| Ready or Not, Here They Are Authored by Billy Ray - November 17, 2005 - 7:55 pm
For those of you that thought the Trail Blazers would only sport a .500 record this season when the team held a record of 0-0, you may still be a doubter—and that's okay.
For those of you that thought the Blazers would surprise the world and make a run at the playoffs, it is still way to early to seek vindication—but go ahead anyway.
It's all okay because right now the Blazers are 3-3 and looking like a team that has finally displayed the character, charisma, effort and energy that Blazer fans have craved for a long time. This bunch isn't going to beat teams on talent very often, but they have proved that they will have a legitimate shot every night if effort is exerted.
Players are understanding their roles, and players are stepping up every night and contributing. Calls have gone against them, and a string of bad plays quickly has turned into an ugly scene a few times already this young season, but each time the Blazers have found a way to keep playing. That is what makes this team so unique.
Season's past has brought many talented teams, but not to many teams that could deal well with adversity. Last season's team was a prime example. Laden with talent the Blazers were a pathetic bunch that would pack it in after the first quarter if things weren't going their way. Plays were never run to completion (there was of course, some debate as to whether plays were even called to begin with), players would quickly settle for the first shot even if it meant a more difficult attempt. In all, everyone was playing for one reason—themselves.
Call it playing for the next contract, call it bad attitudes, call it whatever you like. The good news is that team is no more, and that this team promises to never let that happen.
The catalyst behind that promise is head coach Nate McMillan. McMillan refuses to let the young Blazers be pleased with where they are today, constantly stressing in practice and the locker room that there are always ways to improve, and always opportunities that should not have been missed.
Yes, it would be quite easy for the Blazers to be happy with their record—and teams of Blazers past most likely would have been—but not this team. McMillan brought with him an attitude that anything short of winning was a failure. Fans adopted mostly out of necessity the approach that this would be a rebuilding year with more downs than ups. While it's hard to believe the players didn't feel the same way two months ago, today the players look as if they have truly bought into McMillan's philosophy. Young or not, losing is not an option.
If McMillan were fired tomorrow he would already be worth every penny of the 6 year 30 million dollar deal he inked over the summer. He has the young Trail Blazers not just hoping to win some games, but expecting to win games. The confidence can be seen in Zach Randolph who is finally beginning to trust his teammates, in Sebastian Telfair bouncing back from a rolled ankle to inspire his team in the closing minutes of Wednesday's win over Chicago, and in Darius Miles who dubbed himself as the punisher before the season began and has lived up to the billing.
Teams will learn to not be surprised by this bunch eventually, and that will truly prove this teams mettle. But for now the Blazers are looking like more of a contender than a pretender, and should not be a team to underestimate. As this team continues to grow and trust one another they will become a more difficult opponent. If this team stays together for three or more years? Look out. |
