And in 5th place, with a .613 winning percentage is the Portland Trailblazers, winners of 3 straight. 1 game behind PHX in the loss column. 3 games behind Dallas and Denver for 2nd and 3rd place. Tied with Houston for losses, 1 game ahead of Utah. Looks like another tight playoff race.
You know given last seasons success and what we were doing before all the injuries started piling up this season I would be feeling pretty dissapointed. But now given the circumstances this is pretty impressive knowing that we are relying on a couple starters and mostly bench and third stringers. It really is great seeing this team believe they can still win and are doing it, while showing great heart. When we were getting blown out to teams like Memphis at home, I questioned this team and the path we were going on (similar to the Hornets when they had that great first year playoff run, but ended up not so good the next year).
Right now here is what I see happening: 1. Phoenix is coming back down to earth. They will be down near 6-8 by the time it is all done. I believe they burnt all their mojo in the beginning of the season trying to show folks they are still relevant. 2. Houston just keeps on trucking. The McGrady issue could become a disraction. 3. Dallas I am still unsure about. 4. Utah must be maddening. They purely play to the level of their opponent. Boozer has started making noise about free agency again, and all that is going to do is piss off the Utah fans again, and make his team mates think he doesn't want to be there, which he obviously doesn't. I see them skidding out of the playoffs. 5. San Antonio is getting old. They will make the playoffs but unless they get a fortunate matchup in the first round they will be one and done. 6. I expect Denver to get stronger as the season goes on. Billups injury probably won't last long, but might be nagging. I am guessing Denver at the #2 spot. 7. OKC is the wild card. Just outside looking in. But playing with more confidence. They just knocked off PHX at PHX. 8. LA Lakers are LA Lakers. Barring injury, they will finish first. We have a lot of stretches of the season to go through, winning streaks and losing streaks to come, for all teams. So the twist and turns will just keep on coming!
