The well-documented friction on the Trail Blazers last season stemmed from too many players wanting too much playing time.

So when the Blazers signed Ruben Patterson this summer, there were more than a few murmurs wondering if the addition of this rising talent would start another controversy, at small forward, where an aging Scottie Pippen sat firmly in place. But Patterson, 26, said the murmurs can stop.

"Everybody knows I'm playing behind Scottie," Patterson said. "Scottie and I have talked, and he's going to be the type of guy who helps me throughout the season. I've got to play a role, which is coming off the bench and bringing energy. If everybody plays their role, we'll be fine."