Portland Trailblazers Information

It’s been a long time since Portland claimed its last NBA Championship in 1977. Trail Blazers tickets last delivered a trip to the NBA Finals in 1992. But after a disastrous 27-win season in 2004-05, the Portland braintrust is putting their faith in one thing: Youth. The ‘Blazers Sebastian Telfair steps front and center, pushing aside Damon Stoudamire to take the reins of the team under new coach Nate McMillan, formerly of Seattle. Telfair will need 1st round draft choice Martell Webster, the 6’ 7” forward straight out of high school, to make an immediate LeBron James-like impact if the Rose Garden hopes to sell NBA Playoff tickets in 2006.

The Trail Blazers have done it before. After arriving in Portland in 1970, they notched their first NBA Playoff berth in 1997 and rode it all the way to the top. Under new head coach Jack Ramsey, Portland finished the regular season at 49-33. The Trailblazers continued the historic season by knocking off the Chicago Bulls in the first round. They kept rolling with a second-round knockout of the Denver Nuggets. Clicking on all cylinders, Portland swept the Los Angeles Lakers to chalk up an NBA Finals match-up with the Philadelphia 76ers. After falling behind in the series by losing the first pair of games in Philly, Portland took advantage of the home court and evened the series at 2-2. Now rolling like a steam train, the Trail Blazers handed the 76ers a 110-104 loss back in Philadelphia. A game away from an NBA Championship, the Portland faithful watched in misery as Julius “Dr. J” Irving knocked back 40 points and kept the game close. Only a spectacular performance by Bill Walton, who racked up 20 points, 23 rebounds and blocked 8 shots, gave the ‘Blazers their NBA crown.

The Trail Blazers returned to the NBA Finals in 1990 behind the play of Clyde Drexler and Buck Williams. Williams rebounding prowess helped the ‘Blazers notch their first-round playoff win over the Dallas Mavericks, the first playoff series win in eight years for the Trail Blazers. It took 7 games, and a 4-0 home stand to get past the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. The Western Conference Finals developed into a slugfest at 2-2 before Portland eliminated the Phoenix Suns in game 6 with a 112-109 win. The Detroit Pistons were too much however, and sent Portland home as second best after a 5-game series.

The “Blazers would fall just short again in 1992. Posting their second consecutive 57-win season, Portland ran the table on the Los Angeles Lakers, knocked off Phoenix in five games, and won the Western Conference Finals over the Utah Jazz in a six-game series. Against Michael Jordan and the Bulls however, Portland couldn’t get on track, losing the NBA Finals after six games.

Portland Trail Blazers tickets are dishing out heaping spoonfuls of youth and energy in 2005-06. While young, the talent is there for the ‘Blazers to make The Rose Garden an NBA Playoff arena. But it may take awhile for the kiddie crew to dry out behind the ears. Patience, and Portland Trail Blazers tickets, are a good combination for NBA success.