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Portland Trail Blazers: The greatest go-to moves in Blazers history (No. 20 to 16)

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

12 Mar 2000: Arvydas Sabonis #11 of the Portland TrailBlazers wait on the key to move for the ball with Aaron Williams #44 of the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center in Wahington, D.C. The Blazers defeated the Wizards 102-86.
12 Mar 2000: Arvydas Sabonis #11 of the Portland TrailBlazers wait on the key to move for the ball with Aaron Williams #44 of the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center in Wahington, D.C. The Blazers defeated the Wizards 102-86. /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Bonzi Wells, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo credit should read JOHN GRESS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. The bully-ball post-up. 1998-99 to 2003-04. Bonzi Wells. 34. Scouting Report. 20. player

Here’s one way to gauge just how deep those Portland Trail Blazers teams of the mid-2000s were: teams that played against them marveled at their ability to have “two different starting fives.” Given the sum of their parts, it was easy to overlook them as individuals, Bonzi Wells included.

Wells had a solid stand-up game, with a deceptive first step to get to the rim, and could spot up to shoot from deep. But his most distinguishable trait was his ability to get down on the block, and use either his footwork to spin into a post fadeaway, or dip his shoulder into the opposition and get quick layups through brute strength.

This was an especially reliable hub of offense in late-game situations. Two examples especially stick to mind: in the opening minutes of the 2000 Western Conference Finals, and during Wells’ 45-point Playoff game against the Mavericks in 2003.

Dallas eked out a brief 103-99 win, but they seldom had an answer for Wells, as he came across baseline into right-block post opportunities. Players like Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel, and even Shawn Bradley were at his mercy.

But don’t take my word for it. Consider this exchange on SHOWTIME Basketball’s All the Smoke, in how the late great Kobe Bryant, Matt Barnes, and Stephen Jackson described Wells.

"Bryant: “I remember just us, you know, being really excited that we got through Portland.” Barnes: “They were tough. We had Bonzi on set a few weeks ago, he was telling us about that series …” Bryant: Ohhh, he was a nightmare. He was a nightmare matchup for me, man, cause I was like, really scrawny, and was like 120 (pounds) soaking wet, and he would just try to beat the s— out of me in the post. And uh, him and Stacey Augmon really helped me develop my post defensive presence cause that was a weakness. I had to develop that quite a bit.”"

And with that, arguments subside. If you make Kobe Bryant, a 12-time All-Defensive Teamer, go to the lab and work on his game, you deserve a spot on the list.