The Portland Trailblazers are a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (the NBA).  The Portland Trailblazers play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference with four other teams: the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Trail Blazers tickets will surely be hard to come by during the 2010-2011 NBA schedule.

Trail Blazers 2009-2010 Outlook

The Portland Trailblazers finished the 2009-2010 NBA season with a 50-32 record, tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 3rd/4th place in the Northwest Division.  But for the 2nd straight season, a promising regular season ended with a frustrating 6-game loss in the 1st round of the playoffs, this time to the Phoenix Suns.  The year before, the Trail Blazers won 54 games but bowed out to the Houston Rockets in the 1st round of the playoffs.  Brandon Roy continues to get better and better each season - 21.5 points per game and 4.7 assists per game.  LaMarcus Aldridge has also developed into a legitimate and dependable scoring threat on the inside.  He averaged 17.9 points per game and also grabbed 8.0 rebounds per game.  Marcus Camby continues to be one of the game's best rebounders - averaging 11.8 rebounds per game.  Point Guard Andre Miller is as consistent as they come - 14.0 points per game with 5.4 assists per game.  And Center Greg Oden had another injury-plagued season and ending up scoring just 11.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game in 21 games played.

The Trail Blazers have the same starting five back for the upcoming season, so expectations are high for a 3rd straight season with at least 50 wins.  The Trail Blazers also hope that they can keep Oden healthy for much of the season.  A healthy Oden could give the Trail Blazers much more depth night in and night out.  If the team consistently right from the start of the NBA season and if they avoid any serious injuries that could keep a start out of the lineup for any extended period of time, look for the Trail Blazers to put forth another solid season.  Then it's up to how bad they want it in the post-season, but another 1st round series loss would certainly be a major disappointment.  Get your Trail Blazers NBA tickets at the Rose Garden before it's too late.

History

The Portland Trailblazers were founded in 1970 and are currently the only major professional sports team in the State of Oregon.  Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has owned the Portland Trailblazers franchise since 1988.  The Portland Trailblazers won only 29 games in their inaugural season in 1970-1971 and the team did not qualify for post-season play for the first 6 seasons in the NBA.  Ironically, following the 1976-1977 NBA season, when the Portland Trailblazers recorded its first winning season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the team went on to win its first and only NBA Championship.  New head coach Jack Ramsay and emerging superstar center Bill Walton helped pave the way for the magical championship season.  New draft pick Maurice Lucas also played a vital role in the championship quest.  Starting in April 1977, the Portland Trailblazers embarked on a sellout streak of 814 games – the longest in NBA history and the franchise seemed poised to establish a long-lasting dynasty.  After starting the 1977-1978 season with a record of 50-10, however, Bill Walton broke his foot and the team struggled to finish the season with a 58-24 record and the Seattle SuperSonics eliminated the Portland Trailblazers from post-season play with a 4-2 series win in the Conference Semifinals.  Following the season, Bill Walton demanded a trade and when the Portland Trailblazers franchise did not consent to wish demands, Walton sat out the entire 1978-1979 season and left the team as a free agent during the subsequent off-season.  Maurice Lucas also left the team following the 1979-1980 NBA season, and the dynasty was finished.  
 
From 1982 through 2003, the Portland Trailblazers advanced to the NBA playoffs each and every season. Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler helped the Portland Trailblazers reach the NBA Finals following the 1989-1990 and 1991-1992 NBA seasons, but the Portland Trailblazers franchise could never capture that elusive 2nd NBA title.  In 1990, the Detroit Pistons easily defeated the Portland Trailblazers 4-1 in the NBA Finals, while Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Portland Trailblazers 4-2 in the 1992 NBA Finals.  Since the 2002-2003 NBA season, the Portland Trailblazers have not recorded a winning record or advanced to post-season play.

The Portland Trailblazers have retired the following players’ numbers:  Dave Twardzik’s #13; Lionel Hollins’ #14; Larry Steele’ #15; Maurice Lucas’ #20; Clyde Drexler’s #22; Bill Walton’s #32; Lloyd Neal’s #36 and Geoff Petrie’s #45.  Two non-players have also been honored by the Portland Trailblazers:  Team founder and owner (from 1970-1998) Larry Weinberg has been honored with the #1 although current players still wear jersey #1.  Dr. Jack Ramsay, head coach during the Portland Trailblazers only Championship season in 1977, is honored with the #77.

Portland Trailblazers TV/Radio

All Portland Trailblazers basketball games can be seen on either the Comcast SportsNet Northwest Television Network or on NBC’s Portland affiliate network – KGW-TV8 in the greater Portland area.  NBC, ESPN and TNT may also televise Portland Trailblazers games based on the popularity of the game.  Tune into the Portland Trailblazers Flagship radio network KXTG 95.5 on your FM dial to catch each Portland Trailblazers basketball game on the radio.

The Portland Trailblazers play their home games at the Rose Garden Arena.  The Rose Garden Arena opened in 1995.  In addition to hosting Portland Trailblazers NBA home games, the Rose Garden Arena also hosts all of the home professional hockey games for the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League and all of the professional lacrosse games for the Portland Lumber Jax of the National Lacrosse League (the NLL).  The Rose Garden Arena has a seating capacity of 20,630 devoted die-hard Portland Trailblazers fans.  The Rose Garden Arena has hosted numerous memorable events and concerts during its short existence including the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the 2007 NLL All-Star Game.  In 2009, the Rose Garden Arena will host the 1st and 2nd round game of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.  

Stadium:            Rose Garden Arena
                            One Center Court
                            Portland, OR 97227

www.nba.com/trailblazers 
www.rosequarter.com

2007-2008 Trail Blazers
2009-2010 Trail Blazers