Losing is difficult. It's draining, dissapointing, and embarassing. I have seen it said over and over that there are "no moral victories." Fair enough! There's no point in picking fights with other team's fans about how *our* first round exit is better than *your* first round exit, or whatever. That being said, I look at this year's Western Conference Playoffs and find a number of things that I take comfort in:

• The Blazers were the only opponent the Mavs faced that took them to six games.
• I got to watch the L@kers implode in the most glorious fashion.
•  Clay Bennet learns what we've known for a long time. Nobody outside of your town cares about your Division title.
• Pretty much every Western Conference conspiracy theory ever offered was shot down, run over, and burned over the course of these three rounds.
• Long-term implications be damned, it *still* feels good everytime I think about Game 4.

So count your blessings, Blazer nation. If you must shed a tear into your beer, do it for Sactown or Seattle.