The

welcome defending NBA champions

into the Rose Garden Thursday night, where the Blazers are winners of eight in a row.

The game against the Heat starts the first of four grueling tests for the Blazers, whose next four opponents have a combined record of 91-45. Thursday's game will be the second of a six-game road trip for Miami, which lost

in Indiana Tuesday.

After a long, and physical practice Wednesday, Heat coach

talked about what he's seen from this young Blazers team and what he likes about point guard

, while

dubbed Lillard the Rookie of the Year.

"He's never out of his comfort zone," James said of Lillard Wednesday. "He's never too fast; he's never too slow. He plays in his own lane."