Since Damian Lillard joined Portland in 2012 NBA Draft, the Blazer have been to the playoffs in three of those four seasons. In 2014 they beat the Houston Rockets in the first round, to advance in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
To advance in 2014, and beat the Houston Rockets, it took a little bit of magic.
Lillard’s shot with 0.9 seconds remaining in Game 6 will go down as one of the most memorable moments in Trail Blazer history.
The shot, in and of itself was incredible. Lillard came across the court, off of screens set by Mo Williams and Wesley Matthews. Confidently, Lillard clapped his hands, calling for the ball from Nicolas Batum. Setting his feet as he got the inbound pass, Lillard let the shot off just in time over the outstretched arm of the much taller and longer Chandler Parsons. What happened next was madness in the Moda Center.
I have been blessed to be able to attend a lot of sporting events in my 27 years; NFL, MLB, college football, a lot of Blazer games. I was just one of about 20,000 people in attendance that day to witness the most electrifying moment in Blazer history (and I would add the most electrifying moment in Oregon sports history, as a whole).
No one wanted to leave the arena. Everyone was screaming, hugging, I even saw tears. People in the arena were taking pictures to document them being there. The team stuck around and celebrated the victory with the fans, and then Lillard grabbed the microphone from public address announcer Mark Mason and had two words for everyone there … “Rip City”.
In the last three playoff runs, the Blazers have found success in the confines of the Moda Center. They have played in 4 series since 2013; against the Rockets, Spurs, Grizzlies, and Clippers. The Blazers were underdogs in all 4 of those series, however they won 2 of those series and had a home record of 7-3.
7-3! A 70% winning percentage at home in the playoffs the last three years. That is impressive, and the reason the Blazer have found success.
In the Rockets series, the Blazers were 2-1 at home, including the incredible Game 6 victory. Just this year in the Los Angeles Clippers series, the Blazers were 3-0 at home.
This home mojo needs to continue for the Blazers. As the Blazers prepare to play the reigning world champion Golden State Warriors, they need Rip City as much as ever.
Earlier in the year, the Blazers had one of their most impressive performances of the year against the Warriors, when they beat them 137-105 at home. There was so much energy in the stadium that day.
That is exactly what the Blazers are coming home to Saturday and Monday nights. The crowd will bring the energy, the team will be back in their element, and there will be more madness in the Moda Center.
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