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Due a new contract after the season, Randolph would do well to repeat last year's 20-point, 10-rebound season. Greg Nelson FAST FACTS Record: 41-41 (10th in West) Points Scored: 90.7 (21st in NBA) Points Allowed: 92.0 (12th) Coach: Maurice Cheeks (fourth season with the Blazers) 2004 Schedule | 2004 Draft Picks | 2003 Stats Traded last Feb. 9, Theo Ratliff led both Atlanta (166) and Portland (141) in blocks, becoming the first to reject 300 since 1995-96 (Dikembe Mutombo). PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP With 2003-04 statistics THEO RATLIFF POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% C 77 7.9 7.2 0.8 3.61 0.64 48.5 64.5 ZACH RANDOLPH POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% PF 18 20.1 10.5 2.0 0.51 0.84 48.5 76.1 DEREK ANDERSON POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% SG 117 13.6 3.6 4.5 1.29 37.6 30.5 82.4 DAMON STOUDAMIRE POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% PG 91 13.4 3.8 6.1 1.21 40.1 36.5 87.6 SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% SF 62 16.3 7.5 2.0 0.44 0.80 47.5 86.9  BENCH PVR 2003-04 Stats G NICK VAN EXEL 103 12.6 ppg 5.3 apg 0.51 spg 39.0 FG% 30.7 3FG% G-F DARIUS MILES 112 10.9 ppg 4.5 rpg 2.1 apg 0.85 spg 48.5 FG% G-F RUBEN PATTERSON 236 6.9 ppg 3.7 rpg 1.9 apg 1.15 spg 50.6 FG% C JOEL PRZYBILLA 282 2.9 ppg 6.5 rpg 1.00 bpg 36.0 FG% 41.9 FT% G RICHIE FRAHM 338 3.4 ppg 1.0 rpg 45.3 FG% 37.0 3FG% 88.5 FT%

Not even a shot-swatting solid citizen at center can hold this gang together

Even though they missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 seasons, the Blazers did plenty to endear themselves to their fan base in 2003-04. After years of harboring knuckleheads who found new and creative ways to break laws and embarrass the community, Portland brought in a raft of "character guys" (to use NBA parlance), players for whom the faithful could root without reservation. No acquisition was more widely applauded than that of 6'10" veteran center Theo Ratliff.

He earned that high esteem because the odds of Ratliff getting into trouble are about the same as an Oregon winter passing without rain. Also, for the third time in four seasons, the Rattler led the league in blocked shots, more than holding his own against the behemoths in the Western Conference. Consider this: Before Ratliff arrived from Atlanta in a February trade involving Rasheed Wallace, the Blazers gave up 93.9 points a game; with Ratliff they surrendered 89.2. "Defense has always sort of been my thing," he says. "They call it dirty work, but I always think blocking shots and rebounding is fun."

A week before training camp Portland rewarded Ratliff with a three-year contract extension that will pay him $46 million over the next four seasons -- a big chunk of change for a 31-year-old who has spent considerable time on the injured list throughout his career. But it was as much a nod to Ratliff's attitude as his aptitude. What's more, the Blazers' brass is expecting Ratliff to be as assertive on offense as he is on defense. "Fine with me," he says. "What player doesn't like to hear that he should be shooting more?"

After scoring so many points in the Portland community, he deserves to get a few more on the floor. -- L. Jon Wertheim