May 1
Happy Birthday to former Blazer Barry Clemens
The Blazers acquired Clemens from the New Orleans Jazz prior to the 1974/75 season as well as a pick in the 1976 2nd round draft pick (Major Jones was later selected) for Rick Roberson. Lenny Wilkens, Portland's player coach for the 1974/75 season, played with Clemens in Seattle and Cleveland and was in favor of his acquisition.
The Blazers acquired Clemens from the New Orleans Jazz prior to the 1974/75 season as well as a pick in the 1976 2nd round draft pick (Major Jones was later selected) for Rick Roberson. Lenny Wilkens, Portland's player coach for the 1974/75 season, played with Clemens in Seattle and Cleveland and was in favor of his acquisition.
Clemens played 126 games with Portland over 2 seasons but his biggest game was on Dec. 15, 1974 when he scored 15 points in 4th quarter vs Los Angeles Lakers on National TV by CBS Sports NBA
The Blazers were down 27 points at halftime before roaring back, eventually tying the game at 93 all after Clemens hit 2 free throws with just over 4 minutes remaining. Clemens claimed the game-winning rebound with 10 seconds remaining to secure the victory. |
Clemens biggest surprise in his 11-year NBA career was making it all the way to the final round in ABC television's one-on-one NBA basketball tournament in 1973. Clemens defeated John Brisker, Spencer Haywood, Nate Williams, and Bob Love before meeting Geoff Petrie in the finals. The finals were played on May 6, 1973.
In 2009, Clemens was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2009, Clemens was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
1978
1983
Down 3 games to none, the Blazers win their first Western Conference Semi-Final game since 1978, beating the Lakers 108-95, forcing a Game 5. Laker coach Pat Riley accused coach Jack Ramsay of sending "hitmen" after Kareem Abdul-Jabber. The screen captions from youtube are after Riley has been complaining to the officials and were caught by television cameras. https://youtu.be/QikNqAFg-uk The game, and the series, was a cover feature of Sports Illustrated which is copied below. |
I believe a little bit in the forces that we can't see," said Pat Riley, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. "It's nice to know that the force is with you." Fair enough, but last week the Lakers' force was decidedly visible to one and all, seeing as it came in the towering form of Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who led Los Angeles a three-games-to-one advantage over the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Western Conference semifinals. Down 3-0, the Blazers beat L.A. 108-95 on Sunday, but they still were in a deep hole, because no team in the league's 36 seasons has ever won a best-of-seven series after losing the first three.
It has been perhaps five years since Abdul-Jabbar has been the destroyer he was last week. However long it may have been, "the main difference in me is that back then I didn't need a hair weave," Abdul-Jabbar says. Indeed, though he's 36 now and balding, hair seems to be the only thing he has lost. Against Portland he played an average of 40.3 minutes, scored 33.3 points a game and blocked 5.3 shots. "When you start making concessions to age," he says, "age will take over." When the Lakers needed him most, Abdul-Jabbar conceded nothing to the Trail Blazers and their center, Wayne Cooper. "They have some great players," said Cooper, "but when you speak of the Lakers you speak of Kareem." |
In the first game of the series, Abdul-Jabbar played only 34 minutes because of foul trouble, but when he was in the game Los Angeles outscored Portland 89-60. When he was on the bench, the Blazers outscored L.A. 37-29. And while those numbers illustrated Abdul-Jabbar's importance to the Lakers, they also indicated how shallow the Lakers' bench—which had been one of the deepest in the league—has become.
Three weeks ago the Lakers looked highly vulnerable. They had lost five of their last 10 regular-season games and were hardly the same team that had fashioned a Pacific Division-winning 58-24 regular season. Reserve Forward Bob McAdoo, who contributed mightily to L.A.'s title last year, dislocated the fourth toe on his right foot on Feb. 16 and has been sidelined ever since. But as substantial a blow as McAdoo's injury was, the Lakers could absorb it because rookie Forward James Worthy was playing so spectacularly in McAdoo's absence. But then Worthy was lost for the season when he broke his left leg in a game with Phoenix on April 10. "James's injury had a big impact on the team psychologically," Riley says. "It was disruptive because suddenly guys were having to play more minutes and play different positions, and our whole substitution rotation had to change." Los Angeles had worn teams down with its bench all season, getting nearly 30 points a game from just Worthy and McAdoo. Without those two, the edge the Lakers had enjoyed over most teams had been drastically reduced. Many observers wrote Los Angeles off as a threat for the NBA title. "We had grown very dependent on Bob and James," says Forward Jamaal Wilkes, "but the injuries and then people's reactions to them drew us closer together because all we had was us. Our feeling was, 'Don't send us roses. We're not dead yet.' " |
If the Lakers were to become the first team since the 1968-69 Boston Celtics to successfully defend a league championship, they would have to do it with Mark Landsberger as their first forward off the bench. Landsberger had played in only 39 games during the season—he logged all of 25 minutes during January—and averaged just 2.5 points a game. Not since the 1979-80 season, when he was picked up from Chicago in midseason to help in the Lakers' championship drive, has Landsberger been a factor.
"For us to win in the playoffs," says L.A. Guard Norm Nixon, "we have to string the game out and make teams run with us." They did exactly that, roaring off to a 29-12 lead in Game 1 as Portland, which had gotten to the semis by upsetting Seattle 2-0 in their miniseries, made repeated ball-handling errors. "If you turn the ball over," said Portland Forward Mychal Thompson after the final buzzer, "their eyes get as big as silver dollars. And when they get it, it's like somebody let go a rubber band." The Lakers' break was usually as devastating in the first and fourth quarters against Portland as it had been when they won the title with it last season, but in the middle of each game it bogged down. "Our guys come in eager to run," said Riley, "then fatigue sets in and they settle for going in to Kareem." And you don't have to be a coaching genius to tell your team to feed the ball to the second-most-prolific scorer—33,169 points through Sunday—in NBA history. But by the eve of Game 2, the Los Angeles papers had just about decided that beneath Portland Coach Jack Ramsay's shiny dome lay the fount of all basketball knowledge. Ramsay was variously credited with having invented the fast break generally and the one the Lakers were using specifically. Riley got into the spirit by labeling Ramsay "a coach's coach" and "the master," all of this after Ramsay's team had just been smoked by 21 points, 118-97, in the first game, with Abdul-Jabbar getting 32 points. |
Riley still didn't get much credit when he decided to stay with his regulars—except newly acquired Steve Mix, who replaced Forward Kurt Rambis—at the start of the fourth quarter of the second game, while Ramsay rested his starting guards, Jim Paxson and Darnell Valentine. "When I saw them coming in with subs, I told the players this was the time to make our run," Riley said later. "Hey, this is winning time. The players can rest in the summer."
The Lakers came from four down at the end of the third period to go ahead by three points early in the fourth, while Paxson and Valentine were on the bench. Abdul-Jabbar played 44 minutes, including the entire second half, and hit 15 of 20 shots for 37 points while leading the Lakers in assists with seven and blocks with three. "It wasn't only that he got a lot of points," said Wilkes, "it was when and how he got them. Everybody was banging on him, but he was determined we weren't going to lose." Portland still had a chance to win at the end, but when Valentine traveled and dribbled the ball into Nixon's hands on successive plays, the Trail Blazers ran out of time and lost 112-106. "Kareem was just incredible," Ramsay said. "I don't know if I've ever seen him play as well, and I've seen him have some great games." Ramsay took solace from the play of Forward Calvin Natt in the second game. Natt, whose beard and flattened nose give him a Zeuslike look, seldom gets attention. The Blazers' second-leading scorer behind Paxson this season, with 20.4 points per game, Natt is a gun enthusiast who owns between 70 and 80 firearms—"I don't collect 'em, I just shoot 'em," he says—and he was asked last week what kind of weapon he'd fire to stop the Lakers. "I'd just use my slingshot to hit Kareem in the back of the head and give him a migraine," he said, referring to the sort of headache that periodically afflicts Abdul-Jabbar. |
Unfortunately for Natt, after Game 3 the Blazers were the ones in pain. Finally playing at home in front of one of their high-decibel sellout crowds—their 271st straight of 12,666, dating back six years—the Trail Blazers continued to double-and triple-team Abdul-Jabbar, just as they had in the previous game, and it finally began to pay off. During regulation time, Cooper and Thompson held, pounded and did everything but dance with Abdul-Jabbar, and after four quarters the game was a 98-98 standoff. But in overtime Abdul-Jabbar scored nine of the Lakers' 13 points and L.A. won 115-109. He shot three times from the floor and hit twice—the second basket being the most crucial of an evening that throbbed with excitement—and added five free throws to complete a 30-point performance.
The Lakers had built a modest lead in the first half by running at every opportunity, but this time Portland countered with a break of its own. Los Angeles went ahead 42-37 on a Coop-a-Loop lob pass from Nixon to Michael Cooper in the second quarter. The ball was thrown several feet behind Cooper's head, and he had to reach back to haul it in and throw it down. It was a miraculous play, and it seemed to galvanize the Lakers and quiet the crowd. But they were back in full cry during the third period when Paxson hit two quick baskets and gave Portland the lead, 73-72. The Blazers quickly widened that to nine in the fourth quarter, 89-80, and appeared to have the game under control until Riley went to a pressing defense that got L.A. back into its running game. After a short rest, Abdul-Jabbar came back in with 7:03 to play, and the Lakers then went on a 14-2 tear for a 94-91 lead with 2:35 left. |
Nixon and Valentine exchanged pressure jumpers in the final 63 seconds, before Cooper found Wilkes alone in the corner on an inbounds play. Wilkes stood for a moment, measuring the distance, and then flipped up a jumper with seven seconds left in regulation to put Los Angeles ahead 98-97. Valentine was fouled by Abdul-Jabbar almost immediately and had a chance to clinch a victory with a pair of free throws at 0:03, but he missed the second, forcing the game into overtime. Portland was within three points with less than a minute to play in OT, but with 41 seconds left and just one second showing on the 24-second clock, Abdul-Jabbar canned a 16-foot skyhook. "I came out there so I wouldn't be under a lot of pressure," he said later. "Sixteen feet is my range. If I shot it any deeper than that, Riley's hair would fall out." The ball touched nothing but net, giving the Lakers a 111-106 lead and locking up victory No. 3.
