The real big issue is still defense, the part that gives Bird the most headache, as the Trail Blazers' defensive resources are truly unbalanced.
They have the best rim protector among the big men and an excellent blue-collar power forward, but they lack a competent small forward, and their backcourt defense is riddled with holes.
Porter is too old; Van Exel and Riddle are notorious defensive sieves, and although Alon Magee has the potential to become a defensive powerhouse, his height is an issue.
The shooting guard and small forward positions are the ones Bird is most worried about; there's not a single competent and effective person. They're all young, attack-loving upstarts, which is quite dangerous and deadly for a team's defense.
Nowadays, the league has more and more players with excellent physical attributes, strong breakthroughs, and precise shooting.
