Trailblazers Trivia Quiz Questions And Answers
Who are the Portland Trail Blazers?
A: The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are a professional
basketball team based in Portland, Oregon.
Sports promoter Harry Glickman sought after a National
Basketball Association (NBA) franchise for Portland as far back as when?
A: 1955 when he proposed two new expansion teams, the other to be located in Los
Angeles.
In 1960, when the Memorial Coliseum was opened, Glickman
saw the potential it could serve as a what?
A: Professional basketball venue.
It was not until February 6, 1970 that the NBA board of
governors did what?
A: They granted him the rights to a franchise in Portland.
To raise the money for the $3.7 million admission tax,
Glickman associated himself to what real estate magnates?
A: Bob Schmertz of New Jersey, Larry Weinberg of Los Angeles and Herman Sarkowsky of Seattle.
Two weeks later, on February 24, team management held a
contest to select the team's name and received how many entries?
A: More than 10,000.
The most popular choice was "Pioneers," but that name was
excluded from consideration as it was already used by whom?
A: Sports teams at Portland's
Lewis and Clark College.
What name received 172 entries, and was ultimately selected
by the judging panel?
A: Trail Blazers.
Despite initial mixed response, the Trail Blazers name,
often shortened to just "Blazers", became what?
A: Popular in Oregon.
Along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves (now
Los Angeles Clippers), the Trail Blazers entered the NBA in what year as an
expansion team, under coach Rolland Todd?
A: 1970.
Who led the team in its early years?
A: Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks.
The team failed to qualify for the playoffs in their first
how many years of existence?
A: Six.
During that span, the team had how many head coaches?
A: Three.
How many times did the team win the first pick in the NBA
draft during that span?
A: Twice.
In 1972, the team drafted “whom” with the number one pick?
A: LaRue Martin.
In 1974 the team selected whom from UCLA?
A: Bill Walton.
In his first season as the Trail Blazers what head coach
led the team to their first playoff berth and eventually the championship?
A: Jack Ramsay.
Bill Walton was the NBA what?
A: Finals MVP.
In 1976, the ABA–NBA merger saw those two rival leagues do
what?
A: Join forces.
Four ABA teams joined the NBA, and the remaining teams were
what?
A: Dissolved and their players distributed among the remaining NBA squads in a
dispersal draft.
The Trail Blazers selected what player in the dispersal
draft?
A: Maurice Lucas.
That summer, they also hired whom as head coach?
A: Jack Ramsay.
The two moves, coupled with the team's stellar play, led
Portland to what three firsts?
A: A winning record (49–33), a playoff appearance, and an NBA Championship in
1977.
Starting on April 5 of that year, the team began a sellout
streak of how many straight games?
A: 814.
It was the longest in American major professional sports
history which did not end until when?
A: 1995, after the team moved into a larger facility.
The team started the 1977–78 season with a 50–10 mark, and
some predicted a what?
A: A dynasty in Portland.
However, Bill Walton suffered a foot injury that what?
A: Ended his season.
The team struggled to an 8–14 finish, going what overall
A: 58–24.
In the playoffs, Portland lost to what team in the
1978
conference semifinals?
A: The Seattle SuperSonics.
Walton demanded to be traded to a team of his choice
because he was unhappy with his what?
A: Medical treatment in Portland.
Walton was never traded, and he held out the entire 1978–79
season and what?
A: He left the team as a free agent.
During the 1980s, the team was a consistent presence in the
NBA post-season, failing to qualify for the playoffs only in what year?
A: 1982.
The Blazers never advanced past the conference "what"
during the decade?
A: Semifinals.
In the 1983 draft, the team selected whom with the 14th
pick?
A: University of Houston guard–forward Clyde Drexler.
What was Clyde's nickname?
A: "Clyde the Glide".
Clyde would become the face of the franchise for over a
decade, and the team's what?
A: Second-most decorated player (after Walton).