For decades, injuries have been the unifying tie among Portland Trail Blazers fans across five decades. It’s created a special, misery-loves-company type connection among fans of Bill Walton and Brandon Roy alike. But where DNPs have been in some ways, the death of Rip City, they’ve also been a source of life and regeneration.
In 1980, it served as the foundation for one of the little-told stories in Blazers history. Injuries — and try not to be so surprised to read this — had once again become the prevailing story of the season, and with the Playoffs well on the horizon, the NBA’s second-worst offense needed a bucket maker.