After one of the most heart-wrenching series in Trail Blazers’ history, Portland’s hopes of conquering the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the playoffs were deflated. But their hopes of conquering “they” were still very much alive.
For even the most unreasonably optimistic Blazer fans, it was no secret that going back to a hostile Oakland crowd, down 3-1, was really nothing more than a suicide mission. But if you ask them, it honestly didn’t matter. Like every other team, they were obviously there to win. But as with every other game they played this season, they showed up to also prove a point.
Maturity, experience, and natural talent are all things this young team struggled to come by this season. But in Portland, fearlessness and heart were not hard to come by. All season long, these guys heard the same reports and stats that you did. The difference is that to them, it was just more static noise. To them, it meant nothing. To them, that was just “they” talking again.
More than any other team this season, the Blazers simply had nothing to lose. And for better or worse, they had no problem echoing that message to the world. And now, having been eliminated from the playoffs in poetic fashion, we can safely say that this special group showed up ready to fight to the death for their city and their heroic season.
As the season developed into the playoffs, so too, did the players. This season required “on the job” training for all of the fresh blood. And while all of them showed up with various skill sets and levels, they all showed up with the same heart.
What a fitting end it was to be a team projected to win 31 games in the season, to giving the defending champions a run for their money in the second round of the playoffs.
These courageous Blazers left absolutely nothing left of themselves to give, and even less for “they” to talk about.
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