Editing Portland Trail Blazers (section)

==== Reaching the NBA Finals ====
The addition of Williams, and the replacement of the defensively challenged Vandeweghe with the defensive-minded Kersey, turned the team from a poor defensive squad into a good one.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Dave |date=December 28, 1990 |title=Man at Work: Buck Blends With Blazers |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDA103FF93BA15751C1A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201024230/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/28/sports/sports-of-the-times-man-at-work-buck-blends-with-blazers.html |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Led by Drexler, the team reached the NBA Finals in [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]] and [[1992 NBA Finals|1992]], losing to the [[Detroit Pistons]] and [[Chicago Bulls]]. Possibly inspired by the {{nfly|1985}} [[Chicago Bears]]' "[[Super Bowl Shuffle]]", during the run-up to their 1990 Finals appearance, the Blazers recorded two songs: "Bust a Bucket" and "Rip City Rhapsody" (with music played and recorded by Josh Mellicker, "Rip City" being a reference to the city's nickname). The year in between their two finals appearances, the team posted a league-best 63–19 record before losing to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in the Western Conference finals, including a heartbreaker in game 6 where, in the final seconds, Cliff Robinson dropped a pass while standing directly under the basket, and then, with a few seconds left, Terry Porter's desperation wide-open 20-footer bounced out. However, the team failed to win an NBA title, and failed to advance past the first round in [[1992–93 NBA season|1993]] and [[1993–94 NBA season|1994]].<ref name="cbs" /> Adelman was fired after the 1994 season,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 20, 1994 |title=Trail Blazers fire Adelman |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E7DE1338F933A15756C0A962958260&sec=&spon= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201024204/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/20/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-trail-blazers-fire-adelman.html |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and replaced with [[P. J. Carlesimo]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 24, 1994 |title=Carlesimo Leaves Hall To Coach Trail Blazers |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EED81E3DF937A15755C0A962958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/C/Carlesimo,%20P.%20J. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201024242/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/24/sports/pro-basketball-carlesimo-leaves-hall-to-coach-trail-blazers.html |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> which led to the resignation of executive vice-president [[Geoff Petrie]], a close friend of Adelman's.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Powell |first=Shaun |date=May 30, 1994 |title=Allen is ready to write a program for the Blazers |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n22_v217/ai_15278643 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904080620/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n22_v217/ai_15278643 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref>

In July 1994, the Trail Blazers announced the hiring of a new team president, former [[Seattle SuperSonics]] general manager [[Bob Whitsitt]].<ref name="funding" /> Whitsitt, known as "Trader Bob" for his penchant for engaging player-exchange transactions,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Glenn |date=June 22, 1994 |title='Trader Bob' Makes Final Deal |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940622/1916842/trader-bob-makes-final-deal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010111707/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940622&slug=1916842 |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=June 24, 2012 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> immediately set about revamping the Blazers roster; this included dismantling the aging Drexler-led team that had twice been to the finals.<ref name="clyde">{{Cite news |last=Drexler |first=Clyde |date=September 3, 2004 |title=It is a crime what has happened |url=http://thetribonline.com/sports/story.php?story_id=25742 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016121717/http://thetribonline.com/sports/story.php?story_id=25742 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |work=Portland Tribune}}</ref> Drexler requested to be traded to a contender, and the Trail Blazers traded him to the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref name="clyde" /> In the fall of 1995, the team left the Memorial Coliseum for a new home, the 20,000-seat [[Rose Garden Arena]].<ref name="teamhistory" /> The sellout streak ended in the new building.<ref name="funding" />