Portland Trail Blazers Game 5: I Was THERE...

Ok, here is the story behind my attendance @ the GREATEST ending to a game I haveSEEN since the Lakers beat the Spurs in 2004 with Derek Fisher dropping the game winner with 0.4 seconds left.  (Of course...I was not at that game...)

1. Two days ago I attempted to sell my Aldridge Pack (11 games) because the economy sucks.

2. I had to work today.

3. I attempted to give my ticket away to FIVE people for FREE.

4. They all said NO.

5. My broke-face was bummed.

6. I got off work @ nine (and since the game started @ 8, thanks TNT) I decided to catch the second half.

Um...OK...I had NO IDEA what I was getting into.  There are many great plays in the NBA. There are many great games in the NBA.  There are many great shot in the NBA.

But...But...BUT...

How many times does somebody get to see three of the greatest shots EVER in the waning seconds of an NBA game?  My guess would be...it's astronomical 2 c what I saw 2-nite.  And I have seen some great endings in person.  Not just in basketball, but in life.

 Believe u me.

The young Blazers were playing the veteran Rockets at home, who had added the brilliant threat of Ron Artest, to join Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming...in both team's FIFTH game of the season.

Rockets were 4-1, Blazers 1-4, in wins and losses on the season. 

After 2-nite...I see why sometimes fans do not get there until the 2nd half. That is when I got there.

Best NBA game I EVER SAW.  And I've seen a LOT.

After a HOTLY contested 4th quarter, where the Rockets did EVERYTHING they COULD to stop not only the Portland Trail Blazers, but their FANS,  let's face it, our fans were so LOUD when it counted...it was just hard for Houston to make the big plays necessary to shut us up.  I could see...they were desperate to make that BIG SHOT...they could not DO IT.  We were too LOUD.  We were getting into their HEADS.

THEN...Brandon Roy hit what SHOULD have been the game winning shot with 1.9 remaining.   He was partying down the court like a guy who just killed the Dark Wizard from the North.   

I had the beginnings of a cold, so I only jumped and made no noise.  The Rose Garden was loud enough w/out me.  What a shot.

Game OVER.

Then...oh GOD...then Yao Mind got FOULED (by Brandon Roy) on his AND 1 shot to tie the game.  OUCH!  The vet Rockets had successfully shut us up, with a chance to make a free throw for the win.  After all their hard work...they had done what they came there 2 do.  Hurt us.  On National TV.  The Rockets had shut our fans UP. 

Ming's three throw was a success.

Rockets 99, Blazers 98.

DANG.  Two GREAT EMOTIONAL PLAYS, to end the game. 

The veteran Houston Rockets were 0.8 seconds away from shutting our FRANCHISE up for a LONG TIME. They were about to put us down 1-4 for the season.  The Rockets were about to look like legitimate champion contenders...on NATIONAL TV.

Funny thing is, you could tell from the atmosphere of the Rose Garden that everyone, all twenty thousand of us, accepted this loss would happen.  Blazers fans are used to our team losing big games to veteran teams. 

We were willing to still love our Blazers for their effort.

Blazers All Star Brandon Roy would have NONE of that.

The Rockets must have been NUTS not to defend him better on the inbounds pass.  They must have thought the game belonged to them.   

Brandon Roy took an inbound pass fade away 30 foot shot, from three point range...

Nothing but NET.  That arena was LOUD.  1 of the greatest endings to N-E-THING EVER. 

Despite my cold...I made more noise than a loudspeaker at a Metallica concert.

Find me someone who has hit a game winning 3, while down 1 point, with 0.8 seconds left?  Has it ever happened B-4?  Ever?  If so, let me know.  Cause I think I witnessed history.  I know it's just the fifth game.

But Oden will be back soon.  Blazers have a long way to go.

But tonight...I was THERE.