Spring Break
It's not goodbye
Ben Bradea
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Sports
It's just the beginning. For the 2008-2009 Portland Trail Blazers, it was a breakthrough onto the NBA stage and a precursor of what's to come. The end of the season can be rough for us die hard Blazer fans sometimes, knowing that over the last seven months we have lived and died by every game, every quarter, every shot. Now we have to wait for what will seem like an eternity. I was disappointed, I was upset, and I wanted to throw the whole team under the bus too. But given a few days to reflect on what has happened has really helped me cope with reality.
This season was not a failure; it wasn't even close to that. It was way more than anyone could have expected. With 54 wins and tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference, the Blazers matured beyond their years. Matching up with the Rockets in the first round was no ones' fault - it just happened. However, the Blazers are better for it now.
Six games against the most rugged team in the NBA will give you a lot of bruises and headaches, but the experience is invaluable. Let's not dwell on what could have been because it's not worth it. Instead, let's look toward what can become. For a couple of the Blazer players, it might have been their last time suiting up in a Blazer uniform, as changes are in store for this team. Although it will be a tough stretch without any basketball on the floor, there will be a lot of movement inside the organization, and I am excited to see what's in store for the offseason.
Let's take a look back now at some of the lasting memories from this season that this team has provided us with.
November 6, 2008: In the best game I have ever attended, Brandon Roy came up with the greatest shot of his career, which solidified him as "clutch." With the game in overtime against Houston, Roy hit a jump shot with 1.9 seconds left to give the Blazers the lead. Then the unthinkable happens: he fouls Yao Ming, who sinks the shot and the free throw to reclaim the lead. So how did Roy redeem himself? The "Magnificent 7" nailed a 31-foot jumper with 0.8 seconds left to win the game.
This season was not a failure; it wasn't even close to that. It was way more than anyone could have expected. With 54 wins and tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference, the Blazers matured beyond their years. Matching up with the Rockets in the first round was no ones' fault - it just happened. However, the Blazers are better for it now.
Six games against the most rugged team in the NBA will give you a lot of bruises and headaches, but the experience is invaluable. Let's not dwell on what could have been because it's not worth it. Instead, let's look toward what can become. For a couple of the Blazer players, it might have been their last time suiting up in a Blazer uniform, as changes are in store for this team. Although it will be a tough stretch without any basketball on the floor, there will be a lot of movement inside the organization, and I am excited to see what's in store for the offseason.
Let's take a look back now at some of the lasting memories from this season that this team has provided us with.
November 6, 2008: In the best game I have ever attended, Brandon Roy came up with the greatest shot of his career, which solidified him as "clutch." With the game in overtime against Houston, Roy hit a jump shot with 1.9 seconds left to give the Blazers the lead. Then the unthinkable happens: he fouls Yao Ming, who sinks the shot and the free throw to reclaim the lead. So how did Roy redeem himself? The "Magnificent 7" nailed a 31-foot jumper with 0.8 seconds left to win the game.
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