Not only did LaMarcus Aldridge leave the game in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle, but the Sonics stopped their 11-game skid by beating Nate McMillan – "Mr. Sonic" himself – in what was likely his last trip to Key Arena.

And while Aldridge is now listed as day-to-day after precautionary x-rays were negative, it's nights like Monday that have McMillan, Aldridge and Roy looking ahead to next year.

For all Portland's success this season – the 13-game win streak, a brief view sitting atop the Northwest Division, a first time All-Star selection in Roy, the Rose Garden sellouts – nothing will compare to having Greg Oden on the floor.

"I'm not settling for anything less than the playoffs next year," Brandon Roy told HOOPSWORLD.

That's why now – with 12 games remaining in Portland's regular season – McMillan is catering Roy and Aldridge's game almost as if Oden were already involved.  

"If you have Greg on the other side and leave him (Aldridge) open, that's like leaving Shaq open and double-teaming Amare (Stoudemire)," McMillan said when asked how he plans to use Aldridge and Oden.

Of late, McMillan has made Aldridge the man in the middle and has even told the team that he wants the ball in the post when Aldridge gets deep positioning. It's a part of Aldridge's game that is under constant development.

"To win in this league, you have to be able to go into the post," McMillan added.

But with Oden in the lineup next season, McMillan's options will be endless in the paint. He could "go with matchups" or have Oden be the "low-post guy" and have Aldridge "spread" the floor with his smooth perimeter shooting.

"I think when I am down low and teams double-team me, I can just throw it to the rim and he (Oden) can go get it," Aldridge told HOOPSWORLD.  

"If they double him, he can throw it to me in the high-post and I can make that shot all day."

Roy, too, is altering his game with the intention of preparing for next season. Before Aldridge began to develop an emerging confidence and display solid numbers down low, Roy was the Blazers "go-to-guy" on the block. But now, Roy is taking it upon himself to defer to Aldridge, much like he plans to do when Oden is on board.

"I'm trying to develop playing off the ball a little bit more and not have it in my hands as much," said Roy.  "I'm trying to get better doing this because next season we'll add Greg inside and that will change how we play a little bit."

What play then does McMillan draw up and who does the ball go to in the clutch?

"You should have three guys that you can go to, wherever," McMillan said. "You can go to Brandon in pick-and-rolls, you can go to LaMarcus in the post and hopefully you'll be able to go to Greg in the post."

If that is Portland's problem next season – scribbling X's and O's for three future All-Stars – it sure beats losing to sub-par NBA teams and falling further away from any hope of the playoffs. If only next year were now.

"We will be in this same situation next year, in the sense of playing for something. We will be playing for something next season," McMillan added.

But for McMillan, Roy and Aldridge, the end of this season is the beginning of next season.