record in

the West

JASON QUICK

With his players huddled around him, Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard last week signaled the end of the NBA's trading deadline by relaying a simple message:

"I believe in you guys. Let's go to war together."

One of the NBA's biggest wheelers-and-dealers, Pritchard resisted the urges to add experience, add talent or save money, instead opting to play out the stretch run of the NBA season with one of the youngest and most promising rosters in the league.

That's not to say Pritchard didn't have some trying moments. He admitted he thought long and hard on some propoed deals --none more so than a swap that would have brought Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire to Portland --but in the end, he said the Blazers' culture and core talent were too important.

"We were close, really close," Pritchard said of a deal with Phoenix. "But we didn't bite."

Now, the focus turns from Pritchard to the players, who will play the season's final 28 games in what is an unfamiliar position for many: serious playoff contenders.

Of the Blazers' rotation players, only two have played in playoff games: point guard Steve Blake (four games with Washington, five with Denver) and center Joel Przybilla (five with Milwaukee).

Despite having the second-youngest roster in the NBA, and the youngest playing rotation, the Blazers (34-20) hold the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and are coming off a decisive victory Friday over Atlanta, a likely playoff team in the East.

At the same time, the Blazers know their current playoff standing is precarious: While they are 21/2 games behind Denver for the Northwest Division lead and the second-best record, they are also just 21/2 games ahead of Utah for the eighth and final spot in the West.

It's such uncharted territory for the Blazers, who haven't made the playoffs since 2003, that Pritchard admitted he was eschewing common sense when he chose not to add a veteran, or at least some experience, to a team that is so green when it comes to playing in big-time games.

"I'll take that responsibility of not adding that . . . veteran," Pritchard said. "We felt like the big thing for us is we have this group of guys that are growing together and if I thought that it was absolutely necessary to have that pure vet, then we probably would have gone and tried to get it. I think this team can grow up without that. But I'll take that responsibility of not bringing on a vet."

The players didn't seem fazed that a veteran wasn't added.

"I mean, youth got us this far, didn't it?" said Travis Outlaw, who was among the Blazers most speculated about in trade talks.

Added Blake, who turns 29 this week: "So far, we've been good enough to get this far, so why can't we get to the playoffs and compete with the guys we have? We are learning as we go, but I think we are good enough."

If anything, the team said it became more confident and unified after Pritchard made his impassioned address when Thursday's deadline expired. That became apparent as the players gathered for their customary post-practice routine. Normally, the team claps as it huddles, which is followed by a "Together!" shout as they join hands in the middle.

On Thursday, after Pritchard finished talking, the clap and "Together!" both had a little more oomph.

"It was louder, a little more spirited," Brandon Roy said. "Hopefully we can take that into these next few games and play like we all want to be here. We have a good young team. Now we just have to continue to try to gain experience on the fly, and what better way to do it then going out and doing it together. That's all we got now."

Jason Quick: 503-221-4372;

jasonquick@news.oregonian.com

To read his "Behind the Beat" blog, go to http://blog.oregonlive.com/

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