1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 19th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. The Trail Blazers had the 21st overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected power forward Mark Bryant out of Seton Hall University. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Danny Young.

After a 25–22 start to the regular season, head coach Mike Schuler was fired in mid-February, and was replaced with assistant coach Rick Adelman on an interim basis; after the season, Adelman was made the team's head coach on a full-time basis. At mid-season, the Trail Blazers traded Kiki Vandeweghe to the New York Knicks in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. The team held a 25–21 record at the All-Star break, and played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, which included two six-game losing streaks in February and March. The Trail Blazers finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 39–43 record, earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.

Clyde Drexler averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while last season's Most Improved Player Kevin Duckworth averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and Terry Porter provided the team with 17.7 points, 9.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. In addition, Jerome Kersey contributed 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while Steve Johnson provided with 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Sam Bowie averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but only played just 20 games due to injury. Meanwhile, Adrian Branch contributed 7.4 points per game, while Young provided with 6.2 points and 2.6 assists per game, but only played just 48 games, Bryant averaged 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, and Caldwell Jones averaged 2.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Drexler and Duckworth were both selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Duckworth's first ever All-Star appearance. In addition, Drexler and Kersey both participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest; it was the fifth appearance for Drexler, and the fourth appearance for Kersey.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who won the Pacific Division title; the team was led by the quartet of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott, and All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Trail Blazers lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, before losing Game 3 at home, 116–108 at the Memorial Coliseum, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep; it was the fourth consecutive year that the Trail Blazers lost in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. The Lakers would advance to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep in the 1989 NBA Finals.

The Trail Blazers finished 17th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 527,008 at the Memorial Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, the oft-injured Bowie was traded to the New Jersey Nets, while Jones signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs, and Johnson was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 4 | Phoenix | W 120–105 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 5 | Sacramento | W 121–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 10 | @ Denver | L 115–135 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 12 | @ Golden State | L 100–107 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 13 | Denver | L 132–143 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 15 | L.A. Clippers | W 125–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | November 17 | @ Utah | L 99–123 | | | | Salt Palace | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 18 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 105–106 | | | | The Forum | 3–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 20 | New Jersey | W 117–106 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 4–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 22 | @ Seattle | W 125–104 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 5–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 25 | Houston | W 111–94 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 6–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 27 | Golden State | W 109–94 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 29 | @ Milwaukee | L 114–119 | | | | Bradley Center | 7–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 30 | @ Philadelphia | L 106–114 | | | | The Spectrum | 7–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 2 | @ Miami | W 105–102 | | | | Miami Arena | 8–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 3 | @ Atlanta | L 97–115 | | | | The Omni | 8–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | December 6 | @ New Jersey | W 97–93 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 9–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 7 | @ Indiana | L 120–129 | | | | Market Square Arena | 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 9 | Washington | W 93–90 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 10–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 11 | San Antonio | W 128–123 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 11–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 13 | L.A. Clippers | W 113–92 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 12–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 16 | @ Phoenix | L 125–132 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 12–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 17 | Phoenix | W 115–97 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 13–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 20 | @ Denver | W 127–124 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 14–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 22 | @ Golden State | W 117–109 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 15–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 23 | Golden State | W 111–107 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 16–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 27 | @ Sacramento | L 111–112 | | | | ARCO Arena | 16–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 3 | Miami | W 119–95 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 17–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | January 4 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 120–133 | | | | Great Western Forum | 17–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | January 6 | Sacramento | W 147–142 (2OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 18–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 7 | @ Seattle | L 123–129 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 18–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 10 | Seattle | W 125–109 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 19–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 12 | @ Houston | L 106–116 | | | | The Summit | 19–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 14 | @ San Antonio | W 103–99 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 20–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 15 | @ Dallas | L 108–111 | | | | Reunion Arena | 20–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 17 | Utah | L 110–111 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 22 | New York | L 116–120 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 24 | Seattle | L 100–103 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 26 | Milwaukee | L 109–127 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 28 | Atlanta | W 110–94 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 21–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 30 | Charlotte | W 130–118 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 22–19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 1 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 108–107 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 23–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | February 3 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 129–140 | | | | Great Western Forum | 23–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | February 4 | San Antonio | W 137–100 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 24–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 7 | Dallas | W 134–125 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 25–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 9 | Houston | L 110–113 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 25–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | February 16 | L.A. Lakers | L 101–110 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 25–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 18 | Seattle | L 115–116 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 25–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 20 | @ Chicago | L 98–102 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 25–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | February 22 | @ Detroit | L 94–105 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 25–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | February 24 | @ Cleveland | L 91–128 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 25–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 26 | @ Miami | W 124–102 | | | | Miami Arena | 26–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 28 | Phoenix | W 139–134 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 27–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | March 2 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 119–113 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 28–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 3 | Philadelphia | W 129–121 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 29–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | March 5 | Indiana | L 118–121 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 29–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 7 | @ San Antonio | W 116–103 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 30–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | March 8 | @ Dallas | L 92–99 | | | | Reunion Arena | 31–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 12 | Cleveland | L 110–122 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 31–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 14 | Golden State | W 139–110 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 31–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | March 15 | @ Utah | L 95–102 | | | | Salt Palace | 31–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 17 | @ Phoenix | L 124–129 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 31–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | March 18 | @ Houston | L 113–127 | | | | The Summit | 31–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 20 | Dallas | W 112–91 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 32–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 21 | @ Golden State | L 127–151 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 32–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 24 | Chicago | L 113–128 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 32–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 25 | @ Sacramento | L 105–106 | | | | ARCO Arena | 32–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 28 | @ New York | L 124–128 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 32–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 29 | @ Boston | L 97–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 32–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 31 | @ Washington | L 105–107 | | | | Capital Centre | 32–38

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | April 1 | @ Charlotte | W 125–121 (OT) | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 33–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 4 | Detroit | W 118–100 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 34–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | April 6 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 123–133 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 34–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 7 | Boston | W 113–100 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 35–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 9 | Denver | W 120–114 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 36–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 11 | L.A. Clippers | W 126–102 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 37–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 14 | Miami | W 97–86 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 38–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 15 | Utah | L 95–99 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 38–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 18 | @ Sacramento | L 118–120 | | | | ARCO Arena | 38–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | April 20 | @ Seattle | L 118–124 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 38–42 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 21 | L.A. Lakers | L 114–121 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 38–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 23 | Sacramento | W 126–120 (OT) | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 39–43

Playoffs

|- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 27 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 108–128 | Clyde Drexler (30) | Kersey, Porter (9) | Terry Porter (10) | Great Western Forum<br>17,505 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 30 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 105–113 | Clyde Drexler (28) | Jerome Kersey (11) | Clyde Drexler (10) | Great Western Forum<br>17,505 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 3 | L.A. Lakers | L 108–116 | Terry Porter (29) | Clyde Drexler (8) | Terry Porter (9) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,880 | 0–3 |-

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

• Clyde Drexler, NBA All-Star
• Kevin Duckworth, NBA All-Star

References