Brandon Roy Scores 42 Points as the Blazers Even the Series at One Game Apiece

Some like to call him "The Natural," "Lucky Number Seven," "Mister Fourth Quarter," or simply "B-Roy."

No matter what nickname he is dubbed, Brandon Roy can take over a game at a moment's notice.

On Tuesday evening, the fourth seeded Portland Trail Blazers entered their home court with redemption on their minds. This past Saturday, the Blazers were manhandled by the older, more prepared Houston Rockets. The Blazers had failed to protect their home court in Game One, and subsequently lost their home court advantage that they had so desperately played to secure.

However, as I have stated in previous articles, Game One was used as a learning technique, or coping mechanism for the Blazers. They were able to get the butterflies out as most of the roster was playing in their first ever postseason game.

In Game Two, we all saw a much more focused Blazer team. They were able to contain Yao Ming well, using their "twin towers" strategy of playing both Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden at the same time. Steve Blake played excellent defense on Aaron Brooks, and forced him to take low percentage shots.

There were some downs as well. Most notably, losing a five point lead in just over 30 seconds, thanks to a five-point turnaround by former Trail Blazer Von Wafer. Wafer made a duo of plays similar to what Blazer fans saw Rudy Fernandez do versus Phoenix.

Von Wafer hit a three-point shot, then stole the ball away from Rudy Fernandez and ran the length of the court for a dunk.

Portland will now have a major advantage over Houston for the rest of the series, as the Rockets have lost their 18-year veteran and major defensive role player Dikembe Mutumbo to a knee injury that is possibly career-ending.

Mutumbo was Yao Ming's backup at the center position. Now, with him out of the picture, once Yao succumbs to foul trouble, as he did in Game Two, the Rockets will not have a true center to substitute for Yao.

Portland took advantage of this situation and proceeded to pound the Rockets in the paint.

Now that Mutumbo is gone for the rest of the playoffs, he himself even stated that his career is over, all the Blazers must do is get Yao into foul trouble in order to win the game.

If the Blazers keep playing their stellar defense, if Nate McMillan still employs his "twin towers" strategy, if the Blazers can get Yao Ming into foul trouble, they will win this series in only five games.

These are a few ifs, but Portland showed us all that they can achieve these ifs in Game Two.

Now all that is left to do for Blazers fans is to sit back and watch the fireworks.

Prediction: Portland wins Games Three and Four in Houston, and clinches the series by winning Game Five in Portland. Portland wins the series 4-1.