2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers season
| 2001–02 Portland Trail Blazers season | |
|---|---|
| Zach Randolph's rookie season | |
| Head coach | Maurice Cheeks |
| Arena | Rose Garden Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 49–33 (.598) |
| Place |
Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 6th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | West First Round (eliminated 0–3) |
|
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com |
|
The 2001–02 NBA season was the 32nd season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, head coach Mike Dunleavy was fired after four years and two trips to the Western Conference finals, and was replaced with Maurice Cheeks, as the Blazers acquired Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr from the San Antonio Spurs, and signed free agent Ruben Patterson. Kerr was a former teammate of Scottie Pippen on the Chicago Bulls, where they won three championships in the late 1990s. The Blazers struggled with a 13–18 start, but then went on a 12-game winning streak between February and March, finishing third in the Pacific Division with a 49–33 record, and making the playoffs for the 20th consecutive year.
As in the previous year, the Blazers faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. And the result was identical: the Blazers were swept in three straight games by the Lakers, who would go on to win their third consecutive NBA championship. It was the fifth time in six years the Blazers' postseason run was ended by the Lakers. Following the season, Shawn Kemp was released and later signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, and Kerr was traded back to the San Antonio Spurs.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers Last Playoff Meeting: 2001 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-0)
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