1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers season explained

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 26th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.[1] After spending their first 25 years at the Memorial Coliseum, the Blazers began playing at the new Rose Garden Arena this season.[2] [3] The team acquired the eighth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft from the Detroit Pistons, and selected Shawn Respert out of Michigan State University,[4] but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for top draft pick Gary Trent out of Ohio University.[5] [6] [7] [8] Rookie center Arvydas Sabonis from Lithuania, who was drafted 24th overall by the Blazers in the 1986 NBA draft, would finally make his debut in the NBA.[9] [10] [11] [12] The Blazers held a 24–24 record at the All-Star break,[13] and struggled playing below .500 afterwards, posting a 26–34 record as of March 5, 1996. However, they would win 18 of their final 22 games to finish the season with a 44–38 record, which was the same record as the previous season.[14] The team finished fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference, making their 14th straight trip to the postseason, and 19th in 20 years.[15]

Clifford Robinson averaged 21.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while Rod Strickland averaged 18.7 points, 9.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and Sabonis provided the team with 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, second-year guard Aaron McKie contributed 10.7 points per game, while Harvey Grant provided with 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench, James Robinson contributed 8.5 points per game, and Trent provided with 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. On the defensive side, Buck Williams averaged 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game off the bench, and Chris Dudley contributed 5.1 points, and led the team with 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.[16] Sabonis also finished in second place in both Rookie of the Year,[17] [18] [19] and Sixth Man of the Year voting.[20] [21] [22]

In the playoffs, the Blazers were knocked out in the Western Conference First Round again, losing to the Utah Jazz in five games, suffering a 38-point margin in a 102–64 road loss in Game 5.[23] [24] [25] [26]

Following the season, Strickland, who feuded with head coach P.J. Carlesimo during the season,[27] [28] [29] [30] was traded along with Grant to the Washington Bullets, whom Grant used to play for,[31] [32] [33] [34] while Williams signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks,[35] [36] [37] and Robinson was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[38] [39]

Draft picks

See main article: 1995 NBA draft.

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta– 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
Boston0–4 – 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Charlotte1–3 2–2 – 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
Chicago4–0 3–0 3–1 – 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
Cleveland1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 – 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Denver1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Detroit2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
Golden State1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 – 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Indiana3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 – 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 – 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 – 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Miami2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 – 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Milwaukee2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 – 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Minnesota1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
New Jersey0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 – 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
New York1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 – 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Orlando2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 – 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 – 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
Phoenix2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 – 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Portland0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 – 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
Sacramento0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 – 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 – 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Seattle2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 – 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
Toronto0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 0–2 1–1 3–1
Utah1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 – 4–0 1–1
Vancouver0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 – 0–2
Washington3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 25| @ Utah| L 102–110| Rod Strickland (27)| Chris Dudley (10)| Rod Strickland (12)| Delta Center
19,614| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 27| @ Utah| L 90–105| Arvydas Sabonis (26)| Arvydas Sabonis (12)| Rod Strickland (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 29| Utah| W 94–91 (OT)| Arvydas Sabonis (27)| Arvydas Sabonis (12)| Rod Strickland (8)| Rose Garden
21,401| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 1| Utah| W 98–90| Rod Strickland (27)| Arvydas Sabonis (13)| Rod Strickland (7)| Rose Garden
21,401| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 5| @ Utah| L 64–102| Arvydas Sabonis (14)| Arvydas Sabonis (8)| Rod Strickland (8)| Delta Center
19,682| 2–3|-

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
81 73 27.9 .467 .325 .764 3.8 2.5 1.1 .3 10.7
80 61 24.1 .453 .000 .510 9.0 .5 .5 1.3 5.1
78 76 38.2 .423 .378 .664 5.7 2.4 1.1 .9 21.1
76 75 31.5 .462 .313 .545 4.8 1.5 .8 .6 9.3
76 5 21.4 .399 .359 .659 2.1 2.0 .4 .2 8.5
73 21 23.8 .545 .375 .757 8.1 1.8 .9 1.1 14.5
70 10 23.9 .500 .667 .668 5.8 .6 .6 .7 7.3
69 10 17.7 .513 .000 .553 3.4 .7 .4 .2 7.5
67 63 37.7 .460 .342 .652 4.4 9.6 1.4 .2 18.7
44 2 11.1 .382 .302 .765 2.4 .6 .5 .1 3.8
43 14 16.6 .416 .380 .647 1.8 3.3 .6 .1 5.7
28 0 8.9 .316 .277 .815 .7 1.1 .3 .0 3.0
11 0 5.5 .438 .000 .250 1.1 .2 .0 .1 1.4
†11 0 3.4 .417 .667 .8 .1 .0 .2 1.3
†4 0 5.0 .600 .8 .0 .3 .5 1.5

