1984–85 Portland Trail Blazers season

1984–85 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coachJack Ramsay
General managerStu Inman
Owner(s)Larry Weinberg
ArenaMemorial Coliseum
Results
Record42–40 (.512)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semi-finals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKOIN
RadioKEX
< 1983–84 1985–86 >

The 1984–85 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 15th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1984 NBA draft

At the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden, fans in attendance booed the Blazers selection of Sam Bowie.[1] Part of the problem was that some had perceived Bowie as damaged goods. In September 1981, while at the University of Kentucky, Sam Bowie was diagnosed with having a fractured shin bone in his left leg. This was previously misdiagnosed as a shin splint.[2] Bowie would not play for Kentucky until the 1983–84 season. Prior to the diagnosis, Bowie averaged 17.1 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game in 1980–81. At that time there were serious discussions about Bowie entering the 1981 NBA Draft. Bowie was so highly thought of, that he was named to the 1980 US Olympic Basketball Team.[2] When Bowie returned from his injury in 1983, he would average 10.5 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game.[2] The Blazers general manager Stu Inman had made it known that if Sam Bowie passed the Blazers physical examination, he would be drafted by the Blazers.[3] The Blazers had given Bowie a seven-hour physical to ensure that his leg had recovered from the two-year layoff between 1981 and 1983.[4] The Blazers criteria in selecting Bowie over Jordan was that the Blazers backcourt already had Clyde Drexler and Jim Paxson. The Blazers felt that they had lacked a true center since Bill Walton left the club, and the hope was that Bowie would be able to fill this role.

Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 2 Sam Bowie F/C  United States Kentucky
1 19 Bernard Thompson G/F  United States Fresno State
2 26 Victor Fleming G  United States Xavier
2 33 Steve Colter G  United States New Mexico
2 46 Jerome Kersey F  United States Longwood

Roster

Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 30 Bowie, Sam 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky
F 34 Carr, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) NC State
G 20 Colter, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) New Mexico State
G 22 Drexler, Clyde 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Houston
F 25 Kersey, Jerome 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Longwood
C 24 Norris, Audie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jackson State
G 4 Paxson, Jim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Dayton
C 50 Scheffler, Tom 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Purdue
G/F 5 Thompson, Bernard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fresno State
F/C 43 Thompson, Mychal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) Minnesota
G 14 Valentine, Darnell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Kansas
F 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 – 36–5 26–15 18–12
x-Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 20 33–8 15–26 17–13
x-Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 26 32–9 10–31 14–16
Seattle SuperSonics 31 51 .378 31 31–10 10–31 16–14
Los Angeles Clippers 31 51 .378 31 27–14 10–31 13–17
Golden State Warriors 22 60 .268 40 25–16 5–36 12–18
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 52 30 .634 10
3 x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 14
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 44 38 .537 18
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 20
6 x-Utah Jazz 41 41 .500 21
7 x-San Antonio Spurs 41 41 .500 21
8 x-Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 26
9 Seattle SuperSonics 31 51 .378 31
10 Los Angeles Clippers 31 51 .378 31
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 31
12 Golden State Warriors 22 60 .268 40

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1984-85 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 1–4 3–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 6–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–4 3–3 3–3 0–5 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3
Boston 4–1 – 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–4 5–1 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–1
Chicago 3–3 2–4 – 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–4 4–2 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–2
Cleveland 3–3 0–6 4–2 – 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–5 2–3 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
Dallas 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 2–4 0–2 4–1 2–4 2–0 5–1 3–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 4–1 4–2 5–0 1–5 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 – 0–2 5–0 2–4 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 4–1 3–3 3–2 4–2 2–0
Detroit 5–1 2–4 3–3 4–1 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–5 3–2 1–5 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3
Golden State 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 0–5 0–2 – 2–3 0–2 2–3 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 3–3 1–4 1–1
Houston 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 4–2 1–1 3–2 – 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 4–2 3–2 3–3 0–2
Indiana 0–6 1–5 4–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 2–3 2–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–4
Kansas City 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 – 3–2 0–5 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–4 1–1
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 3–2 1–1 4–2 3–2 2–0 2–3 – 0–6 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–5 2–3 2–4 3–2 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–1 4–1 1–1 5–0 6–0 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 5–1 3–2 3–3 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 4–2 4–1 3–3 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 5–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
New Jersey 3–3 1–5 4–2 3–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 3–3 – 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–2
New York 3–3 0–6 2–4 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 0–6 – 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–6
Philadelphia 5–0 3–3 5–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 4–2 4–2 – 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–2
Phoenix 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 4–2 1–4 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 – 3–3 1–4 5–1 3–2 1–1
Portland 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–4 1–1 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 5–1 1–5 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 – 3–2 4–2 3–2 1–1
San Antonio 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 4–1 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 – 4–1 1–5 0–2
Seattle 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–5 2–3 1–1 3–3 2–3 2–0 2–3 4–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–4 – 3–2 2–0
Utah 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–4 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 5–1 2–3 – 1–1
Washington 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–4 6–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 —

