Slam Online has an early, early projection for 2012 that includes TWO Blazers:

Greg Oden – The main question mark in the 2008 Olympics was the lack of big men. That won’t be an issue in London where the best center prospect since Shaq will bring unstoppable shot swatting and rebounding potential. Oden will also bring a fresh personality that Team USA had been lacking for quite some time.

and

Brandon Roy – A born leader, B-Roy will be the quintessential play-maker as well as one of the best all-around players by the time 2012 rolls around. Roy won’t flinch at any defense thrown in his way, nor will he hesitate to get in a teammate’s face. Like his Blazers teammate Greg Oden, Roy will serve as a positive influence and an ambassador to the game.

I find it interesting that they listed Oden first, seeing how proven Brandon is at this point.

That two Blazers would be projected as not just Olympians, but true ambassadors and leaders, well, that should say something about coming years.

FWIW, the projection lists five "keepers" from the current team: LeBron, Paul, Williams, Wade, and Bosh. Not sure about Wade lasting four more years at this level, but you never know.

The "ten to consider", other than Oden (who was listed at the top) include Horford, Amare Stoudemire (injuries?), Al Jefferson, Mayo, Kevin Martin, Durant, Rudy Gay, and Joe Johnson.

I'm not giving away anything, except for juju, mojo, jinx-proofing, and other good-luck-related non-physical stuff.

I've picked the Blazers to lose in each of their victories--as a matter of good luck, of course.  And I don't plan on not picking them to lose tonight, just because I'm a big loser in the jersey contest.

So all the Blazer's Edge folks out there who can't enter the real contest, make your picks below, for bragging rights, for good luck mojo, and all other good stuff.

I'm not going to tally points up, either.  This is strictly for the hyper-superstitious and uber-competitve folks who MUST make a pick for the game.

Game 11 Form
Final Score:  Blazers    Jazz
Question 1:  Who will be the Blazers' SECOND-leading rebounder?
Question 2: Which team will make more three-pointers?
Question 3:  Who scores more, BRANDON ROY or DERON WILLIAMS?
Question 4:  Who will score the final Blazer points of the game?
BONUS QUESTION 5:  Why are you making a meaningless pick?

Hello there, Blazer newbie!  Welcome to the Blazer's Edge.  I'm sure you heard the big news about the one pick.  Maybe you're a Buckeye fan who loves Greg Oden and wants to keep an eye on him?  Or maybe you just haven't watched the NBA that closely lately, and now you feel like you might be able to get back into it, thanks to the dynamic duo of Durant and Oden?  

So you're thinking about potentially becoming a Blazer fan.

Poll

How long have you been a Blazer fan?

11%

College

6 votes

7%

Just recently

4 votes

3%

I'm not a fan...yet...

2 votes

13%

Since before I was born

7 votes

37%

After I was born, but before I can remember

20 votes

16%

Middle school

9 votes

9%

High school

5 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

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Let me play Devil's Advocate here and say that I like the lotto system just fine.  You can look from a numbers point and say "Memphis deserved that top pick" and you'd be right.  Memphis is lousy.  They need help.  You can also say "Boston deserves one of the top choices, the Celtics have been in the doldrums for too long."  And that might correct, too.

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