The 1973–74 Portland Trail Blazers season was the fourth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] The Blazers finished at 27–55, a six-game improvement from the previous season.
The season started with promise as Portland opened the year with a 10–8 record. A nine-game losing streak followed and sent the Blazers sinking in the standings. They managed to cling to just under .500 but the months of January and February were unkind. Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks each garnered selections to the 1974 NBA All-Star game, but massive deficiencies on defense plagued the Blazers. Their lack of a size and experience at center allowed opponents to score almost at will. The Blazers lost 23 of 25 games and wound up with the worst record in the Western Conference. Coach Jack McCloskey was relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
See main article: article and 1973 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Barry Parkhill | G | Virginia | ||
| 4 | 55 | Bird Averitt | G | Pepperdine | ||
| 5 | 74 | Bernard Hardin | F | New Mexico | ||
| 7 | 110 | Doug Richards | G | Brigham Young | ||
| 8 | 128 | Eldridge Broussard | N/A | Pacific University | ||
| 9 | 128 | Lee Haven | N/A | Colorado | ||
| 10 | 163 | Ron Jones | N/A | Oregon State |
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1973–74 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CAP | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | – | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | – | 5–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 7–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | |
| Buffalo | 4–2 | 2–5 | – | 3–3 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| Capital | 4–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–3 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Cleveland | 3–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | – | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–5 | – | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | |
| Houston | 2–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | |
| Kansas City-Omaha | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | |
| Los Angeles | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 5–1 | – | 4–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–3 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2–4 | – | 2–2 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 5–1 | 2–5 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | – | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–4 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | |
| Phoenix | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 3–3 | 4–3 | |
| Portland | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | |
| Seattle | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — | |
| 1973–74 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 13 | 87–132 | Geoff Petrie (29) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 19 | 99–111 | Geoff Petrie (25) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 20 | 108–123 | Geoff Petrie (32) | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | October 23 | 96–103 | Sidney Wicks (22) | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | October 24 | 110–132 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 3–2 | ||
| 6 | October 26 | 110–127 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 27 | 111–98 | Geoff Petrie (37) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | October 28 | 98–111 | Layton, Neal (19) | 4–4 | ||
| 9 | October 30 | Los Angeles | 112–114 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 5–4 | |
| 10 | November 3 | 100–107 | Petrie, Wicks (21) | 6–4 | ||
| 11 | November 9 | 108–122 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 7–4 | ||
| 12 | November 10 | 106–104 | Geoff Petrie (27) | 7–5 | ||
| 13 | November 13 | 100–108 | Geoff Petrie (23) | 7–6 | ||
| 14 | November 14 | @ Detroit | 111–108 | Geoff Petrie (36) | 8–6 | |
| 15 | November 15 | @ Atlanta | 114–123 | Geoff Petrie (40) | 8–7 | |
| 16 | November 17 | 96–87 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 9–7 | ||
| 17 | November 20 | @ Chicago | 101–106 | Geoff Petrie (29) | 9–8 | |
| 18 | November 22 | Seattle | 125–131 | Geoff Petrie (43) | 10–8 | |
| 19 | November 23 | @ Seattle | 106–127 | Sidney Wicks (16) | 10–9 | |
| 20 | November 24 | Los Angeles | 113–108 | Geoff Petrie (27) | 10–10 | |
| 21 | November 25 | @ Los Angeles | 109–137 | Rick Roberson (23) | 10–11 | |
| 22 | November 29 | 89–119 | Sidney Wicks (26) | 10–12 | ||
| 23 | November 30 | 107–99 | John Johnson (24) | 10–13 | ||
