Head coach Mike Dunleavy Record 50–32 (.610) | Arena Rose Garden Arena | |
Place Division: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 7th (Western) Playoff finish West First Round (eliminated 0–3) | ||
The 2000–01 season was the 31st season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the offseason, the Blazers acquired Dale Davis from the Indiana Pacers and All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three team trade. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent Rod Strickland. Falling nine games below the previous season's mark, the Blazers nevertheless made the playoffs for the 19th consecutive year, finishing as the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 50–32 record. Rasheed Wallace was selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game.
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The Blazers faced the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round– the same team they'd pushed to the brink the year before in the Western Conference Finals. However, they were unable to do nearly as well this time, as the Lakers defeated them in three straight games on the way to their second straight NBA championship.
Following the season, Steve Smith was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Strickland signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, Greg Anthony signed with the Chicago Bulls, Stacey Augmon signed with the Charlotte Hornets, and Arvydas Sabonis and Detlef Schrempf both retired. However, Sabonis would return for the 2002–03 season.
West First Round
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4-3)