The Portland Trail Blazers were established in 1970. Since that inaugural season, in which they earned a 29-53 record, the Blazers have provided 56 years of thrills, heartache, and mostly-excellent basketball.
That said, not all seasons are created equal. That’s why we’re asking you today to name your absolute favorite Portland Trail Blazers season (and by extension, team) of all time. You can use any reasoning you wish. It’s a wholly subjective question. The only guidelines are that we’re not looking
for your favorite player or era. It’s super easy to say, “Clyde Drexler’s prime,” or, “The Damian Lillard Era”. We’re looking for a specific season. Share why it’s your favorite too. What happened to you or the team that bonded you to that year? Which players did you attach to or admire most? What was the story of the season for you?
For me, personally, the year was 1990-91 when the Blazers won a franchise-record 63 games. They had been to the 1990 NBA Finals, of course, but that campaign kind of snuck up on people. We knew the Blazers would be good, but not that good! In 1990-91 everyone came into the year with ultra-high expectations, championship or bust. During the regular season, at least, the team delivered. They won more than 3 out of ever 4 games. Clyde Drexler was at his peak. Technically he’d have a better statistical season the year following, but the team synergy was out of this world. It was the familiar starting five of Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Buck, and Duck, plus Cliff Robinson and Danny Ainge coming off the bench to fill multiple positions. It’s pretty much the archetype of how a team should be put together. I also saw more games in person that year than any I had experienced before, so I felt a personal connection to that team.
As long-time fans will know, the season ended in heartache in the Western Conference Finals against They Who Shall Not Be Named, but that doesn’t really dim the memory for me. It was a sad ending precisely because the lead-up was so glorious. I actually ended up liking the ‘90-’91 season better than the Finals years immediately prior and following. It was one of the great “What If?” moments in franchise history.
That’s mine. What’s yours? Share in the comments section below and enjoy reading one another’s favorite memories!
