Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have been in the NBA since the 1970-71 season and have had a lot of ups and downs in the franchise’s history. There has been an NBA title, as well as two other NBA Finals appearances, but the team hasn’t been on the league’s biggest stage since the early 1990s.

Portland is trying to rebuild on the fly currently, hiring new coach Chauncey Billups for this NBA campaign but going with much of the same cast that has lost in the first round of the playoffs four of the last five seasons. Guard Damian Lillard was rumored to be unhappy in Portland over the offseason, but he’s back to lead the Trail Blazers yet again.

Portland Trail Blazers Standings

The Portland Trail Blazers, a prominent NBA franchise, consistently strive for excellence in their league standings. With a rich history and a passionate fan base, the team consistently competes at a high level. Whether they are contending for a top spot in the Western Conference or battling for playoff position, the Trail Blazers’ commitment to success remains unwavering. Their dedication to teamwork and a strong work ethic on the court has earned them a respected place in the NBA standings year after year, making them a force to be reckoned with in the ever-competitive world of professional basketball.

Portland Trail Blazers Betting Trends

Betting trends associated with the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA can fluctuate from season to season and even from game to game. These trends are influenced by various factors, including team performance, player injuries, and matchups. Sports bettors and analysts closely monitor the Trail Blazers’ performance against the spread (ATS), their over/under (O/U) totals, and other key betting metrics. The team’s success, both overall and in specific situations, can significantly impact these trends. Additionally, individual player statistics, such as points, rebounds, and assists, can also play a role in betting markets. To stay updated with the latest Portland Trail Blazers betting trends, enthusiasts often consult sportsbooks, betting websites, and expert analysis to make informed wagers.

Portland Trail Blazers History

The Portland Trail Blazers came into the NBA in 1970 as one of three new franchises in the league (along with the Buffalo Braves and Cleveland Cavaliers), but they didn’t start off very fast, going six seasons without making the playoffs. The team’s first No. 1 overall pick, LaRue Martin in 1972, is still considered one of the biggest busts in league history, as he lasted just four uneventful seasons in the NBA.

The No. 1 overall pick in 1974, however, changed the course of the Portland franchise for the better, as UCLA center Bill Walton was selected and made an immediate impact. The team still struggled for a couple of seasons before making the postseason for the first time in coach Jack Ramsey’s first season in 1976-77. In fact, the team made it all the way to the NBA Finals and rallied from a 2-0 series deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers to win the title behind Finals MVP Walton.

Walton was the league’s MVP the following season, but a series of first-round disappointments began that season, as did Walton’s recurring foot troubles. Walton was limited to just 58 regular-season games in 1977-78, then sat out the entire 1978-79 season before leaving as a free agent in the summer of 1979.

The Trail Blazers were a perennial playoff team, making the postseason each of the four seasons after the championship, then starting another string of playoff appearances in 1982-83, but the team couldn’t get as far as the Western Conference finals for most of the 1980s. The drafting of guard Clyde Drexler in 1983 gave the team a dynamic scorer, and players like Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter, and Kevin Duckworth formed a young core that looked to be growing into a title contender.

In 1989-90, in coach Rick Adelman’s first full season and with newly-acquired forward Buck Williams, the Trail Blazers got back to the NBA Finals, falling in five games to the Detroit Pistons. After a conference finals upset loss in 1991, the team reached the Finals again in 1992, only to lose in six games to the Chicago Bulls.

The playoff appearances continued, but the series wins didn’t, as Portland went six straight seasons with first-round exits from the postseason. Drexler was traded away, and the team retooled behind players like Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith, Arvydas Sabonis and Scottie Pippen before breaking through in the 1999 playoffs to reach the Western Conference finals before getting swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

The following season, the team again reached the Western Conference finals, losing in a classic seven-game series to the Los Angeles Lakers. That loss was followed by 13 seasons of just six playoff appearances and no postseason series victories.

Portland used its first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft on guard Damian Lillard, and the Weber State product paid immediate dividends. Lillard was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2012-13, and the team returned to the postseason in 2013-14, winning its first playoff series since 2000. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge was the big scorer in the series for the Trail Blazers, but the beginning of playoff “Dame Time” occurred in the first round, as his last-second three-pointer won the series for Portland in Game 6.

The Trail Blazers continued to make the playoffs but also continued to fall short of the goal of a championship. Portland reached the Western Conference finals in 2019, only to get swept by the Golden State Warriors, then suffered first-round losses the following two seasons, costing head coach Terry Stotts his job.

