Failblazers: Roy to miss playoffs after knee surgery

Dear Brandon Roy,


I'm sorry to hear about your knee. Really. But if you're looking for sympathy, you got the wrong team and fanbase.


Your Trailblazers are matched up against the third-seeded Phoenix Suns. The same Suns who saw Joe Johnson go down for the first 2 games of a Spurs series in 2005 playoffs after smashing his face. The same Suns who lost Amare Stoudemire for an entire season after signing a max contract and then opting for microfracture surgery (and he hasn't been the same since). 


The same Suns who may have seen a ring tumble down the drain as Steve Nash was hip-checked into the scorer's table, leading Stoudemire and Boris Diaw off the bench and onto the couch for the next game. That series of unfortunate events cost the Suns the home court advantage they could have used to dismiss the eventual-champion Spurs. 

Roy to have surgery, miss playoffs >


And if you want to go way waaaaay back, it's the same Suns who lost Danny Manning to a knee injury in the 1993-94 season, watched Tom Gugliotta succumb to a knee injury soon after signing a major contract and just before missing Jason Kidd for a spell of the playoffs in 2000, only to have Anfernee Hardaway disintegrate the off-season after a beautiful playoff performance.


Needless to say, Phoenix has experienced its fair share of heartache, so don't expect the Sun to shine on the Trailblazers when they come to town. This is a team, city and franchise that should have the heart of a Republican. 


We may be witnessing the passing of the Bad Luck Torch. The Trailblazers have found themselves patching things together every season. This year's addition to the quilt is Marcus Camby (and boy do the Nuggets still miss him), who you were lucky enough to acquire in a trade after losing Greg Oden AGAIN, and Joel Pryzbilla. 


It didn't come at a cheap price, though. Travis Outlaw's versatility and athleticism have been noticeably absent. There's a vertical aspect of the game that Martell Webster--a gifted athlete in his own right--just can't match. 


Rudy Fernandez hasn't been in rhythm because of his injuries, and now you. No team is happier about the Blazer misfortunes than the Lakers, who you've always managed to handle.


Opting for surgery is the right decision. Come back next season stronger. All of your centers will be back, except Camby, who was unhappy about the trade. You have a great cap situation (even after you sign your deal), a good coach, and youth. And it's not like you were going to get a ring this season. 


I don't mean to Kanye West you, but the teams ahead of you in the standings are just better *shrug*. Including the one in purple and orange. They can truly feel your knee pain. But, to borrow from Kanye again, they have every reason to be heartless.


Signed, 
A Biased Blogger


P.S. If you ever get invited to one of those pick-up games at the White House, let me know. I'm looking for Barack. He can do whatever he wants to the nuclear program, my game will still be explosive.