PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS GAME 3---1st ROUND, WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 --- THE ROSE GARDEN PORTLAND S FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: Game 1 - Fri. , April 25 LA Lakers 95, Blazers 77 (Lakers lead best-of-five, 1-0) Game 2 - Sun., April 27 LA Lakers 107, Blazers 93 (Lakers lead best-of-five, 2-0) Game 3 - Wed., April 30 Portland 7:30 pm Turner Sports/BlazerVision Game 4* - Friday, May 2 Portland TBA Turner Sports/BlazerVision Game 5* - Sunday, May 4 at L.A. TBA To be determined * If necessary. All games broadcast on KEX Radio. PROBABLE STARTERS --- F-- No. 3 Clifford Robinson (6-10); F--No. 30 Rasheed Wallace (6-10); C--No. 11 Arvydas Sabonis (7-3); G--No. 7 Kenny Anderson (6-1); G--No. 34 Isaiah Rider (6-5) GAME 2: LAKERS 107, BLAZERS 93 --- Portland fell behind, 2-0, in its First Round Playoff series with Los Angeles after dropping a 107-93 decision Sunday at the Great Western Forum. The Trail Blazers were ahead, 51-49 at halftime but were outscored 29-18 in the third quarter and couldn't recover. Second-year forward Rasheed Wallace paced the Blazers with 20 points and guards Kenny Anderson and Isaiah Rider each chipped in 18. Shaquille O Neal again was the main Laker gun, putting 30 points on the board. Portland shot .507 from the field (38-75) and .684 from the free throw line (13-19) while the Lakers made .581 of their attempts from the floor (36-62) and .763 from the stripe (29-38). Clifford Robinson tied his career playoff high with a game-high 10 rebounds to lead the Blazers to a 34-32 advantage on the glass. The 62 field goal attempts by the Lakers was an all-time Blazers opponent playoff low. GAME 1: LAKERS 95, BLAZERS 77 --- The Trail Blazers went down to the Lakers, 95-77, in the opener of the best-of-five First Round playoff series in the Great Western Forum Friday. Eighteen points each by Rasheed Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis topped Portland's scoring but Laker center Shaquille O Neal pounded in a playoff career-high 46 points to pace the Los Angeles victory. His point total equalled the second highest ever by a Portland opponent in the playoffs and was the most by a Laker against the Blazers in 28 post season matchups. The Blazers kept it close for three quarters and were within two (68-66) three minutes into the final stanza. But the Lakers then went on a 10-0 run and outscored Portland, 27-11, in the final nine minutes to clinch the victory. Portland shot .411 from the field (30-73) and only .538 from the free throw stripe (14-26), while the host team was making .493 of its attempts from the floor (37-75) and .600 from the line (18-30). Portland's 77 points was the club's second-lowest playoff total ever, behind the 64 in Game 5 last year at Utah. FACING THE CHALLENGE --- Portland is seeking to become only the sixth team in NBA Playoff history to recover from an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series and advance to the next round and only the 13th team to accomplish the fete in any playoff series. The last team to do it in a best-of-five format was Denver against Seattle in 1994's First Round. Other 0-2 recoveries were by the Ft. Wayne Pistons who came back to defeat St. Louis in the 1956 Western Division Finals; Golden State over Utah in 1987; New York over Boston in 1990 and Phoenix over the Lakers in 1993. The latter three were all in First Round series. THE GAME 3 STORY --- The Trail Blazers are 4-9 in Game 3 of best-of-five First Round series and are 3-3 when the third game takes place on their own floor . . . Portland has won two of its last three Game 3's at home after losing the opening two games of the series on the road . . . Only twice before in 13 best-of-five First Round series have the Blazers been eliminated in three games (1989 and 1995) . . . Overall, the Blazers are 8-24 in third games of playoff series and have a 7-8 record when playing Game 3 at home. FIRST ROUND SERIES --- The Trail Blazers have won six of 18 First Round playoff series in franchise history. Portland has been victorious in two (1983 and 1985) First Round series in which it hasn't held the homecourt advantage. The Blazers have lost the last five First Round series (1986, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996), when they opened on the road. 15 STRAIGHT --- The Blazers are in the playoffs for the 15th straight year, the NBA's longest current streak, and their 20th in the last 21 years. Only four times in league history have teams had more consecutive post-season appearances than the Blazers: 