ESPN on our road winning streak . . .

[Shooter]

Very interesting . . .

Portland keeps blazing trails away from Oregon. The win over the Heat is the 7th straight on the road for the Trail Blazers, their longest road winning streak in almost 20 years and the third longest such streak in franchise history. Each of the two previous times Portland has gone on a longer road win streaks, they made the Western Conference Finals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310308014

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Charlotte is the BIGGEST GAME OF THE DECADE!!!

 

[Natebishop3]

Hmm... that is very interesting. I think this team has the talent to contend, I'm just not sure if they have the health or the chemistry just yet. As much as I would like to have a healthy Roy, I think a healthy Oden would be more helpful to this team.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Hmm... that is very interesting. I think this team has the talent to contend, I'm just not sure if they have the health or the chemistry just yet. As much as I would like to have a healthy Roy, I think a healthy Oden would be more helpful to this team.

Maybe he'll be ready by the playoffs!

 

[Shooter]

I think this team has the talent to contend, I'm just not sure if they have the health or the chemistry just yet.

It's pretty clear to me that they've got the chemistry--but health is always a big question mark with this team. I've got to believe that at some point our luck starts to get better in that area.

 

[RoyToy]

Nice find

 

[The Professional Fan]

Charlotte is the BIGGEST GAME OF THE DECADE!!!

Hilarious. However, a let down in CHA would be really fucking bad! It IS a big game. Perhaps not the biggest in the last 10 years, but big none-the-less. No let down. Momentum is huge. Keep it Rollin'........

 

[THE HCP]

If we lose the Charlotte game.......... season is over!

 

[handiman]

I love the way we played tonight, but let's be honest about the road winning streak.

Cleveland
Toronto
Detroit
Minnesota
Sacramento
Orlando
Miami

Orlando without Dwight Howard would have been an embarrassing loss. Ditto for the first 5 opponents. I'd guess there haven't been many stretches in franchise history with such a weak series of opponents on the road. Not to mention Miami in the midst of a 5-game losing streak is tough to figure what to make of, despite stellar games from LeBron and Wade.

 

[XXPrimusXX]

I love the way we played tonight, but let's be honest about the road winning streak.

Cleveland
Toronto
Detroit
Minnesota
Sacramento
Orlando
Miami

Orlando without Dwight Howard would have been an embarrassing loss. Ditto for the first 5 opponents. I'd guess there haven't been many stretches in franchise history with such a weak series of opponents on the road. Not to mention Miami in the midst of a 5-game losing streak is tough to figure what to make of, despite stellar games from LeBron and Wade.

Regardless of those teams records, you still have to win the games. Which the Blazers did.

Winning on the road is no easy task, doesn't matter who you play.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I love the way we played tonight, but let's be honest about the road winning streak.

Cleveland
Toronto
Detroit
Minnesota
Sacramento
Orlando
Miami

Orlando without Dwight Howard would have been an embarrassing loss. Ditto for the first 5 opponents. I'd guess there haven't been many stretches in franchise history with such a weak series of opponents on the road. Not to mention Miami in the midst of a 5-game losing streak is tough to figure what to make of, despite stellar games from LeBron and Wade.

So? No team in PDX history has won as many road games in a row since '91. I don't care who your competition is on the road in the NBA. Winning consistently for any stretch is a great thing.

 

[barfo]

Charlotte is the BIGGEST GAME OF THE DECADE!!!

No way we win in Charlotte. Przybilla is going to go off for 50 points against us. Season over.

barfo

 

[Rhal]

I would be happy getting out of the first round this year, getting to the finals well i'd be ecstatic. If we keep gelling like we are and playing as hard as we are I don't think any team is gonna be happy to get us in the first round.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we lose the Charlotte game.......... season is over!

So I've heard.

 

[maxiep]

I wonder if Crash will receive the same kind of ovation in Charlotte we gave Joel?

 

[handiman]

So? No team in PDX history has won as many road games in a row since '91.

Like I said, "I'd guess there haven't been many stretches in franchise history with such a weak series of opponents on the road." Without that statistic handy, the streak is somewhat of a novelty ... uncertain significance.

There have been some really unbalanced schedules this year, like the Clippers with what, an 11 game road trip, Miami piling up a good early record without playing any good teams, us with a super dense stretch of games early despite not having many of our West rivals show up until the second half... With all the crazy team stats this year like Cleveland hitting the all-time losing streak and Washington nearly hitting the all-time road losing streak, plus San Antonio being historically great despite looking like nothing special, it just seems to me that the league scheduling is producing some meaningless intermediate stats.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I wonder if Crash will receive the same kind of ovation in Charlotte we gave Joel?

That's going to be tough when there's only something like 20 people in the building ... and those are all game ops AFAIK.

 

[OdenHoF]

Just for the record, the '91 streak was 4 bottom dwellers, 2 .500 teams (IND, SEA), and 2 elite teams (CHI, LAL), losing to a bottom dweller (SAC) to break the streak. This is just basketball-reference.

 

[PapaG]

Maybe he'll be ready by the playoffs!

2012 playoffs?

 

[PapaG]

Like I said, "I'd guess there haven't been many stretches in franchise history with such a weak series of opponents on the road." Without that statistic handy, the streak is somewhat of a novelty ... uncertain significance.
There have been some really unbalanced schedules this year, like the Clippers with what, an 11 game road trip, Miami piling up a good early record without playing any good teams, us with a super dense stretch of games early despite not having many of our West rivals show up until the second half... With all the crazy team stats this year like Cleveland hitting the all-time losing streak and Washington nearly hitting the all-time road losing streak, plus San Antonio being historically great despite looking like nothing special, it just seems to me that the league scheduling is producing some meaningless intermediate stats.