Championships Won by the Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers have just one NBA title in their history, and that came in the first decade of existence of the franchise. The 1976-77 Trail Blazers won a then-team record 49 regular-season games to qualify for the playoffs for the first time, then went on a run through the Western Conference playoffs, losing just three games in three series. In the NBA Finals, Portland faced the Philadelphia 76ers and fell behind 2-0 in the series. But, led by Bill Walton, the Trail Blazers reeled off four straight victories to earn the championship.

Portland has been in the NBA Finals two other times, though it came up short each time. The 1989-90 Trail Blazers got past the Phoenix Suns to win the Western Conference title, then lost in five games to the defending champion Detroit Pistons. Two years later, Portland defeated the Utah Jazz to win the West but lost to the defending champion Chicago Bulls in six games in the championship series.

The Trail Blazers have won six division titles over the years, four in the Pacific Division and two in the Northwest Division. Portland earned its first division title in 1976-77, then won it three times in the 1990s (1990-91, 1991-92, and 1998-99). Since moving to the Northwest Division in 2004-05, the Trail Blazers have finished on top in 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Important Team Events

The history of the Portland Trail Blazers is wrought with what-ifs. Unfortunately, most of them didn’t turn out for the best for the franchise. Bill Walton made the Trail Blazers into a title team in 1976-77, but he immediately started having foot troubles and was unhappy with the team’s treatment options. He held out for the 1978-79 season and left as a free agent the following offseason, but many wonder what would have been if Walton had stayed healthy and in Portland.

The 1984 NBA Draft is looked at as one of the best in league history. Unfortunately, Portland’s selection in that draft isn’t part of that, as Kentucky center Sam Bowie was the team’s choice at No. 2. Bowie was plagued with foot injuries and never lived up to the billing as the second player selected, but what was worse was the success the No. 3 pick had. Michael Jordan was taken by the Chicago Bulls at No. 3, becoming arguably the greatest player in league history. At a time when the league preferred big men over scoring guards, the Trail Blazers passed on the chance to team Jordan with Clyde Drexler, preferring to go for the 7-footer in Bowie.

Another big man with injury troubles has been haunting Portland fans’ thoughts for a while, as Greg Oden was the Trail Blazers’ pick at No. 1 in the 2007 NBA Draft. Again, Oden’s injury troubles derailed what was a promising career, but it’s also the career of the player selected next – in this case, forward Kevin Durant – that has people wondering what if. Durant has become an all-time great scorer, while Oden played just 82 total games for Portland.

Top Players

Though his career with the Trail Blazers was short, the impact of Bill Walton on the franchise is immeasurable. Walton was the No. 1 overall pick in 1974, then led Portland to the NBA title in 1976-77, winning Finals MVP. The following season, he won league MVP honors despite playing in only due to a broken foot. In his four seasons with the Trail Blazers, Walton averaged a double-double of 17.1 points and 13.5 rebounds while also blocking 2.6 shots per game.

Clyde Drexler came to the Trail Blazers in the 1983 Draft and spent 11-plus seasons with the team, leading it to the NBA Finals twice. Drexler is still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer as well as the leader in games, minutes played, steals and triple-doubles. A member of the original USA Dream Team, Drexler was an eight-time All-Star while with Portland, earning All-NBA honors five times.

Guard Damian Lillard may have all of the scoring records in the Trail Blazers record book before he’s done. The 31-year-old is already the team leader in three-pointers and is second in all-time points. Lillard has been a six-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection heading into the 2021-22 season.

Top Coaches

The Trail Blazers have Jack Ramsey to thank for taking them to the team’s first and only NBA title. Ramsey is the team’s all-time leader in regular-season victories with 453 in his 10 seasons on the Portland bench. Considered one of the all-time great coaches, Ramsey took Portland to the postseason in nine of his 10 years as head coach of the team after it hadn’t been there prior to his tenure.

Rick Adelman had an outstanding coaching career with the Trail Blazers, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his five-plus seasons on the bench, including two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992). Ademan finished with the most playoff wins in franchise history with 36, and his .654 winning percentage is also the best among all Portland head coaches.

Injuries

Injuries are an inevitable part of professional sports, and the Portland Trail Blazers, like all teams, have faced their fair share of challenges in this regard. Whether dealing with minor setbacks or more significant injuries, the Trail Blazers’ resilience and commitment to player health and recovery have remained unwavering. The team’s ability to adapt and support their athletes through injury setbacks underscores their dedication to long-term success. Fans of the Trail Blazers understand that injuries are a temporary hurdle in the team’s ongoing journey, and they eagerly await the return of their favorite players, knowing that each comeback signifies a renewed determination to achieve greatness on the basketball court.

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