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
5 5 40.4 .440 .500 .639 6.2 8.4 1.0 .0 20.6
5 5 36.2 .344 .261 .757 3.6 1.6 1.4 1.0 15.2
5 5 35.4 .432 .556 .717 10.2 1.8 .8 .6 23.6
5 5 32.8 .342 .143 .000 4.0 .8 .0 .4 5.4
5 4 26.8 .367 .250 .778 3.6 1.8 1.2 .4 6.2
5 1 26.6 .391 .500 .714 5.0 .2 .2 .8 4.8
5 0 18.4 .385 .667 5.4 .2 .4 .4 2.8
5 0 12.4 .381 .600 .333 2.8 .8 .0 .0 4.8
5 0 8.6 .421 .444 .250 .4 .6 .6 .0 4.2
2 0 13.0 .300 .333 .5 1.5 .5 .5 4.0
2 0 5.0 .250 .5 .0 .5 .0 1.0
1 0 1.0 .000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0

Awards and honors

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1996.html 1995-96 Portland Trail Blazers
  2. News: Associated Press . Grizzlies Win Behind Benjamin . The New York Times . November 4, 1995 . May 25, 2022.
  3. News: Staff and Wire Reports . NBA ROUNDUP: Grizzlies, Raptors Welcome Reality with Big Victories . Los Angeles Times . November 4, 1995 . November 18, 2022.
  4. Web site: 1995 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
  5. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board . The New York Times . June 29, 1995 . July 25, 2021.
  6. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
  7. News: Associated Press . NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  8. News: Nakamura . David . Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick . The Washington Post . June 29, 1995 . June 3, 2023.
  9. News: Staff and Wire Reports . NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected . Los Angeles Times . September 30, 1995 . January 30, 2023.
  10. News: Schabner . Dean . Sabonis at Home in NBA . United Press International . February 10, 1996 . June 19, 2021.
  11. News: Heisler . Mark . Curtain Call: As an NBA Rookie at 31, Sabonis Shows Some of That Old Soviet Brilliance, But, Oh, What Might Have Been . Los Angeles Times . April 21, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  12. News: Taylor . Phil . Catch This! With a Big Assist from Aged Rookie Arvydas Sabonis, the Blazers Are Suddenly Red-Hot . Sports Illustrated Vault . April 22, 1996 . July 5, 2023.
  13. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
  14. Web site: 1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  15. Web site: Portland Trail Blazers . Basketball-Reference . January 19, 2022.
  16. Web site: 1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  17. News: Associated Press . Rookie Award to Stoudamire . The New York Times . May 16, 1996 . May 25, 2022.
  18. News: Associated Press . Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception . Los Angeles Times . May 16, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  19. News: Tribune News Services . Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors . Chicago Tribune . May 16, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  20. News: Kukoc Named Best of the Bench . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  21. News: Isaacson . Melissa . Kukoč: Sixth Man Award 2nd Best to Starting Role . Chicago Tribune . May 15, 1996. October 7, 2022.
  22. Web site: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
  23. News: Mims . Bob . Jazz 102, Trail Blazers 64 . Associated Press . May 5, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
  24. News: Associated Press . Portland Makes History in Worst Possible Way . Los Angeles Times . May 6, 1996 . June 24, 2021.
  25. News: Caption Only: Jazz Ahead - and Loving It to the Max . Deseret News . May 6, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
  26. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  27. News: Associated Press . Portland Suspends Strickland . Los Angeles Times . February 23, 1996 . March 1, 2017.
  28. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Strickland Is No-Show at Practice . The New York Times . February 25, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  29. News: Associated Press . Suspended Strickland Still AWOL . Deseret News . February 25, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  30. News: Smith . Sam . Rising Heat Good for Bulls . Chicago Tribune . April 1, 1996 . October 4, 2022.
  31. News: Bembry . Jerry . Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price . The Baltimore Sun . July 16, 1996 . December 3, 2022.
  32. News: Hall . Landon . Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler . Associated Press . July 16, 1996 . July 26, 2021.
  33. News: Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets . Tampa Bay Times . July 16, 1996 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620212923/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/07/16/blazers-trade-strickland-to-bullets/ . dead . June 20, 2023 . June 20, 2023.
  34. News: Asher . Mark . Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold . The Washington Post . July 22, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
  35. News: Roberts . Selena . PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Seal Up Buck Williams . The New York Times . July 27, 1996 . December 30, 2021.
  36. News: Knicks Sign Buck; Bucks Sign Allen . Tampa Bay Times . July 27, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
  37. News: Markowitz . Dan . Revamped Knicks Assessing Strengths . The New York Times . October 20, 1996 . January 4, 2023.
  38. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson . Los Angeles Times . July 24, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
  39. News: Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players . United Press International . July 24, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
  40. News: Wire Reports . Injuries Threat to Ford's Job . The Spokesman-Review . March 17, 1998 . May 1, 2023.

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