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Editorial  |
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Playoffs: Here we come
Blazers better than ever
Fans better believe it – Rip City is headed back to the promised land for the first time since the 2002-03 season and the Blazers are riding on high energy and even higher expectations.
And what a way to finish the regular season Wednesday night in front of a sold out crowd of 20,652 people at the Rose Garden with an absolute a** whipping 104-76 win over the Northwestern Division Champion Denver Nuggets. (Including six three-pointers from Rudy Fernandez who set a new rookie record of shots made from behind the arc, 159 of 398.)
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The Blazers clinched the fourth seed in the West with a 54-28 record and have home-court advantage against the Houston Rockets in the first round of action.
I keep hearing all the fears of Blazer fans saying “we didn’t want the Rockets in the first round.” To be honest, I am ready to take on anybody with the momentum we have going into the playoffs.
As long as Mr. Roy and his youngsters can keep up the intensity and stay healthy and more physical than ever, this team stands a fighting chance.
The key to beating the Rockets isn’t having Brandon Roy hit an amazing half court shot with no time left. You have to get Yao Ming in early foul trouble and get in the heads of Ron Artest and Shane Battier. Plus the Rockets have the curse of T-Mac, although he’s injured, and his first-round phobia (can’t get past the first round). Even though he isn’t playing he is still on the roster. A helpful hint for the Rockets: keep T-Mac away from the team.
Another key to getting past the Rockets is to get the two-headed monster Joel Przybilla and a semi-healthy Greg Oden involved as much as possible.
Oden, who due to various injuries gathered comparisons to the seven-footer Sam Bowie, the man selected over Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft, is finally coming to life and getting more playing time day in and day out.
Oden was selected over the Oklahoma City Thunders’ Kevin Durant who exploded right from the get-go winning Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 and earning all-star honors this season.
I hate to break it to Durant, who probably couldn’t agree with me more, but making the playoffs and being in contention for a title is much better than any individual award.
Between the two big guys, they should be able to hold the seven-time all-star Ming to a less forceful presence down low. In three games this season against the Rockets, the Blazers held Ming to 16.3 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game which are both under his season averages of 19.7 ppg and 9.9 rpg.
As a Portland-born child and now at 22 years of age, I have held faith in my Blazers and said right from the get-go that the team would make the postseason this year. I would like nothing more than to get through the first round and prepare for a championship. It sounds like a lot to ask, and it is, but let’s bring home a title.
Now is the time to shine more than ever. Forget finishing the season 26 games over .500. Let’s focus on the now! Let’s get past the jitters and the excitement and start thinking playoff-minded basketball. It’s what separates the big guys from the little guys.