January 1
The Portland Trail Blazers will open 1971 half of their schedule with a 7-games in 9-days, and the first stop is a visit to Seattle. The SuperSonics are fresh off of owner Sam Schulman's signing of American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year and MVP Spencer Haywood on December 30. The signing of Haywood, illegal based on the by-laws of the NBA at the time, caused many teams to consider "protesting" a game with the Sonics, with Portland being the second team to consider doing so after the Sonics and the Chicago Bulls played two days ago. The Blazers Vice-President Harry Glickman commented prior to the game that the team didn't plan on protesting, but that the Blazers "... reserve the right to draft him (Haywood) next March when he becomes eligible for the NBA Draft."
Haywood played in the rival #ABA during the 1969/70 season and averaged over 30 points and 20 rebounds for the Denver Rockets. Declaring that his contract with the Rockets was illegal, he decided to pursue an NBA contract and Shulman obliged despite the fact the NBA had strict rules about signing players before their college classes had graduated. Haywood played 1 year at a junior college before playing for the University of Detroit before joining the ABA after his sophomore season. He also was the captain of the 1968 Olympic team.
Haywood played in the rival #ABA during the 1969/70 season and averaged over 30 points and 20 rebounds for the Denver Rockets. Declaring that his contract with the Rockets was illegal, he decided to pursue an NBA contract and Shulman obliged despite the fact the NBA had strict rules about signing players before their college classes had graduated. Haywood played 1 year at a junior college before playing for the University of Detroit before joining the ABA after his sophomore season. He also was the captain of the 1968 Olympic team.
SEATTLE - Rookies Geoff Petrie and Pete Cross each had career-highs in the #SeattleSuperSonics 121-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers but the player who didn't play made just as much news. Petrie hit for 40 points for the first time in his career while Cross pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds and scored a career-high 23 points. Petrie would eventually score more 40 points or more 13 times in his 6-year career with #Portland.
|
Cross on the other hand, showed great promise during his rookie season, when he averaged 8 points and 12 rebounds per game, but had his career shortened by injuries and only played three seasons in the NBA. The 25 rebounds stood as his career-high and still is the Sonics (or Oklahoma City Thunder) record for most rebounds against Portland. Cross passed away in 1977 at the age of 28, due to epileptic seizures.
January 2
PORTLAND - The Blazers did their best imitation of a matador defense against the Chicago Bulls, falling 136-113 as the All-Star forward Bob Love scored 36 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Teammate Tom Boerwinkle recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 10 assists, and 16 rebounds. The Bulls were without their other All-Star forward Chet Walker who was injured in the Bulls loss against the Seattle SuperSonics on December 30. The Bulls have filed a formal protest with the NBA, claiming the Sonics had an illegal player, Spencer Haywood, on their bench. The Blazers are considering filing a protest with the NBA as well but had not prior to the game today
Seven of the nine Blazers that played scored in double figures with Geoff Petrie leading the way with 32 points. Petrie has scored 135 points in his last four games, including his career-high of 40 against the Sonics.
Game Notes: The 136 points stands as a Bulls high against the Blazers in regulation time. The Bulls scored 156 points in a 4-overtime win against the Blazers in 1984.
Game Notes: The 136 points stands as a Bulls high against the Blazers in regulation time. The Bulls scored 156 points in a 4-overtime win against the Blazers in 1984.
January 3
The Portland Trail Blazers officially protested their recent game against the Seattle SuperSonics for the "illegal Player" the Sonics had on their bench. The player in question, Spencer Haywood, was signed by the Sonics on December 30, 1970 and was in uniform that evening when the Sonics hosted the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls filed a protest against the Sonics for the same issue, claiming $600,000 in damages. The Blazers and Sonics played on January 1
The Blazers Vice-President Harry Glickman first commented after the game that no protest was happening at the time, but said today he had changed his mind, "in order to confront the issue and get it settled." Glickman also said that if Haywood was in the coming 1971 draft, the Blazers would draft him.
Haywood would eventually sue the NBA, with his case going all the way to the Supreme Court where he would win a 7-2 decision. The win would open the NBA Draft up to college players to play in the NBA before their college graduation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haywood_v._National_Basketball_Association
Haywood would eventually sue the NBA, with his case going all the way to the Supreme Court where he would win a 7-2 decision. The win would open the NBA Draft up to college players to play in the NBA before their college graduation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haywood_v._National_Basketball_Association
January 4
CLEVELAND - Geoff Petrie scored 39 points in the Portland Trail Blazers 119-106 over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Blazers travel to Philadelphia tomorrow to play the Boston Celtics.
|
a clip of todays game can be viewed at the following site ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdVi6XwX6zQ
January 5
PHILADELPHIA -
January 6
CINCINNATI - Dale Schlueter and Sam Lacey had a rebounding duel in the Portland Trail Blazers 133-128 loss to the #CincinnatiRoyals, ending their modest two-game road winning streak.
