VICTORY! part 2

First of all, go ducks


Now that that is out of the way, how about them Blazers?
Last night the Blazers started off a five game road trip with a win in Detroit. This keeps them tied for first in the Northwest and gives them a 66% win rate(12wins-6loses). I am not a big fan of rankings, but check out what Marc Stein ranks us.
From www.ESPN.com with the ranking in bold:

"2008-09 Power Rankings: Week 5
RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 (1) Celtics 16-2 This second straight 16-2 start by the Celts, so readily deemed inferior to the Lakers' start by so many readers, has been topped only twice in the past 10 seasons: Dallas in '02-03 (17-1) and the Lakers in '01-02 (16-1).
2 (2) Lakers 14-1 If it's any consolation -- and we realize that it's probably not -- allow us to confirm that the only other two Phil Jackson teams to start so well (Bulls at 17-1 in 1996-97, Lakers at 16-1 in 2001-02) went on to win it all.
3 (3) Cavaliers 14-3 2010 talk ain't going away no matter what Charles Barkley says, but don't forget to spare a good word for what the Cavs are doing now. Example: Cleveland just swept four games in five nights ... by a combined 80 points.
4 (9) Trail Blazers 12-6 When they lost Oden and looked so shaky on the opening-night stage against the Lakers, how many of you had these kids closing November with a road win in Detroit and one of the last two unbeaten home records?"

And what about week five last year?

"Week 5 5-12 27 Roy's response to getting routed by a team that lost Duncan before halftime: 'This is definitely the lowest point.' Our response: That's probably wishful for a team that has endured 18 straight losing months. "

From rank 27 to rank 4 a year later. I can taste the playoffs already.



-J

ps. Thank you Steve Blake for scoring a 3 pointer in the last minute of the Hornets game on Friday, making the score 101-86. The only thing tastier than a Chalupa is a free Chalupa.