the Rip City morning guys have a "top 10 moments" in last season, so I thought we should one up them, and do top n moments/watershed/important moments in Blazer history, Probably 20? Obviously, the Blazers winning the title is #1, and the franchises birthday is another, but what else is there? We can accumulate a list, and then vote on it. Winning the title, beating Phoenix in 90, Damians series winner against Houston, etc... My suggestions: Comebacks against the Sonics and Lakers back in 90 (or 91). The game where TP high-fives a fan in the crowd, in the T-Dome. Trading for Pippen/press conference. Drafting Damian. Hiring Jack Ramsay. What are some of yours?
Are we only looking for positive moments, or are negative moments that are also significant in the franchise's history being included as well?
That's a good point. It's actually the reason I changed it from just top moments, to "watershed" etc, moments. To me, that can include game 1 in 91 against the Lakers, or game 7 against the Lakers in two thousand and why did you make me remember those games?. Bowies injuries, Waltons injuries can be included too. Same with drafting LaRue or Greg. They are important events, but I think the positive ones will rank higher.
As a jaded Blazer fan, I'd have to say that the negative ones seem to come more readily to mind. The ones you mentioned, of course. Drafting Bowie over Jordan. Trading Moses Malone away. Cliffy's turnover. Vinnie Johnsons's buzzer-beater in 1990. Sean Elliott's impossible back-breaking 3 pointer in game 2 against the Spurs in 1999.
Kermit Washington halfcourt lob to Billy Ray Bates at the horn against a STACKED 76'er team. I was just a little kid and that had me so pumped up I couldn't sleep all night. (At about the 15:00 mark of the video below. You see Paxson, Mychal Thompson...Klay's dad for the younger posters, Dr J....good memories.) For humor, the Trenton Hassell press conference. #premature
for me, it's the shot. the overwhelming joy i got when that ball went in the basket and the hatred i have for the rockets.... i literally still get giddy when i watch it.
Winning the WCF in 1990. I still remember the call: "Hornacek for three, it's short! Rebound Buck Williams and THE GAME IS OVER! THE GAME IS OVER!" Buck holding the ball fell on his back on the court and the other Blazers piled on top. The Rip City rally after the 1990 finals. I still have all my pictures of Buck, Duck, Clyde, Terry, Jerome, Cliffy et al. The comeback against Dallas. "Someone pinch me because I must be dreaming" - Wheels The Dame shot against Houston. Yelled so loud I scared my cat. Sabonis' perfect game vs. GSW, and Terry Porter's 40 point outburst. ZBo hitting the winning shot with a second left (then learning I had ended up all over TV in Portland). Getting the no.1 pick. Oden was not what we wanted, but I still remember the excitement, the board damn near crashed. I forget who said "I can't get a post in edgewise!" All those cakes I made before arenas decided I was a security threat. Still have those pics. The battle between Brian Grant and Karl Malone. Being there in Portland for Game 6. I'm not going to list the bad moments.
Walton drafted #1 by the Blazers in '74. Paul Allen buys the Blazers in 1988. Blazers sign Olshey in 2012.
Beating Phoenix in 1990 to become "Best in West". Blazermania, at least for me, reached peak status. People selling shirts on every fucking corner in Portland, it was incredible. Winning the Draft Lottery was huge to me. Was like winning the championship, changed everything but we all know how that went. If you isolate that moment though, it was a top moment in history. The Miracle Minute. Brandon Roy against Dallas. Dame's game winner in Game 6 against Houston. JR Rider and the Blazers beating the Lakers in a playoff game trying to shock the world (the one where JR pulled his jersey to show his heart) Beating the Clippers this year in the playoffs when we were supposed to be a lottery team.
Repeating some, but they're my favorites: The double-OT game versus the Lakers in 1990 that really showed the world we were ready (my first Blazers experience) Beating Phoenix in the 1989-90 WCF ("They could once again BE! Number ONE!") The Perfect 1st Quarter against San Antonio The 1998-99 Utah series (JR Rider's finest performance) The Miracle Minute against Dallas ("OVER THE TOP!") The 2007 Lottery Party The Dre-to-Batum game winning lob (I was at that game) Dre goes for 52 against San Antonio (I mean really, this was so AWESOME) Roy giving us one last game as The Natural (I was there!) The Point Nine shot and RIP CITY Dame's 52 against Golden State The 2015-16 Golden State series
Pip's Game 5 game-winning 3 to send the Jazz home in the 2000 Conference Semis. Dame's first game-winner in December of 2012 against the New Orleans Hornets. I still remember watching that game from my grandma's hospital bed and having to resist the urge to yell so I wouldn't wake her. That pose after he hit the shot is still so iconic. Beating the Lakers by 27(ish) in Game 2 of the 2000 WCF ... Really thought we were going to lock up that series in 6 after that. Game 5 and 6 of the 2000 WCF vs LA. Portland could have limped in Los Angeles after dropping Games 3 and 4 at home and ended their season right there, but they fought like hell to force a Game 7 and ultimately pushed the Lakers as far as they could. Terry Porter's offensive outburst during Games 1 and 2 of the 1992 WCF vs. the Jazz Clyde's poster dunk over Billy Cartwright during Game 2 of the 1992 NBA Finals Waiting for my dad to bring home the Blazers pocket schedules from US Bank each year and always saving me a Rip City magazine. Clyde vs. Mike on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Franz Blazers cards. Early 90's Dairy Queen Glasses Clyde The Glide on the Wheaties box The Starting Five lithographs from Bank of America that I got for my 7th birthday. Bust A Bucket, Too Hot 2 Stop It, Blazers In The House, Rip City Rhapsody, Can I Get A Headband?