By  Dan Christopherson 

If you were around for the Trail Blazers' glory year in 1977, you'll recall how a young nucleus (Bill Walton-24, Maurice Lucas-25, Lionel "Train" Hollins-23) came together and led the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance.  And almost out-of-nowhere, feeding off an "us against the world" mentality, that Jack Ramsay-led band of underdogs shocked the NBA and brought home the championship.

It was a magical run.  And maybe as the '09 post-season unfolds, this young Blazer team--led by 20-somethings in their first playoffs--will catch a wave and ride it a long way, too.  But NBA history shows that more often than not, emerging contenders have to take their playoff lumps for a few years before reaching that championship level.  Detroit's "Bad Boys" had to get by the Lakers.  Michael Jordan's Bulls got a few hard lessons from Detroit before finally breaking through.  Even Shaq and the Lakers needed time (and Phil Jackson) to figure out how to win.  It's a building process.  

That doesn't mean the Blazers are happy just to be here.  We've seen the fire Brandon Roy has to win, and ask guys like Joel Przybilla if they're satisfied with being a playoff team.  They've proven all year they're a hungry young team that no longer looks up to, or backs down from, anybody.

And that's why most expect the Blazers to bounce back strong in game two tonight.  Houston might just have the personnel, and the mismatches, to squeeze out another win.  But we've seen how the Blazers have responded all year, and they just don't get blown out two games in a row.

This '09 playoff run is a learning experience for Roy, Aldridge, Oden and Rudy... but it's also their first early test of championship mettle.  As far as the NBA goes, the playoffs are what reveals a team's character.  I'm not saying a game two loss means they don't have character.  Character is not about wins and losses.  Team character is revealed by how a team responds to adversity, regardless of the outcome.

We've seen the Blazers' gritty character show up in places like New Orleans and San Antonio and right here in Portland throughout the season.  After a tough loss, they almost always come back strong.  That's what we'll be looking for tonight in game two.  A team more focused on staying connected on defense, and finding each other on offense.  A team that doesn't let Houston's inevitable runs knock them off its game.  And a team that really feeds off the crowd's energy and uses that to rattle the Rockets, from Yao Ming to Aaron Brooks to that unsung Houston bench.

I'd be surprised if the Blazers fall flat like they did in game one.  Think about it.  This team has relished playing the role of the underdog.  Well, after the red hot regular season finish, rolling over playoff contenders and winning homecourt advantage, the Blazers woke up at playoff time as a first-round favorite.  Then came that fantastic Pioneer Square Rip City Uprise Rally, when all of Portland celebrated the accomplishment of making the playoffs.

For the Blazers, the job's not done.  Saturday proved they're not the team to beat.  There are whispers questioning if this team will lose again tonight, and if they'll get steamrolled by the Rockets in four or five games.  

They're underdogs again.  It's time to show their true character.  Maybe they have Houston right where they want 'em.