Game log

Regular season

1984–85 game log
Total: 42–40 (home: 30–11; road: 12–29)
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 27, 1984 @ Kansas City W 140–119 Kemper Arena 1–0
2 October 30, 1984 Seattle W 115–83 Memorial Coliseum 2–0
November: 8–8 (home: 6–2; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 1, 1984 @ Phoenix L 130–139 (3OT) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2–1
4 November 3, 1984 @ L.A. Clippers W 131–112 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 3–1
5 November 4, 1984
7:30 p.m. PST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 116–124 Drexler (23) Drexler, Thompson (8) Paxson, Valentine (8) The Forum
14,148 		3–2
6 November 6, 1984 Phoenix W 116–99 Memorial Coliseum 4–2
7 November 8, 1984 @ Denver L 125–128 McNichols Sports Arena 4–3
8 November 9, 1984
7:30 p.m. PST 		L.A. Lakers L 126–130 Thompson (28) Drexler (7) Valentine (11) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		4–4
9 November 11, 1984 Golden State W 109–97 Memorial Coliseum 5–4
10 November 13, 1984 Dallas L 94–101 Memorial Coliseum 5–5
11 November 15, 1984 Utah W 129–120 Memorial Coliseum 6–5
12 November 16, 1984 @ Seattle L 89–91 Kingdome 6–6
13 November 18, 1984 L.A. Clippers W 113–105 Memorial Coliseum 7–6
14 November 20, 1984 New Jersey W 117–107 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 8–6
15 November 24, 1984 Chicago W 141–131 Memorial Coliseum 9–6
16 November 27, 1984 @ Cleveland W 115–106 Richfield Coliseum 10–6
17 November 28, 1984 @ Detroit L 113–120 Pontiac Silverdome 10–7
18 November 30, 1984 @ Philadelphia L 116–126 The Spectrum 10–8
December: 4–9 (home: 3–2; road: 1–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 December 1, 1984 @ New York W 115–93 Madison Square Garden 11–8
20 December 4, 1984 Phoenix W 112–104 Memorial Coliseum 12–8
21 December 6, 1984 San Antonio W 113–96 Memorial Coliseum 13–8
22 December 8, 1984 Houston L 120–127 Memorial Coliseum 13–9
23 December 11, 1984 @ Denver L 122–123 McNichols Sports Arena 13–10
24 December 13, 1984 @ L.A. Clippers L 100–106 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 13–11
25 December 14, 1984 @ Golden State L 92–105 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13–12
26 December 18, 1984 @ Seattle L 99–109 Kingdome 13–13
27 December 20, 1984 Kansas City L 113–118 Memorial Coliseum 13–14
28 December 22, 1984 @ Phoenix L 108–110 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13–15
29 December 25, 1984 Golden State W 106–97 Memorial Coliseum 14–15
30 December 27, 1984 @ San Antonio L 120–141 HemisFair Arena 14–16
31 December 29, 1984 @ Houston L 92–108 The Summit 14–17
January: 6–9 (home: 3–4; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
32 January 1, 1985 Philadelphia L 106–111 Memorial Coliseum 14–18
33 January 3, 1985 Seattle W 123–89 Memorial Coliseum 15–18
34 January 4, 1985
7:30 p.m. PST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 95–120 Drexler (19) Bowie (10) Valentine (6) The Forum
13,513 		15–19
35 January 6, 1985 Indiana W 118–101 Memorial Coliseum 16–19
36 January 8, 1985 Dallas L 102–108 Memorial Coliseum 16–20
37 January 11, 1985 @ San Antonio W 123–103 HemisFair Arena 17–20
38 January 13, 1985 @ Dallas L 101–124 Reunion Arena 17–21
39 January 15, 1985 Houston W 121–117 Memorial Coliseum 18–21
40 January 18, 1985 @ Utah L 122–127 Salt Palace Acord Arena 18–22
41 January 19, 1985 Denver L 120–123 Memorial Coliseum 18–23
42 January 22, 1985 @ Chicago L 115–123 Chicago Stadium 18–24
43 January 23, 1985 @ Indiana W 136–104 Market Square Arena 19–24
44 January 27, 1985 @ Boston L 127–128 Boston Garden 19–25
45 January 29, 1985
7:30 p.m. PST 		L.A. Lakers L 106–122 Thompson (24) Bowie (13) Drexler, Valentine (7) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		19–26
46 January 31, 1985 @ Golden State W 129–109 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 20–26
February: 7–6 (home: 6–2; road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
47 February 1, 1985 San Antonio L 93–104 Memorial Coliseum 20–27
48 February 2, 1985 Milwaukee L 95–105 Memorial Coliseum 20–28
49 February 5, 1985 Utah W 126–106 Memorial Coliseum 21–28
50 February 7, 1985 New York W 133–122 Memorial Coliseum 22–28
All-Star Break
51 February 12, 1985 Boston W 111–103 Memorial Coliseum 23–28
52 February 15, 1985 Washington W 93–89 Memorial Coliseum 24–28
53 February 17, 1985 Kansas City W 115–96 Memorial Coliseum 25–28
54 February 19, 1985 @ Kansas City L 96–116 Kemper Arena 25–29
55 February 20, 1985 @ Dallas L 98–104 Reunion Arena 25–30
56 February 22, 1985 @ Houston L 103–117 The Summit 25–31
57 February 24, 1985 @ San Antonio W 137–121 HemisFair Arena 26–31
58 February 26, 1985 L.A. Clippers W 110–99 Memorial Coliseum 27–31
59 February 28, 1985 @ Golden State L 120–124 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 27–32
March: 10–6 (home: 6–1; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
60 March 1, 1985 Cleveland L 103–111 Memorial Coliseum 27–33
61 March 3, 1985 Utah W 121–93 Memorial Coliseum 28–33
62 March 5, 1985 @ Atlanta
(at New Orleans, LA) 		W 100–91 Lakefront Arena 29–33
63 March 6, 1985 @ Washington L 121–127 (2OT) Capital Centre 29–34
64 March 8, 1985 @ New Jersey W 128–110 Brendan Byrne Arena 30–34
65 March 10, 1985 @ Milwaukee L 94–110 MECCA Arena 30–35
66 March 12, 1985 @ Kansas City L 114–120 Kemper Arena 30–36
67 March 15, 1985 Golden State W 126–101 Memorial Coliseum 31–36
68 March 17, 1985 Atlanta W 114–101 Memorial Coliseum 32–36
69 March 19, 1985 Detroit W 143–123 Memorial Coliseum 33–36
70 March 21, 1985 @ Phoenix L 104–114 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 33–37
71 March 23, 1985 L.A. Clippers W 126–123 Memorial Coliseum 34–37
72 March 25, 1985 @ L.A. Clippers W 120–99 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 35–37
73 March 26, 1985
7:30 p.m. PST 		L.A. Lakers W 116–113 (OT) VanDeWeghe (21) Thompson (9) Drexler (9) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		36–37
74 March 29, 1985 @ Seattle W 125–99 Kingdome 37–37
75 March 30, 1985 @ Denver L 117–129 McNichols Sports Arena 37–38
April: 5–2 (home: 5–0; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
76 April 2, 1985 Houston W 127–113 Memorial Coliseum 38–38
77 April 5, 1985 Seattle W 145–120 Memorial Coliseum 39–38
78 April 7, 1985
12:30 p.m. PST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 116–124 VanDeWeghe (24) Bowie (20) Drexler (13) The Forum
13,186 		39–39
79 April 9, 1985 Phoenix W 116–100 Memorial Coliseum 40–39
80 April 11, 1985 @ Utah L 107–145 Salt Palace Acord Arena 40–40
81 April 12, 1985 Dallas W 131–111 Memorial Coliseum 41–40
82 April 14, 1985 Denver W 117–112 Memorial Coliseum 42–40
1984–85 schedule
A ticket for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-finals between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers.

