Ding Dong the Witch is Dead: Portland Trail Blazers Make Playoffs!

I am a Portland Trail Blazer fan.

That means I am prone to extreme highs when the team wins and deep lows when they lose. 

The Blazers have not reached the NBA Playoffs in six years...

For six years Portland Trail Blazer franchise has been like the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz...under the control of the Wicked Witch from the East.  Whenever something good is about to happen (for example a big win) the Wicked Witch from the East shows up and lights our proverbial Toto on fire.

For me, it's been a low six years. 

But today Dorothy's house fell from a twister and killed the wicked witch.   

She is gone where the Goblins go, below, below, below... 

And Portland is in the NBA playoffs.

Of course, just what was the proverbial twister which spit out Dorothy's house?

In 2008-2009, the Portland Trail Blazers made some moves which forced extreme enthusiasm from the city of Portland.  First, Greg Oden returned from his season ending knee surgery.  Second, super star Rudy Fernandez from Spain agreed to play this season. 

During the summer of 2008 the Portland Trail Blazer fans knew this season would be a special and unforgettable highlight real.  

Personally, I could not stop leaving comments on YouTube to boast that Oden and Rudy were going to help propel Portland into NBA dominance in the 2009 season.

Dominant? 

At times, yes.

The Portland Trail Blazers are virtually unbeatable at home.

After four seasons of losing to the San Antonio Spurs, they defeated San Antonio twice at home, one of those victories a blowout.

After six seasons of losing to the Phoenix Suns, they defeated Phoenix twice at home, one of those victories a blowout.

After never beating the Houston Rockets with McGrady and Ming playing at once, Brandon Roy sunk a miracle three pointer with 0.8 seconds left in overtime.

Even the defending world champion Boston Celtics fell to Portland at home. 

Heck, The Blazers even forced overtime against the NBA's best team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Cleveland's home court, where the Cavs have only lost one game. 

That is an impressive season. 

People who bash Greg Oden have it all wrong...even with Oden missing 30 percent of the season his pressence helped us make the playoffs.   

Yes, today Portland lost to the Houston Rockets on the road.  It was a tough loss because we had a chance to get the third spot out West...but it was also a game I know the team would have played differently in had it been a playoff series.

This team will not just give up and start fighting like the 2001-2002 Blazers.  They will not lose three games and attempt to win a seven game series like the 2003 Blazers.

Whoever they play is going to have a fight on their hands.

Whoever they play is going to have their chances of winning the title dimmed by the battle they will need to put forth in order to silence the resurrection of Rip City. 

The 2009 Blazers have given this entire city something which unites its citizens regardless of their class, religion, sex, or race.  No matter what our differences are, people in Portland have been brought together by one beautiful question, "How about them Blazers?"

Answer: "Playoffs."