22---Syracuse/Philadelphia (1950-71); 19---Boston (1951-1969), 17---Los Angeles Lakers (1977-1993), and 16---Minneapolis/Los Angeles (1959-74). Portland, with four regular season games remaining, occupies the West's fifth spot. THIRD LONGEST STREAK --- Portland's 15th consecutive playoff appearance is not only the longest current streak in the NBA but also represents the third longest in all of professional sports. Only the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League have made more current consecutive post season appearances than the Blazers (28 and 18 respectively). The Utah Jazz are the closest any NBA club can come with their 14th straight this spring. The all-time NBA record is 22 in a row by the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers from 1950 to 1971. SINCE 1990 --- Going into the 1997 playoffs, the Trail Blazers have played in more post-season contests since 1990 than all but three teams in the league. Only the Chicago Bulls (112), the New York Knicks (84) and the Phoenix Suns (76) have logged more playoff games in than the Blazers in that stretch. Utah also has been in 74 playoff contests since 1990. FIRST WIN ADVANTAGE --- The best-of-five format for First Round series was reinstituted in the playoffs in 1984 after not being used for 17 years. In NBA history, there have been 132 best-of-five series and the winner of Game 1 has gone on to claim 108 of them including all eight last season. Of the 132 First Round series, 44 have taken five games to decide, 31 have been three-game sweeps and 47 have gone to four games. The team with the homecourt advantage has won 94 and lost 38 (.712). Last year, three teams---Houston, New York and Atlanta---advanced without opening at home in the First Round. FOURTH vs. FIFTH --- Getting the homecourt in the opening game of a best-of-five First Round battle between the fourth and fifth seeds hasn t proved to be all that advantageous since the current format was reinstituted in 1984. Since that time, the fifth seed has beaten the fourth seed in 16 of 26 series. Since 1994, the No. 4 team has not won a series and none have won more than one game. Last year, No. 5 New York swept No. 4 Cleveland in three games in the East and No. 5 Houston eliminated the No. 4 Lakers in four in the West. In the 13 playoffs since 1984, teams seeded fourth have a .385 First Round winning percentage compared with .846 for the teams ranked No. 1 through No. 3. BLAZERS vs. THE LAKERS PORTLAND & L.A. IN THE PLAYOFFS --- The Blazers and Lakers have faced off in six previous Western Conference Playoff series and twice in the Western Finals. Overall, Portland is now down 11-18 in post-season clashes with the Southern California team after Sunday's loss at the Forum. The last previous playoff action between the two teams took place in 1992 when the Blazers bested the Lakers, three-games-to-one. It was the Blazers first step on the road to the 1992 NBA Finals. The previous year, the Lakers knocked Portland out of the playoffs by taking the Western Conference finals in six games. Portland lost out to the Lakers in the conference semifinals in 1983 and 1985, both times going out in five games. The first post-season matchup between the two teams took place 20 years ago when the upstart Blazers swept the favored Lakers in four games for the Western Conference crown and the right to face Philadelphia for the 1977 NBA championship. THE REGULAR SEASON SERIES --- Portland has won three in a row and is 25-13 against the Lakers since the 1989-90 season but trails, 85-61, in 27years of regular season action against the Los Angeles club. The Blazers, won the past season's series, three games to one. Biggest spread in any of the four games was four points. And, the widest margin the last six clashes has been six points. The Blazers won five of the last six in Portland. They were victorious on their last visit to the Great Western Forum, 102-98, and were successful on six of their last eight trips south. The Lakers last win was at home in overtime, 120-119, on Dec. 13. THE 1996-97 MATCHUP --- All four Trail Blazers-Lakers regular season clashes were down-to-the-wire affairs. The Lakers took the first meeting, a 120-119 overtime cliffhanger, in the Great Western Forum in December. Portland reversed things with three consecutive four-point victories---88-84, 102-98 and most recently 100-96. All three of those games saw the lead change hands in the fourth quarter and none were decided until the final minute. The Trail Blazers shot 48% from the field for the four-game series, slightly better than the Lakers 