Or, instead of being Debbie Downer, you could just recognize the rarity of a 7-game road winning streak. If the streak is irrelevant, please post the stats to support your argument.

 

[KingSpeed]

Cleveland, who was dying to break their losing streak when we played them, has beat the Knicks and Lakers recently. Kings have beat some good teams in Sacramento too. And then, of course, we swept Florida in back to back nights, I'd say the streak is extremely impressive. No one ever plays a schedule in which they play the Lakers seven times in a row on the road.

 

[julius]

Actually, the Bobcats and Hawks game will say a lot about the teams real chances. A typical let-down game (or two) is to be expected from teams who aren't ready.

They just beat two of the better teams in the eastern conference (even w/out Dwight Howard playing in one of them). But a 1st and out team mentality leads to a loss against the Bobcats. The Hawks could be a loss, but they are struggling lately. Win those 2 games, and it says a lot about the teams chances. Follow those up with a strong stretch of home games (to wash out of the mouth the taste they left in there recently), and good things could happen.

They need to keep the effort strong, and have no let downs. No let downs the rest of the season means they're ready for the playoffs. Maybe just ready to advance past the 1st round, but ready none the less.

 

[KingSpeed]

Actually, the Bobcats and Hawks game will say a lot about the teams real chances. A typical let-down game (or two) is to be expected from teams who aren't ready.

They just beat two of the better teams in the eastern conference (even w/out Dwight Howard playing in one of them). But a 1st and out team mentality leads to a loss against the Bobcats. The Hawks could be a loss, but they are struggling lately. Win those 2 games, and it says a lot about the teams chances. Follow those up with a strong stretch of home games (to wash out of the mouth the taste they left in there recently), and good things could happen.

They need to keep the effort strong, and have no let downs. No let downs the rest of the season means they're ready for the playoffs. Maybe just ready to advance past the 1st round, but ready none the less.

So are you saying we must go undefeated the rest of the season or we have no chance in the playoffs? Every loss is a letdown. Most likely, we will lose a few more games this season. I'm hoping we go 13-5 and hit the 50 win mark again. That would be amazing but that journey would include 5 "letdowns.". We've won 4 in a row right now. If we lose in Charlotte, we lose in Charlotte. What matters is that we get back up and win "most" of the games between now and the end of the season and hopefully, get home court in the first round. I'm not worried about "letdowns." I look for the "get-back-ups" and we've had a lot of those this year. Geesh, remember when we lost 6 straight and fell to 8-11. I like the way we got back up.

 

[KingSpeed]

I will go further. Let downs are also a part of the playoffs. The Lakers got crushed by the Thunder. It's how you get back up that matters. Don't pin all of our worth on the Charlotte game either way. Look long term. Win as many games as possible, make playoffs, win 4 out of 7 when you get there.

 

[maxiep]

Actually, the Bobcats and Hawks game will say a lot about the teams real chances. A typical let-down game (or two) is to be expected from teams who aren't ready.

They just beat two of the better teams in the eastern conference (even w/out Dwight Howard playing in one of them). But a 1st and out team mentality leads to a loss against the Bobcats. The Hawks could be a loss, but they are struggling lately. Win those 2 games, and it says a lot about the teams chances. Follow those up with a strong stretch of home games (to wash out of the mouth the taste they left in there recently), and good things could happen.

They need to keep the effort strong, and have no let downs. No let downs the rest of the season means they're ready for the playoffs. Maybe just ready to advance past the 1st round, but ready none the less.

I think it being Gerald's first game back means we don't overlook Charlotte. I think we go in there focused and don't look past them. I think Crash would like to put on a show for the fans and for MJ. As for Atlanta, I think we stand a decent chance; we couldn't have shot much worse against the Hawks in Portland, and they weren't contested shots.

 

[julius]

So are you saying we must go undefeated the rest of the season or we have no chance in the playoffs? Every loss is a letdown. Most likely, we will lose a few more games this season. I'm hoping we go 13-5 and hit the 50 win mark again. That would be amazing but that journey would include 5 "letdowns.". We've won 4 in a row right now. If we lose in Charlotte, we lose in Charlotte. What matters is that we get back up and win "most" of the games between now and the end of the season and hopefully, get home court in the first round. I'm not worried about "letdowns." I look for the "get-back-ups" and we've had a lot of those this year. Geesh, remember when we lost 6 straight and fell to 8-11. I like the way we got back up.

Let downs usually occur against teams worse than you. The team doesn't have to go undefeated the rest of the year, to not have a let down. losing to the Spurs, Lakers, Mavs or Thunder (on the road) isn't really a let down. Would suck, but not a rel let down.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it being Gerald's first game back means we don't overlook Charlotte. I think we go in there focused and don't look past them. I think Crash would like to put on a show for the fans and for MJ. As for Atlanta, I think we stand a decent chance; we couldn't have shot much worse against the Hawks in Portland, and they weren't contested shots.

After hearing GW's comments about feeling betrayed over the trade, something tells me he could have a pretty special night ...

 

[hasoos]

No way we win in Charlotte. Przybilla is going to go off for 50 points against us. Season over.

barfo

I understand. You are just telling it like it is.

 

[Public Defender]

Cleveland

Cavs have beaten the Knicks and Lakers at home in recent games.

Toronto

Raptors beat the Hornets and Bulls at home over the last few weeks.

Detroit
Minnesota
Sacramento

Yes, those three teams truly suck.

Orlando
Miami

Those two are considered title contenders, and the Heat were hugely motivated in that game. Sure, Orlando didn't have Howard - but how many games have undermanned teams won because everyone else brought their A+ game to make up for the guy who's out?

 

[MIXUM]

espn even jobbed us in the headline saying "heat lose again"

no blazers mentioned