Fansided

5 great teams that were ruined by the Kobe-Shaq Lakers

By Rich Kraetsch

Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images /
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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Rasheed Wallace (L), Damon Stoudamire (C) and Arvydas Sabonis (R) of the Portland Trail Blazers react late in Game Two of the NBA Western Conference first round play-offs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA 26 April, 2001. Wallace was later ejected from the game. The Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 106-88 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. AFP PHOTO/ Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Rasheed Wallace (L), Damon Stoudamire (C) and Arvydas Sabonis (R) of the Portland Trail Blazers react late in Game Two of the NBA Western Conference first round play-offs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA 26 April, 2001. Wallace was later ejected from the game. The Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 106-88 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. AFP PHOTO/ Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Portland Trail Blazers

After making a heroic run to the 1992 NBA Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers entered a period of mediocrity throughout the mid-90s. Six straight first-round playoff exits saw the Blazers run through three head coaches (Rick Adelman, PJ Carlesimo and Mike Dunleavy). It also saw an ever-changing roster as Blazers stalwarts like Terry Porter, Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey and Cliff Robinson all departed in free agency while franchise cornerstone Clyde Drexler was shipped to Houston.

By the late 1090s, despite never missing the playoffs, Portland underwent a total roster transformation. The new nucleus featured former Minnesota Timberwolves star Isaiah Rider, embattled former Washington Bullets forward Rasheed Wallace and the once-heralded savior of the Toronto Raptors point guard Damon Stoudamire. Aided by legendary international player Arvydas Sabonis as well as complementary pieces like Jim Jackson and Walt Williams, Portland blew through the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs en route to their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 1992.

There, they met the San Antonio Spurs and their newly-formed Twin Towers (Tim Duncan and David Robinson). Though Portland was swept in four games, they knew they had the pieces in place to make a run to the Finals.

In the offseason, Portland retooled, acquiring Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Steve Smith and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen. The moves paid off, big time. Portland won 59 games (their most since 1991) and easily defeated Minnesota and Utah in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The only thing separating the Blazers from another NBA Finals trip was, well, Kobe, Shaq and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles took a commanding 3-1 series lead going into a pivotal Game 5. With their lives on the line, Portland responded big as four starters scored in double figures and despite O’Neal’s 31 points and 21 rebounds, the Blazers stayed alive (96-88).

Game 6 saw Portland take an early lead and never look back. Smith exploded for 26 points while young sixth man Bonzi Wells poured in 20 off the bench. Portland dominated both sides of the ball and came away with a 10-point (103-93) victory forcing a Game 7.

The team of misfit toys was one win away from reaching the NBA Finals. In Game 7, the Blazers held a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. Portland would then miss 13 straight shots and, well, you probably know the rest…

Bryant finds O’Neal on a now-legendary alley-oop. Portland loses in heart-breaking fashion and the Lakers go onto the NBA Finals where they defeat Indiana and win the first of three straight titles for the franchise.

Portland never fully recovered.

In the offseason, they made panic moves, trading young prodigy Jermaine O’Neal for Dale Davis (O’Neal would turn into an All-Star for Indiana), forward Brian Grant left in free agency and in his place was former Seattle Supersonics star Shawn Kemp. The team’s on-court performance matched that of the prior season’s but it was clear some of the magic was gone. Portland entered the playoffs losing 17 of its last 25 games and now faced a first-round matchup against the hated Lakers. As you can guess, things didn’t go well.

Portland was swept out of the first round in three games.

Mike Dunleavy was fired and several moves were made to shake up the roster. Still, despite all the turmoil, Portland was back in the playoffs and ready to make a run in the 2002 NBA play…ah, crap, the Lakers again. Yeah, they were swept in three games. Sent home again by Kobe and Shaq.

After one more first-round exit in 2003, Portland went into rebuild mode which resulted in five straight years without a postseason after the franchise hadn’t missed the playoffs since 1983. In the years since their heartbreak to the Lakers, Portland has only made one Western Conference Finals appearance and have never truly felt like contenders for an NBA title.

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