47%. Six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson (20.8 ppg) and Rasheed Wallace (20.0 ppg) averaged in double figures against Los Angeles. Isaiah Rider, who sparked two of Portland's wins, averaged 19.5 ppg. Shaquille O Neal paced the Lakers with a 31.3 ppg average. THE REGULAR SEASON ANOTHER WINNING YEAR --- The Blazers, with 49 victories (the most wins since 1992-93), have their 18th winning record in the last 21 years. That s the second best mark of any team in the NBA over the 21 seasons. Only the Lakers have done better, turning in 19 years with records over the 50% mark during the same time span. Behind the Blazers are Boston and Houston, 15 each; Philadelphia and Seattle, 14 each; Milwaukee and San Antonio, 13 each, and Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and New York, all with 12. THE SEASON --- The Trail Blazers, the league's youngest and least experienced team when things got underway in November, came on strong in the final two months to register the club's best record since 1992-93. Portland finished 49-33 after winning its last four contests and 20 of its last 25. The Blazers posted a 13-2 record in a spectacular run in March, the team's best mark ever for the month and the second best percentage for any month in franchise history. When March ended, the Blazers had locked up their 15th consecutive playoff berth, the NBA's longest current streak. The 49-33 finish equaled Portland's seventh best ever (the same as the 1977 championship year and of the 1986-87 squad). It was the eighth year in a row and the 18th in the last 21 years the Trail Blazers won more than they lost. Portland wound up 36-16 in Western Conference play, the West's fifth best mark and equal to its best conference record since 1992-93. The Blazers won 14 of their last 16 at home for a 28-12 season's record in the Rose Garden, the best in three seasons under P.J. Carlisemo. On the road, Portland was 20-21, the best record in four seasons and only the seventh time in franchise history with 20 or more wins away from home. THE DEFENSE --- Portland was the NBA's fifth toughest defense to shoot against this season, holding foes to .436 field goal accuracy, a new all-time club defensive record . . . The defensive average of 94.8 ppg was the 11th best in the league and bettered the Portland's one season low of 97.0 set last year . . . The Blazers kept opponents below the 40 percent field goal mark 21 times and below 45 percent 46 times . . . In winning 49 games, the Blazers held 37 opponents under 100 points and overall kept 55 under the century mark, an all-time club record. The previous sub-100 record for opponents was 47 last season. THE OFFENSE --- Portland finished with the 11th most productive offense in the league, averaging 99.0 points a contest . . . The Blazers .464 field goal percentage was the NBA's ninth best mark . . . In winning 49 games, the Blazers margin of victory was 13.2 ppg, with a cushion of 10 points or more in 27 contests, 20 or more 11 times and 30 or more four times . . . Portland's overall point differential of +4.2 was the league's ninth best mark . . . Of the Blazers 33 losses, 18 were by six points or less, nine were by three or under and six were one pointers . . . Portland was 27-11 in games decided by 10 points or more but 11-13 when the difference was four points or under and 3-8 when it was two or below. THE REBOUNDING --- The Blazers ranked third in the NBA in total rebounding percentage---the share of total misses in a game a team claims---(.524), are second in defensive rebounding percentage (.724), and are fifth in offensive rebounding percentage (.325) . . . The Blazers had an overall advantage of 4.9 rebounds per game and a 3.6 per game margin on the defensive glass . . . Portland outrebounded 59 of 82 opponents and 14 times claimed 50 or more misses in a game, including a season-high 64 April 16 versus Denver . . . The Blazers are in the top five rebounding teams in the league for the 10th consecutive year despite not having an individual among the league's top 30. BALANCE --- Portland was 11th in the league in scoring and third in rebounding yet no Trail Blazer showed up in the top 25 in either category . . . However, six Blazers, led by Kenny Anderson's 17.5 ppg, averaged in double figures and each of the six led the team in scoring at least seven times . . . The Blazers balance on the glass was even more pronounced: Arvydas Sabonis (7.9 rpg), Chris Dudley (7.4 rpg) and Rasheed Wallace (6.8 rpg) were Portland's leaders but none of the three ranked among the NBA's top 30 boardsmen . . . One reason for Portland's