Mean age of 12-man playoff roster, as of the first day of the playoffs (2009 assumes current 15-man roster with Webster, LaFrentz, and Randolph deactivated): 1977 Blazers: 25 years, 73 days 2009 Blazers: 24 years, 335 days Win/Loss record, rank among Western Conference teams (current figures used for 2009): 1977 Blazers: 49-33, third 2009 Blazers: 52-28, t-third Point differential, rank among Western Conference teams: 1977 Blazers: +5.5, first 2009 Blazers: +4.8, second Win/Loss record in ten games preceding playoffs: 1977 Blazers: 7-3 (including 7 of last 8) 2009 Blazers: Anything from 7-3 to 9-1 still possible
I've definitely had visions of Blazermania from those glory days. Will fate have its way once again in the Rose City......THIS season? I'd love nothing more that to see this same picture...............only with Nate and his family as the main characters.
I was wondering when someone was going to compare these two teams together, it's kinda scary isn't it. As Kevin Garnett said, "Anything is possilbe. We're in the playoffs and that was the first step, now we just need 16 wins in the playoffs.
I was in that crowd! Well I think that is Broadway and I was on the street they went east on to get to the park they address the crowd at. I shook Walton's hand as he went by with about 8 other hands. I was 18 then just about to turn 19 a couple weeks later. Great time! Unbelievable emotion. Would love to relive that!! This time though I'll be at every playoff game!
One big difference: that Blazer team had Bill Walton. He was the best center in the world in those playoffs, and he dominated the paint. We don't have that yet, though I'm hoping Oden can soon fill that role.
Next year might be scary. That's when this Blazer team will be comparable to the '77 squad in terms of raw age. I also expect Oden to have far more explosiveness in year two post-op.
