# 1984–85 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1984–85 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 15th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

## NBA draft

At the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden, fans in attendance booed the Blazers selection of Sam Bowie. Part of the problem was that some had perceived Bowie as damaged goods. In September 1981, while at the University of Kentucky, Sam Bowie was diagnosed with having a fractured shin bone in his left leg. This was previously misdiagnosed as a shin splint. Bowie would not play for Kentucky until the 1983–84 season. Prior to the diagnosis, Bowie averaged 17.1 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game in 1980–81. At that time there were serious discussions about Bowie entering the 1981 NBA Draft. Bowie was so highly thought of, that he was named to the 1980 US Olympic Basketball Team. When Bowie returned from his injury in 1983, he would average 10.5 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game. The Blazers general manager Stu Inman had made it known that if Sam Bowie passed the Blazers physical examination, he would be drafted by the Blazers. The Blazers had given Bowie a seven-hour physical to ensure that his leg had recovered from the two-year layoff between 1981 and 1983. The Blazers criteria in selecting Bowie over Jordan was that the Blazers backcourt already had Clyde Drexler and Jim Paxson. The Blazers felt that they had lacked a true center since Bill Walton left the club, and the hope was that Bowie would be able to fill this role.
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 | 2 | Sam Bowie | F/C | United States | Kentucky |
| 1 | 19 | Bernard Thompson | G/F | United States | Fresno State |
| 2 | 26 | Victor Fleming | G | United States | Xavier |
| 2 | 33 | Steve Colter | G | United States | New Mexico |
| 2 | 46 | Jerome Kersey | F | United States | Longwood |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 18–12 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 | 33–8 | 15–26 | 17–13 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 | 32–9 | 10–31 | 14–16 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 | 31–10 | 10–31 | 16–14 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 13–17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 22 | 60 | .268 | 40 | 25–16 | 5–36 | 12–18 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 14 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Utah Jazz | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 7 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 8 | x-Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 9 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 11 | Kansas City Kings | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 22 | 60 | .268 | 40 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1984-85 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–1 | – | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | – | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | – | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | – | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | – | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 6–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 |
| New York | 3–3 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | – | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| Philadelphia | 5–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 4–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | – | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1984–85 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 30–11; road: 12–29) :
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 27, 1984
@ Kansas City
W 140–119
Kemper Arena
1–0
2
October 30, 1984
Seattle
W 115–83
Memorial Coliseum
2–0 :
November: 8–8 (home: 6–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1, 1984
@ Phoenix
L 130–139 (3OT)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2–1
4
November 3, 1984
@ L.A. Clippers
W 131–112
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
3–1
5
November 4, 1984 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 116–124
Drexler (23)
Drexler, Thompson (8)
Paxson, Valentine (8)
The Forum 14,148
3–2
6
November 6, 1984
Phoenix
W 116–99
Memorial Coliseum
4–2
7
November 8, 1984
@ Denver
L 125–128
McNichols Sports Arena
4–3
8
November 9, 1984 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
L 126–130
Thompson (28)
Drexler (7)
Valentine (11)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
4–4
9
November 11, 1984
Golden State
W 109–97
Memorial Coliseum
5–4
10
November 13, 1984
Dallas
L 94–101
Memorial Coliseum
5–5
11
November 15, 1984
Utah
W 129–120
Memorial Coliseum
6–5
12
November 16, 1984
@ Seattle
L 89–91
Kingdome
6–6
13
November 18, 1984
L.A. Clippers
W 113–105
Memorial Coliseum
7–6
14
November 20, 1984
New Jersey
W 117–107 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
8–6
15
November 24, 1984
Chicago
W 141–131
Memorial Coliseum
9–6
16
November 27, 1984
@ Cleveland
W 115–106
Richfield Coliseum
10–6
17
November 28, 1984
@ Detroit
L 113–120
Pontiac Silverdome
10–7
18
November 30, 1984
@ Philadelphia
L 116–126
The Spectrum
10–8 :
December: 4–9 (home: 3–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
December 1, 1984
@ New York
W 115–93
Madison Square Garden
11–8
20
December 4, 1984
Phoenix
W 112–104
Memorial Coliseum
12–8
21
December 6, 1984
San Antonio
W 113–96
Memorial Coliseum
13–8
22
December 8, 1984
Houston
L 120–127
Memorial Coliseum
13–9
23
December 11, 1984
@ Denver
L 122–123
McNichols Sports Arena
13–10
24
December 13, 1984
@ L.A. Clippers
L 100–106
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
13–11
25
December 14, 1984
@ Golden State
L 92–105
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13–12
26
December 18, 1984
@ Seattle
L 99–109
Kingdome
13–13
27
December 20, 1984
Kansas City
L 113–118
Memorial Coliseum
13–14
28
December 22, 1984
@ Phoenix
L 108–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13–15
29
December 25, 1984
Golden State
W 106–97
Memorial Coliseum
14–15
30
December 27, 1984
@ San Antonio
L 120–141
HemisFair Arena
14–16
31
December 29, 1984
@ Houston
L 92–108
The Summit
14–17 :
January: 6–9 (home: 3–4; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 1, 1985
Philadelphia
L 106–111
Memorial Coliseum
14–18
33
January 3, 1985
Seattle
W 123–89
Memorial Coliseum
15–18
34
January 4, 1985 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 95–120
Drexler (19)
Bowie (10)
Valentine (6)
The Forum 13,513
15–19
35
January 6, 1985
Indiana
W 118–101
Memorial Coliseum
16–19
36
January 8, 1985
Dallas
L 102–108
Memorial Coliseum
16–20
37
January 11, 1985
@ San Antonio
W 123–103
HemisFair Arena
17–20
38
January 13, 1985
@ Dallas
L 101–124
Reunion Arena
17–21
39
January 15, 1985
Houston
W 121–117
Memorial Coliseum
18–21
40
January 18, 1985
@ Utah
L 122–127
Salt Palace Acord Arena
18–22
41
January 19, 1985
Denver
L 120–123
Memorial Coliseum
18–23
42
January 22, 1985
@ Chicago
L 115–123
Chicago Stadium
18–24
43
January 23, 1985
@ Indiana
W 136–104
Market Square Arena
19–24
44
January 27, 1985
@ Boston
L 127–128
Boston Garden
19–25
45
January 29, 1985 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
L 106–122
Thompson (24)
Bowie (13)
Drexler, Valentine (7)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
19–26
46
January 31, 1985
@ Golden State
W 129–109
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
20–26 :
February: 7–6 (home: 6–2; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
February 1, 1985
San Antonio
L 93–104
Memorial Coliseum
20–27
48
February 2, 1985
Milwaukee
L 95–105
Memorial Coliseum
20–28
49
February 5, 1985
Utah
W 126–106
Memorial Coliseum
21–28
50
February 7, 1985
New York
W 133–122
Memorial Coliseum
22–28
All-Star Break
51
February 12, 1985
Boston
W 111–103
Memorial Coliseum
23–28
52
February 15, 1985
Washington
W 93–89
Memorial Coliseum
24–28
53
February 17, 1985
Kansas City
W 115–96
Memorial Coliseum
25–28
54
February 19, 1985
@ Kansas City
L 96–116
Kemper Arena
25–29
55
February 20, 1985
@ Dallas
L 98–104
Reunion Arena
25–30
56
February 22, 1985
@ Houston
L 103–117
The Summit
25–31
57
February 24, 1985
@ San Antonio
W 137–121
HemisFair Arena
26–31
58
February 26, 1985
L.A. Clippers
W 110–99
Memorial Coliseum
27–31
59
February 28, 1985
@ Golden State
L 120–124
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
27–32 :
March: 10–6 (home: 6–1; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
60
March 1, 1985
Cleveland
L 103–111
Memorial Coliseum
27–33
61
March 3, 1985
Utah
W 121–93
Memorial Coliseum
28–33
62
March 5, 1985
@ Atlanta (at New Orleans, LA)
W 100–91
Lakefront Arena
29–33
63
March 6, 1985
@ Washington
L 121–127 (2OT)
Capital Centre
29–34
64
March 8, 1985
@ New Jersey
W 128–110
Brendan Byrne Arena
30–34
65
March 10, 1985
@ Milwaukee
L 94–110
MECCA Arena
30–35
66
March 12, 1985
@ Kansas City
L 114–120
Kemper Arena
30–36
67
March 15, 1985
Golden State
W 126–101
Memorial Coliseum
31–36
68
March 17, 1985
Atlanta
W 114–101
Memorial Coliseum
32–36
69
March 19, 1985
Detroit
W 143–123
Memorial Coliseum
33–36
70
March 21, 1985
@ Phoenix
L 104–114
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
33–37
71
March 23, 1985
L.A. Clippers
W 126–123
Memorial Coliseum
34–37
72
March 25, 1985
@ L.A. Clippers
W 120–99
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
35–37
73
March 26, 1985 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
W 116–113 (OT)
VanDeWeghe (21)
Thompson (9)
Drexler (9)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
36–37
74
March 29, 1985
@ Seattle
W 125–99
Kingdome
37–37
75
March 30, 1985
@ Denver
L 117–129
McNichols Sports Arena
37–38 :
April: 5–2 (home: 5–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 2, 1985
Houston
W 127–113
Memorial Coliseum
38–38
77
April 5, 1985
Seattle
W 145–120
Memorial Coliseum
39–38
78
April 7, 1985 12:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 116–124
VanDeWeghe (24)
Bowie (20)
Drexler (13)
The Forum 13,186
39–39
79
April 9, 1985
Phoenix
W 116–100
Memorial Coliseum
40–39
80
April 11, 1985
@ Utah
L 107–145
Salt Palace Acord Arena
40–40
81
April 12, 1985
Dallas
W 131–111
Memorial Coliseum
41–40
82
April 14, 1985
Denver
W 117–112
Memorial Coliseum
42–40 :
1984–85 schedule :