The next morning at breakfast, Riley was feeling cocky enough to question some of "the master's" tactics and to look ahead to a conference-final series with San Antonio. "I really think a team makes a mistake by showing so much respect for one player that they don't respect the other players," he said. "It breaks down your defense. Besides, I don't think anybody has really worked Kareem in this series. Cooper has been a stationary target, so Kareem has actually rested on defense. They might as well put Cooper on the side of the court. With him matched against Kareem, their offense really became obsolete." |
Wilkes had scored 28 points while holding Paxson, who had 22 in the game, to just two in the fourth and extra periods. And Landsberger had come through with seven rebounds in 10 minutes of the first half. "These seven or eight guys are starting to become a unit," Riley said. "And people forget that with the exception of Rambis, this is basically the same group that won the championship three years ago. It's not a bad team." Commenting on the Trail Blazers' insistence throughout the series that they could defeat the Lakers, Riley said, "Any time I hear a team say, 'We know we can beat them,' I like that, because that's the mark of a very insecure team." A moment later he was talking about San Antonio, a team the Lakers swept 4-0 on the way to the championship last season. "We humiliated them last year," Riley said. "And I believe quickness, in the long run, will beat size and strength." Then Riley paused for a moment and added almost absentmindedly, "We know we can beat San Antonio. We know we can."
But Riley still had a game to extract from Portland, and after the Blazers won Sunday to stay alive, he was incensed by what he claimed was defensive mugging of Abdul-Jabbar—who nevertheless shot 13 for 19 from the field, scored 34 points and blocked eight shots. "It's a sad thing when a great player can't play his game," Riley said. "I don't mind aggressive defense, but they're wheeling four and five guys in there whose goal is to foul."
Ramsay, resplendent in pink pants, shirt and forehead, turned purple when he heard of Riley's complaints. "If I ever send a hit man to get somebody—and that's not my style—I'll tell the coach first," Ramsay said. "If Pat has something to say, he should say it to my face, if he has the courage."
Abdul-Jabbar himself took the fussing in stride. His actions were speaking quite a bit louder than words.
But Riley still had a game to extract from Portland, and after the Blazers won Sunday to stay alive, he was incensed by what he claimed was defensive mugging of Abdul-Jabbar—who nevertheless shot 13 for 19 from the field, scored 34 points and blocked eight shots. "It's a sad thing when a great player can't play his game," Riley said. "I don't mind aggressive defense, but they're wheeling four and five guys in there whose goal is to foul."
Ramsay, resplendent in pink pants, shirt and forehead, turned purple when he heard of Riley's complaints. "If I ever send a hit man to get somebody—and that's not my style—I'll tell the coach first," Ramsay said. "If Pat has something to say, he should say it to my face, if he has the courage."
Abdul-Jabbar himself took the fussing in stride. His actions were speaking quite a bit louder than words.
May 2
1974
1977
The Blazers advance to the Western Conference Finals with the Game 6 win. soundcloud.com/ooduys951/blazers-nuggets-game-6-may-2-1977-final-830-of-game-and-post-game https://soundcloud.com/ooduys951/blazers-nuggets-game-6-may-2-1977-final-830-of-game-and-post-game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMbqWjjHZc |
2007
Brandon Roy is announced as the @NBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the 3rd @trailblazers player to be named. Geoff Petrie won in 1971 and Sidney Wicks in 1972. Roy received 127 of 128 first-place votes (638 points) from a panel of writers and broadcasters. Toronto's Andrea Bargnanifinished second with 264 points, including the other first-place vote, and Memphis' Rudy Gay was third with 93 points. "This guy competes. He wants to win, and he'll do anything out on that floor to win ball games," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. Roy was the Pac-10's Player of the Year his senior season at Washington. He was drafted with the sixth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, then traded to Portland for the draft rights to Randy Foye. The 6-foot-6 guard was honored as the Western Conference's Rookie of the Month in January, February and March. He also made the All-Star Game's rookie squad. He scored at least 20 points 16 times, including a career-high 29 against Utah on April 4. |
2014
Damian Lillard hit the winning shot with 0.9 seconds remaining to push the Blazers into the 2nd round of the playoffs for first time since 2000
Damian Lillard hit the winning shot with 0.9 seconds remaining to push the Blazers into the 2nd round of the playoffs for first time since 2000
May 3
Happy Birthday to former Blazer Kelvin Ransey Ransey was the 4th pick in the 1980 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls but was traded to Portland on draft for Portland's pick, Ron Lester. Ransey averaged 15.2 points & 6.9 assists as rookie, recording 10 assists or more in 17 of the 80 games he played, missing the Rookie Of the Year award by 1 vote to Darrel Griffith. "I felt I should have won Rookie of the Year but I probably didn't have the exposure," Ransey said. "Our team went to playoffs and (Utah Jazz) didn't. I feel I got robbed on that one." Ransey only played 2 seasons with Portland, averaging 15.6 points & 7 assists in 158 games. His 555 assists as rookie still stands as a team record, as well as the 14 assists he passed for on Feb. 13, 1981 vs the Denver Nuggets. His 15.2 scoring average as a rookie is ranked as the 6th best by a Blazer. Ransey was traded after 2 seasons to the Dallas Mavericks for Wayne Cooper. Ransey played a season in Dallas before playing 3 seasons for the New Jersey Nets. Ransey retired following the 1985–86 season with 5380 points and 2480 assists in 6 seasons. |
After retiring, Ransey took to his second calling and became a preacher. “I had two dreams when I was a young person. I had a dream that I was going to play in the NBA, and I had a dream that I was preaching,” Ransey said. “In both dreams I was successful. And I loved both of them. I loved my church and I loved basketball. And I think that was the lord giving me kind of a foreshadow of what was going to happen.” Ransey is the senior pastor at
Spirit of Excellence (United In Christ) in Oxford, Miss. |
1985
#ClydeDrexler records his 2nd PO triple-double w/18 pts, 10 rebs, & 14 assists but @trailblazers fall to @Lakers before the 356th consecutive sellout at the MC. @MagicJohnson has 23 assists, 1 shy of his career-high & @NBA record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qjjiBWS7is
#ClydeDrexler records his 2nd PO triple-double w/18 pts, 10 rebs, & 14 assists but @trailblazers fall to @Lakers before the 356th consecutive sellout at the MC. @MagicJohnson has 23 assists, 1 shy of his career-high & @NBA record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qjjiBWS7is
1992
The Blazers and Lakers played Game 4 of the 1991 playoffs in Las Vegas, NV due to the riots on Los Angeles that took place
The riots started on April 29 after a trial jury acquitted four police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department of the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King, following a high-speed police chase. On May 3rd the NBA Playoff game between the LA Lakers and the Portland Trailblazers was moved at the Last minute from the Forum, the game was played before an enthusiastic pro-Laker crowd of 15,478 in Nevada Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers, shaken by the violence in their community, played hard but not well. The lakers lost the "home" game far from home, 102-76, to the Portland Trail Blazers, who won the series, 3-1.
https://app.nimia.com/video/510679/blazers-vs-lakers-playoffs-la-riots
The Blazers and Lakers played Game 4 of the 1991 playoffs in Las Vegas, NV due to the riots on Los Angeles that took place
The riots started on April 29 after a trial jury acquitted four police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department of the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King, following a high-speed police chase. On May 3rd the NBA Playoff game between the LA Lakers and the Portland Trailblazers was moved at the Last minute from the Forum, the game was played before an enthusiastic pro-Laker crowd of 15,478 in Nevada Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers, shaken by the violence in their community, played hard but not well. The lakers lost the "home" game far from home, 102-76, to the Portland Trail Blazers, who won the series, 3-1.
https://app.nimia.com/video/510679/blazers-vs-lakers-playoffs-la-riots
2019
CJ McCollum matched his career playoff high with 41 points and Damian Lillard added 28 for Portland, which stretched its winning streak at home to 12 games dating back to the regular season. Hood scored seven points in the final OT and helped the Blazers remain unbeaten at home this postseason. It was the 1st 4-OT game in the NBA since 1953.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JksSrjiksDE
CJ McCollum matched his career playoff high with 41 points and Damian Lillard added 28 for Portland, which stretched its winning streak at home to 12 games dating back to the regular season. Hood scored seven points in the final OT and helped the Blazers remain unbeaten at home this postseason. It was the 1st 4-OT game in the NBA since 1953.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JksSrjiksDE
2021
Carmelo Anthony becomes the 10th highest scorer in NBA History, passing Hall Of Fame player Elvin Hayes in the Blazers 114-123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The team presented Anthony with a plaque at practice on May 11th. |
During his time with the Blazers, Anthony has passed nine players on the career scoring list. He knocked off Alex English, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek and Paul Pierce last season. This season he has taken down Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and now Hayes. Next up for Anthony is Moses Malone at 27,409 points.
Melo’s got a good chance at catching him, too, by the end of the regular season. “For Melo to be out a year and come back makes it even more remarkable,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “I always appreciate greatness, whether it’s a player I’m coaching or coaching against. Melo is a great player. He’s a Hall of Fame player.” |
May 4
1974
Bill Walton appears before Portland media for the first time
Bill Walton appears before Portland media for the first time
1991
Terry Porter scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists to lead Portland to a 3-2 series win over the Seattle SuperSonics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2njB-25Ick https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2019/04/18/throwback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOtU034mEmc YouTube.com/watch?v=v-pJ__aA7aA |
May 5
1985
The Blazers avoid their first Playoff sweep
The Blazers avoid their first Playoff sweep
1990
The Blazers pull out a Game 1 victory vs the San Antonio Spurs despite the absence of Kevin Duckworth vs David Robinson.
The Blazers pull out a Game 1 victory vs the San Antonio Spurs despite the absence of Kevin Duckworth vs David Robinson.
1992
The Blazers open the playoff series with Phoenix
The Blazers open the playoff series with Phoenix
May 6
1973
@GeoffPetrie won the @NBA's second annual One-on-One tournament, defeating Barry Clemens of the @cavs The final score was 36-32 and was played after Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the @Lakers and the @nyknicks. It was reported that nearly all of the 19,964 in attendance for Game 3 stayed to witness the duel, sponsored by Vitalis. The first event, held last season, was won by Bob Lanier of the Detroit Pistons, when he defeated Jo Jo White of the Boston Celtics.
@GeoffPetrie won the @NBA's second annual One-on-One tournament, defeating Barry Clemens of the @cavs The final score was 36-32 and was played after Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the @Lakers and the @nyknicks. It was reported that nearly all of the 19,964 in attendance for Game 3 stayed to witness the duel, sponsored by Vitalis. The first event, held last season, was won by Bob Lanier of the Detroit Pistons, when he defeated Jo Jo White of the Boston Celtics.
