Nine is Fine!!

We're starting with NBA action again this week. The Blazers just won't quit. Less than three weeks ago, the Blazers lost an ugly game at San Antonio that was their 9th loss in 10 games. The next night Outlaw came up clutch at Memphis for the Blazers first road win of the year and they haven't looked back since. Last nights 101-96 win over Toronto in the Rose Garden was their 9th straight win, and with Boston losing to the Pistons, Portland now owns the longest current win streak in the NBA. And it's not exactly happening against chump teams, of those 9 wins, the last 6 have come over playoff teams from last year, and all those teams are above .500. The Blazers are now just a single game behind the Nuggets for the division lead. After the Nuggets play the Rockets at home Thursday night, they will travel to Portland the very next night for a rematch of last Sunday's loss to Portland in what could decide the current leader in the Northwest division.

Last nights win was a hard fought battle, with both teams shooting better than 50%(actually Toronto shot exactly 50%). Both teams were playing so well, that every player that stepped onto the court for either team ended with at least on assist, and only the Raptors Darrick Martin failed to get any points. Toronto led most of the game(Portland only led for 6:44), but a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter in which the Blazers held the Raptors to just 6-19 shooting and 13 points, gave Portland the win after trailing by as many as 8 in the second half. Just a day after he had to sit out of practice with the flu, reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy came up with another huge performance, leading all scorers with 25 points to go along with his 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Aldridge, in his first game back after missing the last 5 with plantar faciitis, added 15 points and 7 rebounds. Mr 4th Quarter, Travis Outlaw, struggled again from the field, shooting just 4 of 12, but made several key shots and had some huge defensive stops in the 4th quarter and finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Roy has already won two consecutive Western Conference Player of the Week honors, and if he keeps playing this way he will probably win another and could very well play his way into an All-Star selection. You can vote for Roy and the other All Stars here: