Greg Oden – keep it up, you’re one of my favorites.

Lamarcus Aldridge also looks really good.  He’s got more of an offensive touch than Oden but doesn’t have the inside presence he does.  Still, the two big men both have unique qualities which make them a great 1-2 combo to go along with superstar Roy in the backcourt.  I love the excitement the TrailBlazers bring to these playoffs.  It looks like the Rockets will probably pull it out – and the Rockets are cool too – but I’m definitely going for the TrailBlazers so they can give L.A. trouble.  Think about it, Portland matches up really well with L.A.

Greg Oden and Dwight Howard represent two mega powers in the center ranks.  Glad we have some real centers again.  I was getting tired of 7 footers trying to become perimeter players (see Dirk, Rasheed, and KG) and post players in general going lameduck (see Tim Duncan and Shaq).

On Yao Ming, I think he’s a pretty good player for as huge as he is, but I don’t know if he gets to be a big man after the way Nate Robinson threw him.  Gasol definitely plays like a post player and you’ve got to love how difficult he makes the Lakers inside, but he isn’t close to what Oden’s potential is and what Howard has set the bar at.

Tyson Chandler deserves mention in here somewhere.  I’m not sure where he fits though.  He definitely has the athleticism but I haven’t seen enough footage of him.