Petrie won $15,000 while Clemens pocketed $7,500 for coming in second place. Petries' @trailblazers teammates received $100 per round that he won, totaling $500 per player. Petrie defeated Gail Goodrich of @Lakers 38-33 in the first round, followed by defeating Bob Dandridge of @Bucks 20-16, Mike Riordan of #BaltimoreBullets 20-16 before facing Bob McAdoo of #BuffaloBraves 20-8 to earn the chance at the title. Clemens defeated John Brisker, Spencer Haywood, Nate Williams, and Bob Love before meeting Geoff Petrie in the finals.
https://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtpetrievsclemens
http://basketballintelligence.net/2020/12/07/recounting-epic-1-1-nba-tournament-title-duel-1973/
https://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1935
https://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtpetrievsclemens
http://basketballintelligence.net/2020/12/07/recounting-epic-1-1-nba-tournament-title-duel-1973/
https://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1935
1977
The Blazers open the NBA Western Conference Series with a road win and jump to a 1-0 lead against the Los Angeles Laker
The Blazers open the NBA Western Conference Series with a road win and jump to a 1-0 lead against the Los Angeles Laker
May 7
1977
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_TvlkTJa0U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_TvlkTJa0U
1984
The NBA postpones the coin flip between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets, as both teams are accused of contacting Patrick Ewing and Akeem Olajawon. The flip, an annual tradition since 1966, was originally scheduled for May 10, but the NBA announced the delay, to investigate reports that the Blazers and Rockets had indirect contact with Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing of Georgetown, in violation of NBA bylaws forbidding teams to contact college players with eligibility remaining. Both players are juniors in college and are only available to be drafted if they have notified the league to forego their senior year. Ewing pulled his name from consideration at the deadline of May 5. |
Los Angeles Lakers GM Jerry West denied being the person to notify the NBA, while reports from the New York Post had that the Blazers and Olajuwon had already signed an agreement, pending the coin flip. The Blazers would eventually be fined $250,000, a league record, when the investigation was completed on May 22. The Rockets were cleared of any wrongdoing and not fined.
1985
Magic Johnson passes for 19 assist as the Lakers again eliminate the Blazers from the playoffs.
Magic Johnson passes for 19 assist as the Lakers again eliminate the Blazers from the playoffs.
May 8
1977
Just mention to any old-time Blazer fan the "Herm's Game" and everyone will be able to reminisce about Mother's Day and the 99-97 Blazer victory over the Lakers. The game Gilliam scored a season-high 24 points to give Portland a 2-0 advantage in the Western Conference Finals.
Just mention to any old-time Blazer fan the "Herm's Game" and everyone will be able to reminisce about Mother's Day and the 99-97 Blazer victory over the Lakers. The game Gilliam scored a season-high 24 points to give Portland a 2-0 advantage in the Western Conference Finals.
This is how journalist and historian David Halberstam described Gilliam’s performance in his classic book, “The Breaks of the Game”:
"In the crucial playoff series against Los Angeles … (Gilliam) played one memorable game. Thereafter his teammates referred to it simply as 'Herm’s Game'. Los Angeles was playing at home and playing a strong game, and it led 77-70 going into the fourth quarter. Herm Gilliam started the fourth quarter for Portland and played brilliantly, scoring, stealing the ball, scoring again, hitting difficult off-balance shots, making one particular shot, a falling away jump shot off the wrong foot, with Ramsay, it was said, on the bench shouting as he took the shot, “No, no, no … Yes!” Aftermath: Lucas later said, “I’m not sure we would have won the title” without Gilliam’s Game 2 performance. And as Bill Walton put it: “We were down and out in the second half. Kareem was torturing me, and we were about to go down to defeat. Ninety seconds later, Herm had restored complete order in the universe. … Everything he touched turned to gold: jumpers, drives, rebounds, steals, deflections. The Lakers couldn’t even get the ball up court. It was an incredible performance.” |
May 9
1991
The @trailblazers blew a 23-point lead before @terryporter30 hit a layup w/3.6 seconds to seal 118-116 victory over @utahjazz. Jerome Kersey scored career playoff-high 34 points as Blazers took a 2-0 lead in WCSF. Clyde Drexler added 23 points and 15 assists. Karl Malone led the Jazz with 40 points and 16 rebounds with John Stockton adding 20 points and passing for 12 assists. |
May 10
Lamont Strothers
2021
On the night that Terry Stotts was looking to earn his 400th victory as the Blazers coach, Portland came out of the gate gangbusters, scoring 50 points in the opening quarter of the Blazers 140-129 victory over the Houston Rockets. In addition to Stotts accomplishment, the 50-point total set a team record, breaking the 49 points Portland scored on San Antonio in 1990. |
The three-guard combo of Damian Lillard (34 points), CJ McCollum and Norman Powell (each with 28 points) combined for 90 points, 17 assists, and 18 rebounds.
|
On winning his 400th game with the franchise, Stotts said, "It's special. Not a lot of coaches are able to be with a franchise long enough to win 400 games. Its' been a great nine years. Our work's not done this year. But to get 400 is pretty special." Prior to this evening, only the late Jack Ramsay had reached the milestone with the Blazers.
In the postgame locker room, the team presented Stotts not just with the game ball, but a custom plaque commemorating his achievement.
|
May 11
Ollie Johnson
1970
The NBA conducts their expansion draft and the Blazers, Buffalo Braves, and the Cleveland Cavaliers each selected 11 players from the existing 14 teams. Among the players selected included a former # 1 pick in Fred Hetzel (1965) and former #3 pick in Larry Siegfried (1963). However, Hetzel was waived without playing a game for the Blazers and Siegfried was immediately traded to the San Diego Rockets in exchange for Jim Barnett.
Six players from the expansion draft joined the Blazers (Adelman, Ellis, Manning, McKenzie, Murrey, and Schlueter) for their inaugural season, with three (Adelman, McKenzie, Schlueter) playing more than one season for Portland.
The NBA conducts their expansion draft and the Blazers, Buffalo Braves, and the Cleveland Cavaliers each selected 11 players from the existing 14 teams. Among the players selected included a former # 1 pick in Fred Hetzel (1965) and former #3 pick in Larry Siegfried (1963). However, Hetzel was waived without playing a game for the Blazers and Siegfried was immediately traded to the San Diego Rockets in exchange for Jim Barnett.
Six players from the expansion draft joined the Blazers (Adelman, Ellis, Manning, McKenzie, Murrey, and Schlueter) for their inaugural season, with three (Adelman, McKenzie, Schlueter) playing more than one season for Portland.
1989
Despite a 14-21 record, and a 0-3 sweep in the playoffs, Rick Adelman had the interim tag removed and officially became the 7th coach of the Blazers
Despite a 14-21 record, and a 0-3 sweep in the playoffs, Rick Adelman had the interim tag removed and officially became the 7th coach of the Blazers
1992
The Blazers defeated the host Phoenix Suns 153-151 in double-overtime in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal Round series, the highest-scoring NBA Playoff game ever. Both teams had 4 players score 20 or more points. The game came down to a couple of free throws by Kevin Duckworth that put the Blazers up 152-151 with just 10.7 seconds on the clock, then with 3.6 seconds left on the clock Terry Porter made another free throw to add another point to the Trail Blazers total.
With just 2.7 to go in the game Dan Majerle attempted a shot from 30 feet out to win the game but his shot fell short and the Trail Blazers were victorious. It gave Portland a 3-1 lead in the series and they wouldn't look back. The Trail Blazers took Game 5 at home to move onto the next round, after knocking off the Jazz they met the Bulls in the Finals where their run would end. Clyde Drexler finished with 33 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds for the Blazers while Terry Porter added 31 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Kevin Johnson led the way for the Suns with 35 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds.
Highlights at .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9AKTelY5cI
Full Game at .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz-D9FG2t1I
The Blazers defeated the host Phoenix Suns 153-151 in double-overtime in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal Round series, the highest-scoring NBA Playoff game ever. Both teams had 4 players score 20 or more points. The game came down to a couple of free throws by Kevin Duckworth that put the Blazers up 152-151 with just 10.7 seconds on the clock, then with 3.6 seconds left on the clock Terry Porter made another free throw to add another point to the Trail Blazers total.
With just 2.7 to go in the game Dan Majerle attempted a shot from 30 feet out to win the game but his shot fell short and the Trail Blazers were victorious. It gave Portland a 3-1 lead in the series and they wouldn't look back. The Trail Blazers took Game 5 at home to move onto the next round, after knocking off the Jazz they met the Bulls in the Finals where their run would end. Clyde Drexler finished with 33 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds for the Blazers while Terry Porter added 31 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Kevin Johnson led the way for the Suns with 35 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds.
Highlights at .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9AKTelY5cI
Full Game at .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz-D9FG2t1I
Former Blazers coach Jack Ramsay was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame
May 12
Kim Anderson
1991
SALT LAKE CITY, MAY 12 (AP) - Clyde Drexler hit a go-ahead jumper with 36 seconds left and he stole a pass from Karl Malone on Utah's next possession, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers to a 104-101 victory and a 3-1 lead in their playoff series tonight. |
"A game is not over until the last minute," said Drexler, who finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. "It feels great to win, but our work is not done yet. We have to keep the pressure on them." Kevin Duckworth had 10 of his 30 points in the fourth period for the Trail Blazers, who could close out the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal with a victory in Portland Tuesday.
"It's a tremendous win for us on the road. It puts us in good shape in the series," Trail Blazers Coach Rick Adelman said. "But it's a long way from over." Neither team led by more than one point from the 8:08 mark of the fourth quarter, when Portland led 84-81, until Terry Porter followed Drexler's steal with two free throws with 13 seconds left. https://youtu.be/Ll6Xo23hxFo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6Xo23hxFo |
2019
CJ McCollum scored 37 points to help @trailblazers defeat @nuggets 100-96. With the win, #Blazers advance to WCF for first time since 2000. |
May 13
1977
The Blazers, in their first ever playoffs, sweep the favored Los Angeles Lakers and advance to the 1977 NBA Finals.
The Blazers, in their first ever playoffs, sweep the favored Los Angeles Lakers and advance to the 1977 NBA Finals.
1979
Bill Walton signs with the San Diego Clippers after demanding a trade in August of 1978. Walton had appeared to be signing with the Golden State Warriors earlier in the year but moved towards his hometown instead.
Bill Walton signs with the San Diego Clippers after demanding a trade in August of 1978. Walton had appeared to be signing with the Golden State Warriors earlier in the year but moved towards his hometown instead.
The biggest talk of course is what compensation would be paid to Portland. At the time, a player that signed with a team after his contract was fulfilled, could sign anywhere but his former team was to get player or players back. This rule ended by 1983.
The signing was so big that the New York Times had 2 stories to cover it.
1997
Blazers hire Mike Dunleavy as their 9th coach in team history
Blazers hire Mike Dunleavy as their 9th coach in team history
May 14
Walter Berry
1992
May 14 1992 - The @trailblazers defeat the Phoenix @suns in 5 games to advance to WCF for 3rd season in a row (1990/91/92) and 4th time in team history. #ClydeDrexler led #Blazers with 34 pts, 8 rebs, 8 assists, & 3 blks. Drexler had a busy week as he graced the cover of @sportsillustrated and @sportingnews, not to mention making the @usabasketball @olympics #DreamTeam that will compete in Barcelona |
May 15
1974
Despite the Portland Trail Blazers signing their #1 pick Bill Walton, coach Jack McCloskey and the Blazers have agreed to part ways due to "irreconcilable differences" with McCloskey adding that "..there was a difference in what the organization thought I should do and the things I thought we should be doing." It was widely speculated, and confirmed many years later, that McCloskey did not get along with Sidney Wicks and pushed to have the power-forward traded but management refused to do so.
