reach playoffs

I t should not be lost that the Los Angeles Clippers came into Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers with some injuries to key players, and with Zach Randolph serving a suspension, and with the NBA draft lottery undoubtedly again in their future.

Basically, they're awful.

The Clippers were playing shorthanded, and small, and out of position. The Blazers will tell you that the Los Angeles coach, Mike Dunleavy, threw the keys in early. "He just kept calling the same stuff, over and over," Channing Frye said. Also, the Blazers players pointed out that it became apparent during the game that the bickering Clippers players don't really like each other.

Well Portland, take a long look as the Clippers team plane flies off.

That used to be the Trail Blazers didn't it?

So maybe we're due some extra celebration watching the Blazers throttle the Clippers 116-87 on Sunday at the Rose Garden. That's 54 consecutive sellouts of the building, too. And maybe, too, an opportunity for us all to acknowledge that we've arrived on inspiring new ground.

Portland has now won eight consecutive home games. The 23-5 home record is the best home start since the 1999-2000 season. That team won 59 regular-season games and would have won an NBA title if . . . well . . . nevermind.

That was then, this is now.

That's become the Blazers' new mantra. And it was never clearer than while watching the Clippers (13-43) go through the motions Sunday. The Blazers have great chemistry and good internal leadership, and after five consecutive draft lottery appearances, they suddenly have a merciful shot to make the playoffs and start a new streak.

Zach Randolph was a no-show, of course, after being suspended for throwing a punch. And Blazers fans who remember Randolph sucker-punching Ruben Patterson at practice once know all about that. And so fans at the Rose Garden danced in the aisles Sunday, and high-fived, and got to see another Randolph --Shavlik --get more than eight minutes in a game that ended sometime shortly after the Clippers got off the bus.

Oh, Steve Blake had 17 assists. At least one of them questionable. Still, great performance. And now begins a stretch of 27 games in which the Blazers (35-20) must continue to come up big and deliver themselves.

It's playoffs.

Or bust.

It's not a "Can they make it?" question anymore. But "What will they do when they get there?" Because Dunleavy and the Clippers will tell you that Portland has a superstar who can finish (Brandon Roy), and a great post player (LaMarcus Aldridge) and teammates who, gasp, like each other.

They have playoff-caliber tools, especially if Greg Oden can return with any kind of consistency, which is why team executives are hoping the Blazers can maybe find a way to slip into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference and attempt to do what New Orleans did a year ago.

There was some talk in the Blazers locker room after the game about how far the franchise has come. And maybe this was because there was no better example of where things can end up than down the hallway, in the visiting locker room.

The Blazers go on the road now, and every game becomes paramount to making the postseason a success. There are no off nights. No easy nights. There are no mulligans. They all count now.

After the game, Blazers team personnel working out beyond the arena loading dock started each of the Blazers' players automobiles. They parked them all pointing to the exit, and turned on the lights. And warmed the engines.

It was some sight, seeing all those rumbling engines pointed in the same direction.

The Clippers know what I'm talking about.

John Canzano: 503-294-5065;

JohnCanzano@aol.com

Read his blog at blog.oregonlive.com/

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