The general consensus around the NBA is that the LA Lakers are best in the West entering the season. The Spurs may come second, but no one knows what happens after this as far as the rest of the rankings go.

Everyone believes that as the NBA defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers are the team to beat. Having acquired Richard Jefferson, the Spurs come behind the Lakers, and it's a free for all after that.

What role will Greg Oden take on in Portland? Oden's role with the team and his health/effectiveness are probably the biggest concerns on anyone's mind. Oden seems to get hurt at the drop of a pin, and his fragility may be a key issue to the team's success.

The rest of the world realizes this about Oden's fragile state and believes he'll be injured virtually every season. Oden has shown flashes of maturity and development, and his game seems to be progressing. A healthy Oden could be key to the team's success, bringing Portland basketball to another level.

Another question on the minds of many is the youth of the Portland team. While there's plenty of talent to go around, the team is still young and inexperienced. Portland made its first playoffs in 6 seasons last year, and this was the first playoffs appearance for virtually everyone on the team.

Will the Blazers young talent and inexperience inevitably be their downfall? The Blazers made it to the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2002-03' season. When taking a look at their roster, the only player to have played more than 6 games in the playoffs during their entire career is Joel Pryzbilla (played 5 playoff games with the Bucks) and Steve Blake (played a combine 10 playoff games for Washington and Denver).

Many Western Conference players and teams have years of playoff experience, and this goes a very long way come April, May, and June. Portland has nothing of the sort at this point in time and may take a few years to acclimate.

If Andre Miller signs, does he bring this team into contention with the Lakers? Last season the Blazers posted a 2-2 record against the Lakers. With an improved point-guard in Miller, do the Blazers have such an overpowering advantage at the one position to beat LA?

When taking a look at the match-ups, Miller would win at the PG spot, Bryant would have a slight advantage against Roy (come on Lakers fans, give B-Roy some credit), Artest would beat Outlaw/Batum, Gasol would beat Aldridge (but by how much?), and Bynum would have an advantage over Oden (but who know's how well Oden will play).

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