After first being an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1978, McCloskey would become general manager of the Detroit Pistons starting in 1979, garnering great success from 1987 until he retired in 1993 as the Pistons went to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1987, 88, 89, 90, 91 and the NBA Finals in 1988 and winning the title in 1989, and 1990.
Despite the Portland Trail Blazers signing their #1 pick Bill Walton, coach Jack McCloskey and the Blazers have agreed to part ways due to "irreconcilable differences" with McCloskey adding that "..there was a difference in what the organization thought I should do and the things I thought we should be doing." It was widely speculated, and confirmed many years later, that McCloskey did not get along with Sidney Wicks and pushed to have the power-forward traded but management refused to do so.
After first being an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1978, McCloskey would become general manager of the Detroit Pistons starting in 1979, garnering great success from 1987 until he retired in 1993 as the Pistons went to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1987, 88, 89, 90, 91 and the NBA Finals in 1988 and winning the title in 1989, and 1990.
1990
Portland OR - (AP) - The Blazers pull off an amazing double-overtime victory to take a 3-2 lead despite losing Clyde Drexler to fouls in the 1st overtime.
For three hours and 12 minutes, the Portland Trail Blazers were just too tough to die Tuesday night. For about three hours and 11 minutes, so were the San Antonio Spurs. And so in that final excruciating minute, the Blazers won a 138-132 double-overtime battle of attrition to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff series.
Portland OR - (AP) - The Blazers pull off an amazing double-overtime victory to take a 3-2 lead despite losing Clyde Drexler to fouls in the 1st overtime.
For three hours and 12 minutes, the Portland Trail Blazers were just too tough to die Tuesday night. For about three hours and 11 minutes, so were the San Antonio Spurs. And so in that final excruciating minute, the Blazers won a 138-132 double-overtime battle of attrition to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff series.
The series returns to San Antonio for a Thursday game at 5 p.m. (PDT), then would wind up in Portland at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, if a Game 7 is needed to decide Phoenix's opponent in the conference finals. The Blazers used a spectacular first half to jump to what looked like an insurmountable early lead. They led, in fact, 91-69 with 5:17 to go in the third period. But the Spurs put together a 13-point run in the fourth period, then battled the Blazers shot for shot the rest of the way.
Portland, which played without centers Kevin Duckworth and Wayne Cooper, then lost guard Clyde Drexler with six fouls in the first overtime, just wouldn't give in. ``An unbelievable game,'' Portland coach Rick Adelman said. ``I can't believe all the swings it had. That was one of the most exciting playoff games I've ever seen. Our guys just wouldn't quit.'' The Blazers had terrific chances to win at the end of regulation and the first overtime. In regulation, Drexler missed a free throw with 7.9 seconds to go that would have given Portland a four-point lead. The Spurs' David Wingate then sent it into the first extra period with a 3-point field goal with 1.5 seconds left. ``Coach said look for a `three,' '' Wingate said. ``David Robinson set a good pick and I took it.'' It was a terrific shot -- by a guy who went 0-for-13 from 3-point range during the regular season. At the end of the first overtime, Portland had a 126-124 lead, and the ball, with 52 seconds to play, but couldn't get it across the midcourt line within 10 seconds and turned it over. Sean Elliott then buried a 19-foot jump shot with 20.2 seconds to play to tie the game. That gave Portland a chance for the final shot, but the Blazers never got an attempt. Terry Porter, who was sensational in 54 minutes on the court, drove the lane, got hammered by Reggie Williams and turned the ball over with two-tenths of a second left. The Spurs got off a tip play to Terry Cummings that nearly went in the basket at the horn but the result was the second overtime. Cummings completed a three-point play with 1:41 remaining in the second overtime that gave San Antonio a 131-130 lead. But Porter countered with two free throws with 1:29 left and then drew an offensive foul on Wingate, his sixth. He became the fourth San Antonio player to foul out, including David Robinson, who went out in the first overtime with 27 points and 15 rebounds. |
With 54.4 seconds left in the game, Drazen Petrovic ended up with the ball and the shot clock winding toward :00. He pump-faked two Spurs into the air, stepped to the free-throw line and nailed a jump shot to push the Blazer lead to 134-131. Petrovic then made another big play. He got a piece of the San Antonio inbound pass from halfcourt, deflecting it just enough so it bounced off Cummings' knee and into backcourt -- where it was recovered for an over-and-back violation. On the next play, Porter was fouled but made only one free throw and when Cummings hit two charity shots with 29.8 seconds left, it was 135-132.
The Spurs threw a trapping defense at Portland, which needed a heady timeout by Danny Young in backcourt to avert another turnover. It took a lengthy debate by the three officials to decide how many seconds were left on the shot clock. When play resumed, the Blazers had only 2 seconds to get the ball across midcourt but still beat a the San Antonio trap. Young then found Jerome Kersey wide open underneath the basket. He didn't score, but was fouled -- and swished the clutch free throws with 11.1 seconds to go, ensuring the triumph. ``It was great to make those free throws,'' Kersey said. ``I had a dunk but they're going foul, to make you make the free throws. ``That was the most exciting game I've ever played in. And to be a part of winning it, means even more.'' |
May 16
2000
@ScottiePippen scored 23 pts & led @trailblazers to victory over @utahjazz. The win moves the #Blazers to #WCF to face the @Lakers. It is the 3rd time the teams have faced off in WCF (77 & 91)
@ScottiePippen scored 23 pts & led @trailblazers to victory over @utahjazz. The win moves the #Blazers to #WCF to face the @Lakers. It is the 3rd time the teams have faced off in WCF (77 & 91)
2021
Damian Lillard was just one made three pointer away from breaking his own franchise record for three-pointers in a season as the Blazers faced the Denver Nuggets in the season finale. At the 10:07 mark of the 1st quarter, Lullard connecting on his 271st three-pointer for the season, breaking the record he set last season. |
Former Blazers coach Rick Adelman was selected to be inducted into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame
|
May 17
Channing Frye
1990
SAN ANTONIO - (AP) - The San Antonio Spurs ensured that state of affairs Thursday night with a 112-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in HemisFair Arena. The Spurs' win sent the two teams' National Basketball Association Western Conference semifinal playoff to the seventh and deciding game of a series in which the home team has yet to lose.
The night's card included:
*Three sets of double-technicals issued by the officiating crew of Darrell Garretson, Mike Mathis and Danny Crawford, who had their hands full all night long.
*A fourth-quarter war of words between Portland's Buck Williams and San Antonio's David Robinson. It should not be confused with an exchange of pleasantries.
*A punching foul called on Portland's Clyde Drexler after a third-quarter altercation with San Antonio's Willie Anderson, which resulted in Drexler's ejection and a shouting match between Brown and Portland coaches Rick Adelman and John Wetzel.
``Those things just happen,'' Adelman said afterward. ``It's been a very physical series between two competitive teams. When two teams want to win as badly as these two do, you're going to have situations like that.'' San Antonio evened the series at three wins apiece on outstanding performances by Robinson and off-guard Willie Anderson. The 7-foot-1 Robinson -- going against a Portland team without a center -- came up with 24 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Anderson, shaking off the effects of a left thumb dislocated in Tuesday's fifth game at Portland, sank 13 of 19 shots from the floor en route to a career playoff-high 30 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxoov8RmfuA
SAN ANTONIO - (AP) - The San Antonio Spurs ensured that state of affairs Thursday night with a 112-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in HemisFair Arena. The Spurs' win sent the two teams' National Basketball Association Western Conference semifinal playoff to the seventh and deciding game of a series in which the home team has yet to lose.
The night's card included:
*Three sets of double-technicals issued by the officiating crew of Darrell Garretson, Mike Mathis and Danny Crawford, who had their hands full all night long.
*A fourth-quarter war of words between Portland's Buck Williams and San Antonio's David Robinson. It should not be confused with an exchange of pleasantries.
*A punching foul called on Portland's Clyde Drexler after a third-quarter altercation with San Antonio's Willie Anderson, which resulted in Drexler's ejection and a shouting match between Brown and Portland coaches Rick Adelman and John Wetzel.
``Those things just happen,'' Adelman said afterward. ``It's been a very physical series between two competitive teams. When two teams want to win as badly as these two do, you're going to have situations like that.'' San Antonio evened the series at three wins apiece on outstanding performances by Robinson and off-guard Willie Anderson. The 7-foot-1 Robinson -- going against a Portland team without a center -- came up with 24 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Anderson, shaking off the effects of a left thumb dislocated in Tuesday's fifth game at Portland, sank 13 of 19 shots from the floor en route to a career playoff-high 30 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxoov8RmfuA
Even without injured centers Kevin Duckworth and Wayne Cooper, the Trail Blazers might have made it interesting if not for the lack of offensive production from guards Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler. Porter and Drexler -- who had combined for 73 points in the Blazers' 138-132 double-overtime triumph in Game 5 -- never found a rhythm Thursday night. Porter finished with 14 points but was only four of 13 from the field and didn't have an assist until the fourth quarter.
Drexler was worse, managing only four points on 1-of-10 accuracy before his third-quarter ejection. Clyde the Slide collected six rebounds and seven assists, but he didn't score until he made a pair of free throws in the final two minutes of the first half. His only basket came on a breakaway dunk after a steal in the third period. ``I think it was obvious the guys were fighting some fatigue,'' Adelman said. ``I'm sure both teams were tired,'' Drexler said. ``If you don't play well, you can give yourself a thousand excuses. The truth is, if you don't play well, you just lose. ``We were just missing shots. That happens when your legs are not the strongest.''
There was nothing wrong with Portland's defensive performance. Offense was another matter. The Blazers shot only .415 from the floor -- going 9-for-32 in the critical second and third quarters -- to .524 for San Antonio. ``We definitely played well enough defensively to win this game,'' Porter said. ``We were a little impatient on offense.'' Portland, getting a nice lift from rookie Cliff Robinson, came out well from the start. Though the Spurs hit 13 of 21 shots from the field, the Blazers exited the first quarter with a 27-26 lead.
The bottom fell out quickly. With Adelman substituting as liberally as his thin bench would allow, the Blazers managed only four field goals in the entire second quarter. San Antonio outscored them 26-14 in the period to take a 52-41 lead at the half. It would have been closer if not for a breakdown on the Blazers' part in the final minute. They trailed only 48-41 but took two bad shots. Meanwhile, Willie Anderson scored twice for San Antonio -- the latter basket coming with 2.2 seconds left -- to up the margin to 11. San Antonio threatened to run away after Drexler's ejection, grabbing a 73-57 advantage, but the Blazers hung around and were still within 12 at 91-79 after Porter sank a jumper with 6:31 to play.
