Dang, the way they're playing (currently, 12 straight wins), they just might pass the L*kers for the #1 seed in the West! That said, I still think the Blazers would match up well against them and I'd rather face them in the 1st round than the L*kers, Nuggets, or Jazz.
They are playing well, and they are designed to beat the Lakers, at least IMO. That doesn't mean that isn't a tough task, but they have definitly set themselves up to match up. With Denver losing Kmart, that might just be enough to make them the #2 contender in the west. The players they gained brought them the one thing they had been missing: Physicality and nastyness. One of the guys who I thought was a salary dump for the most part (Stevenson) is now turning into their defensive stopper guy. In Washington he was a liability because he was one of their guys they used as part of the offense. But in Dallas, he just plays defense, and takes an occasional outside jumper, and just gnards up on D.
This seems like such a likely outcome. Can't you just see Dallas sweeping their way to the #1 spot and then getting beat by Portland in the first round. Just like the Dallas/Golden State series.
I could see that outcome long before I could see the Blazers beating the Lakers, Jazz, or Nuggets in a first round matchup, but I still would say it's a long shot. Those top four teams are all way better than the Blazers right now. But only the Mavericks are led by the psychically fragile Dirk Nowitzki. Not to mention that this is new lineup that hasn't been particularly tested (and certainly not playoff-tested together). I'd put the odds of the Blazers beating the Lakers in a first round series at 20-1, at best. The Mavericks? Maybe 8-1. Better odds, but still a long shot.
