2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers season explained

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 32nd season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, head coach Mike Dunleavy was fired after four years and two trips to the Western Conference finals, and was replaced with Maurice Cheeks,^{[2] [3] [4]} as the Blazers acquired Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr from the San Antonio Spurs,^{[5] [6] [7]} signed free agent Ruben Patterson,^{[8] [9]} and re-signed former Blazers center Chris Dudley.^{[10] [11]} Kerr would reunite with his former teammate of the Chicago Bulls, former All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, where they won three championships in the late 1990s. The Blazers struggled with a 13–18 start after losing six straight games between December and January, but managed to hold a 25–23 record at the All-Star break,^[12] and then posted a 12-game winning streak between February and March,^[13] finishing third in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference with a 49–33 record,^[14] and making the playoffs for the 20th consecutive year.^[15]

Rasheed Wallace averaged 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while Bonzi Wells averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and Damon Stoudamire provided the team with 13.5 points and 6.5 assists per game. In addition, Patterson contributed 11.2 points per game, while Anderson contributed 10.8 points per game, Pippen provided with 10.6 points, 5.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Dale Davis averaged 9.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.^[16]

As in the previous year, the Blazers faced the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, and the result was identical: the Blazers were swept in three straight games by the Lakers, who would go on to win their third consecutive NBA championship. It was the fifth time in six years the Blazers' postseason run was ended by the Lakers.^{[17] [18] [19] [20]} The Lakers would then go on to defeat the New Jersey Nets in four straight games in the NBA Finals, winning their third consecutive championship.^{[21] [22] [23] [24] [25]}

Following the season, Shawn Kemp signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^{[26] [27] [28]} and Kerr was traded back to his former team, the San Antonio Spurs.^{[29] [30] [31]}

Draft picks

See main article: 2001 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	19	Zach Randolph	PF		Michigan State
2	49	Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje	C		Georgetown

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MEM	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	2–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–3
Boston	2–2	–	2–1	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–2	–	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
Chicago	1–3	2–2	0–4	–	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	0–3	1–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–3
Cleveland	1–3	0–4	1–3	3–1	–	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–2
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	–	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	–	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–1	1–3	0–2
Detroit	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1	–	1–3	0–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–1
Houston	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–1
Indiana	3–1	0–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–3	2–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	–	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–4	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0	3–1	–	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–0
Memphis	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	–	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–2
Miami	1–3	1–3	0–3	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	3–1	0–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	2–2
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	–	0–2	1–2	1–3	2–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	2–0	3–1
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–0
New Jersey	1–2	1–3	3–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	–	4–0	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
New York	3–1	0–4	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	0–2	0–4	–	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	1–3
Orlando	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–2	1–1	1–3	4–0	–	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–2
Philadelphia	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	–	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	2–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–2
Portland	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	–	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	–	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–1
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	–	2–0	1–3	1–1
Toronto	4–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–3	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–2
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–1	–	2–0
Washington	3–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–1	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 21| @ L.A. Lakers| L 87–95| Rasheed Wallace (25)| Rasheed Wallace (14)| Bonzi Wells (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 25| @ L.A. Lakers| L 96–103| Rasheed Wallace (31)| Rasheed Wallace (11)| Damon Stoudamire (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 28| L.A. Lakers| L 91–92| Rasheed Wallace (20)| Rasheed Wallace (12)| Scottie Pippen (8)| Rose Garden
20,580| 0–3|-

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	79	79	37.5	.469	.360	.734	8.2	1.9	1.3	1.3	19.3
	78	77	31.4	.510		.708	8.8	1.2	.8	1.1	9.5
	75	71	37.3	.402	.353	.888	3.9	6.5	.9	.1	13.5
	75	13	23.5	.515	.250	.701	4.0	1.4	1.1	.5	11.2
	75	5	16.4	.430	.000	.794	3.8	.7	.6	.4	6.1
	74	69	31.7	.469	.384	.741	6.0	2.8	1.5	.3	17.0
	70	27	26.6	.404	.373	.856	2.7	3.1	1.0	.1	10.8
	65	0	11.9	.470	.394	.975	.9	1.0	.2	.0	4.1
	62	60	32.2	.411	.305	.774	5.2	5.9	1.6	.6	10.6
	59	2	8.8	.398	.545	.707	1.2	1.9	.4	.0	2.1
	43	2	7.6	.400	.000	.533	1.9	.3	.1	.3	1.1
	41	0	5.8	.449		.667	1.7	.3	.2	.1	2.8
	33	1	7.4	.406		.520	1.7	.1	.1	.5	1.2
	19	4	12.0	.353	.143	.900	.9	1.8	.9	.1	3.1
	11	0	8.2	.435	.333	.667	1.3	.5	.0	.1	2.6

