The NBA Gambler: At Memphis

Opponent: Memphis Grizzlies
Line: -1.0

Gambler's Record: 20-22-1

Guy #1: "We should run down there and screw one of those sheep."
Guy #2: "Let's walk down there and screw 'em all!"
-Soprano's

To even the most casual of fans it has been clear that this has not been the Trailblazers year. This season tipped off with high hopes, but since that first game there has been a never-ending torrent of hurdles tossed in the way to keep Portland from reaching their true potential.

And yet, a crucial trade at the deadline, the return of Rudy Fernandez and the increasing cohesion of Brandon Roy and Andre Miller are all signs of life in this "forgotten" season.

As the season hits the home stretch and teams jockey for playoff position in the hyper-competitive Western Conference, success will be up for grabs. Some teams are clearly better than others, but when it comes down to a seven game series anything can happen.

The difference between the #1 seed and the #8 seed is razor thin, and no one team is to be taken lightly.

Enter the Portland Trailblazers. Largely written off and forgotten with a dismissive wave of "next year", this team is starting to come together. Yes, they haven't been able to defend some large leads as of late, but they have been able to build them, and that is something.

This is not a team to be taken lightly. At the start of the season expectations were sky high, and Portland was hell bent on running headlong into the meadow below. But now, with each passing game, the team may be coming together at the perfect time to make a deep playoff run.

Right now we're walking towards that meadow, and the sheep are in trouble.

Take the Blazers.

(Bustabucket in no way/shape/form condones bestiality. Where do you think we are? Memphis?)