continued position among the NBA's rebounding elite is balance. No fewer than 10 different Blazers grabbed game rebounding honors this season. FINISHING AMONG THE NBA LEADERS Rasheed Wallace, 3rd in field goal percentage, .558 (380-681). Gary Trent, 10th in field goal percentage, .536 (361-674). Arvydas Sabonis, 28th in field goal percentage, .498 (328-658). Kenny Anderson, 10th in steals (1.98), 15th in assists (7.1), 30th in scoring (17.5), 31st in minutes (37.6). Isaiah Rider, 38th in free throw percentage, .812 (212-261), 29th in three-point percentage (99-257). Chris Dudley, 24th in blocked shots (1.19), 36th in rebounding (7.3). Clifford Robinson, 25th in minutes played (38.0) NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD --- The capacity crowd of 21,538 for the regular season finale against the Lakers was Portland's eighth sellout of the season and helped push total attendance for the season to 852,799, surpassing the all-time one season record set last year, the Blazers first in their new Rose Garden. This year s total attendance for 41 games (an average of 20,800), surpassed last year's mark of 850,338. All 41 games drew more than 20,000 fans and helped the Blazers, who are playing in the NBA's sixth smallest market, finish as the third highest home draw in the league behind only Charlotte and Chicago. SIMILARITIES --- There are similarities between the 1997 Blazers playoff-bound edition and the team of 20 years ago that won it all, giving Portland its first major sports championship and launching Blazermania. The 1976-77 season started with only four Blazers on the roster from the previous season, exactly the same number that were on hand to begin 1996-97. The 1976-77 team finished the regular season at 49-33, the as this year s team. In 1977, two Trail Blazers---Bobby Gross and Bill Walton---finished sixth and seventh among the NBA's field goal percentage leaders; the current team also has two in the top 10---Rasheed Wallace (3rd) and Gary Trent (10th). This is the first time since 1976-77 two Blazers have been among the top 10 shooters in the league. The 1997 edition heads into the playoffs as the league's second youngest team (averaging 25.85 years on April 1); Portland and Philadelphia, the club the Blazers beat in six games to win the championship, shared that same honor in 1977 with each averaging 24.58 years per player. The 1977 team was 44-21 with Bill Walton in the lineup and 5-12 when he was sidelined with injuries; this year's team is 43-26 with center Arvydas Sabonis playing and 6-7 when he has been out. KENNY & KIDS MAKING MIRACLES --- Blazers guard Kenny Anderson, is honorary campaign chairman for Kids Making Miracles, a volunteer organization of hundreds of grade and high school students in the area committed to raising $1 million to build a state-of-the-art health care facility at Portland's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. In that role, Kenny pledged $20 for every assist he dishes out this season. He finished the season with a team-leading 584 assists, producing $11,680 for the drive which now has passed the $600,000 mark. The Trail Blazers have made a three-year commitment to help build public awareness of the Kids Make Miracles campaign as part of the NBA's TeamUP program to encourage youth-sponsored programs working to improve communities through volunteer involvement. P.J. MOVES UP TO THIRD --- P.J. Carlesimo, whose team won 20 of its last 25 games, is now the Blazers third winningest coach with a 137-109 record (55.7%). Ahead of him are Jack Ramsay (453-367, 55.2%), and Rick Adelman (291-154, 65.4%). Mike Shuler posted a 127-84 record (60.2%) in his two-plus years with the Blazers. In his first two seasons, Carlesimo had identical records of 44-38. THE BLAZERS KENNY ANDERSON --- GAME 1: 18 pts (7-15 fgs, 1-5 3pt, 3-3 fts), team-high 7 assists, 3 steals, 43 minutes . . . GAME 1: 14 pts (5-12 fgs, 1-6 3pt, 3-3 fts), 2 assists, 3 rbs, 2 steals, 42 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Team's leading scorer with 17.5 ppg, the assists leader (7.1), and tops in steals (1.98) . . . 30th in the NBA in scoring, 15th in assists, 10th in steals, 31st in minutes played (37.5) . . . Team leader in scoring 25 times and in assists 57 times . . . Turned in 13 double-doubles . . . One of two Blazers to play in all 82 games . . . Scored a season-high 35 points Feb. 15 at Houston . . . Dished out a season-high 15 assists, scored 22 points and had only one TO in 43 minutes at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . Scored 34 points in a season-high 49 minutes Dec. 13 at the Lakers . . . One of 25 players in the league averaging at least 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game (7.1 and 4.4) . . . Among the league s best point guards for assists-to-turnovers ratio with a 3.03 mark . . . In first season with Portland, moved into sixth place on team's all-time three points made list with 132 . