The Shot...

And also. Nate is on a 17 game winning streak.

The Blazers had a pretty good game against Memphis that night.  Don't forget though, that they (Travis) just about blew it when Rudy Gay had an uncontested tip-in to take the lead. I really do think it would have been a demoralizing blow to the team, knowing they had beaten the Grizzlies all night long, just to squander it at the end.  It could have led to some fingerpointing, etc.  Instead, it was a huge victory that got the monkey off of their back.  They finally won a road game.  It gave them confidence in themselves, and that confidence led them to 13 straight wins.  

If they lose that game, I bet they would be teetering around .500 right now.

One day "The Shot" may be for Blazer fans what "The Pick" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M43abqKYUAw )is for Ducks fans... or at least a big deal in the same way (although probably less so).

For those not familiar with "The Pick", it's was the an interception that iced a win in 1994 against Washington, then a national power school, at a time when Washington was going to win on a late drive and cause the Ducks great season to be derailed by "one of those games that we can make ourselves think we can win, but always find a way to lose".

The win cemented the Ducks momentum in to the Rose Bowl, for the first time since 1958.  Even though they got waxed by Penn St, appearing in that game dramatically improved recruiting.  "The Pick" is basically accepted as the moment that Oregon Ducks football turned in to a major program.

However, people didn't talk about it after the game as a springboard play for obvious reasons... i.e. it took a while for the total implications fo the play to become evident.

It's only now that the Blazers are making people actually legitimately think they could make the playoffs that it has any real implications beyond the one win.  I'd imagine it will get more press time if the Blazers end up with 45+ wins.