One of my favorite films is 1989’s Glory, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington (who rightfully earned an Oscar for his bravura performance), and Morgan Freeman along with a few other notable names. Glory tells the true story of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army during the Civil War. It depicts a group of underdogs and outcasts, mostly because of the color of their skin, overcoming numerous obstacles in order to earn the right to see extensive action during the war and to help fight for their very freedom.
Spoiler Alert: The movie ends with the battle at Fort Wagner but it does not end with a victory. The regiment suffered overwhelming causalities and the fort was never taken. However, as word spread of their heroic efforts, the events at Fort Wagner helped turn the tide of the war. The 54th’s bravery spearheaded and encouraged more men to enlist and, has Abraham Lincoln himself said, was a key development in helping secure final victory.
The final lesson in Glory, that inspiration and success can be found even in loss, should be the final lesson we take away from the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2015-2016 season. The Blazers battled heroically all season long and to the very end against the defending champions Golden State Warriors. The Blazers never gave up. They played to the final buzzer and fans should be proud to be a part of Rip City. Even though the Blazers lost, their valiant effort should resonant well into next season. Portland’s gallant run this year, when everyone predicted they would be no more than a 25-win lottery team, should be a key development in securing the next step in becoming a complete, contending team.
In contrast, look at how the Houston Rockets ended their season to these same Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, minus Stephen Curry who was absent the final game with a knee injury. The Rockets simply gave up and got blown out in the final game. I’m sure nobody in Houston felt as good about how their year ended as Portland does today. There is nothing to be proud of of a team that just laid down and died, a team that on paper was more talented and seasoned than the Blazers. What the Rockets did was embarrassing not only for NBA basketball, but for professional athletes as well. What the Blazers did, on the other hand, was inspiring. It’s how professional athletes should end their season, giving everything they had on the court until the last second.
Years from now, we may not recall this 44-win team that lost in the second round of the playoffs with as much clarity as we do now. You rarely remember a team that falls short of 50 wins and exits mid-way through the playoffs. In time, we may forget that at one point the Blazers were nine games below .500 and the playoffs seemed like a pipe-dream. We may forget that this team had the lowest payroll in the NBA only to fight tooth and nail against the NBA’s best in the playoffs. We may forget that we had no idea who most of these players were or how to pronounce their names at the beginning of the season, but by the end we had grown to admire their grit and resiliency as we cheered them on as household names. And, don’t forget, none of this happens without the massive overhaul of last season and the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge. This season became the ultimate success from loss.
Down the road, we may will remember this team as the beginning of something special, as the beginning of seasons of which you do remember for all time. This team is young and hungry. They are one or two moves away from being legitimate contenders. They have a bona-fide leader in Damian Lillard who still has room to grow and improve, who will be more driven next year following an All-Star snub and enduring a tough exit against a rival competitor. CJ McCollum proved he can play in big games, giving the Blazers a backcourt to build upon for years. Perhaps, this year will be remembered as the year we first saw it all come together.
Glory is an inspiring movie that ends with loss. This Blazers’ season is likewise an inspiring story that also ends with a loss. Maybe, Portland’s bold showing in the playoffs will help land the free-agent or two they need to become truly exceptional. Maybe, tales of this Blazers’ season will reverberate around the league as something other players want to be a part of and join.
This offseason, there are no dark clouds hovering above the Moda Center like there was last year when we saw the mass exodus of our starting lineup. The sun is shining brightly on Portland’s future, and it’s shining all the brighter because of how the Blazers lost just as much as how many wins they achieved. We have, maybe for the first time in years, a clear idea of who the true leader is on this team. The players had genuine fun this season and all of them want to be here. After what was initially expected of this team, this season has been one glorious victory. The Blazers have something to build upon, something to be proud of. Now, it’s time to march towards victory.
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