Blazers defeating the Jazz in 1999 was a huge upset

[Lebron23]

People back then were picking the Jazz to win the NBA title after Jordan retired in 1999. https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2020/05/01/classic Isaiah aka JR Rider had a solid game 6, and the Blazers beat the Jazz in 6 games.

Rider led the Blazers in scoring with 19.2 ppg

[HBK_Kliq_2]

They always found a way to lose it seems. They were given 20 years to build synergy and still won jack shit. No way you can put them in the top 30/40 greatest players ever, you both had each other for 20 years and won nothing.

[Lebron23]

They always found a way to lose it seems. They were given 20 years to build synergy and still won jack shit. No way you can put them in the top 30/40 greatest players ever, you both had each other for 20 years and won nothing.

By the way always felt than JR Rider is more talented than JR Smith. But a much bigger head case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7MFaPOfGeU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdiDOPr1aYY

[FireDavidKahn]

Imagine the title favorites losing to a team lead by JR Rider:roll:

[JohnMax]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lx4KvPq8JNg

[Real14]

Nobody expected the damn Jazz to win title in 99. Wtf you talking about b.itch??

[Xiao Yao You]

The compact schedule did in the old guys

[Lebron23]

Nobody expected the damn Jazz to win title in 99. Wtf you talking about b.itch??

You were still in your dad's dick back then.

[Mauzah]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lx4KvPq8JNg

I actually really miss this era of basketball. Sure, the scoring numbers are down but you had everything. Shooters, cutters, drivers, post play, ball movement inside and out.

Look at that Portland roster. It was stacked top to bottom. The Mavs are my choice of team in this era and Luka is super fun to watch but the predictable style of basketball is starting to wear thin.

[ArbitraryWater]

Nobody expected the damn Jazz to win title in 99. Wtf you talking about b.itch??

Um, yes, they were the title favorites.. are you stupid?

They came off B2B finals' and the Bulls were gone.

[Xiao Yao You]

Um, yes, they were the title favorites.. are you stupid?

They came off B2B finals' and the Bulls were gone.

and a year older playing a compact schedule

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Wasn't that big of an upset. Utah weren't preseason favorite and Malone/Stockton fell off a bit after the long layoff.

From 98, Malone's playoff points dipped by like 5. And Stockton shot around 40%. Damn near 10% worse.

[JBSptfn]

Um, yes, they were the title favorites.. are you stupid?

They came off B2B finals' and the Bulls were gone.

The Lakers were also a favorite by a lot of people before that season started.

As for the Blazers, I wonder if they thought that this was their title (when they beat Utah). I remember JR Rider celebrating like the team won the Finals. They seemed content after that.

They did play well at SA, but after falling down 0-2, it was over.

[pandiani17]

The Blazers had a stacked team with Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant, Sabonis, JR Rider, etc. I wouldn't call it much of an upset, tbh.

[Reggie43]

They were hardly title favorites because it was a pretty wide open race. People were also going for the Rockets big three as their bet to win as with the Pacers before the season.

[Xiao Yao You]

The Blazers had a stacked team with Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant, Sabonis, JR Rider, etc. I wouldn't call it much of an upset, tbh.

Sabonis was great. Otherwise not a stacked team. Rider sucked. Rasheed was a head case.

[Reggie43]

I still remember the predictions back then off the top of my head wherein they said expect the Rockets to go to the Finals and see Pippen stop the Pacers once again. Another said expect the Pacers and the Jazz in the Finals as seven people watch lol. Jordan also gave the Pacers his curse as his reluctant bet to win it all in an interview.