| 24 | December 1 | Los Angeles | 115–134 | John Johnson (31) | 11–13 | |
| 25 | December 4 | @ New York | 100–113 | Geoff Petrie (28) | 11–14 | |
| 26 | December 5 | @ Buffalo | 110–114 | Roberson, Wicks (24) | 11–15 | |
| 27 | December 7 | @ Milwaukee | 86–116 | Geoff Petrie (21) | 11–16 | |
| 28 | December 8 | @ Detroit | 91–106 | Larry Steele (19) | 11–17 | |
| 29 | December 11 | Capital | 87–82 | Sidney Wicks (22) | 11–18 | |
| 30 | December 13 | @ Phoenix | 119–108 | Geoff Petrie (25) | 12–18 | |
| 31 | December 14 | Golden State | 101–109 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 13–18 | |
| 32 | December 16 | Milwaukee | 121–98 | John Johnson (26) | 13–19 | |
| 33 | December 18 | Phoenix | 117–133 | Geoff Petrie (37) | 14–19 | |
| 34 | December 21 | 124–120 (OT) | Geoff Petrie (38) | 14–20 | ||
| 35 | December 22 | Philadelphia | 105–110 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 15–20 | |
| 36 | December 27 | @ Golden State | 118–117 | Geoff Petrie (31) | 16–20 | |
| 37 | December 28 | @ Seattle | 93–110 | Geoff Petrie (25) | 16–21 | |
| 38 | December 30 | Chicago | 92–99 | John Johnson (24) | 17–21 | |
| 39 | January 1 | Buffalo | 120–119 | Geoff Petrie (39) | 17–22 | |
| 40 | January 4 | Houston | 119–113 | John Johnson (32) | 17–23 | |
| 41 | January 6 | Golden State | 105–106 | Petrie, Wicks (26) | 18–23 | |
| 42 | January 8 | Kansas City–Omaha | 110–129 | Petrie, Wicks (27) | 19–23 | |
| 43 | January 13 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 99–103 | Geoff Petrie (23) | 19–24 | |
| 44 | January 17 | @ Atlanta | 99–126 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 19–25 | |
| 45 | January 19 | @ Milwaukee | 106–121 | Sidney Wicks (27) | 19–26 | |
| 46 | January 20 | @ Chicago | 97–99 | Sidney Wicks (21) | 19–27 | |
| 47 | January 22 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 96–103 | Sidney Wicks (26) | 19–28 | |
| 48 | January 23 | @ Detroit | 95–121 | Bob Verga (22) | 19–29 | |
| 49 | January 25 | Cleveland | 87–84 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 19–30 | |
| 50 | January 29 | Milwaukee | 126–106 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 19–31 | |
| 51 | January 31 | @ Phoenix | 100–112 | Sidney Wicks (38) | 19–32 | |
| 52 | February 2 | Seattle | 97–102 | Sidney Wicks (26) | 20–32 | |
| 53 | February 3 | @ Los Angeles | 91–124 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 20–33 | |
| 54 | February 5 | Detroit | 104–102 | Geoff Petrie (27) | 20–34 | |
| 55 | February 6 | @ Seattle | 94–107 | Geoff Petrie (28) | 20–35 | |
| 56 | February 8 | Kansas City–Omaha | 104–99 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 20–36 | |
| 57 | February 10 | Houston | 112–106 | John Johnson (27) | 20–37 | |
| 58 | February 12 | Phoenix | 104–113 | Rick Roberson (37) | 21–37 | |
| 59 | February 15 | Boston | 106–104 | Fryer, Roberson (27) | 21–38 | |
| 60 | February 16 | Cleveland | 106–101 | Sidney Wicks (22) | 21–39 | |
| 61 | February 17 | @ Phoenix | 100–112 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 21–40 | |
| 62 | February 19 | @ New York | 116–119 (OT) | Sidney Wicks (34) | 21–41 | |
| 63 | February 20 | @ Capital | 101–116 | Petrie, Wicks (26) | 21–42 | |
| 64 | February 22 | @ Chicago | 100–117 | Geoff Petrie (22) | 21–43 | |
| 65 | February 24 | @ Houston | 115–133 | Geoff Petrie (23) | 21–44 | |
| 66 | February 26 | Philadelphia | 118–110 | Geoff Petrie (32) | 21–45 | |
| 67 | February 28 | @ Golden State | 109–129 | Geoff Petrie (32) | 21–46 | |
| 68 | March 1 | Chicago | 91–95 | Geoff Petrie (33) | 22–46 | |
| 69 | March 3 | Detroit | 99–95 | Geoff Petrie (32) | 22–47 | |
| 70 | March 5 | Los Angeles | 102–107 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 23–47 | |
| 71 | March 9 | @ Capital | 103–106 | Geoff Petrie (22) | 23–48 | |
| 72 | March 10 | N Buffalo | 112–122 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 23–49 | |
| 73 | March 12 | N Boston | 93–110 | John Johnson (32) | 23–50 | |
| 74 | March 15 | New York | 105–107 | Geoff Petrie (29) | 24–50 | |
| 75 | March 16 | Atlanta | 127–128 | Geoff Petrie (37) | 25–50 | |
| 76 | March 18 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 105–114 | Geoff Petrie (31) | 25–51 | |
| 77 | March 19 | @ Cleveland | 103–107 | Geoff Petrie (34) | 25–52 | |
| 78 | March 20 | @ Philadelphia | 113–106 | Geoff Petrie (43) | 26–52 | |
| 79 | March 22 | @ Boston | 118–126 | Geoff Petrie (23) | 26–53 | |
| 80 | March 24 | Milwaukee | 120–110 | Larry Steele (26) | 26–54 | |
| 81 | March 26 | @ Golden State | 120–143 | Geoff Petrie (32) | 26–55 | |
| 82 | March 27 | Golden State | 122–132 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 27–55 |