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Blazing a Trail Away From Jail

MC Homer Written by MC Homer, Monday November 23 2009
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     It was not very long ago that the good citizens of Portland Oregon were force-fed very poor basketball. Off the court, unacceptable public behavior became the norm. Players were getting busted for fighting, threatening referees, staging dog fights (Qyntel Woods got 80 hours of community service; Michael Vick obviously hired the wrong lawyers), and even marijuana possession. The public demanded better. That mess began in 2000 and continued for six miserable years, landing the franchise the regrettable name, the Jail Blazers.

 

    

    Just when Portland fans thought it couldn't get any worse, the team missed the playoffs in 2004, ending a 21-year run. The downfall of the once proud franchise, hit rock bottom in 2006 when they managed just 21 wins. Bazillionaire, Paul Allen, swallowed his pride and opened his wallet, thus turning the tide of a franchise in desperate need of a makeover.
 

     It began with trading for Brandon Roy on draft day in 2006. The Blazers also acquired LaMarcus Aldridge from the Bulls the same day. The basketball gods were very kind to them in 2007 when Portland won the NBA lottery and the rights to Greg Oden (who is finally healthy). Smart, yet subtle acquisitions in the past few years to compliment the kids, have catapulted the Blazers back to prominence.
 

     Mr. Roy won Rookie of the Year for the 2006-'07 campaign, that same year, the Blazers won 32 games, which may not sound like much, but it was 11 more than the year previous, when they mustered just 21. The next year, '07-'08, this team won 41 times, good enough for a .500 record, and, if they were an Eastern Conference team, a playoff berth. Last year, Portland made the playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season, going 54-28 (that's 13 more wins than the year prior if you're keeping track). If history repeats itself, this team should win somewhere in the neighborhood of 65 games this year. My magic eight ball says very doubtful.
 

     With a re-tooled roster and led by head coach and former Seattle Supersonic defensive specialist, Nate McMillan, the Blazers, once again, are enjoying success. Steve Blake returned after brief stints in Milwaukee then Denver, reclaiming his previous role as the starting PG. Andre Miller was signed this offseason and the depth on the bench is fantastic as well, with Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, Martel Webster, and the Vanilla Gorilla, Joel Pryzbilla.
 

     Currently, the Blazers sit at 11-5, behind only Denver (9-4) in the Northwest division, and in fifth place overall in the West. Coming off Saturday's annihilation of Minnesota (106-78), then Monday's dismantling of Chicago (122-98), Portland is poised to make noise in the loaded Western Conference. Like every team, their goal is not to merely make the playoffs, but make the Finals and take home the coveted Larry O'Brien trophy. Most teams with that goal are simply kidding themselves, but the Trail Blazers are no longer one of those unfortunate franchises.
 

     This team plays stifling defense, allowing only two of their sixteen opponents to reach the century mark. They can win ugly (four wins scoring less than 90 points) and they can win with flash and pizazz (four wins scoring 100+, two with 110+). I think we can all agree that this will not be the year Portland finds themselves in the Finals, but it would be foolish to say they are many years away from seriously competing for that spot. Even in the tough Western Conference, the young, talented Blazers are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.


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