Light At The End Of The Tunnel

These last few days, my job has taken me back to New York City. That city is pretty abuzz right now with the Rangers in the NHL Eastern Conference Finals and the Jets’ quarterback controversy. But it was something kind of random that made me think of the Blazers’ situation.

On the way out of the city, I was going through the Holland Tunnel. It’s an amazing structure. To think that you are traveling under the Hudson River is a kind of frightening thought. As you enter the tunnel, it feels like you are going down a hill for a while. Then it flattens out and you start going back uphill. As you approach the opening of the tunnel, you can see the light coming through.

As we climbed the hill and got close to exiting the tunnel, my dad said, “There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

This past season was rough for our beloved Trail Blazers. It was the downhill slope leading to the bottom of the tunnel. The season was full of injuries and disappointment, resulting in the firing of Coach McMillan. For this team, this season could not end soon enough.

I had the opportunity to be at the practice facility the day of the exit Interviews a couple weeks ago. It was kind of strange, the whole team seemed loose. They were smiling, goofing around, almost as if a weight had been lifted. This could be viewed as if they were being flippant or that they didn’t care. But being involved in a season where nothing seemed to go right had to have taken a toll on the players, coaches, and all involved.

This summer is an opportunity for the team to level off and start going back “up the hill”. The prospect of having two lottery picks is exciting for any team. The GM and coaching searches could, and should, also be a very positive thing for the future of this franchise. Free agency also holds its own intrigue and excitement.

Whether you view this summer as a reload or rebuild, there is light at the end of the tunnel. All indications show the downward trend is over and this franchise will be heading towards an upward battle. But it will be a battle.