazers.

Portland is 3-6 on the road this season. The Trail Blazers will also play the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies on the current trip.

The Trail Blazers are 1-10 when they allow 100 or more points this season.

POR

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