The Trailblazers are Blazin!
Are you enjoying the NBA playoffs so far? The playoffs are a marathon to watch. It takes passion, observation, and patience to see where each play and game will take you.
Now that we are in Round Two, the talent increases. The intensity is even wilder. If there’s any game I hope you watched, it would be Game Three between the Trailblazers and the Nuggets.
My Eye on the Trailblazers
I’ve had my eye on the auspicious Trailblazers since Round One. They seem to carry a different vibe than in recent playoff seasons. They lost a key player, Nurkic, during the end of the regular season. Still, in Round One, they seemed like a team finally ready for a little success in the post-season.
There was a statistic being quoted and written left and right about Game Three. It states that the team who wins Game Three wins the best-of-seven series 73.3% of the time. I even heard players quote this stat pre-game. To the players, it almost meant the winner of Game Three takes all.
With the importance of Game Three for the Nuggets and Trailblazers, it looked as if the Trailblazers had extra motivation for winning this game. Jonathan Yim, their video coordinator, and player development coach, with some family members, were involved in a car crash that left Jonathan in serious condition.
The coaching staff donned bow ties during Game Two on May 1st and Portland ended up winning this game. While Jonathan makes his recovery, the team continues to honor and support him.
Not one, not two, not three, but four overtimes!
Yes, you heard right. Four overtimes occurred in Game Three. Watching 68 minutes of never-ending basketball was the ultimate roller coaster ride. One minute you knew the Nuggets were going to seal the deal. The next moment you felt the Trailblazers gaining the edge. The momentum changed numerous times and the drama kept me watching.
With each new overtime were cries of disbelief. “No way!!!” By the fourth quarter, I was starting to feel mentally exhausted. Even though I watched for signs of the players becoming fatigued, I couldn’t find any.
The brilliance of the Nuggets continued. Blazer’s C.J. McCollum could not miss a shot. The final hero of this historical game ended up being Rodney Hood. Hood took the Blazers home. His critical 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in the fourth overtime elevated the Blazers to a two-point lead.
Since I was rooting for the Blazers, Hood’s basket was the final straw. After his unforgettable shot, the game was over. There was no energy left to celebrate. It wasn’t time to celebrate, it was bedtime!
As I watch this series unfold, I am genuinely happy for Rodney Hood. He is a player that can make a difference. I saw how hard it was for him to have any quality playing time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. If Rodney can step up to a big challenge, I know there are other NBA players just waiting for their chance to shine. They can already do so much but often cannot get into the game.
This entry is dedicated to those players who patiently wait on the sidelines. You will never know what they can bring unless you call their name. It’s time to call their names. See what they can do.
Next article – All Hail the Blazers
