1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers season explained

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 25th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Blazers 25th season was marked by change as they played their final season at the Memorial Coliseum with new head coach P.J. Carlesimo.[2] [3] The team also had the 17th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Aaron McKie out of Temple University.[4] [5] [6] [7] The Blazers started their season defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in their first two games, which were played in Yokohama, Japan.[8] [9] [10] [11] The team got off to a 6–6 start, and played around .500 for the first half of the season, holding a 25–20 record at the All-Star break,[12] as Terry Porter only played just 35 games due to an ankle injury.[13] [14] [15]

Clyde Drexler averaged 22.0 points per game for the first half of the season, but was not selected for the All-Star Game.[16] On February 14, 1995, with the Blazers out of serious contention for the championship, the team honored Drexler's request to be traded to a contender, sending him along with three-point specialist Tracy Murray to the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Otis Thorpe.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] The Rockets went on to win their second straight title defeating the Orlando Magic in four straight games, and Drexler's first ever championship.[22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

The Blazers finished the season with a 44–38 record, fourth in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference.[27] It was their 13th straight trip to the postseason.[28] Clifford Robinson averaged 21.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Rod Strickland averaged 18.9 points, 8.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Thorpe played a sixth man role, averaging 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game off the bench in 34 games with the Blazers. In addition, Buck Williams averaged 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and Chris Dudley led the team with 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Off the bench, Harvey Grant provided the team with 9.1 points per game, while Porter contributed 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game, second-year guard James Robinson provided with 9.2 points per game, and Jerome Kersey contributed 8.1 points per game.[29]

However, in the playoffs, the Blazers were swept in the Western Conference First Round by a 0–3 margin against the Phoenix Suns.[30] [31] [32] [33] Following the season, Thorpe was traded to the Detroit Pistons,[34] [35] [36] while Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,[37] [38] [39] Kersey was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Toronto Raptors,[40] [41] [42] [43] [44] and Mark Bryant signed with the Houston Rockets.[45]

Draft picks

See main article: 1994 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
1 17 SG Temple
2 43 C St. John's

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1994–95 NBA records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta– 3–1 2–2 1–4 1–4 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 0–2 1–4 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0
Boston1–3 – 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–1 1–3 2–0 2–3 0–5 2–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1
Charlotte2–2 3–1 – 2–2 3–2 0–2 1–1 5–0 2–0 0–2 1–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 4–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1
Chicago4–1 4–0 2–2 – 2–3 1–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–4 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2
Cleveland4–1 2–2 2–3 3–2 – 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1
Dallas0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 – 1–4 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 4–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–3 0–4 2–4 1–1
Denver0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 – 1–1 1–3 1–4 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 6–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–4 1–3 1–4 2–0
Detroit2–3 1–3 0–5 0–5 2–2 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–3 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1
Golden State0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 – 0–4 0–2 3–2 3–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–5 1–3 1–4 2–2 2–0
Houston2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 2–0 4–0 – 1–1 3–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–5 0–4 2–3 2–0
Indiana4–1 2–2 4–1 2–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1
L.A. Clippers0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–3 0–2 – 2–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–5 1–4 0–4 0–5 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–3 4–0 1–1 3–2 – 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 3–2 1–3 4–1 2–2 2–0
Miami2–2 1–4 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 – 4–0 1–1 1–3 1–4 1–3 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–1
Milwaukee3–1 3–1 1–4 4–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 – 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1
Minnesota0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–6 1–1 3–1 2–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–4 1–1
New Jersey0–4 3–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 – 1–4 2–2 2–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3
New York2–2 5–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 – 2–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0
Orlando3–1 3–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 3–2 – 4–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2
Philadelphia1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 0–4 1–4 – 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–2
Phoenix1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–3 1–3 1–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 – 5–0 4–1 2–2 4–1 2–2 2–0
Portland1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 4–1 3–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 – 3–2 1–3 2–3 1–3 2–0
Sacramento1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 5–0 1–3 0–2 4–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 – 0–4 3–2 0–4 1–1
San Antonio1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 2–0 3–1 5–1 0–2 4–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 4–0 – 2–2 3–2 2–0
Seattle2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 4–1 4–0 1–1 5–0 1–4 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–4 3–2 2–3 2–2 – 1–3 2–0
Utah2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 4–0 2–3 3–1 – 2–0
Washington0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–4 1–3 1–1 3–2 0–4 2–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| November 22, 1994
5:30p.m. PST| @ Houston| W 102–94| Drexler (30)| Robinson (13)| Robinson (9)| The Summit
16,611| 5–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44| February 6, 1995
7:00p.m. PST| Houston| W 120–82| Robinson (20)| Kersey (14)| Drexler (7)| Memorial Coliseum
12,888| 24–20|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 73| April 7, 1995
7:00p.m. PDT| Houston| W 127–109| Strickland (27)| Robinson (8)| Strickland (10)| Memorial Coliseum
12,888| 39–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 76| April 13, 1995
5:30p.m. PDT| @ Houston| L 99–112| Strickland (22)| Thorpe (14)| Strickland (5)| The Summit
16,611| 40–36

