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trailblazers
Blazermania is born.
The Trail Blazers crowned a storybook season by besting favored Philadelphia to win the NBA Championship, a first-ever world title for Portland. The capper came June 5 in Memorial Coliseum when Coach Jack Ramsay's club pulled out a 109-107 thriller in the sixth and deciding game. The Blazers became only the second team in NBA history to go all the way in their first trip to the playoffs.
Portland, with the third best regular season record in the west, opened post-season play by getting past Chicago in a tough best-of-three series, then took Denver in six games in the conference semifinals.
Next, the Blazers swept the LA Lakers, the team with the league's best regular season record, in four games. That set up the showdown with Julius Erving and the Sixers. Philadlephia won the first two matchups. But Portland took the next four to become only the second team in history to win a title after starting out 0-2.
Bill Walton was NBA Finals MVP. Among his contributions was a 20 points, 23 rebounds and 8 blocked shots in the title contest, the latter an NBA Finals record. Walton was named to the All-NBA 2nd team, and was a 1st team pick on the All-Defensive team. He led the
league in rebounding (14.4 rpg) and blocked shots (3.25 bpg).
Bobby Gross was seventh in FG percentage (.529) and Walton right behind in eighth (.528).
Maurice Lucas was ninth in rebounding (11.4 rpg) and Lionel Hollins seventh in steals (2.18...
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