## Playoffs

1985 playoff game log :
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1985
@ Dallas
L 131–139 (2OT)
VanDeWeghe (25)
Bowie (14)
Valentine (13)
Reunion Arena 17,007
0–1
2
April 20, 1985
@ Dallas
W 124–121 (OT)
VanDeWeghe (27)
Bowie (20)
Drexler (12)
Reunion Arena 17,007
1–1
3
April 23, 1985
Dallas
W 122–109
VanDeWeghe (24)
Bowie (11)
Drexler (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
2–1
4
April 25, 1985
Dallas
W 115–113
VanDeWeghe (27)
Carr (10)
Valentine (9)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
3–1 :
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 27, 1985 12:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 101–125
Colter (26)
Carr (10)
Colter (8)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
April 30, 1985 7:30 p.m. PDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 118–134
VanDeWeghe (23)
Carr (12)
Valentine (9)
The Forum 17,505
0–2
3
May 3, 1985 7:30 p.m. PDT
L.A. Lakers
L 126–130
VanDeWeghe (27)
Drexler (11)
Drexler (14)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
0–3
4
May 5, 1985 12:30 p.m. PDT
L.A. Lakers
W 115–107
VanDeWeghe, Thompson (17)
Thompson (10)
Drexler (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–3
5
May 7, 1985 7:30 p.m. PDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 120–139
Kersey (18)
Carr (11)
Drexler (12)
The Forum 17,505
1–4 :
1985 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |