I'm a person that is surprised quite a lot. (For example, did you know that they're making a new Predator movie?) Accordingly, I was taken off-guard by the degree of Rockets hatred that Portland fans gained from the Blazers first round loss. Sour grapes are to be expected, but this was something else. I heard multiple people saying that they hope the Lakers dominate the Rockets. The Lakers. Local sports radio (ugh) came to the conclusion that there are no Western Conference teams worth rooting for anymore.
Why hate the Rockets? Because your team didn't get regular-season calls during the playoffs? Please. Perhaps those on the Blazers' roster weren't the only ones showing a little post-season naivete.
A general rule of sports is to find some consolation when the team that beat you goes on to more success. It would say a lot about how good Portland is if the Rockets went on to win the title. Plus they are playing the Lakers, a team that so many of you claim is Portland's main rival. (Stay hilariously delusional, Rip City.) Your long-term hatred of the Lakers, if as actual as you claim, should easily outweigh your bitterness over losing to Houston.
I'm not sure how a fan of the game of basketball could not like the Rockets. They are a collection of uncommon talents and shortcomings that play beautiful team basketball. Yao Ming has always been easy to root for with his humble determination and never-before-seen package of size and skill. Ron Artest is one of the most entertaining players in basketball. On the court his defense is easy to appreciate and his bull-in-a-china-shop-shooting-loose-cannons offensive style has always kept my interest. Plus, tell me you didn't smile at least a little when he called Brandon Roy the best NBA player that he has ever had to guard. Aaron Brooks, he who played for the University of Oregon, is microscopic in stature and uses his blazing quickness and confidence to make an impact. Don't get me started on Von Wafer. Read this article and find a way to not like Shane Battier. Scola gets under your skin, but he is a classic get under your skin love to hate kind of role player. He even looks weird! Plus how can you not enjoy watching Houston's under-heighted (not undersized!) front-line stifle their taller opponents? What is the matter with you?
If none of the above has convinced you, I think you need a visit to Dr. Bob Newhart.
So I have been geeking out on some fantasy-adventure novels recently. Yeah, I know. I need to stop. It appears to be influencing my blogging. Here's my recap of the game. Box score.
With just twenty seconds left in the battle, the young Trailblazers had fought the invading veteran horde from the City of Syrup to a draw. They had lost their significant advantage and darkness seemed upon them as the long, sleepy-eyed, battle-weary assassin probed their defenses for vulnerabilities. He rose and flung a medium range volley. A miss!
The ball was collected by they very man that was increasingly finding himself the scapegoat of all Rip City ills. An Outlaw, he was once worshiped by the masses. Recently he had discovered the mob enjoys tearing down the very ones they lift up. The fickle crowd had taken the adulation once heaped upon his shoulders and lavished it upon a younger warrior, newly arrived from a strange land. Now he was in trade rumors. But tonight they cheered him. With every one of his fourteen points and thirteen rebounds he hoped to recapture the flames that once burned for him. This particular story has yet to be decided, so we return to the battle at hand.
The clock now below ten seconds, he immediately gives the power to the squadron's mightiest worrier. Roy, the Everything, had performed below his standards throughout the battle. Yet as he glided down court with the orb, he knew none were more fit than he for the situation. With eight seconds remaining, he drove towards the goal.
He went right, which was never his preference despite being right-handed. His shoes were crappy, and he was being smothered by the mountain of defense known only as Ron-Ron. He had also attracted the attention of another defensive heathen. He quickly spun away from the pressure. The move sent one Rocket tumbling towards the Earth, and Ron-Ron himself stumbled to remain upright. Seeing the newly created opening, Roy elevated to launch a medium-range attack. It was a shot that he had struggled with all night. This time, it sailed through the goal perfectly. The rabid crowd that was jammed into the arena screamed in celebration of their heroes. Just one second remained, and the young Blazers lead by two.
But the veteran invaders were not done. While the masses screamed, they regrouped and hatched a scheme of their own. They wished to steal the glory of this battle for themselves. They would turn to their tallest warrior, one not from this land that was once regarded as a mere curiosity. He was now known for the deadliness of his great length. Although he had struggled tonight, this impacted him little as he remained ever confident in his skills.
He posted up and the power was easily inbounded to him. He went immediately to his turn around fading attack. This was a favorite move of his, one considered unusual for a man of his great size, but that mattered little at this moment. The orb sailed beautifully along it's arc and through the goal. The referee blew his whistle to indicate that the damage was not done. Roy had unfairly damaged the longest warrior during his attack. The Rockets would receive a charity opportunity, and capitalize.
The red invaders cackled and celebrated as only hyenas can. The crowd stood in silent disbelief. Victory had indeed been stolen from them. With less than one second remaining, the young Blazers regrouped with desperation on their faces. Not surprisingly, they would turn towards their Everything once again.
The referee handed the ball to the Blazer to inbound. Roy moved with all of his fleetness towards the passer. A look of excitement came over his face, for the sleepy-eyed one defending him had made a lapse and now lagged behind. Roy received the orb a great distance from the goal and with no time to think. With all his might his exploded into the air and launched a long-distance attack at the goal. The power soared high into the air. It landed perfectly through the net. The crowd let out their largest scream of the night, raising their arms in victory. Roy's teammates smothered him with their bodies to show appreciation for his heroics. Yes, this was going to be a good season.
Portland continues down the way of the ridiculously front-loaded schedule tonight with a nationally televised game against the Houston Rockets. That means Yao, T-Mac, Ron-Ron, and a gaggle of solid role players. Times are hard.
Batum looked good starting last night so hopefully we will get more of that. More of the lineup with Roy at point and Rudy at the wing would probably be good also.
I'm over the "fans don't vote for the right people as All-Stars" rant. If the All-Star game is for the fans, its never going to be a meritocracy. I've even let go of the belief that the coaches have some moral obligation to pick those most deserving and thus bring at least some justice to the situation. Of course, if we're submitting to the tyranny of the majority, maybe they should just have the game in China from now on. It's possible.
I was interested to see how China would support Yi in the voting this season. Would we see the same dedication that has made Yao a lock since his rookie season? He came in with a lot less hype than Yao, but the analysts told me Yao's support is mainly due to his nationality. This in mind, there is probably a baseline of fame and ability one has to achieve to earn this home-country love. Sorry, Big Dodger.
Yi was a high draft pick, is starting as a rookie, and has been a meaningful contributor. Yet he comes in at just #5 in the Eastern Conference Forward voting. Note that being a highly drafted Chinese player does not guarantee you a spot. You'd have better luck as a Houston Rocket.
The increasingly China-savvy NBA has been making sure to keep the Rockets on as many Chinese televisions as possible since Yao came along. Not surprisingly, team loyalty has grown. Despite the Rockets sucking, Shane Battier is 7th among Western Conference Forwards, with rookie teammate Luis Scola coming in 8th. Take that, Durant.
Tracy McGrady is second amongst Western Conference guards, trailing only Mamba. This puts him ahead of guys like Steve Nash, AI, Baron Davis, and Tony Parker. Of course Yao deservedly leads all Western Conference centers.
Battier and Scola both have more votes than Yi. Sure, this could be attributed to votes outside of China. As far as market size goes, Houston dwarfs Chinese-hating Milwaukie. But China was supposed to wield an enormous axe in this vote. Either the Yao belief that you get on the team if you come from China with any hype has always been wrong, or has recently changed.
Many Chinese fans, like non-Chinese fans, like the players and teams they see the most of. Perhaps this is reason enough to let them watch the good teams, too.
