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	Bonzi Wells hasn't been a happy camper in Portland.

The Portland Trail Blazers are as talented as any team in the Western Conference. In fact, it's scary how much talent they have. However, the Blazers' volatility has affected them both on and off the court.

The legal issues involving Ruben Patterson, Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire have proven to be a distraction. Bonzi Wells' outspoken unhappiness hasn't helped. There are probably some things happening we don't know about. But the players seem to have lost their focus, and the problems have torn away at the fabric of the team.

Maurice Cheeks, now in his second year as head coach, inherited a tough situation that is only getting more difficult. Cheeks has done a good job of keeping the team afloat, but the volatility has hurt his ability to teach the game, put together a team philosophy and resolve, and win basketball games.

If the Blazers were winning, then they would be able to survive their problems. But they are 7-9 and have lost three of their last four games. Losing has put a hole in their parachute, magnifying their troubles and sending them on an even quicker downward spiral.

I don't know if Cheeks can hold the team together, but here are three things they can do to try and emerge from their current mess:

1. Make the players accountable
Fining Patterson $100,000 for "conduct detrimental to the team" is a good stand in terms of gaining control of the situation. Hopefully, the players will recognize that the Blazers will come down with a strong hand. It remains to be seen if the Players Association will appeal the fine. But it seems the Blazers are taking positive steps to help Patterson and protect him from self-destruction.

2. Addition by subtraction
The Blazers may have to move some players. They need a better complement of players who can mesh well together and cause fewer headaches. As a second-year head coach, Cheeks is not far removed as a former NBA player. But his job is to prepare, teach and win. He doesn't have time to be Father Murphy.

3. Play as a team
With Scottie Pippen, Wallace, Wells, Stoudamire and Arvydas Sabonis, the Blazers have the same nucleus that played in the Western Conference Finals two years ago and lost to the Lakers in Game 7. The team has been together quite some time. Individually, they are top-line players. Collectively, however, they have yet to grasp the concept of playing together as a unit. On some nights, they can win on their talent alone, but they have to realize they have to win as a team every night.

The Blazers finish their five-game homestand against Miami on Friday night. Maybe going on the road could be the best thing for them. At the same time, I'm not sure they can get out of their current mess. Not only is the opposition trying to beat them, but the players' minds are divided. With so many distractions, it will be difficult for the Blazers to turn things around, regardless of their talent.