Brandon Roy sits out Trail Blazers win over Timberwolves

PORTLAND, OREGON - March 2, 2013 - Brandon Roy waves to the crowd during the first time out as the Portland Trail Blazers face the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Rose Garden. Bruce Ely / The Oregonian

(Photo by Bruce Ely)

It was years ago, when I was at the funeral of a friend’s father, when I was first introduced to the circle of life. The oldest son gave the eulogy, and he did so holding his first newborn.

As one life ends, he said poignantly, another life begins.

I thought of that circle of life on Saturday, when the Rose Garden was finally able to say goodbye to

, who sat in street clothes at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves' bench. It was a nice, polite ovation during the game’s first timeout. Most stood to applaud. Some had signs thanking him. Others brought out the old No. 7 jersey.

A Trail Blazers era had finally been put to rest.

And perhaps it was more than a coincidence Saturday that youngster

put on another memorable performance during the Blazers’ 109-94 victory over Minnesota. Lillard had 24 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Out of death often comes life.

In Portland, that lesson has been made easier with the arrival of Lillard. Like Roy in 2006, he is the dawning of a new era. A new star. A new hope.

The ovation for Roy - while heartfelt and respectful - showed me Rip City has moved on. His appearance on the big screen did not cause the Rose Garden to rumble like thunder like it did during his five seasons here. Shoot, when Joel Przybilla returned to the Blazers last season his ovation was louder. Much louder.

I guess sometimes, you have to let go of what hurts.

Or maybe, Lillard has healed many of those wounds left by the departure of Roy.

For many, Roy will always be the man who brought them back from the dark ages of Blazers basketball. There was a purity to his game - many called it Old School - and a transparency to his heart. We seemed to always know how Brandon felt - his elation, his pain, his frustration - and usually, we felt it right along with him.

But there was the pain of it all ending too soon and the agony of those what ifs, from his knees to Greg Oden.

Roy touched on some of those emotions Saturday during a 10 minute address to a large media horde before Saturday’s game. Shortly after, across the arena, I found Lillard standing in the path leading from the court to the tunnel that takes players to the locker room. Kids were draped over the railing with pens, asking him to sign hats, programs, jerseys. Like he does every game, Lillard signed every one of them.

“I was once that person, that kid,’’ Lillard said.

It was the same thing Roy used to do. Same spot. Same willingness. Same sense of duty.

And that’s when it really struck me.

Roy and Lillard are more alike than just their resume of being drafted sixth and both (almost certainly) winning Rookie of the Year in landslide fashion. They carry themselves in the same understated manner. They play with a controlled pace. They are grounded in family values. They work relentlessly at their craft. And they understand their profession puts them in position to make a profound mark on this community.

It felt like Saturday was a symbolic passing of the torch from Roy to Lillard.

It has been interesting to watch Lillard this season. Not since Roy has a Blazers rookie garnered so much attention, so much hype throughout a season. And like it was with Roy, not once have I seen it go to Lillard's head. He has been the same well-mannered, humble kid who knocked the socks off owner Paul Allen that early June day during his workout. The money, the fame, the expectations - none of it has penetrated him.

“When you keep the same circle of people around you, you tend to do the same things,’’ Lillard said. “My family and the friends around me, they want the best for me, so they encourage me to do what I’ve always done. I mean, I do the same stuff I always have. I haven’t changed.’’

When Roy was a rookie, he was the same way - family oriented, never caught up in the money, women and partying that can lure many in the NBA. How did he do it?

“My biggest thing was I was focused,’’ Roy said. “And I always put my family first. I loved being around my family. And staying out of those positions are really the only way you can prevent them, so I just kind of stayed away from certain things. And then, I just had a determination to win. When you are giving 100 percent on the floor, for me, I’m kind of too tired to do anything else.’’

As Lillard signed for the kids, promising the ones on the other side of the aisle that he would get to them, I asked if he realized the significance of Roy in these parts. He nodded emphatically.

“I could feel it when I hear people talk about him - how much they loved him,’’ Lillard said. “And watching his highlights on YouTube, you could feel it. And on Twitter, when I first got drafted, they were talking Brandon Roy, and they were really emotional about it. I could tell how much he meant to people around here.’’

And with that he turned to the next kid, signing his way into another heart. Just like some other guy did years ago.

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