Then the Spurs went on an 8-2 run to hike the margin to 99-81 with 3:50 left. At that point, Adelman yanked his starters and began to focus on Game 7.
``We wanted to be in the game in the fourth quarter,'' the Portland coach said, ``but we could never get it to within seven. They just kept coming up with big baskets when they needed it. ``Now it's down to a one-game series, and it's at our place.'' Jerome Kersey led the Blazers with 22 points but was only 7 of 18 from the field.
Cliff Robinson collected a playoff-high 20 points -- on 8 of 13 from the floor -- and eight rebounds despite playing only 28 minutes because of foul trouble. The Blazers also got nice play off the bench from forward Mark Bryant, who had six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, and little-used rookie Byron Irvin. San Antonio's Terry Cummings was held to four points in the first half but came back to finish with 18. A key to the Spurs' win was reserve guard David Wingate, who hit 5 of 6 shots -- all jumpers -- and scored 11 points in 29 minutes. ``This was our biggest game of the year and we came through,'' said David Robinson. ``We're a young team, but we always rise to the occasion.''
Drexler was worse, managing only four points on 1-of-10 accuracy before his third-quarter ejection. Clyde the Slide collected six rebounds and seven assists, but he didn't score until he made a pair of free throws in the final two minutes of the first half. His only basket came on a breakaway dunk after a steal in the third period. ``I think it was obvious the guys were fighting some fatigue,'' Adelman said. ``I'm sure both teams were tired,'' Drexler said. ``If you don't play well, you can give yourself a thousand excuses. The truth is, if you don't play well, you just lose. ``We were just missing shots. That happens when your legs are not the strongest.''
There was nothing wrong with Portland's defensive performance. Offense was another matter. The Blazers shot only .415 from the floor -- going 9-for-32 in the critical second and third quarters -- to .524 for San Antonio. ``We definitely played well enough defensively to win this game,'' Porter said. ``We were a little impatient on offense.'' Portland, getting a nice lift from rookie Cliff Robinson, came out well from the start. Though the Spurs hit 13 of 21 shots from the field, the Blazers exited the first quarter with a 27-26 lead.
The bottom fell out quickly. With Adelman substituting as liberally as his thin bench would allow, the Blazers managed only four field goals in the entire second quarter. San Antonio outscored them 26-14 in the period to take a 52-41 lead at the half. It would have been closer if not for a breakdown on the Blazers' part in the final minute. They trailed only 48-41 but took two bad shots. Meanwhile, Willie Anderson scored twice for San Antonio -- the latter basket coming with 2.2 seconds left -- to up the margin to 11. San Antonio threatened to run away after Drexler's ejection, grabbing a 73-57 advantage, but the Blazers hung around and were still within 12 at 91-79 after Porter sank a jumper with 6:31 to play.
Then the Spurs went on an 8-2 run to hike the margin to 99-81 with 3:50 left. At that point, Adelman yanked his starters and began to focus on Game 7.
``We wanted to be in the game in the fourth quarter,'' the Portland coach said, ``but we could never get it to within seven. They just kept coming up with big baskets when they needed it. ``Now it's down to a one-game series, and it's at our place.'' Jerome Kersey led the Blazers with 22 points but was only 7 of 18 from the field.
Cliff Robinson collected a playoff-high 20 points -- on 8 of 13 from the floor -- and eight rebounds despite playing only 28 minutes because of foul trouble. The Blazers also got nice play off the bench from forward Mark Bryant, who had six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, and little-used rookie Byron Irvin. San Antonio's Terry Cummings was held to four points in the first half but came back to finish with 18. A key to the Spurs' win was reserve guard David Wingate, who hit 5 of 6 shots -- all jumpers -- and scored 11 points in 29 minutes. ``This was our biggest game of the year and we came through,'' said David Robinson. ``We're a young team, but we always rise to the occasion.''
1994
Geoff Petrie resigned as the Senior VP of the Blazers
In a stunning development, Geoff Petrie, the senior vice president of operations for the Portland Trail Blazers, has resigned from the organization.Paul Allen, the owner of the team, confirmed from his home near Seattle that Petrie -- who had just completed his fourth season at the job -- had resigned and that the fate of coach Rick Adelman still was undecided. ``I talked with Geoff Sunday and he surprised me by resigning,'' Allen said. ``Geoff was a very, very valuable part of our organization and this very much caught us by surprise.''
Allen took great pains to emphasize that Petrie's departure was at his request, not the team's. Petrie's contract to run the basketball side of the organization, however, expired at the conclusion of this season. ``I don't want anyone to think we're couching something in this at all,'' Allen said. ``It was strictly his decision, without prompting from anyone. Geoff and I had differences of opinion on things, but we always had a good working relationship.''
Petrie admitted a fondness for Allen. ``I don't have any ill feeling toward Paul,'' Petrie said upon his return from a meeting in Seattle. ``He's somebody I respect and he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. I plan to stay on and advise him on some stuff. I have a real fondness for the guy.''
But Petrie would not get specific about his reasons for resigning the job and would not comment about reports that there was a massive power struggle going on within the Blazers' offices. ``I'm resigning to pursue other interests and opportunities,'' he said, laughing a little.
Petrie's name has been circulating as a candidate for other NBA jobs, including one in Philadelphia. But he said he has nothing going at the present time.
``I don't have another job,'' he said. Allen said a search will begin for Petrie's successor and that it won't necessarily be Brad Greenberg, the team's vice president of player personnel and a man who has made no secret of his desire to run a National Basketball Association team. ``Brad is the guy who is the internal candidate for the job,'' Allen said. ``But we want to find the best person.''
Allen also confirmed that Adelman not only has another full season remaining on his contract, but has a half-season after that guaranteed. The owner met with Adelman on Tuesday in Seattle and said he still hasn't decided the fate of the coach. ``We met for a couple of hours with Rick today,'' Allen said. ``I'm still thinking about the coaching situation. I plan to take my time. We'll make a decision in the next few days.'' Allen said he will stick to the same plan he always uses at the conclusion of a season. ``As I've said all along, I like to wait until the end of the season and evaluate everything,'' he said. ``I'm still thinking about it.''
Petrie was the original Trail Blazer, the first player drafted by the club for the inaugural season of 1970-71. As a 6-foot-5 guard, he was the league's co-rookie of the year and later its one-on-one champion. His number 45 was retired by the Blazers on Oct. 1, 1981. He returned to the organization for a five-year stint as the club's radio analyst and also served as a part-time shooting coach for the last four of those years. He moved into the front office on July 1, 1990. His tenure as the head of basketball operations was marked by two key free-agent acquisitions, one major free-agent defection and a major trade.
Petrie signed Rod Strickland as a free agent in July of 1992, just a couple of weeks after losing local hero Danny Ainge via the free-agency route. Last summer, his innovative use of an opt-out clause enabled the club to add free-agent center Chris Dudley. Last summer, Petrie also engineered the trade that sent disgruntled center Kevin Duckworth to Washington for forward Harvey Grant.
Geoff Petrie resigned as the Senior VP of the Blazers
In a stunning development, Geoff Petrie, the senior vice president of operations for the Portland Trail Blazers, has resigned from the organization.Paul Allen, the owner of the team, confirmed from his home near Seattle that Petrie -- who had just completed his fourth season at the job -- had resigned and that the fate of coach Rick Adelman still was undecided. ``I talked with Geoff Sunday and he surprised me by resigning,'' Allen said. ``Geoff was a very, very valuable part of our organization and this very much caught us by surprise.''
Allen took great pains to emphasize that Petrie's departure was at his request, not the team's. Petrie's contract to run the basketball side of the organization, however, expired at the conclusion of this season. ``I don't want anyone to think we're couching something in this at all,'' Allen said. ``It was strictly his decision, without prompting from anyone. Geoff and I had differences of opinion on things, but we always had a good working relationship.''
Petrie admitted a fondness for Allen. ``I don't have any ill feeling toward Paul,'' Petrie said upon his return from a meeting in Seattle. ``He's somebody I respect and he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. I plan to stay on and advise him on some stuff. I have a real fondness for the guy.''
But Petrie would not get specific about his reasons for resigning the job and would not comment about reports that there was a massive power struggle going on within the Blazers' offices. ``I'm resigning to pursue other interests and opportunities,'' he said, laughing a little.
Petrie's name has been circulating as a candidate for other NBA jobs, including one in Philadelphia. But he said he has nothing going at the present time.
``I don't have another job,'' he said. Allen said a search will begin for Petrie's successor and that it won't necessarily be Brad Greenberg, the team's vice president of player personnel and a man who has made no secret of his desire to run a National Basketball Association team. ``Brad is the guy who is the internal candidate for the job,'' Allen said. ``But we want to find the best person.''
Allen also confirmed that Adelman not only has another full season remaining on his contract, but has a half-season after that guaranteed. The owner met with Adelman on Tuesday in Seattle and said he still hasn't decided the fate of the coach. ``We met for a couple of hours with Rick today,'' Allen said. ``I'm still thinking about the coaching situation. I plan to take my time. We'll make a decision in the next few days.'' Allen said he will stick to the same plan he always uses at the conclusion of a season. ``As I've said all along, I like to wait until the end of the season and evaluate everything,'' he said. ``I'm still thinking about it.''
Petrie was the original Trail Blazer, the first player drafted by the club for the inaugural season of 1970-71. As a 6-foot-5 guard, he was the league's co-rookie of the year and later its one-on-one champion. His number 45 was retired by the Blazers on Oct. 1, 1981. He returned to the organization for a five-year stint as the club's radio analyst and also served as a part-time shooting coach for the last four of those years. He moved into the front office on July 1, 1990. His tenure as the head of basketball operations was marked by two key free-agent acquisitions, one major free-agent defection and a major trade.
Petrie signed Rod Strickland as a free agent in July of 1992, just a couple of weeks after losing local hero Danny Ainge via the free-agency route. Last summer, his innovative use of an opt-out clause enabled the club to add free-agent center Chris Dudley. Last summer, Petrie also engineered the trade that sent disgruntled center Kevin Duckworth to Washington for forward Harvey Grant.
May 18
The Blazers shuffled the front office and the bench with the hiring of Assistant Coach Jimmy Lynam, and title changes for Harry Glickman, Stu Inman, Bucky Buckwalter, George Rickles.
1991
The Los Angeles Lakers came on with a rush in the fourth quarter Saturday to overhaul the Portland Trail Blazers 111-106 in Memorial Coliseum and take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference final series. The Lakers were ready. They made 11 of their first 15 shots and grabbed a 27-17 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter as a national television audience watched on NBC.
But the Blazers got a big lift from reserve forward Cliff Robinson, who scored 12 points off the bench in the first two periods. For three quarters, the tub was overflowing with all kinds of good things for the Portland Trail Blazers. Then the plug popped out, and before they knew it, an important win went swirling down the drain.
