A Trail Blazers team searching for an identity will try to find itself on a five-game trip that begins today against the Indiana Pacers.

After a 3-3 start, nobody on the Blazers has a firm grasp of what type of team this is, or is becoming, mostly because this team has not been complete. In each of the six games, the Blazers have been without key players, as Ruben Patterson served a five-game league suspension, and first Derek Anderson, then Damon Stoudamire missed two games each because of injury.

But today, for the first time this season, the Blazers will have their top 12 players healthy and available as Stoudamire has deemed himself ready to play.

Now, as the longest trip of the season begins, it is time to find out what kind of team this really is.

Will the trip reveal a team that operates better with Scottie Pippen at point guard, as hinted this week in back-to-back wins over Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers? As Stoudamire rested his aching right knee, Pippen started at point guard and averaged 12.0 points, 9.0 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals while totaling three turnovers.

And will the Blazers' commitment to team be the same as when they left Portland on Friday -- gushing and bragging about their depth and versatility?

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Portland Trail Blazers

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