Strange. The article doesn't say much about Portland at all.
You need to go to page 2 of the article...
"aside from Portland, with a rising, young team that won 54 games, finished 19-5, and has an eight-game winning streak over the Lakers in the Rose Garden, going back four years.
Of course, the Trail Blazers must first get past a tough, veteran 53-win Houston team, with only two players -- Steve Blake and Joel Przybilla -- who were ever in the playoffs.
Not that they're precocious, but when did you hear a star on a contender say of the post-season, "They say you have to turn it up a notch," as Brandon Roy did?"
Come on now, Shav has tasted the post season, and Micheal Ruffin is a play-off tested 12th man with more play-off experience than the rest of the active roster combined. So, THAT'S why KP did the Ike for Girly Arms trade - to bring in much needed play-off experience...
BNM