``It was more what we did than what they did,'' Portland coach Rick Adelman said after the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter, then made the clutch plays in the closing minutes to pull out a 111-106 win in the opener of the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference finals Saturday in Memorial Coliseum. ``We gave them a chance to win the game, and they took it,'' Adelman said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXSnS5wc6VY
The Los Angeles Lakers came on with a rush in the fourth quarter Saturday to overhaul the Portland Trail Blazers 111-106 in Memorial Coliseum and take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference final series. The Lakers were ready. They made 11 of their first 15 shots and grabbed a 27-17 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter as a national television audience watched on NBC.
But the Blazers got a big lift from reserve forward Cliff Robinson, who scored 12 points off the bench in the first two periods. For three quarters, the tub was overflowing with all kinds of good things for the Portland Trail Blazers. Then the plug popped out, and before they knew it, an important win went swirling down the drain.
``It was more what we did than what they did,'' Portland coach Rick Adelman said after the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter, then made the clutch plays in the closing minutes to pull out a 111-106 win in the opener of the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference finals Saturday in Memorial Coliseum. ``We gave them a chance to win the game, and they took it,'' Adelman said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXSnS5wc6VY
The Lakers were tasked with a difficult challenge in beginning the series on the road in front of a hostile crowd. But Los Angeles nevertheless jumped out to an early six-point advantage over Portland after the first 12 minutes of play.
The lead, however, would quickly evaporate as the Trail Blazers caught fire and outscored the Lakers by 13 points in the second quarter — enabling them to carry a seven-point lead into halftime. The Lakers’ deficit would increase to 12 in the third quarter and they found themselves trailing by that same margin entering the fourth. But from there, the Lakers’ defense clamped down and limited Portland to just 14 points. That allowed the Lakers to pull off an epic comeback and steal a 111-106 win in Game 1. Magic Johnson created a plethora of opportunities for his teammates, as evidenced by his game-high 21 assists. He scored 15 points while sinking 11-of-13 free throw attempts and additionally picked up two steals on the defensive end as well. |
James Worthy led the Lakers with 28 points, while Sam Perkins posted a double-double of his own with 18 points and 15 rebounds in 42 minutes of action. Clyde Drexler enjoyed a vintage performance for the Trail Blazers, registering team-highs in points (28) and assists (12). He successfully converted 10-of-19 field goal attempts and was just two rebounds shy of a triple-double in 40 minutes on the court. Jerome Kersey filled up the stat sheet with 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting in 41 minutes on the floor. He also added five boards and two assists, with one steal and one block. |
May 19
Clyde Drexler hit four free throws in the final minute of overtime Saturday as the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of a bizarre play and beat San Antonio 108-105 in the seventh and deciding game of the National Basketball Association Western Conference semifinals. The Blazers won the best-of-seven series with the Spurs 4-3 and will play the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals.
The score was tied 103-103 in overtime when San Antonio guard Rod Strickland threw a pass over the back of his head. The ball was headed out of bounds when Jerome Kersey saved it and threw a long pass toward the Portland basket. Drexler caught up with the ball and was fouled by Strickland as he went up to shoot. |
Strickland was called for a breakaway foul on Drexler, who made both free throws and added two more moments later when he was fouled while trying to run out the clock.
Terry Cummings hit two free throws for San Antonio, but Drexler went back to the line and made one of two. Terry Porter, who led the Blazers with 36 points, stole the inbounds pass on the Spurs' last attempt. Drexler finished with 22 points and Jerome Kersey had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Cummings led the Spurs with 27 points. |
The Blazers got a psychological lift from the return to action of centers Kevin Duckworth and Wayne Cooper. Duckworth had missed the entire series with a broken right hand, and his appearance on the court in uniform sent the capacity crowd of 12,884 into delirium. Cooper had missed the last two games of the series with back problems. The two combined for 11 points and 10 rebounds.
|
Portland's two centers showed their rust, but helped contain San Antonio center David Robinson, who made only 7 of 21 shots and finished with 20 points. Cooper and Duckworth also contributed to Portland's 60-48 rebound advantage. The sight of Duckworth in the starting lineup fired up the crowd, but the Spurs weren't bothered and took an 18-13 lead midway through the first quarter. Duckworth had a little trouble finding his pace, and San Antonio's Willie Anderson buried his first four shots.
The Blazers got back in the game with defense. Drexler stole a pass and set up Porter for a layup, capping a six-point run that gave the Blazers a 19-18 lead. Anderson scored again, but Buck Williams converted a three-point play off a pass from Duckworth. Duckworth left after picking up his second foul when David Robinson hit a jumper over him. Cooper, Duckworth's replacement, immediately made his presence felt, blocking a Robinson shot that started a Portland fastbreak. Kersey converted a three-point play at the other end, and Portland was in the middle of a 9-0 run. Drexler stole the ball twice more and Porter converted the layups. Porter finished the first quarter with 13 points and the Blazers had a 31-24 lead.
The second quarter started slowly, but picked up in a hurry. Drazen Petrovic, who replaced Drexler at the start of the period, hit a jumper to give Portland a 36-28 lead. On the way back downcourt, Petrovic and Rod Strickland exchanged elbows. Petrovic ended up flat on his back and Strickland was slapped with an elbowing foul. Petrovic made only one free throw, but David Robinson picked up his third foul the next time the Spurs came downcourt and left the game with 8:08 left in the half.
The second quarter started slowly, but picked up in a hurry. Drazen Petrovic, who replaced Drexler at the start of the period, hit a jumper to give Portland a 36-28 lead. On the way back downcourt, Petrovic and Rod Strickland exchanged elbows. Petrovic ended up flat on his back and Strickland was slapped with an elbowing foul. Petrovic made only one free throw, but David Robinson picked up his third foul the next time the Spurs came downcourt and left the game with 8:08 left in the half.
San Antonio made a brief run, but Duckworth hit his first shot, a spinning jumper in the lane, with five minutes left in the half. He followed with a bomb from the top of the key, and Drexler got the Blazers back up by 10 with a dunk off a Kersey steal. The Blazer defense held, forcing the Spurs into two 24-second shot clock violations in the last two minutes. Cummings scored three times in the last minute, however, and the Blazer lead was 52-46 at halftime. Cummings converted just before the halftime buzzer on a full-court pass by David Wingate that had the Blazers talking to each other on the way to the locker room.
Cummings and Anderson had 14 first-half points each for the Spurs; Porter led Portland with 19. David Robinson was 1 of 8 from the field in the first half and played only 13 minutes. The Spurs came out more aggressively in the third quarter and forced Portland outside its comfort zone. Duckworth picked up his fourth foul with 8:50 left in the quarter and sat down. San Antonio cut the score to 59-58 on consecutive baskets by Strickland, but Porter stayed hot outside and kept the Blazers in front. |
Robinson got going by flipping the ball off the backboard and through the net as he was stumbling across the lane. He converted the three-point play with 2:47 left and brought the Spurs within 69-68. Porter came back with a free throw and a 3-pointer that kept the Blazers ahead 73-72 after three quarters.
Williams hit two free throws to open the fourth quarter, but the Spurs went on a 9-0 run that featured a four-point play by the Spurs. David Robinson was fouled in the lane by Cliff Robinson, who compounded the mistake by goaltending. David Robinson missed the free throw, but Caldwell Jones grabbed a loose ball in the lane and scored. David Robinson's jam on a fastbreak made the score 81-75 for the Spurs. Porter broke the run with a jumper and Drexler came back with an open-court dunk. |
The Blazers took the lead twice down the stretch as Drexler and Porter worked the break and the free-throw line, but the Spurs wouldn't fold. Cummings stuck in a jumper with 5:16 left, Anderson followed with a baseline jumper and David Robinson hit a free throw, giving the Spurs a 92-88 lead. Drexler spun free inside for a basket, but the Spurs got three points from the free-throw line and a tip-in from Robinson to go ahead 97-90 with less than three minutes left, setting the stage for the seven-point run and the overtime.
Duckworth got it going with a jumper and Drexler got the Blazers back in the game with a 3-pointer that made the score 97-95. Kersey's slam off a fast break with 1:17 left tied the game at 97-97. Each team missed two shots in the final minute. Cummings and David Robinson hit the rim on jumpers for the Spurs and Porter missed twice himself, including a potential game-winner with five seconds left.
highlights at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rMyxGyVOxU
a longer version of highlights at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at1NCGxJl5o
Duckworth got it going with a jumper and Drexler got the Blazers back in the game with a 3-pointer that made the score 97-95. Kersey's slam off a fast break with 1:17 left tied the game at 97-97. Each team missed two shots in the final minute. Cummings and David Robinson hit the rim on jumpers for the Spurs and Porter missed twice himself, including a potential game-winner with five seconds left.
highlights at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rMyxGyVOxU
a longer version of highlights at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at1NCGxJl5o
1992
Terry Porter scores a career-high 41 points in the Blazers 119-102 victory over the Utah Jazz. Porter was 12 of 14 from the field,
https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2020/01/13/porter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAIouCRio6s
Terry Porter scores a career-high 41 points in the Blazers 119-102 victory over the Utah Jazz. Porter was 12 of 14 from the field,
https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2020/01/13/porter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAIouCRio6s
1994
Rick Adelman is released as Blazers coach
Rick Adelman is released as Blazers coach
Rick Adelman, who won 65 percent of the games he coached for the Portland Trail Blazers and led the team to the National Basketball Association Finals twice in three seasons, was fired Thursday. Paul Allen, the Blazers' billionaire owner, ended weeks of speculation about Adelman's future and concluded a tumultuous week in the team's basketball operations by firing him during a brief afternoon telephone conversation. Geoff Petrie, the Blazers' general manager, resigned Sunday, leaving the Blazers with no one in their top two basketball jobs. ``I'm disappointed,'' Adelman said. ``For me and my staff, that we didn't have a chance to see what we could do with this team for another year.''
Allen decided not to give Adelman that chance. The owner said he had been thinking about whether to retain Adelman ``all day and all night'' before making a decision Wednesday evening. Allen said there was no overriding reason why he fired Adelman, who had a 291-154 regular-season record in more than five seasons as the Blazers' coach. ``I judge a lot just based on my sense of the atmosphere around the team, the level of intensity out on the floor and all of those things,'' said Allen, who twice mentioned a home loss to Dallas on April 12 as being particularly disappointing. ``And then how we do in the season and the playoffs. When things are going great, the coach deservedly gets credit for that. When things don't go as well, you have the other side of the coin.'' |
Adelman won't have to worry about rubbing two coins together. He will be paid about $1.5 million for the two years remaining on a contract he signed in 1992, after the Blazers advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons. ``I'm just going to step away,'' he said. ``I think I'm going to try to do some of the things I did 10 years ago. I want to see what I've missed. I really don't have any plans, but I'm not worried about the future.''
