Portland’s Veterans Carry Them Over The Thunder

However, in a game last night that could loom large in the race for playoff seeding in the West, it was Portland's veterans that led the Blazers to victory. Here's how SB Nation's Blazers Edge summed up the game.

Andre Miller played like he had something to prove and Marcus Camby was in the right place at the right time more times than you can count as the Blazers held off a strong second-half push from Kevin Durant to pull out a huge road victory.

Yup. It was 34-year old Andre Miller and 36-year old Marcus Camby that won Portland the game. Or, as Jason Quick from the Oregonian put it:

The franchise is still Brandon Roy. And part of the foundation still rests on LaMarcus Aldridge. And the future still includes Nicolas Batum. But right now, during what is turning out to be a flying sprint to the regular-season finish line, the heart and soul of the Trail Blazers are the team's three veterans: Andre Miller, Marcus Camby and Juwan Howard.

The Thunder, meanwhile, don't have veterans like that on their roster. Yes, they're a year behind Portland simply because the Blazers were a playoff team last year, but they also could have easily acquired some veterans for the stretch run at this year's trade deadline. For example, Oklahoma City has a gaping hole at center, one that could easily have been filled by Camby. Considering how little it took for Portland to pry him away from the Clippers, it's reasonable to assume the Thunder could have had him if they made the effort.

None of this changes the reality that OKC has an incredibly bright future. But in a year where one or two games makes a major difference in terms of playoff seeding and matchups, that veteran leadership makes a major difference. Just ask Nate McMillan and the rest of the Portland Trail Blazers.