Upcoming Road Trip To Determine The Fate Of Blazers Season

Ready or not, here we go!  The Portland Trailblazers are about to embark in a critical four-game road trip, starting play this Friday at Oklahoma City  How critical you ask?  Like it or not, this is the biggest road trip this franchise has been a part of in recent memory.

Some of you may be thinking, "Well, isn't that putting a lot of weight on one road trip?  They basically have a spot in the playoffs locked up."

On the surface, I agree with that.  But looking at the big picture, I can say with confidence that this four-game road trip will determine the fate of the Blazers season.

A few of you may be asking yourself, "How?"  Allow me to explain.

Let's face it, the Blazers are an incredibly young team.  Steve Blake and Michael Ruffin are the only Blazers on the active roster with any playoff experience (both of which haven't been past the first round).  Most on the roster haven't experienced a winning season in the NBA.

Yet last week, the Blazers have become a different team.  Portland pounced on their last three opponents at the Rose Garden, winning each game by at least 20 points.  They displayed an intensity I haven't seen before from this team.  They often were brilliant and showed an unselfishness I haven't seen on a Blazers team in at least eight seasons. 

These are qualities we see in veteran teams loaded with players rich in playoff experience.  Not on teams with such little experience fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs.  Not on teams where every game means everything coming down the home stretch.

Last week I didn't think the Western Conference playoff race could get any tighter.  But it has.  Portland is only one game back from the No.3 seed and one and a half games behind Denver, who is sitting as the No.2 seed. 

The Blazers have nothing to lose heading into this four-game road swing.  Houston and San Antonio have been inconsistent at best lately, both of which Portland will face on this upcoming road trip and both are just barely holding onto the No.3 and No.4 seeds respectively.

The door is wide open for Portland.  It's there's for the taking.  Take it; and the Blazers will be rewarded home court advantage for the first round with a good opportunity of advancing.  Leave it; and the Blazers would be making it difficult on themselves in what could be an early playoff exit.