Pretty cool article on NBA.com about the Blazers win over the Celtics in 1985, ruining their perfect record at home. link
Sam Bowie had 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Not bad at all. Oh, what might have been . . .
I remember that game vividly. We were lucky enough to have it on local TV that night. I remember when Boston made their big comeback, and took a small lead at the end of the third, and the fans lost it. They knew it was their night. Then Portland just dominated from there, to a stunned-silent crowd. Great game. I wonder if NBA TV or ESPN Classic has that game in their library. I'd love to see it again.
I think I've seen ESPN Classic or NBA TV play that game before. And yes, if not for injuries, Sam Bowie would have been an upper-tier center in the league and would have dulled some of the whole "Bowie over MJ" ridicule. I doubt he would have lead the Blazers to any championships, but a Bowie in his prime with Duckworth coming off the bench in the early 90s? Might have been a different story.
Wow.. that was a studly line by Bowie. Must've been one hell of a game to watch back in the day. Six players in double figures. And they have a little video of it on the side.
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2009/03/31/nba_20090331_por_bos_85.nba/whatsnew/index.html Here's the video. Such a different game back in the day. They showed Ainge and Kersey get tied up, and after, Ainge just fired a fastball right at Jerome with the ball. Pretty funny. And Walton and Clyde got into a little yelling match. And Bowie was catching lobs for alley-oops! My goodness...
Wow. 3:20. That's something I wish I could get a animated .gif off. Walton and Drexler, two different eras of Blazer Legends, jawing at one another. Priceless video. WOWOW that put back dunk by Bowie at @ 4:17 was ATHLETIC and IMPRESSIVE. What might have been, indeed.... I also saw at least 4 instances where a player would be T'ed up in todays game for mocking/talking back to a ref, and especially Ainge's throwing the ball at Kersey. A different era.
I remember having a discussion with someone about Bowie, and he said that if he had been healthy, "him, Buck and Jerome? Wow!" I pointed out that lineup would never have happened. Although the Bowie/Sabonis/Jerome lineup could've happened..and would've been insane.
I remember that game very well as I had just moved back to Portland from Boston the year before. God, I hated the Celtics!
That was the era of fast-break basketball, and the Blazers were running fools. I would love to see them play that way again. I personally think the 3-point shot has ruined the NBA game.
yet the 3 point line was right there on the parquet floor... I think the game just evolved and defensive minded coaches (like Daly & Riley) have had a lot of success slowing the game down and limiting possessions. STOMP
