Let me preface this post with this: about two weeks ago, this story held more weight.

For my last Blazers column (“Patience is key to rising and falling with Blazers”) for the Portland Sentinel – at least for the paper’s final street edition, with at least four more Portland centric stories coming online in March – it was a chance to look ahead at this team’s future, while examining what’s gone on this season and even right now.

Those Brandon Roy health concerns with a gimpy right hamstring have transformed to cured on the court, judging from his recent play. Roy’s regained that rhythm. Slow but surely.

Scrap the “he should shut it down talk”.

The stance about Portland grasping for the final playoff spot is also old news. For today at least. Man, the West is just stacked.

And there will be plenty of time to debate the offseason changes that will go down in Portland. Let's pause for the cause here.

But I will say this: the overall heart of the column remains and the question marks with it.

Patience really is the key to rising and falling with this team.

For some, this season won’t be a success unless Portland makes the playoffs. Knowing what this team has been through - the injuries and distractions - this season already is a success.

And others argue that it is fair to resume those preseason expectations that may fans had of this team: they are (somewhat) healthy. The addition of Marcus Camby solved the void in the middle. By now, guys know their roles and Nate McMillan is tightening his rotation as Portland ramps up for the playoffs.

For me, it’s best not to get too high or too low with the Blazers. Because while the recent wins should be applauded, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Indiana aren’t exactly Utah or Denver.

That’s why these next 18 games will be very telling. Aside from playing against sub-par teams like Sacramento (3 times), New York, Golden State (twice) and the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland also has Denver (twice), Dallas, Oklahoma City (twice) and the Lakers.

Those last six games are ones the Blazers need to show and prove with to really elevate their legitimacy before rolling into the playoffs.

We’ll have to be wait and see.

photo: daylife

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