As a lifelong Blazer fan, I have seen some dark times. I won't bother to go into detail, but will just a cite a few of the obvious incidents: 2000 Western Conference Finals, the entire Jail Blazers era, Greg Oden's four years, and the recent revelation that Brandon Roy, once one of the best shooting guards in the league, is now a mediocre bench player with zero explosiveness and little chance of his athleticism returning.
Oh and add on the fact that we haven't won a championship since '77 and one can understand why being a Blazers fan might be a little tough.
But through all the tough times, we seem to be turning a corner. Three straight years in the playoffs now, after missing the previous five years and probably our best chance at winning a playoff series in that time sits on the doorstep. Assuming the Blazers finish 6th in the West (a bit of a bold assumption given their paltry play last night against Golden State), they'll face the Mavs in the first round.
Dallas, with their championship window currently slamming shut, is limping into the playoffs right now. The biggest problem for the Blazers had always been trying to find a defender to put on Dirk, as he constantly torched us from inside and out. With the addition of Gerald Wallace, and the inspired play of Aldridge since Roy's spotlight turned off, the Blazers have the length and size to throw at the Mavs that they'd always needed.
As long as the Blazers do not get three-happy, they stand a good chance of beating the Mavs in a seven game series. This is all assuming that the Mavs finish in third and the Blazers hold the six seed, which are no guarantees. But I have found that hoping for the best, at least as of recently, has paid off and maybe the Blazers can avoid a first round series with the Lakers.
If this playoff matchup comes to fruition, I pick the Blazers in seven. Who knows, maybe the Blazers, despite the injury woes of the past couple of years, will make some noise in the playoffs after all.
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