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 28| @ Phoenix| L 102–129| Rod Strickland (23)| Grant, Dudley (7)| Rod Strickland (13)| America West Arena
19,023| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 30| @ Phoenix| L 94–103| Rod Strickland (26)| Buck Williams (7)| Rod Strickland (12)| America West Arena
19,023| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 2| Phoenix| L 109–117| Rod Strickland (21)| Clifford Robinson (10)| Rod Strickland (12)| Memorial Coliseum
12,888| 0–3|-

Player statistics

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
49 0 13.4 .526 .500 .651 3.3 .6 .4 .3 5.0
41 41 34.8 .428 .363 .835 5.7 5.1 1.8 .5 22.0
82 82 27.4 .406 .000 .464 9.3 .4 .5 1.5 5.5
28 0 9.5 .386 .000 .647 1.5 .3 .2 .3 2.7
75 14 23.6 .461 .308 .705 3.8 1.1 .7 .7 9.1
37 0 10.3 .430 .442 .880 .7 2.3 .2 .0 3.2
63 0 18.1 .415 .259 .766 4.1 1.3 .8 .6 8.1
45 20 18.4 .444 .393 .685 2.9 2.0 .8 .4 6.5
29 3 10.8 .412 .390 .824 1.3 .5 .2 .0 5.9
35 9 22.0 .393 .386 .707 2.3 3.8 .9 .1 8.9
75 73 36.3 .452 .371 .694 5.6 2.6 1.1 1.1 21.3
71 25 21.7 .409 .341 .591 1.9 2.5 .7 .2 9.2
64 61 35.4 .466 .374 .745 5.0 8.8 1.9 .1 18.9
34 0 26.7 .568 .000 .649 6.9 1.6 .6 .4 13.5
82 82 29.5 .512 .500 .673 8.2 1.0 .8 .8 9.2

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2 0 3.0 .500 .000 .000 1.0 .0 .0 .0 1.0
3 3 19.7 .667 .000 .375 5.0 .3 .0 .3 2.3
1 0 4.0 .000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
3 3 38.3 .500 .556 .625 5.3 2.0 1.0 .7 14.3
3 0 21.0 .571 .000 .667 2.7 1.0 1.0 .3 12.7
3 0 11.3 .571 .500 .000 .7 .3 1.0 .0 5.7
3 0 7.0 .538 .400 .600 .7 1.3 .0 .0 6.3
3 3 39.7 .362 .235 563 6.3 2.7 .7 .3 15.7
2 0 2.0 .667 .667 .000 .0 .5 .0 .0 3.0
3 3 42.0 .415 .400 .778 4.0 12.3 1.0 .7 23.3
3 0 22.0 .571 .000 .700 4.3 .7 .0 .0 10.3
3 3 34.3 .600 .000 .636 6.3 .3 1.3 .7 8.3

Awards and records

The Trail Blazers did not win any awards for the 1994–95 season.

Transactions

Trades

February 14, 1995To Portland Trail Blazers
Otis Thorpe
Cash considerations
1995 first-round pick		To Houston Rockets
Clyde Drexler
Tracy Murray

Free agents

Additions
PlayerDate signedFormer team
James EdwardsSeptember 19Los Angeles Lakers
Elmer BennettOctober 4Fargo-Moorhead Fever (CBA)
Negele KnightOctober 27San Antonio Spurs
Jerome KerseyOctober 18Portland Trail Blazers
Steve HensonNovember 20Mexico Aztecas (CBA)
Subtractions
PlayerDate signedNew Team
Elmer BennettOctober 28Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA)
Shawnelle ScottOklahoma City Cavalry (CBA)
Jaren JacksonNovember 1Philadelphia 76ers
Negele KnightDecember 18Detroit Pistons

Player Transactions Citation:[46]

