PORTLAND BLAZERS

Portland Trail Blazers are a National Basketball Association team based in Portland , Oregon . The Blazers are one of seven teams in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise lay in the Rose Garden in Portland , Oregon , and wear jerseys of black, red, and white. The team's name refers to the travelers of the Oregon Trail , a route by settlers of the American West. The train ended near Portland . The Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team and have played in Portland for the entire time. The franchise joined the NBA in the 1970-71 season and captured the league title six years later with a team led by center Bill Walton and forward Maurice Lucas. The Blazers joined the NBA during a league expansion that also included the Buffalo Braves and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the early 1990s the Blazers were again among the NBA's best teams. Powered by guards Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter and forward Buck Williams, the team reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. The franchise has won one NBA championships title, two Conference titles and four Division Titles.

In 1996, general manager Bob Whitsitt began rebuilding the team using players who were talented, but who had questionable attitudes or criminal records. The team reached the Western Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000, but the strategy soon backfired, and the Blazers local community was not happy as the team became known for its off-court antics than for its on-court abilities. Before the 1999-2000 season the Trail Blazers traded for Scottie Pippen, considered on of the NBA's greatest player ever. Whitsitt resigned after the 2003 season. The Blazers failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, posting a records of 41-41 and 27-55. In 2005-05 season the team gave players like Rookie Sebastian Telfair significant playing time down the stretch as the team focused on the future. Nate McMillan became the Portland Trail Blazers new head coach in July 2005. Basketball Hall of Famers, from the Blazers includes Cylde Drexler, Drazen Petrovic, Bill Walton and Lenny Wilkens. Not to be forgotten Blazers' players; Kevin Duckworth, Steve Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace to name a few.