a star is born, and his name is brandon roy

I know that I am pretty much one of only three people in this town that loves the NBA. Most years, I get made fun of for loving a league that is often accused of being nothing but a bunch of thugs, a bunch of weed-loving sex addicts who have more tats than teeth. (To which I always want to reply, being a weed-loving sex addict is a bad thing how? How is that bad? How is that even remotely a negative thing? Seriously, if you were in your 20s, you were making millions of dollars, and sleeping in a different city every night, you mean you wouldn't hook up with as many hot pieces of ass as you could, all while toking up on the finest green known to man? Of course you would. So I don't get this argument against the league. I think its just professional jealousy. Anyways, back to the point of the post ...)

Which is that last night, was proof positive why I love this sport.

Its about 9:15. The roommate trots off to bed. I pour myself another glass of shiraz, get online for a little bit ... and am not even remotely tired. So I head back into the main room and wade through an episode of NCIS that was TiVo'd. And when that was over, I turn the channel to TNT to see how Phoenix at Portland is going.

It's halftime. Chuck, Kenny and EJ are showing highlights of Jameer Nelson's awesome 4th quarter against the Spurs to lead the Magic to victory in the first game of the night.

Oh, the halftime score? Phoenix 64, Portland 59. My kind of game.

So, I pour myself yet another glass of shiraz, settle in under the blanket, and prepare for the second half.

Shaq was a monster last night. Portland had no answer for him in the paint. He wound up with 19. Amare was en fuego as well, tossing in 23. Arguably the most underrated free agent signing of the offseason, Matt Barnes, tossed in 22, including three clutch 3s, the last of which I feared would break Portland's back midway through the 4th quarter.

Phoenix nailed back to back 3s with (I believe) Jason Richardson and then an unreal heave by Steve Nash to go up 12 midway through the 3rd. I got up to pour another glass of shiraz, figuring I'd be done after the 3rd quarter. Phoenix up 12. They're hitting from everywhere. Not looking good at this point for the Blazers.

Cue Brandon Roy.


(you freaking rock dude! photo: ap, greg wahl-stephens)

I'm going to pull from the play-by-play recap at nba.com, because honestly, the next three minutes, Roy put on a f*cking clinic. Its maybe the best three minutes of basketball I've seen someone play this year, and there's rarely a night that goes by that I'm not flipping through the League Pass for a couple hours.

Score: 84-72 Suns, 5:41 to go, 3rd quarter.

Free throw, Roy. 84-73 Suns.
Free throw, Roy. 84-74 Suns.
Free throw, Nash. 85-74 Suns.
3 pointer, Roy. 85-77 Suns.
Free throw, Richardson. 86-77 Suns.
Jumper, Roy. 86-79 Suns.
3 pointer, Roy. 86-82 Suns.
Roy steal and layup. 86-84 Suns.
Charge called on Nash. Drawn by? You guessed it. Roy.
Free throw, Roy. 86-85 Suns.
Free throw, Barnes. 87-85 Suns.
3 pointer, Blake. Assist by? You guessed it. Roy. 88-87 Blazers, 2:55 to go.

In a little under 3 minutes, Roy scored 13 points, had a steal, drew a charge, and had the assist on the three that put Portland up for the first time since early in the game. Unreal. Just unreal. He literally erased a 12 point deficit by himself.

And he was just getting started.

Jump ahead to the fourth quarter. 3:47 to go. Stoudamire has just put the Suns up 114-111. The game has just been unreal, trading shot for shot, blow for blow. Neither team could get up more than 5 after the Blazers took the 88-87 lead. The only two times the lead reached even 4 was (a) early 4th quarter, when a pair of Roy free throws put Portland up 104-99, and(b) midway through the 4th, when a Stoudamire jumper made it 110-106. (A three that was promptly answered by a three pointer from ... wait for it ... you guessed it, Brandon Roy).

Anyways, the Rose Garden is rocking. I'm two more glasses of shiraz in, and still glued to the broadcast. You just knew the way this game had gone, something amazing was going to unfold.

(note: this is yet another reason I love the NBA more than college hoops. 114 to 111, and there's still 4 minutes to play! There's no Big 10 / SEC 41-39 final scores in this league champ!)

(one other note: there is no cooler arena in the NBA, visually anyways, to me than the Rose Garden. The fans are literally right on the court. Its the only pro team in Portland, and the fan support is legendary. Just give them a reason to be even remotely interested and they'll rock the house. They sell out every game. I love the court design, its one of my three favorites in the league. Its the only home court in the league that can match a college atmosphere right now (MSG can when the Knicks are good). I love it).

Roy drives and is fouled. Hits both free throws. 114-113 Suns.
Roy rebounds an Amare miss. Drills the jumper. 115-114 Blazers.
Barnes drains a three from the corner. 117-115 Suns.
Blake and Nash trade free throws. 119-117 Suns.
Roy drives, kicks out to Aldridge, who lets it fly from 18, double covered, as the shot clock expires ... (bob davis voice) swish! 119 up, 84 seconds to go! Timeout Suns!

The Suns run a set play to Richardson. Miss! Rebound Aldridge! As the Blazers run down the floor, Roy spots up for three. Open look. The shot ... (bob davis voice) swish! 122-119 Blazers! 59 seconds to go! The Rose Garden is going nuts. The TNT guys are going nuts. Hell, I stood and was fist pumping, and I don't really give a crap about either team.

(Seriously, watch the replay of this game winning three. Just to watch the fans reaction. It really is a college like atmosphere. Right down to everyone rising, raising the arms, the collective inhale of the crowd as the shot goes up ... and the pandemonium reaction when it touches nothing but net. I freaking love the Rose Garden. Portland fans, you freaking rock!)

The Suns had the ball one last time. Nash missed a three. Our boy Brandon grabbed the board. The Suns never touched the ball again, thanks to two key offensive rebounds. The Suns finally fouled Roy with 12 seconds left, and he tacked on the margin of victory free throws.

Blazers 124, Suns 119. An instant classic. Roy finished with 52. 52! Definitely worth catching the replay on NBA TV whenever it airs.

Here's hoping the Bucks game tonight is just 50% as thrilling as last night's battle was ...