There is something about the Rose City; about Portland, Oregon.
Maybe for some, the first things that come to mind when Portland is brought up are the to-die-for food, the local brews, or the eccentric people. But for me, the first thing that comes to mind about my city is without a doubt the Portland Trail Blazers.
Yes, the team that has not won a championship since 1977. Yes, the team that has not won a conference title since 1992. And yes, the team that lost four of its five starters from last season.
There is always going to be negative talk, and there is always going to be some level of skepticism. But the negative talk and the skepticism had risen to an impressively pessimistic level throughout the Blazers' 2015 preseason. Who could realistically see a season breaking .500 after losing LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, and Nicolas Batum? And who could really blame all of the analysts, all of the commentators, and all of the opposing fans for having this mindset, right?
Well, I suppose the city of Portland and the ever-loyal fan base might have argued against that. We still had Lillard, and we still had Stotts behind us. And we had the potential of CJ McCollum, the now NBA Most Improved Player of 2015-16.
The city of Portland saw beyond the analysts, the commentators, and the opposing fans, because we knew what we had, and we knew what we could do with it, and now here we are. After being told "they are a first round exit at best," we are here, in the Western Conference semifinals. We are set up against the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. And we are giving them a series to worry about.
The Portland Trail Blazers pulled together as a team to give us a season worth watching. And the city of Portland, Rip City, pulled together as a city to back them with something, someone, to play for.
So beyond the incredible food, the one-of-a-kind brews, and the strange people, I see the Blazers.
I see the community of fans. I see the Moda Center lit up in red with deafening screams ringing throughout the arena. I see Lillard pointing to his watchless wrist, signaling Lillard time. I see 3J McCollum throwing three fingers up after draining one from deep. I see Pat Connaughton jumping off the bench, losing his mind after Meyers Leonard slams the rim.
I see the Portland Trail Blazers, and I could not be prouder to call the Blazers my team and Portland my city.
Win or lose this series, never doubt Rip City.
