Blazers Putting Their Stamp on NBA This Year

Like 10 teams before them, the San Antonio Spurs became reluctant admirers. Last season, they were eliminated from the playoffs in Portland when they lost a seven-point lead late in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series. They were so close to winning. They were so close to being as good as the Trail Blazers. So it was quite surprising to them when they visited Portland the first time this season and watched almost helplessly as the Blazers bolted to a 31-point lead after one quarter. After the Blazers strolled to a 117-103 victory, Spurs’ Coach Larry Brown said the Blazers could have beaten the All-Decade team that night. David Robinson summarized the feelings of the rest of the league.

“If they do that to other people,” Robinson said after the Blazers improved their record to 11-0, “it’s going to be a scary season for the rest of us.”

The Blazers have, in a sense, come back to earth. Since then, they’ve had a record of “only” 13-3, and they even lost two road games -- but not until they won their first eight.

Still, there are many reasons for opponents to fear the Blazers, who made their only Madison Square Garden appearance Wednesday, beating the New York Knicks. And their 26-3 record -- a reflection of the outstanding group of players the Blazers have assembled -- is only a part of it.

For opponents, the scariest part of the Blazers’ makeup is that they have begun to act like champions -- off the court as well as on. They’ve developed their own sort of Blazers mystique, and that often can be the forerunner of rings and trophies.

Blazers management has a championship attitude. After the key move of obtaining power forward Buck Williams, whose strength was the key ingredient the Blazers needed to reach the finals last season, the Blazers did not stand still. They acquired Danny Ainge in the offseason, and the former Celtics’ standout has provided the Blazers with championship experience (he was on two title teams), great outside shooting and another boost in confidence.

Great teams make great player moves. In the last two years, the Blazers have made two.

Management also has taken steps to ensure the Blazers have no salary controversies. Since October, the Blazers have given Clyde Drexler a one-year, $8-million extension; given Williams a one-year, $4-million extension, and signed Jerome Kersey to a four-year, $11-million contract. Terry Porter has a six-year, $13-million contract and Kevin Duckworth has an eight-year, $14-million deal.

Great teams are willing to spend money to win titles. The Blazers have opened the vault, which has provided the players with a feeling of security and a future of continuity.

“We have a feeling of togetherness,” Drexler said. “The guys know we’re going to be around for a while. The teams that have had a lot of success are the ones that have stayed together. That’s the beautiful thing about this. The nucleus could easily play together for five more years -- at least five years. It’s a great situation.”

And the Blazers even have a recent championship trend on their side. Six times since 1970, a team that has lost in the finals came back to win the title the next season. The frustration of accomplishing so much and advancing so far, yet ending the season only second best has been a powerful motivator. The Blazers have felt it, and are feeling it, which is why they don’t seem to be too impressed by their impressive start.

“It sure does look sweet,” Porter said, “but you have to keep it in perspective. It’s great to get off to a good start, but it doesn’t mean anything if you flop at the end.”

Barring injuries, it seems unlikely the Blazers will flop. They may be beaten but it’s going to take a great team to do it.

With Ainge joining Drexler and Porter, the Blazers have perhaps the best three-guard rotation in the league. Drexler again is demonstrating his considerable all-around skills, averaging 23 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Porter averages 18.3 points and 8.8 assists, and Ainge averages 11.8 points in only 21.3 minutes. There is no letup.

Up front, Williams averages 9.9 rebounds, Duckworth averages 15.5 points with good outside shooting and a clever assortment of inside moves, and the acrobatic Kersey averages 14.4 points. The Blazers got a steal in the draft last year with 6-10 Cliff Robinson, who has benefited from the experience of his rookie year and averages 11 points. Robinson fits in perfectly with the Blazers’ other role players, 6-10 center Wayne Cooper and backup point guard Danny Young.

“Everything is here,” Williams said. “We’ve got outside shooting, we can go quick, we can go with power, we can go with a defensive team. We can go any which way.”

The Blazers have even developed a little arrogance.

“We should have won the title last year,” Drexler said. “Not to take anything away from Detroit. They know what it took to win and they did it. But we want to go the extra step.”