Schlueter, the third-year center, starting for Portland in Leroy Ellis's absence, and grabbed 21 rebounds while Geoff Petrie scored 32 points. For the Royals, rookie Sam Lacey grabbed 20 rebounds and scored 22 points. Norm Van Lier had a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Rookie Nate Archibald scored 23 points
Schlueter, the third-year center, starting for Portland in Leroy Ellis's absence, and grabbed 21 rebounds while Geoff Petrie scored 32 points. For the Royals, rookie Sam Lacey grabbed 20 rebounds and scored 22 points. Norm Van Lier had a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Rookie Nate Archibald scored 23 points
January 8
January 9
PORTLAND - The 1969/70 NBA Champion New York Knicks made their second appearance in Portland and were treated unkindly before a crowd of 11,808 as the Portland Trail Blazers thumped the visitors from the east with a 114-96 victory, their fourth in the last five games.
|
Jim Barnett led the Blazers with 32 points as he hit 14 of 17 shots from the field. Stan McKenzie added 21 points. Le Roy Ellis and Geoff Petrie were the only other Blazers in double figures with 20 and 19 respectfully. Dick Barnett led the Knicks with 23 points while Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere each added 14 points.
January 12
Geoff Petrie appears in the NBA All-Star game, the first Portland Trail Blazers player to do so. Petrie played 5 minutes, was 0-3 from the field but had an assist to Elvin Hayes, as seen at left, and at the 2:01 point of the second video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvWTccXkDo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjvfRha_lSY |
January 13
January 14
January 17
January 19
CHICAGO - The Blazers dropped another road game, this time to the Chicago Bulls.
January 20
January 22
January 23
Lew Alcindor scores 44 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 142-117 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers
January 24
BUFFALO - January 24, 1071 - The Portland Trail Blazers dropped another road game, 111-123 to the Braves. It was their fifth loss in the last six games and the third straight to Buffalo.
Portland has been on the road for the last 10 day, since playing the Braves on January 14th in Rochester, NY., and still have one more game before heading home.
The Braves, who have won three straight for the first time, were led by Bob Kauffman with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Geoff Petrie led Portland with 28 points.
Portland has been on the road for the last 10 day, since playing the Braves on January 14th in Rochester, NY., and still have one more game before heading home.
The Braves, who have won three straight for the first time, were led by Bob Kauffman with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Geoff Petrie led Portland with 28 points.
January 27
CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers, a fellow expansion team, punctuated the Blazers 14 day, seven game road trip with a dominate 118-104 victory over Portland. It was the Cavaliers ninth win of the season and their second straight victory, the second time they have done that.
Walt Wesley led the Cavaliers with 23 points but McCoy McLemore recorded his only triple-double of his career with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. McLemore would be traded in four days to the Milwaukee Bucks, moving from the worst team in the NBA to the team that would win the 1970/71 NBA Championship. The Cavaliers were the fifth team in his 6-year career but McLemore would play one more season before being dropped by the Houston Rockets in 1972 after playing 17 games.
Walt Wesley led the Cavaliers with 23 points but McCoy McLemore recorded his only triple-double of his career with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. McLemore would be traded in four days to the Milwaukee Bucks, moving from the worst team in the NBA to the team that would win the 1970/71 NBA Championship. The Cavaliers were the fifth team in his 6-year career but McLemore would play one more season before being dropped by the Houston Rockets in 1972 after playing 17 games.
January 29
Blazer guard Jim Barnett is about to be passed as the All-Time scorer at the University of Oregon when Stan Love passes his record. Love needs 16 more points to pass Barnett, who scored 1,325 in 75 games. Love would pass Barnett on January 30 and finish his career at Oregon with 1,644 points in 78 games.
Both players are in the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and Barnett is a member Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor. At left is a list of the current Top-10 scorers in Oregon Ducks men's basketball. |
PORTLAND - The Blazers fell short in their comeback against division rival Phoenix Suns, falling 131-122 behind 36 points by Dick Van Arsdale. The loss is the 12th straight loss to Pacific Division rivals.
Jim Barnett led the Blazers with 27 points while Rick Adelman added 23 points. Former Sun Gary Gregor finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and LeRoy Ellis had 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. |
January 31
Chamberlain, a notoriously bad free-throw shooter throughout his career, hit 11 of the 18 attempts even after shaking off at least one excessive foul by Jim Barnett. Chamberlain stared down Barnett at least twice for what he perceived as hard fouls but appeared to have a little retribution when Barnett went flying out-of-bounds during one rebounding scrum while Chamberlain appeared to smile according to one report.
Game Notes: Chamberlain's 27 rebounds are tied for the fourth highest total by an opponent against Portland. The total is the second highest by a Laker behind the 31 rebounds Chamberlain pulled down in 1973.
Game Notes: Chamberlain's 27 rebounds are tied for the fourth highest total by an opponent against Portland. The total is the second highest by a Laker behind the 31 rebounds Chamberlain pulled down in 1973.