If it wasn’t for Roger Clemens getting jabbed in the butt or a ghost making the Pro Bowl, the eight game win streak by the Portland Trail Blazers would be much bigger news in the sports world.

The NBA’s youngest team, the Blazers, are playing far beyond their skill level and their 10-3 record at the Rose Garden puts them in an elite category of teams (Boston, San Antonio, Dallas) who dominate on their home court. What is even more impressive is that the majority of the wins have come without big man LaMarcus Aldridge (not to mention that Oden fella), who was carrying the team early on in the season.

It’s hard to pin the team’s uncharacteristic confidence on any one thing. Could it be the last second shot that started the streak? The addition of James Jones off the bench? Or maybe the entire bench itself, especially the play of Travis Outlaw? Or perhaps team owner Paul Allen pawning the arena to pay off God?

Most likely it’s a little bit of each (except the blasphemous one), but regardless, right now is a damn exciting time to be a Blazers fan.