The Blazers' assistant coaches -- Kip Motta, Jack Schalow and John Wetzel -- aren't so fortunate. They are without contracts and are out of jobs, although Allen said they are welcome to interview with the new coach. ``I'll go on,'' Adelman said. ``Life goes on. I feel bad, though, for my staff, kind of hanging out there.'' Allen said he had no timetable for hiring a new coach or general manager and said the team's vice chairman, Bert Kolde, will interview general manager candidates while Brad Greenberg, vice president of player personnel, will start talking to potential coaches Friday. Greenberg is the interim general manager since Petrie's resignation and will lead what's left of the basketball staff into the June 29 college draft. |
``We are, frankly, somewhat short-handed,'' said Allen, who pledged to find the best possible coach and said he would consider both college and professional coaches. He mentioned Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Rick Pitino of Kentucky and Nolan Richardson of Arkansas as examples of the caliber of college coach he would consider. Allen also gave some weight to NBA experience and said he had no idea whether a coach or general manager would be hired first.
- Team decline disappoints Allen
There is no doubt Allen was disappointed by the Blazers' steady decline over the last two seasons. He did not directly answer a question about whether he thought Adelman had lost the respect of his players, but did defend Adelman's development of young players and used Clifford Robinson as an example. Adelman reportedly was under considerable pressure from Allen and others in the front office to play younger players at the expense of veterans last season. ``Certainly, we have some veterans who may not be in the prime of their careers any longer and may not make the same contribution they did,'' Allen said. Most of those veterans did not return telephone messages Thursday evening and were unavailable for comment. Chris Dudley, who came to Portland as a free agent last season, said he was ``really disappointed for Rick. I had a lot of respect and admiration for him and I wish I could have played for him a little longer.'' Dudley was preparing to leave for a Hawaiian vacation and said he hasn't thought about whether the departures of Adelman and Petrie will affect his decision to remain with the Blazers. Dudley has a clause in his contract that will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, as does forward Harvey Grant. |
- Strickland disappointed
Rod Strickland, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to relieve an impingement in his left shoulder Thursday, also expressed his disappointment at the news of Adelman's firing. ``I have nothing but good things to say about Rick,'' Strickland said. ``He's done a lot for me, a lot for my game and my career. He's good people and I'll miss him. I feel a little funny because you never know what's going to happen with new coaches. A lot of things are unwinding right now.'' Many of the players believe the team is unwinding after the glory years of 1990-92. The Blazers enjoyed enormous success after Adelman replaced Mike Schuler in 1989. They lost in the first round of the playoffs that season, but in 1990, Adelman's first full season as head coach, they went to the NBA Finals before losing to Detroit. In 1991, they had the best record in the league and were favored to win the championship, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. They made it back to the NBA Finals in 1992 and lost to Chicago. |
Since then, the number of wins has decreased and the level of frustration for the team and its fans has increased. The Blazers went from 57 wins in 1992 to 51 in 1993 to 47 this season. They lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two years and were riddled with internal bickering among players and in the front office. Four players were accused of sexual misconduct with runaway teen-age girls last season, but no charges were filed in Salt Lake City, where the alleged incident occurred.
|
- Petrie expresses relief
Among those who expressed relief about Adelman's firing was Petrie, who played golf with his close friend Thursday afternoon. Petrie said he was not surprised by Allen's decision to fire Adelman and stoutly defended Adelman's record with the Blazers. ``In a lot of ways, I am very happy for Rick, because the environment was fairly negative, and this was not a good situation for any coach to be in,'' Petrie said. ``He has nothing to be ashamed of. He's given the city and all the people he's worked with a lot to be proud of.''
Adelman, like Petrie, was a member of the original Blazers in 1970-71. He was the team's first captain and spent three seasons in Portland before moving on to a seven-year career with five different teams. Adelman began his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977 and joined the Blazers as an assistant to Jack Ramsay in 1983. He stayed on when Schuler succeeded Ramsay and was named interim coach when Allen fired Schuler -- a decision the owner said was more difficult than firing Adelman -- on Feb. 18, 1989. He took over officially after that season and lasted longer than any Portland coach except Ramsay.
Among those who expressed relief about Adelman's firing was Petrie, who played golf with his close friend Thursday afternoon. Petrie said he was not surprised by Allen's decision to fire Adelman and stoutly defended Adelman's record with the Blazers. ``In a lot of ways, I am very happy for Rick, because the environment was fairly negative, and this was not a good situation for any coach to be in,'' Petrie said. ``He has nothing to be ashamed of. He's given the city and all the people he's worked with a lot to be proud of.''
Adelman, like Petrie, was a member of the original Blazers in 1970-71. He was the team's first captain and spent three seasons in Portland before moving on to a seven-year career with five different teams. Adelman began his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977 and joined the Blazers as an assistant to Jack Ramsay in 1983. He stayed on when Schuler succeeded Ramsay and was named interim coach when Allen fired Schuler -- a decision the owner said was more difficult than firing Adelman -- on Feb. 18, 1989. He took over officially after that season and lasted longer than any Portland coach except Ramsay.
May 20
The Blazers lost backup forward Ollie Johnson in the 1974 Expansion Draft to the New Orleans Jazz. Johnson was acquired in the 1972 draft, a pick related ti the trade of LeRoy Ellis to the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 157 games with the Blazers. Johnson shot .497 from the field as a rookie, ranking 12th in the NBA. He was shooting .500 entering the last game of the season when he shot 2-8, just missing the chance to be the 5th rookie to shoot .500.
Johnson was a 6'6" forward from Temple University and played ten seasons (1972–1982) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Jazz, Kansas City Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his NBA career.
Jim Barnett, a former Blazer who played the last 3 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, was also selected by the Jazz. Barnett has the distinction of being on an expansion team in 1967 with the San Diego Rockets, 1970 with the Blazers, and now 1974 with the Jazz.
Johnson was a 6'6" forward from Temple University and played ten seasons (1972–1982) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Jazz, Kansas City Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his NBA career.
Jim Barnett, a former Blazer who played the last 3 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, was also selected by the Jazz. Barnett has the distinction of being on an expansion team in 1967 with the San Diego Rockets, 1970 with the Blazers, and now 1974 with the Jazz.
2000
@SHAQ scores 41 points, grabs 11 rebounds, and hands out 7 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers win and gain the upper hand against the Portland Trail Blazers in game 1 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XCspEBQVo
@SHAQ scores 41 points, grabs 11 rebounds, and hands out 7 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers win and gain the upper hand against the Portland Trail Blazers in game 1 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XCspEBQVo
LOS ANGELES (AP) - This wasn't just "Hack-a-Shaq." This was "Hack-, hack-, hack-a-Shaq and keep on hacking." And it didn't work. Shaquille O'Neal was 12-for-25 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to shatter the playoff record for most attempts in a quarter Saturday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-94 in the opener of the Western Conference finals.
O'Neal, fouled virtually every time the Lakers had the ball in a four-minute stretch that began with 512 minutes to go, finished with 41 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots. "It hasn't worked all year, and it ain't gonna work," O'Neal said. O'Neal, who had not scored more than 23 in any of his four games against Portland in the regular season, was 13-for-27 at the foul line, 12-for-24 in the final 512 minutes, just enough success to spoil the Blazers' strategy. "Shaq stepped up and made the shots, which made everything look kind of stupid," Portland's Scottie Pippen said. "When you're down, you try anything. It's a gamble when you do what we did today."The old record was 14 by Michael Jordan against Detroit on May 21, 1991.
Portland coach Mike Dunleavy defended the tactic. "Well, he's a 40 percent free-throw shooter, and he was 13-for-27 today, so that's under 50 percent," Dunleavy said. "Obviously, if we get down in the game, I don't think it's a bad strategy. Had we scored better, we would have put ourselves in a position to win the game." Although the crowd booed and the game slowed to a crawl, Dunleavy didn't apologize. "I can't not do what I think is right from a strategy standpoint ... because people are going to miss their cocktail reservations," he said.
Lost in the bizarre free-throw parade was a magnificent second quarter by the Lakers' bench that gave Los Angeles a 24-point lead that was just too big for Portland to overcome. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night at the Staples Center, where the Lakers are 7-0 in the playoffs. The Lakers' reserves, led by Robert Horry, scored 20 of the team's 37 points in the second quarter. Glen Rice added 15 points for Los Angeles, and Kobe Bryant had 13. Horry scored all 12 of his points in the second quarter, including three 3-pointers. Pippen led six Blazers in double figures with 19. Bonzi Wells scored all 17 of his points in the second half.
The Lakers led 81-57 when O'Neal made one of two free throws with 3:22 left in the third quarter. But the Blazers, behind Wells, went on a 19-6 run to cut it to 87-76 on Wells' inside basket with 10:06 to play. Detlef Schrempf's two free throws with five minutes to go cut it to 97-88, but all the attention given to fouling O'Neal seemed to take the Blazers out of their offense. "They forgot they still had to score points," Los Angeles' Rick Fox said.
When Shaq hit his seventh consecutive free throw with 3:52 to go, the Lakers led 104-89. O'Neal expects more of the same as the series goes on."I just have to be ready for it and keep my composure," O'Neal said. "The ones that I missed were right there. I was just trying too hard." Lakers coach Phil Jackson, an outspoken critic of Hack-a-Shaq in the past, was low-key in his reaction this time. "He got a lot of practice today," Jackson said, "so he's ready for the next game. I thought he handled it quite well."
Rasheed Wallace, the Blazers' biggest offensive threat but arguably the most hot-headed player in the NBA, was thrown out of the game after drawing his second technical foul from referee Ron Garretson with 6:43 left in the third quarter. It was Wallace's seventh technical of the playoffs and first ejection. In the regular-season, he set a record with 38 technicals and was ejected six times. "Obviously, we can't have an all-star sitting in our locker room for an entire half," Dunleavy said. "He doesn't understand that. ... If Ronny Garretson told him not to look at him or else he's gone, then that's the circumstances, and he has to do whatever he has to do to stay in the game."
O'Neal, fouled virtually every time the Lakers had the ball in a four-minute stretch that began with 512 minutes to go, finished with 41 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots. "It hasn't worked all year, and it ain't gonna work," O'Neal said. O'Neal, who had not scored more than 23 in any of his four games against Portland in the regular season, was 13-for-27 at the foul line, 12-for-24 in the final 512 minutes, just enough success to spoil the Blazers' strategy. "Shaq stepped up and made the shots, which made everything look kind of stupid," Portland's Scottie Pippen said. "When you're down, you try anything. It's a gamble when you do what we did today."The old record was 14 by Michael Jordan against Detroit on May 21, 1991.
Portland coach Mike Dunleavy defended the tactic. "Well, he's a 40 percent free-throw shooter, and he was 13-for-27 today, so that's under 50 percent," Dunleavy said. "Obviously, if we get down in the game, I don't think it's a bad strategy. Had we scored better, we would have put ourselves in a position to win the game." Although the crowd booed and the game slowed to a crawl, Dunleavy didn't apologize. "I can't not do what I think is right from a strategy standpoint ... because people are going to miss their cocktail reservations," he said.