Playoffs

1985 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18, 1985 @ Dallas L 131–139 (2OT) VanDeWeghe (25) Bowie (14) Valentine (13) Reunion Arena
17,007 		0–1
2 April 20, 1985 @ Dallas W 124–121 (OT) VanDeWeghe (27) Bowie (20) Drexler (12) Reunion Arena
17,007 		1–1
3 April 23, 1985 Dallas W 122–109 VanDeWeghe (24) Bowie (11) Drexler (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		2–1
4 April 25, 1985 Dallas W 115–113 VanDeWeghe (27) Carr (10) Valentine (9) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 27, 1985
12:30 p.m. PST 		@ L.A. Lakers L 101–125 Colter (26) Carr (10) Colter (8) The Forum
17,505 		0–1
2 April 30, 1985
7:30 p.m. PDT 		@ L.A. Lakers L 118–134 VanDeWeghe (23) Carr (12) Valentine (9) The Forum
17,505 		0–2
3 May 3, 1985
7:30 p.m. PDT 		L.A. Lakers L 126–130 VanDeWeghe (27) Drexler (11) Drexler (14) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		0–3
4 May 5, 1985
12:30 p.m. PDT 		L.A. Lakers W 115–107 VanDeWeghe, Thompson (17) Thompson (10) Drexler (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–3
5 May 7, 1985
7:30 p.m. PDT 		@ L.A. Lakers L 120–139 Kersey (18) Carr (11) Drexler (12) The Forum
17,505 		1–4
1985 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References

  1. ^ Tip-Off, How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever, Filip Bondy, p.171, Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group, 2007, ISBN 978-0-306-81486-0
  2. ^ a b c Tip-Off, How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever, Filip Bondy, p.33, Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group, 2007, ISBN 978-0-306-81486-0
  3. ^ Tip-Off, How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever, Filip Bondy, p.130, Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group, 2007, ISBN 978-0-306-81486-0
  4. ^ Tip-Off, How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever, Filip Bondy, p.172, Da Capo Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group, 2007, ISBN 978-0-306-81486-0