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged team-best 20.8 pts, 4.8 assists, 4.3 rbs, 1.8 steals, 43.0 minutes in four starts. STACEY AUGMON --- GAME 2: 3 pts (1-2 fgs, 1-2 fts), 7 minutes . . . GAME 1: 0 pts, 2 assists, 1 steal, 9 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: . . . Tied season high with 13 pts at the Clippers Mar. 16 . . . Scored a season-high 13 pts in 30 minutes in his first start as a Blazer Feb. 24 vs. Chicago . . . Acquired Jan. 24 from Detroit in exchange for guards Randolph Childress, Reggie Jordan and Aaron McKie . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: 2 pts in 7 minutes in Game 4. MARCUS BROWN --- Placed on injured list March 7 (strained left groin) . . . Last appearance March 5 at Phoenix: 0 pts, 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . Equalled his career-high 13 pts in a career-high 26 minutes Feb. 24 vs. Chicago . . . Scored a career-high 13 pts Jan. 29 at Detroit . . . Played in his first NBA game against San Antonio Dec. 29, scoring 6 pts in 5 minutes---his first pro points came at 2:40 of the 4th quarter, a three-pointer (his first attempt) from the left side . . . Activated Dec. 27 after spending the first 29 games of the season on the injured list (strained right groin) sustained in practice Oct. 29 . . . Portland's 2nd round draft pick (46th overall) in the 1996 NBA Draft . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: DNP in any of the four games. MITCHELL BUTLER --- GAME 2: 2 pts (1-1 fgs), 1 rb, 3 minutes . . . GAME 1: 0 pts (0-1 fgs), 1 minute . . THE REGULAR SEASON: Registered double-figure scoring numbers five times . . . Tallied a season-high 17 pts (6-7 fgs, 2-3 3pt, 3-4 fts), in 27 minutes vs. Cleveland Mar. 14 . . . Placed on injured list Feb. 24 (effusion of the left knee) . . . Had season-high 8 rbs in a season-high 33 minutes Jan. 14 vs. Detroit . . . Activated Dec. 13 after spending five games on injured list (tendenitis, both knees) . . . Dished out a career-high six assists in the season opener Nov. 1 at Vancouver . . . Obtained in trade, along with Rasheed Wallace, with Washington for Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant last summer . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 1.3 pts, 4.0 minutes in three games. DNP in Game 3 (coach's decision). CHRIS DUDLEY --- GAME 2: 8 pts (4-4 fgs), 7 rbs, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 23 minutes . . . GAME 1: 2 pts (1-2 fgs, 0-4 fts), team-high 11 rbs, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 18 minutes . . THE REGULAR SEASON: Second on team in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.19) despite starting just 13 games . . . Ranked 24th in the league in blocks and 35th in rebounding . . . Has missed only three of Portland's last 249 games . . . Led team in rebounding 27 times and grabbed double-digit rebounds in 18 games . . . Claimed a season and game-high 15 rebounds in a season-high 43 minutes Feb. 4 vs. Chicago . . . Scored a season-high 12 pts Jan. 28 at Toronto . . . Blocked a season-high five shots at Golden State Dec. 1 . . . 10th year in the league, Portland's longest tenured player . . . 1996 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented by the Professional Basketball Writers Association in recognition of outstanding community service and charitable work . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 3.3 pts, 6.8 rbs, 0.8 assists, 0.8 blocks, 22.8 minutes in four games. JERMAINE O'NEAL --- GAME 2: 0 pts (0-1 3pt, 0-2 fts), 1 rb, 1 block, 3 minutes . . . GAME 1: 0 pts (0-1 fgs), 1 minutes . . . THE REGULAR SEASON: Became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA regular season game on Dec. 5 at Denver, entering the contest at 7:24 of the 2nd period. He was 20 days younger than Kobe Bryant when he played his first game with the Lakers . . . Grabbed a career-high 8 rbs at Utah Feb. 13 . . . Scored a career-high 20 points in a career-high 25 minutes at Seattle Jan. 22 . . . Scored 10 pts in 11 minutes vs. Detroit Jan. 14 . . . Had a career-high 3 blocked shots vs San Antonio Dec. 29 . . .. . . Scored his first regular season points on a field goal at Denver Dec. 5 . . . Spent season's first 17 games on the injured list . . . Scored the first points as a pro on his 18th birthday Oct. 13 in a pre-season game vs. Sacramento . . . Portland's 1st round pick (17th overall) in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Eau Claire H.S. in Columbia, S.C. . