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Most Memorable Player Matchups
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  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 12/02/2010 11:15 AM

    Throughout Trail Blazers franchise history, there have been a lot of amazing head-to-head matchups which has shaped our team history. For me, it doesn't get any better than the Early 90's Blazers. That was the team I grew up with and two matchups immediately come to mind.




    If you were a kid in the late 80's or early 90's, you loved Clyde Drexler. Bottom line. The way he was able to make the impossible happen and do it so effortlessly always amazed me. I would go outside on my little hoop and try to re-create the dunks and moves I had just saw on tv that night. In the 90's, there was only one other wing player who could match Drexler move for move. His name, Michael Jordan. I didn't want to be like Mike for this reason alone. Regardless of whether I liked him or not, MJ put on a show as well, but nothing could match the two of them going back and forth on the basketball court. Most people will think of the 92 Finals as really the only time they went head-to-head, but it was every game they matched up against one another. Finally, what was so compelling about this matchup was the fact that each player took pride in defending the other ( as you will notice in the video below, nearly every bucket is scored on MJ). They put just as much effort into defense as offense, You rarely see two superstars go at one another on both ends of the court like you did back in their era.

    VIDEO: Clyde Drexler's Top 21 Plays Of The 1992 NBA Finals





    The other head-to-head matchup I couldn't wait to watch was Terry Porter against John Stockton. It seemed like every year we played the Jazz in the playoffs and while Drexler did his thing against Jeff Malone and Buck put on his hard hat against Karl Malone, the reason we won is because Porter completely outplayed Stockton year after year. I still have all of the games we won against Utah in the 92 WCF on DVR and while Porter is drilling 3's, Stockton is getting hounded on defense. I think I am particularly bias towards this matchup is because I felt like Stockton got a lot of credit, and deserving so, but Porter was always so underrated by the rest of the media. And by TP destroying Stockton in the playoffs, it was kind of justification for us Blazers fans.

    VIDEO: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz 1991 NBA Playoffs


    I've said which matchups were my favorite, what are some of yours?




    I am a fan of
  1. AaronGrossman
    AaronGrossman
    Posts: 1

    Posted 12/02/2010 1:25 PM

    Hard to argue with any of the above and I'm not so sure anything tops MJ and Clyde, but I was only 6 during the 92 Finals! I've caught up plenty since then, but when Dustin talks about hard hats, I put it on Brian Grant. That guy played like a warrior every night, especially against Karl Malone. In the 2nd round of the 2000 Playoffs, Grant actually outrebounded Malone, 44-41. The best part is Malone got his 8.2 boards per game in starter's minutes, 39.2, while Grant pulled down 8.8 rebounds in just 23.6 minutes per game. Grant and company also held Malone to 23.8 points a game (44.1% FG) when his team needed him most, down from the Mailman's 25.5 scoring average (50.9% FG) during the regular season. Those guys were very different players (most of their battles came on Utah's scoring end), but I think that's what made their rivalry special.
    I am a fan of
  1. Brantrb
    Brantrb
    Posts: 1

    Posted 12/02/2010 2:35 PM

    Walton against Abdul-Jabbar in the '77 WCF was memorable.  Walton a complete player in every way and made his teammates better.  But, Kareem was a force!  Blazers swept favored *akers 4-0.
  1. hiromura
    hiromura
    Posts: 2

    Posted 12/02/2010 5:30 PM

    Zilla vs Tyson Chandler.
    I am a fan of
  1. BDawg
    BDawg
    Posts: 1455

    Posted 12/02/2010 9:10 PM

    Jerome v Xavier
    I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE
  1. jamsmashers
    jamsmashers
    Posts: 276

    Posted 12/03/2010 6:49 AM

    shaq vs priz, everyone will yell but i used to be a laker fan during the shaq era, shaq was my man, when he comes to portland against prizbilla i feel both of their intesity levels go up and i love watching them go at it
    I am a fan of
  1. daddylogan
    daddylogan
    Posts: 187

    Posted 12/03/2010 9:48 AM

    I have to go with the Walton vs Jabbar from '77 as well. In my mind that was our first big "star" matchup and our most successful one! ;-) Blazers took that series 4-0. On a side note I will never forget Herm "The Germ" Gilliam dunking over Jabbar in the L.A. Forum! That was just too awesome!

    peace out,
    daddy
    I am a fan of THE LITTLE GIANT...DAMIAN LILLARD!!!
  1. Kraydayz
    Kraydayz
    Posts: 45

    Posted 12/04/2010 9:32 AM

    I have to say that Clyde is one of the most underrated guards. He was the man and when ever we needed a big play back in the day, he was there to deliver. I miss the excitement of that team, what happened to our fast break teams of the past. T.P. was also one of the most underacted points. Just as Drexler delivered, Terry was apart of some big time plays as well. Man if we could only have a back court like that again. I am a fan of Clyde getting the recognition that he deserves! Great post DHawes22! 
    I am a fan of Let's Go Blazers!!!!!
  1. I''m OUT!
    I''m OUT!
    Posts: 1059

    Posted 12/05/2010 10:04 PM

    That dunk Clyde did on Cartright in the Finals... man. Cartright even had time to fortify himself because everyone saw it coming and he still gets the dunk and1.
    I am a fan of comcast and the blazers making deals that keep screwing us over!! woot!
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 12/06/2010 3:23 PM

    I remember going absolutely NUTS as a little kid when I saw Drexler throw it down over Billy Cartwright..love the Schonz's call on that dunk as well.
    I am a fan of
  1. McLegend
    McLegend
    Posts: 89

    Posted 12/06/2010 3:52 PM

    Brian Grant and Karl Malone when Malone injured Grant and he wore the band-aid (don't remember which year it was)

    Bob Gross against Dr. J in the '77 finals
    I am a fan of making Kobe cry in the Western Conference Finals.
  1. BDawg
    BDawg
    Posts: 1455

    Posted 12/09/2010 7:56 AM

    Posted By TomL on 12/05/2010 10:04 PM
    That dunk Clyde did on Cartright in the Finals... man. Cartright even had time to fortify himself because everyone saw it coming and he still gets the dunk and1.

    I too, remember that dunk!  For me personally, THAT dunk and the one Jerome had on the baseline OVER big Mark Eaton in Utah are the two best dunks of all time in Blazer-land
    I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 12/09/2010 1:36 PM




    Terry Porter against Kevin Johnson was another great matchup. Both shoot-first point guards who could fill it up for 40 on a given night. They went head-to-head in the 1990 Western Conference Finals and in the 1992 Western Conference Semi-Finals, with Portland taking both in 6 and 5 games respectively.

    I am a fan of
  1. Anees
    Anees
    Posts: 149

    Posted 12/10/2010 1:58 AM

    I have that SI issue with Clyde and MJ!

    I have to say I like Buck vs. The Mailman

    If I recall that Glide dunk vs. Cartwright, but might need a refresher on that, hehe. Who wouldn't?

    I'll come back if I recall anymore match-ups that I like.

    I am a fan of Beating the Lakers on opening night, Lillard being the next big thing and this season being successful!
  1. Brandon Weinant
    Brandon Weinant
    Posts: 103

    Posted 12/10/2010 9:53 AM

    in more recent. i always like roy vs artest. especially in the huston series in 08.
    dropping 40 points on one of the stronger and quicker small forwards in the game is no small feat.

    i loved watching arvydas sabonis vs shaq.

    I am a fan of defence.
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