With their impressive 104 - 76 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night behind them, the Portland Trail Blazers are headed to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2003. True Blazer fans, like me, have been waiting for their team to arrive at this moment for much longer than that, however.
The last time the team was truly competitive was in 2000, when the Scottie Pippen-led "Jailblazers" made it all the way to the Western Conference finals against the hated Los Angeles Lakers. It was game seven in LA where the Blazers blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead and lost the chance to return to the NBA Finals for the 4th time in franchise history. From there, it was downhill fast. They were already known as the "Jailblazers" due to their collection of low-life talent, but now they were also to be known as losers.
But this team is different. It sparkles with potential at every position. The talent level is matched by the remarkable high character of these young men. Not a whiff of scandal or misbehavior. These are guys we've come to admire even as they have been losing. Their youth may offer inexperience, but the upside is that you can actually see the players get better and better from game to game.
The losing days appear to be behind them now. This past month in particular, the young Blazers have been playing as well as any team in the entire NBA. I've come to see a team that is energetic, loaded with talent and depth. The second unit may be the best in the league. They appear to be ready to take on the powerful Houston Rockets in the first round. It will take their finest effort to survive this series, but I expect them to do so. I imagine most other Blazer fans do as well.
The last time I felt this good about the Blazers was 17 years ago. 1992 was the moment the Clyde Drexler-led team got to the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls. They could not defeat Michael Jordan, but they were an excellent team and the city loved them. Those years of Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Williams and Duckworth were magical.
The other team that we all love and remember is the 1977 championship winners. Led by the mercurial redhead, Bill Walton, that very young team came out of nowhere to shock the world and win it all. Their first playoff appearance took them all the way to the title. They created the buzz that became known as Blazermania and they solidified Portland's identity as Rip City.
Why do I reminisce? Perhaps its that this team, Brandon Roy's Blazers, remind me of those two other great eras. I find myself wondering if this team can also shock the world and get all the way to the NBA Finals in their rookie appearance. I don't doubt their ability any more. I expect it to happen, if not this year, then next year or the one after that. They WILL get there, and the world knows it. The question is when. I'm thinking we might be surprised by this bunch with how much they can accomplish right now.
Go Brandon, LaMarcus, Steve, Nicolus, Joel, Greg, Travis, Rudy, Sergio, Channing, Jared, Shavlik and Michael. I'm with you all the way. I have been waiting... for 32 years, for 17 years, for 9 years. I have not lost hope. I still see the visions and dream the dreams. I can almost taste it... Blazers over Houston in 6, Blazers over Lakers in 7, Blazers over Denver in 6, Blazers over Cleveland... LeBron James??? Rip City is alive. History awaits.