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 1.8 pts, 1.8 rbs, 0.5 assists, 0.3 blocks, 4.3 minutes in four games. ISAIAH RIDER --- GAME 2: 18 pts (6-14 fgs, 2-4 3pt, 4-4 fts), 6 assists, 2 rbs, 2 steals, 40 minutes . . . GAME 1: 7 pts (2-4 fgs, 1-2 3pt, 2-2 fts), team-high 5 assists, 3 rbs, 1 steal, 39 minutes . . THE REGULAR SEASON: Led team in scoring in 22 games and tallied 20 or more points on 25 occasions . . . Blazers free throw percentage leader (81.2%), had his team-best free throw steak of 26 in a row broken on last game of season when he missed the fifth of six attempts versus the Lakers . . . Registered personal and team season-high 40 pts (13-19 fgs, 2-2 3pt, 12-13 fts), in 43 minutes vs. Boston Feb. 16---two points off his career high. Only the second Blazer to top the 40-point mark in two seasons . . . Made 15 of 18 free throws, both career highs, while scoring 30 points in Jan. 16 win at the Lakers (the free throws and FTAs were the most ever by a Blazer vs. the Lakers) . . . Grabbed a season-high 11 rbs vs. Seattle Dec. 18 . . . Dished out a career-high 11 assists Nov. 26 at Houston . . . Ranks seventh all-time in three points made with 99 . . . Came to Portland from Minnesota in a July 23 trade for James Robinson and Bill Curley and a conditional 1st round draft choice . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 19.5 pts, 5.0 rbs, 3.8 assists, 40.5 minutes in four games including three starts. CLIFFORD ROBINSON --- GAME 2: 12 pts (4-11 fgs, 1-5 3pt, 3-4 fts), tied career high with game-high 10 rbs, 4 assists, 1 block, 40 minutes . . . GAME 1: 6 pts (3-12 fgs, 0-4 3pt, 0-2 fts), 7 rbs, 4 assists, 1 block, 42 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Is in the top six in 15 of 17 Portland career categories, including third in scoring (10,405 pts), fourth in games played (644), second in three-pointers made (492), and second in blocked shots (726) . . . Led team in scoring 13 times, in assists 14 times and once in rebounding . . . Scored 20 or more points on 19 occasions . . . Averaged 15.1 pts, 4.0 rbs, 1.22 steals, 0.88 blocks and team-high 38.0 minutes Made all six of his treys in second quarter splurge in March 28 win over Vancouver, a Blazers all-time record for a quarter and a half, and equal to the NBA's second best effort ever in a quarter (he finished with 26 pts) . . . Held scoreless at Washington Mar. 22 for the first time in 549 games, going back to April 11, 1990 of his rookie season . . . Registered a season-high 10 rbs Feb. 2 vs. Minnesota . . . Second on the team in assists with a 3.2 average---Has led the club in assists 14 times, compared with 11 times in his first six seasons combined . . . Matched his career high with 9 assists Jan. 25 vs. Minnesota . . . Scored season-high 33 pts Dec. 10 vs. Orlando . . . Played a season-high 51 minutes (just two shy of his career high) vs. Indiana Nov. 3 . . . Ranked 25th in the NBA in minutes played . . . Has missed just 11 of 656 games in eight seasons with Blazers because of injuries . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 13.5 pts, 3.5 rbs, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 34.3 minutes in four starts. RUMEAL ROBINSON --- GAME 2: 0 pts (0-1 3pt), 2 assists, 5 minutes . . . GAME 1: 2 pts (1-2 fgs, 0-1 3pt), 6 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Had season highs of 22 minutes and 3 steals plus 5 assists, 4 rbs Mar. 28 vs. Vancouver . . . Signed for the remainder of the season March 6 . . . at Chicago Feb. 24: scored 2 pts in 14 minutes in his first game back with the Blazers after signing to a 10-day contract the same day . . . Began the season with the Lakers and played in 15 games, including three starts . . . Traded, along with Cedric Ceballos, to Phoenix for Robert Horry and Joe Kleine on Jan. 10 . . . Played 11 games for Suns before being waived Feb. 15 . . . Played in 43 games with Blazers last season . . . vs. LAKERS THIS SEASON: 2 pts, 1 rb, 4 minutes in Game 4. ARVYDAS SABONIS --- GAME 2: 4 pts (2-5 fgs, 0-1 3pt), 2 rbs, in 19 foul-limited minutes . . . GAME 1: Tied for team honors with 18 pts (6-14 fgs, 1-4 3pt, 5-6 fts), 9 rbs, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 32 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Team leader in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and blocked shots (1.21) and third in steals (0.91) . . . Had team-best 15th double-doubles . . . Led Blazers in scoring on nine occasions, in rebounding 33 times and assists four times . . . Feb. 19 at Orlando: 8 pts, 5 rbs in 21 minutes in his first action since Jan. 22 . . . Placed on injured list Jan. 24 after sustaining a deeply bruised calf in a 4th quarter collision in Jan. 22 game at Seattle . . . Tallied 22 pts in a career high-equalling 41 minutes Jan. 19 at Utah . . . Scored career-high 33 pts and had a career-high equalling 11 field goals and a career-high 14 fts Jan. 4 at Dallas . . . Played a career-high 41 minutes Dec. 12 at the Lakers . . . Grabbed a career-high 17 rbs at Minnesota Nov. 7 . