November 2
PORTLAND --The Blazers used a record setting first quarter to secure an easy 129-116 election night victory over the Atlanta Hawks. “That was a pretty good quarter” said Jack Ramsey referencing the 45 points. It was the highest first-quarter point total in the club’s seven year history. After Bob Gross scored five of the first six Blazer baskets staking the team to a 13-7 lead, the Blazers then scored the next 16 points and eventually lead 80-54 at halftime, making Hawk coach Hubie Brown to exclaim "What is this? A track meet?"
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The Blazers seemed bored at times in the second half but the closest the Hawks would get would be 121-110 with just under three minutes remaining, prompting Ramsey to note in his post-game comments “That was the only disappointing area. We didn’t sustain our effort.” Bill Walton expressed the same concern “Our execution wasn’t as good in the second half. Give them (the Hawks) some credit though. They played better in the second half.” Walton led the Blazers with 22 points and 22 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. This is the twelfth time Walton has had more than 20 rebounds in his career and the third time he’s had more than 20 points and rebounds in the same game.
Hawk coach Brown noted that the Blazers “Really are something. They are quick and the luxury of a guy who is playing great ball in the pivot. He allows them to release a third man on the break. When that third man is as tough as (Bob) Gross, the other team is in trouble” Gross ended with 20 points in 25 minutes and helped hold John Drew to 9 points on only seven shots. |
November 5
PORTLAND -- A record Memorial Coliseum crowd of 12,823 serenaded Bill Walton with “Happy Birthday” during the fourth quarter of the Blazers 146-104 victory over the star-laden Philadelphia 76ers. Walton, who was smiling and relaxing on the bench after scoring 26 points and 16 rebounds in 32 minutes, noted after the game “We played well. All The fellows did a fine job.” Maurice Lucas said, “We started out running extremely well and everything fell into place.” Even Jack Ramsey was happy with what he saw, “Everybody played well. You can’t have an effort like that with one man doing it.”
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The Blazers shot .591 from the field for the game as seven of the 11 Blazers scored in double digits, with no Blazer playing less than 12 minutes.
Lucas joined Walton with double digits of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Johnny Davis and Larry Steele combined for 29 points off the bench. The 146 points equaled the Blazers record high, set in the inaugural season against Atlanta (146-131 on Nov. 18, 1970) and the win was the 11th straight home victory for the Blazers, dating back to last season. The 42 point victory is the second highest in franchise history, behind the 133-86 (47 point) victory over the New York Knicks on March 18, 1972 |
The Blazers started the scoring early when Lionel Hollins hit a jumper only 33 seconds into the game. Lucas then scored the next seven points to stake the Blazers to a 9-0 lead. After a Sixer basket, the Blazers continued to dominate on the offensive end moving their lead first to 20-4, then 36-16 before closing out the first quarter with a 41-24 lead. Coach Ramsey said, “We took advantage of their mistakes by having an awareness. When a guy was open, we got him the ball.”
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For the Sixers, only George McGinnis, Julius Erving and Doug Collins scored in double digits with 28, 21 and 20 respectively. McGinnis shook his head afterwards noting the Blazers “were awesome. Awesome.” Philadelphia coach Gene Shue stated the obvious when he said “We got killed tonight”
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