Being able to compete on home turf was certainly a good thing, especially in a city like Portland where the atmosphere was intensely enthusiastic.
In 1977, the Trail Blazers had relied on their home-court to accomplish a major comeback from a 0:2 deficit, and this time the Trail Blazers had seized the home-court advantage.
Upon returning to Portland, Ramsay did not schedule any more training sessions, knowing everyone was weary.
The six-game series against the Nuggets was not highly confrontational, but the continuous running had left the players as if they had completed two marathons.
Like the Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers were a team that could run, and their confrontations were even more intense, so appropriate rest and relaxation were important at this time.
On May 14, the morning brought intermittent drizzle to Portland.
Unlike the sunny Los Angeles, Portland was famous for its endless rain.
