Just over two decades ago, the Portland Trail Blazers were a quarter away from reaching the NBA Finals.
They were about to knock off Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers, who were on the cusp of their dynasty and superstardom.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, they could not hold on to that lead and lost that infamous Game 7. But there was hope that the Blazers would get another shot and keep the core together that made it to the Western Conference Finals.
However, the team never found that magic again and would be bounced in the playoffs by the Lakers again in 2001 and 2002.