Let’s Hear It for Brandon Roy (and the NBA)

- The Season's Over -

Let’s Hear It for Brandon Roy (and the NBA)

November 7, 2008

Brandon Roy was the hero against Houston It’s games like Thursday’s late-night, overtime thriller between the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets that remind you why the NBA is so special. And it’s singular moments like Brandon Roy’s improbable buzzer-beating three-pointer from the back of the Rose Garden parking lot that are further proof that the league’s modern-day renaissance is still gaining steam.

In case you haven’t noticed, folks, we’re watching and experiencing another Golden Age in the NBA. And the best thing is that it’s only just begun.

Roy, Portland’s cool, confident leader was firmly planted in the middle of this breathtaking game’s final moments on both ends of the floor. He went from hero to dog and back to hero again in less than 15 seconds, in the end bringing Blazers fans to their feet in triumph by calmly swishing a triple-try hoisted with under 0.8 seconds left on the clock. His team was down by 1 point, two Rockets defenders were flailing in his direction, arms outstretched, and surely thinking they’d just stolen the first of five West Coast road games.

Just moments earlier, with the game tied and both teams staring down a second overtime period, Roy had crossed-over the great defender Ron Artest and sunk a soft jumper on the wing with the game clock ticking down towards zero. He was shooting less than 40% on the game, had made some uncharacteristic turnovers, and was being guarded by one of the NBA’s very best man-defenders over the last decade. No matter: count the bucket.

But just as quickly as a Blazers victory seemed imminent, the same could be said for the Rockets. Except even more so.

With 6-2 Rafer Alston inbounding with 6-8 Nicolas Batum and his long wingspan in his face, Alston found Yao Ming on the blocks with time of the essence. Like Roy, Yao had struggled all night from the field, going just 3-12 and pulling down only 6 rebounds. No matter–he caught the ball, turned on Joel Przybilla, and hit it… and one after a silly help-defender foul committed by, you got it, Brandon Roy. Yao hit the freebie, and again, the game seemed over and done with.

Of course, that only set the stage for Roy’s heroics from three-point land, a 30-foot prayer as time expired that set off a huge celebration on the court and in the stands. This Blazers team came into the season with very high expectations, and though I think they’re going to disappoint a lot of the prognosticators who have all but guaranteed a playoff berth for Portland, it was a real nice early-season moment for the NBA’s second-youngest team.

And in the bigger picture, it was yet another nice moment in this new Golden Age of the NBA.