Playoffs, Here We Come

Being a Trail Blazer fan is tough.

We have suffered through a longer current playoff drought than any other NBA team.

Now, our boys are back.

Watching tonight's convincing win over Northwest Division rival Utah, the Blazers proved they belong in the playoffs.

The victory marks three straight blowout wins of 20 or more points and reduces the magic number of clinching a playoff spot to one.

LaMarcus Aldridge threw down dunks with authority. Joel Pryzbilla stood up against one of the league's stars in Carlos Boozer. Nicolas Batum was hitting three-pointers. Brandon Roy was, well, Brandon Roy. This win, over a true playoff contender, is exactly what the Blazers needed.

With the San Antonio Spurs losing a home game to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the race for the second seed in the West is still wide open. Denver currently occupies the spot, a team that Portland plays at home when their regular season comes to a close on April 15. 

That leads to the question: What playoff seed will the Portland Trail Blazers earn?

Portland is about to embark on a four game road trip, with games against potential first round playoff match-ups San Antonio and Houston. The other two games, at Memphis and Oklahoma City, will not be push-overs. This trip will help define Portland's character, as its main weakness this season has been its 16-20 road record.

Many questions will be answered after this trip about the toughness, character, and heart of this Portland team. 

So please Blazers, show us something we've been waiting years to see!