Many NBA fans loyal to their team believe their perceptions to always be true; and if any event should occur to contradict their belief, they can always come up with an excuse or justification as to why it didn’t happen like they projected, myself included.

Last night’s Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers game proved no different among the two fan bases.

The Lakers Nation admitted defeat and acknowledged the Blazers outplayed the Lakers, but this sportsmanship does not go without additional comments like: the officiating was in the Blazer’s favor, Phil Jackson would have coached the game differently, it was the back end of a back-to-back, and the list goes on.

Last year’s loss in the NBA Finals left Laker fans admitting they got beat by a more physical and the better team at the time but also claim it would have been a different story and result if the Lakers had a healthy Andrew Bynum.

If the Lakers lose again this playoff season,  it will most likely be attributed to lack of effort, focus, or chemistry.

Although Laker fans would probably spend their time defending Kobe Bryant because of the onslaught of reprimands and shots haters will be taking at him especially if LeBron James wins.

On the other hand, the Blazer’s fans went on about how talented and young their team is, experience doesn’t matter, they can win the Western Conference, they own the Lakers, and, again, the list goes on and on.

Had the Blazers lost this game or if they lose in the playoffs, they will remind everyone how they didn’t have Martell Webster. In addition, all of sudden the experience that didn’t matter in last night’s win will be flipped around and their fans will claim that their young team gained valuable experience in the process of losing. 

This new found knowledge will combine with their skill set and all of a sudden the Blazer fans will claim they have the most talented and best team in the league and are set for a long run.

Yes, the Blazers have the most talent.

But this also begs the question of whether or not they are going to be able to keep this young core together. What is going to happen when these contracts start to end and other teams offer them more money?

Blazers fans go about claiming how close, tight knit, and loyal this team is to each other.

How naïve a statement this is.

How many collegiate players claim loyalty to representing their school only to end up jumping ship to the NBA? It goes without saying the NBA is worse. Try bringing up the name Elton Brand to any Los Angeles Clippers fan.

I’m not singling out the Blazers on this either.

The Lakers are going to have this exact scenario this summer when Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom become unrestricted free agents. When one of the Blazers players leaves or if Ariza and/or Odom leave, the fans will justify it with "the Association is a business and the players do what they have to do."

Should the Lakers or Blazers actually win the championship, the fans will be able to raise their heads high, tell everyone how their analysis was right all along and use it as evidence to support their team for all of next year just like the Boston Celtic fans have been using their title run throughout the duration of this season.

These incorrigible propositions or beliefs that loyal fans share for their team can never be altered and are beyond simple fact. Everything can be twisted and turned to their benefit or to justify what happened even if they don’t realize that is exactly what they are doing.

It’s a good thing the games are played and the fans don’t dictate who wins the NBA championship. There would be 30 champions every year.

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