The Blazers are the hottest team in the NBA. Monday night, they’ll go for their 10th win in a row, playing a Miami Heat team missing two of its stars.
It’s become almost comical. How often have the Blazers played a game this season when their opponent is without one or more of its top players? I haven’t done the math, and since it’s the Monday after we moved the clocks ahead one hour, I’m too damn tired to look it up.
Suffice it to say (And it does suffice, yeah? I mean you’re feeling haggard this morn, too, I’ll bet.) that the Blazers have played reams of teams whose best or near-best players are out with various injuries.
Which brings us to …
Heat vs. Trail Blazers
The Heat have played well lately, especially since Dwyane Wade returned to Miami. They’ve won six of their last 10 games (four of their last five, too) and are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 36-31 record.
But Wade won’t play Monday; he has a hamstring strain. And Hassan Whiteside won’t play, either; he’s got a bum hip.
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But the Blazers know better than to look past the Heat, who still have Goran Dragic and … um, Kelly Olynyk and … um … Udonis Haslem, who just celebrated his 50th birthday. (Kidding.)
And the Heat, of course, are coached by the talented Eric Spoelstra, pride of Jesuit High School right here in Portland, Oregon, US of A. (Editor’s note: It’s actually in Beaverton, Oregon, US of A.)
Speaking of the Trail Blazers …
Wait … was I speaking of the Trail Blazers … ?
Coffee break!
The Trail Blazers
Portland (40-26; third in the Western Conference) has the longest winning streak in the NBA. And they’ve amassed those wins in impressive fashion, beating the Golden State Warriors twice (both with and without Steph Curry), the Lakers, the Thunder, the Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz.
Suffice it to say (it’s the Monday after we moved the clocks ahead an hour, remember?) that the Trail Blazers have taken care of business against the beasts and the leasts.
Next: Collins and Davis pairing leading bench unit to success
The Blazers defense continues to shine, and the offense has improved, with contributions from up and down the lineup. It seems the Blazers have finally rounded into shape – and at just the right time, too.
Playoffs are right around the corner. And the Blazers are looking good.
Tip-off against the Heat is set for 7:30 p.m.
I’m going back to bed.
Go Blazers!