References

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1995.html 1994-95 Portland Trail Blazers
  2. News: PRO BASKETBALL; Carlesimo Leaves Hall to Coach Trail Blazers . The New York Times . June 24, 1994 . September 22, 2022.
  3. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Trail Blazers Pick Carlesimo . Los Angeles Times . June 24, 1994 . February 25, 2023.
  4. News: Associated Press . Huge Contract, Big Expectations Await No. 1 Draft Pick Robinson . Deseret News . June 30, 1994 . June 3, 2023.
  5. News: Baker . Chris . NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade . Los Angeles Times . June 30, 1994 . June 3, 2023.
  6. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . NBA DRAFT: Lakers Recall the Past: Pro Basketball: Temple Guard Jones Reminiscent of Former Great Michael Cooper . Los Angeles Times . June 30, 1994 . June 3, 2023.
  7. Web site: 1994 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . June 3, 2023.
  8. News: Clippers and Blazers to Open NBA Season in Japan . United Press International . July 7, 1994 . January 30, 2023.
  9. News: Associated Press . Sports Briefings; N.B.A. in Japan . The New York Times . November 3, 1994 . June 21, 2023.
  10. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Change of Hemisphere Doesn't Help Clippers . Los Angeles Times . November 5, 1994 . September 22, 2022.
  11. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Clippers End Poor Foreign Experience: Pro Basketball: Twenty-Five Turnovers Are Key Factor in a 112-95 Loss to the Trail Blazers . Los Angeles Times . November 6, 1994 . July 24, 2017.
  12. News: NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
  13. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Blazers' Robinson Calls Off His Holdout . The New York Times . October 26, 1994 . January 17, 2022.
  14. News: Robinson In, Porter Out for Blazers . Tampa Bay Times . October 26, 1994 . January 30, 2023.
  15. News: Evans . Richard . Blazers Boast New Weapon: Defense . Deseret News . November 29, 1994 . November 8, 2022.
  16. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Ceballos Awoken by All-Star Alarm Call: Pro Basketball: Forward Is Chosen as a Reserve for Game in Phoenix by Western Conference Coaches . Los Angeles Times . February 1, 1995 . January 2, 2023.
  17. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Traded for Otis Thorpe . The New York Times . February 15, 1995 . March 10, 2017.
  18. News: Heisler . Mark . Portland Trades Drexler to Rockets: Pro Basketball: Trail Blazers Escape $9.75-Million Balloon Payment Due Next Season, Get Thorpe and a No. 1 Pick . Los Angeles Times . February 15, 1995 . May 26, 2022.
  19. News: Roundup . The Washington Post . February 15, 1995 . July 1, 2022.
  20. News: Wire Reports . Drexler to Rockets; Blazers Deal Disgruntled Star, Murray for Thorpe, Pick . The Spokesman-Review . February 15, 1995 . December 13, 2022.
  21. News: Rockets Deal for Drexler . Tampa Bay Times . February 15, 1995 . June 21, 2023.
  22. News: Brown . Clifton . 1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship . The New York Times . June 15, 1995 . July 30, 2021.
  23. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . NBA FINALS: Two-Ring Circus Hits Houston: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon (who else?) Is MVP Again After Leading Rockets to Sweep of Magic . Los Angeles Times . June 15, 1995 . June 6, 2022.
  24. News: Justice . Richard . Rockets' Sweep Finishes Magic Season . The Washington Post . June 15, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  25. News: Guest . Larry . Magic Are the Main Entree at This Friendly Texas Barbecue . Orlando Sentinel . June 15, 1995 . December 13, 2022.
  26. News: 1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  27. Web site: 1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
  28. News: Portland Trail Blazers . Basketball-Reference . January 19, 2022.
  29. Web site: 1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
  30. News: Associated Press . 1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Suns, Spurs and Pacers Make It a Sweeps Night . The New York Times . May 3, 1995 . May 26, 2022.
  31. News: Associated Press . Spurs, Suns, Pacers Complete Sweeps . Deseret News . May 3, 1995 . June 6, 2022.
  32. News: 1995 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 3: Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers Box Score, May 2, 1995 . Basketball-Reference . November 25, 2022.
  33. News: 1995 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Suns . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  34. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Trail Blazers Trade Thorpe to Pistons . The New York Times . September 21, 1995 . December 30, 2021.
  35. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Pistons Get Thorpe for Rookie Childress . Los Angeles Times . September 21, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  36. News: Blazers, Pistons Cut Deal . The Spokesman-Review . September 21, 1995 . December 19, 2022.
  37. News: Smith . Sam . Rookies Provide Proviso Influence . Chicago Tribune . October 15, 1995 . January 29, 2023.
  38. News: Transactions . The New York Times . October 15, 1995 . December 30, 2021.
  39. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves . The New York Times . October 17, 1995 . July 25, 2022.
  40. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27 . The New York Times . June 25, 1995 . October 5, 2022.
  41. News: Heisler . Mark . Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver . Los Angeles Times . June 25, 1995 . December 20, 2022.
  42. News: Smith . Sam . Toronto Picks Armstrong; May Not Trade Him . Chicago Tribune . June 25, 1995 . July 8, 2023.
  43. News: Associated Press . NBA Expansion Draft -- Point Guards Are Top Priority for Young Raptors, Grizzlies . The Seattle Times . June 25, 1995 . January 31, 2023.
  44. Web site: 1995 NBA Expansion Draft . Basketball-Reference . July 8, 2023.
  45. News: Winderman . Ira . Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs . Sun Sentinel . September 29, 1995 . June 30, 2022.
  46. Web site: 1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Transactions. Basketball-Reference. July 3, 2021.

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