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	3	3	41.7	.406	.412	.813	12.3	1.7	.7	.7	25.3
	3	3	35.3	.368	.000	.692	4.0	4.3	2.0	.3	12.3
	3	3	33.0	.462	.545	.875	9.3	5.7	1.3	.7	16.3
	3	3	33.0	.227	.750	.667	2.3	3.3	.7	.0	5.0
	3	3	23.3	.273		.500	6.7	1.3	1.3	1.0	2.3
	3	0	25.3	.433	.333	.889	2.3	2.3	.7	.0	14.7
	3	0	21.7	.333	.000	.750	2.3	.3	1.0	.3	5.3
	3	0	13.0	.429	.250	1.000	1.3	1.7	.3	.0	6.3
	3	0	11.7	.286		.700	2.7	.0	.3	.0	3.7
	2	0	1.5	.000			1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
	2	0	1.0				.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
	1	0	1.0				.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2002.html 2001-02 Portland Trail Blazers
2. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Trail Blazers Fire Dunleavy . The New York Times . May 9, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
3. News: Cheeks in Running for Blazer Job . Deseret News . June 24, 2001 . October 16, 2021.
4. News: Brown . Tim . Coach Cheeks' Goes to Portland . Los Angeles Times . June 28, 2001 . May 5, 2023.
5. News: Anderson Traded to Blazers . United Press International . July 25, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
6. News: Associated Press . Spurs Deal Anderson to Trail Blazers . Los Angeles Times . July 26, 2001 . May 5, 2023.
7. News: Anderson, Smith Swap Hometowns . Deseret News . July 26, 2001 . July 24, 2021.
8. News: Patterson Signs an Offer Sheet with Portland . Los Angeles Times . July 31, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
9. News: Patterson Signs with Blazers . ESPN . August 2, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
10. News: Associated Press . Blazers Bring Dudley Back to Portland . ESPN . September 21, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
11. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World . The New York Times . October 30, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
12. News: NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002 . Basketball-Reference . September 11, 2022.
13. News: Portland 82, New Jersey 73 . United Press International . March 9, 2002 . June 15, 2022.
14. Web site: 2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
15. News: Portland Trail Blazers . Basketball-Reference . January 19, 2022.
16. Web site: 2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
17. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Lakers and Mavs Advance . The New York Times . April 29, 2002 . July 24, 2021.
18. News: Brown . Tim . Portland Stoppers . Los Angeles Times . April 29, 2002 . June 2, 2022.
19. News: L.A. Lakers 92, Portland 91 . United Press International . April 29, 2002 . November 26, 2022.
20. Web site: 2002 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers . Basketball-Reference . May 4, 2023.
21. News: Associated Press . Lakers Sweep Nets for Another Title . The New York Times . June 13, 2002 . June 2, 2022.
22. News: Brown . Tim . O'Neal Is a Three-Peat MVP as Lakers Finally Cut Down the Nets . Los Angeles Times . June 13, 2002 . June 2, 2022.
23. News: Wyche . Steve . O'Neal, Lakers Cut Down Nets . The Washington Post . June 13, 2002 . September 11, 2022.
24. News: L.A. Lakers 113, New Jersey 107 . United Press International . June 13, 2002 . May 4, 2023.
25. Web site: 2002 NBA Finals: Nets vs. Lakers . Basketball-Reference . May 4, 2023.
26. News: Orlando Signs Shawn Kemp . United Press International . September 5, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
27. News: Associated Press . PLUS: BASKETBALL; Magic Takes Chance and Signs Kemp . The New York Times . September 6, 2002 . October 24, 2022.
28. News: Brewer . Jerry . Magic Sign 'Big' Kemp . Orlando Sentinel . September 6, 2002 . December 31, 2021.
29. News: Blazers Acquire Daniels from Spurs . United Press International . August 5, 2002 . January 12, 2022.
30. News: Standard Times . Blazers Acquire Daniels, Smith in Five-Player Deal . South Coast Today . August 6, 2002 . May 4, 2023.
31. News: Spurs Trade Daniels to Portland . CBC . August 6, 2002 . October 20, 2022.