1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season

1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coach Lenny Wilkens
Arena Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record 38–44 (.463)
Place Division: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

The 1974–75 season was the fifth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a 27–55 record the previous season, the Blazers earned the #1 pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, and made perhaps the most important selection in franchise history: Hall of Famer Bill Walton out of UCLA.

In three years of varsity competition, Walton led UCLA to two NCAA championships and 88 consecutive wins, smashing the 60-game streak set by Bill Russell's teams at the University of San Francisco. Walton also set UCLA's career assists record, which left observers declaring him the best passing center in the history of the game.[1] [2]

Injuries would limit Walton to just 35 games in his rookie year, but nevertheless the Blazers challenged for a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. The Blazers fell just two games short with a 38–44 record.[2]

Offseason

The Trail Blazers selected Bill Walton first overall in the 1974 NBA draft.

NBA Draft

Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 1 Bill Walton C  United States UCLA
2 20 Jan van Breda Kolff G/F  United States Vanderbilt
2 34 Phil Lumpkin G  United States Miami (OH)
2 36 Rubin Collins G  United States Maryland-Eastern Shore
4 56 Mickey Johnson F  United States Aurora
6 92 Daniel Anderson G  United States USC

Regular season

The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season Standings

Pacific Division
TeamWLPCT.GB
Golden State Warriors C4834.585–
Seattle SuperSonics4339.5245
Portland Trail Blazers3844.46310
Phoenix Suns3250.39016
Los Angeles Lakers3052.36618

[3]

# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Golden State Warriors4834.585–
2 y-Chicago Bulls4735.5731
3 x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings4438.5374
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics4339.5245
5 x-Detroit Pistons4042.4888
6 Portland Trail Blazers3844.46310
6 Milwaukee Bucks3844.46310
8 Phoenix Suns3250.39016
9 Los Angeles Lakers3052.36618
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1974–75 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–41–30–43–42–21–32–52–22–22–23–50–42–24–01–33–13–5
Boston 4–0—5–43–13–13–11–34–02–24–04–04–07–25–33–14–02–22–2
Buffalo 3–14–5—1–33–12–23–12–21–34–01–34–05–36–33–12–23–12–2
Chicago 4–01–33–1—2–24–53–12–24–53–13–54–03–12–22–22–24–01–3
Cleveland 4–31–31–32–2—2–22–24–42–22–21–36–11–33–12–22–22–23–5
Detroit 2–21–32–25–42–2—1–32–22–63–13–64–02–23–12–23–12–21–3
Golden State 3–13–11–31–32–23–1—2–22–25–23–12–23–13–15–35–34–31–3
Houston 5–20–42–22–24–42–22–2—4–02–23–15–31–32–22–22–21–32–5
Kansas City-Omaha 2–22–23–15–42–26–22–20–4—3–16–32–22–21–33–13–11–31–3
Los Angeles 2–20–40–41–32–21–32–52–21–3—4–03–10–43–14–42–52–61–3
Milwaukee 2–20–43–15–33–16–31–31–33–60–4—3–13–13–12–22–21–30–4
New Orleans 5–30–40–40–41–60–42–23–52–21–31–3—2–22–21–32–21–30–7
New York 4–02–73–51–33–12–21–33–12–24–01–32–2—4–53–12–22–21–3
Philadelphia 2–23–53–62–21–31–31–32–23–11–31–32–25–4—2–22–22–21–3
Phoenix 0–41–31–32–22–22–23–52–21–34–42–23–11–32–2—1–64–31–3
Portland 3–10–42–22–22–21–33–52–21–35–22–22–22–22–26–1—2–61–3
Seattle 1–32–21–30–42–22–23–43–13–16–23–13–12–22–23–46–2—1–3
Washington 5–32–22–23–15–33–13–15–23–13–14–07–03–13–13–13–13–1—

Awards and honors

References

  1. ↑ NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'
  2. 1 2 Portland Trail Blazers (1970–Present)
  3. ↑ 1974–75 NBA Season Summary – Basketball-Reference.com
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