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InsideHoops.com / NBA News

It began in 1983, with names like Jim Paxson, Calvin Natt and Mychal Thompson. It "glided" on through the '80s and early '90s with Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Buck Williams, eventually giving way to Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, Brian Grant and Arvydas Sabonis. For the past 21 seasons, it's been an annual rite of spring in Rip City -- Trail Blazers in the playoffs. Only the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers franchise (22) has fashioned a longer playoff streak in NBA history. If the season ended today, however, there'd be no joy in Portland. Despite the emergence of Zach Randolph and solid play from Damon Stoudamire, the Trail Blazers (29-31) own the 10th-best record in the West, trailing No. 8 Denver (33-29) by three games for the final playoff spot in the West. Utah (31-30) is in ninth place. Portland hosts Detroit tonight in the second game (10 p.m. EST) of a doubleheader on TNT. Tonight marks the return of Rasheed Wallace to Portland. In seven games with the Pistons, Wallace is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. In the first game, Sacramento visits Philadelphia (7:30 p.m. EST). The Kings are 19-2 against Eastern Conference teams this season. The Pistons have won four of their last five.

Rasheed Wallace averaged 16.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 35.5 minutes in 544 games as a Trail Blazer from 1996-2004. Detroit embarks on a five-game West Coast trip, its longest road trip of the season. The Pistons went 1-3 during their previous West Coast trip earlier this season. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is averaging 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 10 games with Portland.

Sacramento has won eight of its last nine road games, including three straight in Philadelphia. The Kings have won six straight overall against the Sixers. Vlade Divac is averaging 9.4 assists over his last seven games, and has dished off at least eight assists in eight of his last 11 games.

Miami's Lamar Odom is one of only two players in the NBA (Kevin Garnett) averaging at least 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Odom is averaging 17.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. The Heat has dropped five straight to Milwaukee.