Are we? Aren't we? Too early? Too late? Just on time? I believe we are peaking right now, and it might be a tad too early. Or, right on time. It's one or the other, either way, we are peaking. This version of Trailblazer peaking is fucking awesome.
Whatever it is, it beats losing to the Grizzlies on the road or the TWolves at home tonight. A 35 point win on the road is a thing of beauty for a Trail Blazer fan, whenever you get it. I wonder if that is the biggest road victory margin this season in the NBA, but I'm too lazy to find out right now.
Yeah, and it should get better every year for the next 6-7 years. I was also thinking that they might be peaking, but after watching the last four games, I think they're still coming on. If they could come home 3-1, I'm ready to let myself think these guys could be contenders, now. They've got the playoffs sewn up. That meets my expectation for this year. The way their playing, they may far exceed what I was hoping for.
This still could end up being a team that loses to the Rockets, Spurs and then at home to the Lakers. Let's go one game at a time, and worry about the Rockets next.
I don't think we're going to win the division based on the games remaining for us and the Nuggets. Home court on the other hand looks pretty attainable. Think we have to win in Houston though. I hope we haven't peeked yet. Save it for the playoffs boys!
You forgot about option C: peaking too late. Imagine the +25 point differential if we had played like this all season!
BRoy had a good answer to this question after the Utah game. Peaking implies that we might be reaching our ceiling, but we aren't even close to it. However, if you mean that we're playing our best basketball of the season, I say HELL YA! And it's the perfect time to be doing so.
I agree with Roy, the Blazers are just continuing to improve. While they might go into a slump, they are only going to get better!
We're just in Phase 2 of 3. Phase 1 was Roy becoming an elite guard in the NBA, elevating us into playoff contention. Phase 2 is Aldridge dominating, making less pressure on Roy to do all the work. In the last five games, Aldridge has averaged 26.6 points and 12.2 rebounds. Those are fucking beastly numbers, keep it up LA.. Phase 3 will be fucking awesome when Oden gets respect from refs and stay on court and figure out how to use his gigantic body to truly dominate on both ends.
We're playing our best ball when it's time to play your best ball. The Lakers won their last 8 in 2001 and then won the title. The Warriors won 9 of their last 10 in 2007 and upset the Mavericks. This is when you want to start rolling so that you can take momentum into the playoffs. The Jazz, meanwhile, have shown what they are made of when it matters. They've lost 3 in a row and it could've been 5 in a row if they had lost those games they almost let slip out of their hands against the Knicks and Suns. They are playing bad basketball and their schedule only gets worse.
Oden would be a 20/10 player right now in New York or LA. When Russell Westbrook is dictating the calls of the refs against Oden, you know the fix is in. Just saying...
Considering we're fighting for HCA with 7 games to go and gaining confidence along the way I'd say we're peaking and at the perfect time.
This team is FAR from peaking. We've got so much growth to go, it's scary to think we're already this good. Nowhere to go but up and enjoy the ride for the next decade.
I think in the longer run, we've got a LOT of improvement to go. Oden and Bayless and Batum each have good chances of being difference makers on both ends of the floor, and Rudy should be more consistent. With this year, though? We're peaking... it's a question of whether we can keep this going for another month or so. I dunno the answer to that. Ed O.
