Heading into Tuesday's game with the New York Knicks, the Portland Trail Blazers are tied for the second best record in the Western Conference, at this point in the season. But are they really the second best team in the West?
I think it is safe to say the Los Angeles Lakers are far and away the best team this side of the Mississippi. But after that, the west is wide open. Currently the Denver Nuggets are 12-6, as well as the Blazers. The Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns are all one game back. Each one of these teams have had star players miss time. The Jazz have had Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams miss extensive time. The Rockets are currently without Tracy McGrady and the Suns have been without Shaq.
With all that being said, I believe the Blazers truly can be right up there at the end of the season. They have played the least amount of home games (winning all of them), while still gelling as a team. The more realistic prediction would be the Blazers anywhere from #3 to #7 in the west.
This road trip will say a lot with where Portland stands with the rest of the league. They have proven they can win at home, but these road games against mediocre eastern conference teams, can solidify themselves as part of the top-tier of the western conference, or show that they still have a lot to learn. My prediction is the Blazers will finish the season as the fourth-best western conference team, behind the Lakers, Jazz and Suns. And they will show that the second-youngest team in the NBA is here to stay.
Keywords: houston rockets, phoenix suns., portland trailblazers, utah jazz
