I started out with the thought I'd take a look at the team record in March and April and find an amazing hot streak taking place.   You know, a couple of nice wins in a row interrupted by a fluke loss.  Instead I made a different observation.

The blazers would lose a five games a month except for December when the blazers lost six games.  This did not change in March and April is obviously too small of a sample.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/por/schedule?v=list&m=10&y=2008

The blazers lost at least two in a row five times and three in a row only once.    None of those two game losses were in March.

The blazers played 16 games in 31 days during March.  That's a lot of basketball.   Eyeballing the other months it looked like it was all about the same.  I know they play a lot of games, but that brought it a little into perspective for me.

Something else that stood out is the bet Outlaw had with Mike Rice.  Didn't Outlaw have a bet with Mike Rice about snagging down ten rebounds?  According to the stats, Outlaw snagged 10 on March 13th.  Possibly the bet wasn't on then?  Outlaw has only snagged 10 rebounds two other times this year.  Pretty safe bet if you're not betting every game but pick a game here or there.

So, I wasn't able to point out any amazing winning streak that was obvious to my naked eye.  This bummed me a little because I need justification for my irrational hope that the blazers make the finals.  The eyeballing does emphasis the consistency that the blazers have played with.  So, i guess yay there.  *grumble*

I looked at the score to see if all the wins were crushing and the losses close.  It varied, but some losses were crushing losses and of course we had a few crushing wins, but others were within a few points.  Nothing there that shouts dominance that's out of the ordinary.

Obviously I want to believe that the blazers are hot and taking it to another level.  So if they are, then the next obvious spot to check would be the win percentage.

The blazers currently have a .641 winning percentage for the year but from March-April they're at .700.  If we were to lose the next game we'd be at .666 (I was curious to see how much a loss would change our win percentage.  Clearly losing the next game would be evil and thus it should not happen.  I'm amused that one number is 7 and the other 666).   That would translate into 54 wins so far instead of the current 50 so far.  So, while a huge hot streak isn't really showing up, the win percentage is slightly better at the moment and i'll take that.

That is my bit of hope that we'll smash other teams to dust and take it all.  Experience be darned.  Yes... I realize i live in a fantasy world, but it's nice here.