Oh my, Somebody pinch me.

by Devyn on May 22, 2007 8:11 PM PDT

Seriously now people, did any of you guys think we had a remotely possible chance at snagging Oden or Durant? Even though it was sweet to play the ESPN draft machine 50 times a day, and see the Blazers win 5/50 times, you still figured that we were going to end up with the good, but not great Corey Brewer or Wright.

When they got passed the 7th spot, I just assumed, like everybody else, that we were going to end up like 5th or 6th... Maybe even 4th! But no, when Memphis and Bostons cards were shown, I just had a feeling that Portland was going to be in that final 3.

When it was announced that it was going to be Portland, Seattle and Atlanta for the last 3 before going on commercial break, I calmed down and started to think rationally as possible. I even made a comment just for my own sanity if we didn't get the top 2 saying, "Even if we get 3rd guys, this draft has already been amazing". We had the worst odds out of the 3 remaining, and not to mention it always seems like the team your rooting for to win something, comes out on the bad end of things.

So the commercial break ends, and it goes straight to the 3 finalists standing on the podium. I can't even remember who the other 2 representatives were standing to Brandon Roy's right. Now in my mind, all I'm thinking about is, " Just not 3... JUST NOT 3!"... And then there it is... with the 3rd overall pick... The Atlanta Hawks. I was so excited at this point, It didn't even hit me yet whether or not we would get Oden or Durant yet, just the fact that we were going to get one of them made me scream! Then, with no dramatic 5 minute wait, or player interview, the man at the podium grabbed the card out of the envelope... It was the Seattle Supersonics.

So this is what it feels like to have the first overall pick to what has been said to be the best draft in the last two century's? I just couldn't believe it... I kept thinking about it, Oden in red and black... next to LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Brandon Roy. The feeling was surreal, It's like the basketball gods felt they owed us something for taking away our number one overall slot last year and shipping us to fourth.

This is a new age in Blazers basketball ladies and gentlemen. This is a player that will change the face of the Portland Trailblazers franchise forever, someone who can arguably become one of the best players in all of basketball if he just keeps up what he did in high school and college. this is a player who is already an amazing player, and who's potential ceiling hasn't even been touched yet.

Welcome to the soon to be best 15 years of Blazers basketball that you've ever witnessed.

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VERY well stated.

To be sure, a new era has genuinely dawned. If the team can stay together and grow together this could be the makings of a great dynasty. That's how strong I feel about this.

by blazerprophet on May 22, 2007 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

Strange

That the tanking teams get the lowest possible place (Boston and Memphis) and the teams that stuck it out and didn't tank so much (P-town, Seattle, and Atlanta)? Sounds strange to me after all the talk about how Stern didn't want tanking.

by hightide on May 22, 2007 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

BLAZER PROPHET,

-your back my friend!!! We've missed you very much!!!

Unbelievable Day, I'm STILL in shock!!!

by bigddydrg on May 22, 2007 9:13 PM PDT reply actions

Thank you

I'll be in & out, but I'm back.

by blazerprophet on May 23, 2007 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Amen Brother!

When Portland made the Final three, I was thinking "Man, it would suck to get #3 and just miss Oden/Durant" But then I thought, well, we could trade the #3 pick and still be in great shape.

Then Atlanta was #3.....Holy Cow, we've made the Top Two!

Then Seattle was #2...and I was thrusting my right fist in the air and shouting "Yes! Yes! Yes!" at the TV...my wife thought I was crazy...

I just hope Pritchard doesn't over think this. Just take Oden and go from there. I've seen some comments already that if Portland takes Oden over Durant, they run the risk of repeating the Bowie over Jordan mistake. I don't see that...nobody blames Houston for taking Hakeem #1 that year. This is a similar situation.

Feeling giddy about being a Portland fan for the first time in nearly a decade!

by Steele15 on May 22, 2007 10:08 PM PDT reply actions

I like the Dream/MJ comparison.

I think with the right management, you can build a championship(s) team around either player. I just think Durant will be better.

Another comparison I like...

Whether you have pocket kings or aces you have a great shot to win the pot. Just don't get kings(Dream or Oden) when someone else has Aces(MJ or Durant) AND the better board(Pippen and Co. or Roy/LMA and Co. respectively)

by JMblazerfan on May 22, 2007 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions

there's a legit argument

over which player to draft. it's fun to imagine going in either direction. but i think we're just way too far from the conversations kevin pritchard and nate mcmilan are going to have after they get to know these guys.

i saw durant play several more times than i saw oden, and i was blown away. his offensive skills are amazing. at the same time, i did see a couple games where he was kept out on the perimeter, shot a lower percentage, and his team lost.

one thing oden does is make the entire defense better, just by his presence. and i've always been a proponent of starting with solid dependable rebounding as the baseline of your defense. you need rebounds in order to fastbreak.

complicating the analysis is the fact that durant rebounds well. i saw him get 23 rebounds in a game (and 37 points).

so.....? we have a month to think it over.

ignacio

by ignacio on May 22, 2007 11:47 PM PDT reply actions