Lost in the bizarre free-throw parade was a magnificent second quarter by the Lakers' bench that gave Los Angeles a 24-point lead that was just too big for Portland to overcome. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night at the Staples Center, where the Lakers are 7-0 in the playoffs. The Lakers' reserves, led by Robert Horry, scored 20 of the team's 37 points in the second quarter. Glen Rice added 15 points for Los Angeles, and Kobe Bryant had 13. Horry scored all 12 of his points in the second quarter, including three 3-pointers. Pippen led six Blazers in double figures with 19. Bonzi Wells scored all 17 of his points in the second half.
The Lakers led 81-57 when O'Neal made one of two free throws with 3:22 left in the third quarter. But the Blazers, behind Wells, went on a 19-6 run to cut it to 87-76 on Wells' inside basket with 10:06 to play. Detlef Schrempf's two free throws with five minutes to go cut it to 97-88, but all the attention given to fouling O'Neal seemed to take the Blazers out of their offense. "They forgot they still had to score points," Los Angeles' Rick Fox said.
When Shaq hit his seventh consecutive free throw with 3:52 to go, the Lakers led 104-89. O'Neal expects more of the same as the series goes on."I just have to be ready for it and keep my composure," O'Neal said. "The ones that I missed were right there. I was just trying too hard." Lakers coach Phil Jackson, an outspoken critic of Hack-a-Shaq in the past, was low-key in his reaction this time. "He got a lot of practice today," Jackson said, "so he's ready for the next game. I thought he handled it quite well."
Rasheed Wallace, the Blazers' biggest offensive threat but arguably the most hot-headed player in the NBA, was thrown out of the game after drawing his second technical foul from referee Ron Garretson with 6:43 left in the third quarter. It was Wallace's seventh technical of the playoffs and first ejection. In the regular-season, he set a record with 38 technicals and was ejected six times. "Obviously, we can't have an all-star sitting in our locker room for an entire half," Dunleavy said. "He doesn't understand that. ... If Ronny Garretson told him not to look at him or else he's gone, then that's the circumstances, and he has to do whatever he has to do to stay in the game."
May 21
1984
The @NBA fined @trailblazers 250K for contacting under-graduates #AkeemOlajuwon & #PatrickEwing in violation of the #NBA by-laws. #Blazers VP Harry Glickman does not plan to appeal in order for the coin-flip to proceed in 2 days. @trailblazers VP Harry Glickman feels the #Blazers were "exonerated" of @NBA by-law 6.05, and that the $250K fine was "... not much more than, at worse, a traffic ticket."
The @NBA fined @trailblazers 250K for contacting under-graduates #AkeemOlajuwon & #PatrickEwing in violation of the #NBA by-laws. #Blazers VP Harry Glickman does not plan to appeal in order for the coin-flip to proceed in 2 days. @trailblazers VP Harry Glickman feels the #Blazers were "exonerated" of @NBA by-law 6.05, and that the $250K fine was "... not much more than, at worse, a traffic ticket."
1990
The Blazers Kevin Duckworth hit the gam-winning shot with 17.3 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the 1990 Western Conference Finals, giving Portland a 100-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evEZFX38FU
The Blazers Kevin Duckworth hit the gam-winning shot with 17.3 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the 1990 Western Conference Finals, giving Portland a 100-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evEZFX38FU
The Blazers pushed the ball upcourt and ran their pick-and-roll play with Terry Porter and Duckworth. Porter drove the lane, then flipped the ball back to Duckworth -- who hammered home the wide-open jump shot from the right side. ``All night, I was trying to take my shots,'' Duckworth said. ``Some of them went in and a lot of them didn't.''
Playing with a pad on his shooting hand to protect a broken bone, Duckworth made only 6 of his 14 shots. |
As they did so often during the regular season, the Blazers got balanced scoring from their starters. Drexler, who had 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, scored 20 points. Jerome Kersey added 19, Williams had 16, Porter 14 and Duckworth 12.
The Blazers are playing in the Conference Finals for the first time since a 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1977. |
1999
Mike Dunleavy becomes 2nd Blazers coach to ever win the NBA Coach Of The Year Award
Mike Dunleavy becomes 2nd Blazers coach to ever win the NBA Coach Of The Year Award
May 22
1977
1999
A day after winning the Coach of the Year Award, Mike Dunleavy coached the Blazers to a 2-1 lead vs Utah
A day after winning the Coach of the Year Award, Mike Dunleavy coached the Blazers to a 2-1 lead vs Utah
May 23
May 24
1974
Lenny Wilkens is named as the Portland Trail Blazersfourth coach, taking over after Jack McCloskey resigned a week ago. Despite having two more years on his contract as a player, Wilkens will retire as a player from Cleveland Cavaliers, allowing the Blazers to sign Wilkens to coach without owing the Cavaliers any compensation for signing him. Wilkens was the player-coach with the #SeattleSuperSonics from 1969 to 1972 before he was traded to Cleveland. His record with Sonics was 121-125, improving from 36 wins to 47, but never guiding the Sonics to the playoffs.
Lenny Wilkens is named as the Portland Trail Blazersfourth coach, taking over after Jack McCloskey resigned a week ago. Despite having two more years on his contract as a player, Wilkens will retire as a player from Cleveland Cavaliers, allowing the Blazers to sign Wilkens to coach without owing the Cavaliers any compensation for signing him. Wilkens was the player-coach with the #SeattleSuperSonics from 1969 to 1972 before he was traded to Cleveland. His record with Sonics was 121-125, improving from 36 wins to 47, but never guiding the Sonics to the playoffs.
May 24, 1991 - The Portland Trail Blazers fall behind to the Los Angeles Lakers with the 106-92 loss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8n-yuhal0
May 26
1977
May 27
1977
The Blazers arrive home from Philadelphia to find over 1000 fans at Portland Airpot
The Blazers arrive home from Philadelphia to find over 1000 fans at Portland Airpot
May 28
1986
The Portland Trail Blazers hired Mike Schuler to be the sixth Head Coach, replacing Jack Ramsay, who had been told of a possible coaching change after the 1985/86 season concluded. In his first year, he led Portland to a 49–33 record & won NBA Coach of the Year Award, the first Blazer coach to do so, but he made his presence know at announcement when he fell as he was sliding from one chair to another. Click link to watch ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcxt49bS2uI |
Schuler coached Portland to 53–29 in his second season but the team was racked with injuries and dissension in his 3rd season & Schuler was fired in mid-Feb w/ a record of 25–22. Then-assistant coach Rick Adelman, who was retained when Schuler was hired, was promoted to replace him on an interim basis. Adelman was hired to be Head Coach on full-time basis after the season.
In his two plus seasons at the helm, Schuler amassed a 127-84 record for a winning percentage of .602, which at the time was the best winning percentage in the teams history. He now ranks behind Adelman (.654) and Mike Dunleavy (.641) His 127 wins now ranks as the seventh most. |
May 29
Carmelo Anthony
1974
The Blazers announced that Center Bill Walton, who recently signed with Portland, had successful surgery on his knee. They also announced that rookie Mark Sibley and veteran Bob Verga were released.
The Blazers announced that Center Bill Walton, who recently signed with Portland, had successful surgery on his knee. They also announced that rookie Mark Sibley and veteran Bob Verga were released.
Mark Sibley, signed with the Blazers on October 31, 1973 after the release of Charlie Davis. Sibley was selected in the fourth round of the 1973 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls after attending Northwestern University. He played 28 games with Portland, averaging 1.6 points in 4.4 minutes of action. He would play one year in Europe before returning to Northwestern, where he averaged 19.2 points as a senior, to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree which led to a 33-year career of teaching English and coaching basketball and soccer at York High School in Elmhurst.
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The Blazers also announced the release of two guards, rookie Mark Sibley and veteran Bob Verga. Verga, an All-Star guard in the ABA, played 5 seasons in the league and averaged 21 points per game in the ABA but only 5.0 in 21 games after signing with Portland in December
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1975
The Blazers drafted Lionel Hollins and Bobby Gross, 2/5ths of the starting lineup that would win the NBA championship in 2 years
The Blazers drafted Lionel Hollins and Bobby Gross, 2/5ths of the starting lineup that would win the NBA championship in 2 years
1977
Prior to the start of Game 3, CBS Sports show highlights of the Game 2 fight between Maurice Lucas and Darryl Dawkins while in the Memorial Coliseum both teams were introduced, with the visiting Philadelphia 76ers first up. Some polite applause for most of the players but the Blazers faithful roundly booed Dawkins. When Lucas was introduced before the sellout crowd, instead of jogging to stand next to his teammates as was the common practice, Lucas trotted toward the 76ers' bench to stand face-to-face with a stunned Dawkins. Some in the crowd gasped and Philadelphia players backed away from the two hulking men, no doubt because they expected another brouhaha. |
But instead of raising his fists, Lucas reached for Dawkins' right hand, squeezed hard and said: "No hard feelings." Dawkins was frozen. "After that, he was done," Lucas said in 2010 "One of the smartest things I ever did."
May 30
Shaedon Sharpe
May 31
Billy Ray Bates
1976
Lenny Wilkens is released as coach of the Blazers after 2 seasons at the helm. He coached the Blazers to their 2 highest win totals in the 6 years of the franchise with a 38-44 and 37-45 record. Wilkens was initially hired in May of 1974 after Jack McCloskey and the Blazers front office had difference of opinions as to players on the roster and McCloskey resigned.
Lenny Wilkens is released as coach of the Blazers after 2 seasons at the helm. He coached the Blazers to their 2 highest win totals in the 6 years of the franchise with a 38-44 and 37-45 record. Wilkens was initially hired in May of 1974 after Jack McCloskey and the Blazers front office had difference of opinions as to players on the roster and McCloskey resigned.
1988
#LarryWeinberg, an original @trailblazers owner, sold the team to @PaulGAllen. The amount was reported to be $70M Weinberg was sole owner of the #Blazers from 1975 to today, while Allen owned team until his death in 2018. Weinberg passed in 2019.
#LarryWeinberg, an original @trailblazers owner, sold the team to @PaulGAllen. The amount was reported to be $70M Weinberg was sole owner of the #Blazers from 1975 to today, while Allen owned team until his death in 2018. Weinberg passed in 2019.
1990
The Blazers defeat the Suns to gain their 2nd appearance in the NBA Finals
The Blazers defeat the Suns to gain their 2nd appearance in the NBA Finals
1999
The Blazers fall behind 0-2 as Sean Elliot hit a 3-pointer as his feet straddled the out-bounds line
The Blazers fall behind 0-2 as Sean Elliot hit a 3-pointer as his feet straddled the out-bounds line