After the Portland TrailBlazers dropped Game 3 to the Dallas Mavericks in Oregon, the frustration of star guard Brandon Roy was obvious and almost boiling over. The three-time all-star and former rookie of the year, played just eight minutes Wednesday night and was beginning to question where he fit in with Nate McMillan's squad.
What a difference Game 4 made for Mr. Roy.
The Blazers were down by as much as 23 points in the third quarter after missing their first 15 shots of the second half, and the game seemed all but over. Then, as fate would have it, Roy got going. After having just six points on 1-3 shooting in the first three quarters, he shot 8-10 in the fourth, racking up 18 points in the process. The Blazers as a team shot 75 percent from the field in the fourth, completing one of the greatest playoff comebacks of all-time. The 18 point deficit to start the fourth is good enough to be tied for second on the all-time playoff comeback list.
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| Roy put da team on his back. |
The Mavericks have a pretty strong history of playoff nightmares, and this will haunt Dirk and the boys at the very least until Monday when Game 5 takes place in Dallas. ESPN's Chris Mullin said it best, they need to get a win to get this loss behind them. Unfortunately for the Mavs, the Blazers now have a guy that can close at the end of these of games in Brandon Roy.
You have to feel great for Roy. He's been hampered by possible career-ending knee problems for the last year after being rushed back for the playoffs last year after that emergency arthroscopic knee surgery. Roy did not play well in the 2010 post-season and that carried into this season. Roy missed some significant time this year and that was the reason why many questioned if such a bright star had burned out far too early.
Hopefully after last night, a guy with as much talent as Roy will start to get back on track. It'd be a shame to have a guy that is so unassuming and humble go to waste.
-Mitsy