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 16.0 pts, 6.8 rbs, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.8 blocks, 32.8 minutes in four starts. GARY TRENT --- GAME 2: 4 pts (2-5 fgs, 0-1 fts), 1 rb, 9 minutes . . . GAME 1: Playoff career-high 10 pts (5-10 fgs), 3 rbs, 14 minutes . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Shot 53.6% the field (361-674), the NBA's tenth best mark . . . One of two Blazers to play in all 82 games . . . Has Portland's longest consecutive games-played streak of 84 over two seasons . . . Averaged 10.8 pts, 5.2 rbs, and 23.4 minutes and drew 28 starting assignments . . . Averaged 14.1 points and shot 56% from field when in the starting lineup . . . Equaled career high with 7 assists March. 28 vs. Vancouver . . . For fourth time in seven games matched career high with 24 points at Minnesota Feb. 2 . . . Jan. 24 at Phoenix: Matched career high with game-high 24 pts and tied career best with 13 rbs (10 fgs also career high) . . . Scored career-high 24 pts in 32 minutes at Seattle Jan. 22 . . . Played a career-high 44 minutes Jan. 2 at Houston . . . Claimed game and career-high 13 rbs Nov. 26 at Denver . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 10.5 pts, 3.8 rbs, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 23.8 minutes in four games, including two starts. RASHEED WALLACE --- GAME 2: Team-high 20 pts (9-14 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 2-3 fts), 5 rbs, 1 assist, 39 minutes . . . GAME 1: Tied for team honors with 18 pts (7-15 fgs, 0-1 3pt, 4-9 fts), 4 rbs, 1 assist, 1 block, 35 minutes. . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: No. 3 in the NBA in field goal percentage (55.8 % on 380-681) . . . Third on the team in scoring (15.1 ppg), third in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and third in blocked shots (0.95) . . . Led team in scoring on 12 occasions and tallied 20 or more points in 17 of 62 games . . . The team's rebound leader in nine games . . . Played career-high 45 minutes in Feb. 26 OT loss to New York . . . Tied career high with 14 rbs and set new career high with 15 free throw attempts Feb. 15 vs. Houston . . . Activated Feb. 4 vs. Chicago after missing 19 games on injured list . . . Placed there Dec. 27 after undergoing surgery on left thumb fractured in Dec. 23 game vs. Washington . . . Tallied a career-high 38 pts on career-high 17-of-25 fgs in 40 minutes at Sacramento Dec. 21 . . . Previous high of 32 pts (15-20 fgs) came on Nov. 5 at Golden State, the first 30-plus game of his career . . . Converted a career-high 11 free throws (15 attempts) Dec. 13 at the Lakers . . . Grabbed season-high 13 rbs vs. Vancouver Dec. 12 . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGUAR SEASON: Averaged 20.0 pts, 8.0 rbs, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 33.0 minutes in two starts and shot 68% from the field (13-19). On injured list for Games 2 and 3. DONTONIO WINGFIELD --- GAME 2: 4 pts (2-2 fgs), 1 rb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 9 minutes . . . GAME 1: 0 pts, 1 minute . . . IN THE REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 4.5 pts, 2.9 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 47 games and led team in rebounding and assists once each . . . Grabbed career-high 12 rbs and scored 14 pts at Boston Jan. 31 . . . Scored season-high 16 pts at Phoenix Jan. 24 . . . Played season-high 27 minutes vs. Lakers Jan. 6 . . . Placed on injured list Dec. 13 (sprained left thumb suffered in Dec. 12 game with Vancouver) . . . vs. LAKERS IN REGULAR SEASON: Averaged 6.0 pts, 4.0 rbs, 1.0 assists, 14.0 minutes in three games and shot 67% (8-12) from the field in three games. Missed Game 1 (injured list). John Christensen Chuck Charnquist ************************************************************ Send subscribe/unsubscribe messages to majordomo@ripcity.com ************************************************************