1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)

Coach: Jack Ramsay

In 1976, the NBA and ABA merged into one company. Four of the seven ABA teams, the Nets, Nuggets, Spurs, and Pacers, joined the association. However, there was a special dispersal draft for players of teams not joining the NBA. Portland, who already had center Bill Walton, acquired Maurice Lucas and Dave Twardzik from this draft. Jack Ramsay became coach replacing Lenny Wilkens. The new Blazers would get off to a hot start by winning 22 of their first 29 games. However, the Blazers would stumble in February and March. Their 49-33 record gave them their first playoff spot and 2nd place behind the pesky Lakers in the Pacific Division. Even with their revamping play, the Blazers' best feature were their fans. Their fans were so loyal that they sold out every home game for 2 decades in a row. Thus, "BlazerMania" was born!

The Portland Trailblazers would sweep the Chicago Bulls in 3 straight games, setting the tone for a great matchup with the Nuggets. But the Nuggets would fall behind by losing the series in six games. Next, the Lakers were waiting in the wings. However, it would be all Blazers as they swept Los Angeles for their first NBA Finals appearance. Already, the Blazers defeated an excellent team from the old ABA. Now, in the Finals against Philadelphia, they had to face the ABA's best superstar in Julius "Dr. J" Erving. The Sixers would win the first two games at the Philadelphia Spectrum. On the west coast, the Blazers would blow the Sixers out in Portland. Back in Philly, Portland won game 5 to send the series back west. Now, the entire city of Portland, Oregon was watching their Blazers. This was the peak of "BlazerMania." In the 6th contest, the RedHead Bill Walton would block 8 shots and score 20 as the Blazers would win their first NBA Championship. The city of Portland went nuts as the RedHead won Finals MVP honors.