History of the Portland Trailblazers
In 1970, the NBA expanded to 17 teams with the addition of the Portland Trail Blazers. They made an immediate impact, finishing with 29 wins in their inaugural season. In the end, this was then the best record for an expansion team. Portland’s success continued in the 1977 playoffs when they won their first and only Championship. Meanwhile, they were led by the legendary Bill Walton.
Over the years, the Trail Blazers have had some memorable players, including Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Brandon Roy. Drexler helped lead the team to the NBA Finals twice in 1990 and 1992. However, they lost both times to the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, respectively.
The Blazers have also seen their fair share of struggles. In the early 2000s, they were one of the worst teams in the league. Overall, they finished with a record of 21-61 in the 2005-2006 season. However, they made a comeback in the 2010s, finishing with a record of 54-28 in the 2013-2014 season.
Trailblazer FansÂ
Portland is known for its passionate fans and its unique home-court advantage with their iconic Rose Garden arena. Now, it is called the Moda Center. The fans in Portland are some of the most loyal in the league. They are always cheering on their beloved Blazers.
In recent years, the Trail Blazers have been led by star point guard Damian Lillard. He has been with the team since being drafted in 2012. Lillard has become one of the league’s premier players. Additionally, he has earned numerous All-Star selections and led Portland to the playoffs in each of his first eight seasons on the team.
Despite some early playoff success in the 2010s, the Trail Blazers have not advanced past the second round since 2000. With the addition of new players and leadership from Lillard, Portland is hopeful that their team can become a championship contender.
* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.