Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland Trail Blazers lost Game Six Thursday night at the Rose Garden, 99-90. As Rob Manning reports, it’s the second year in a row the Blazers have lost in the first round of the playoffs.

After going years without making a playoff appearance, the Trail Blazers have now made the post-season two years in a row – with the same result.

In 2009, the Blazers lost in six games to the Houston Rockets.

This year, the Blazers again fell in six games, this time to the Phoenix Suns.

Last season, the Blazers could blame inexperience, as the youngest team in the playoffs.

This season, with veterans like Andre Miller and Marcus Camby on the team, that wasn’t an excuse. But injuries played a role, particularly knee problems for All-Star, Brandon Roy.

He missed the series’ first three games, including two Blazer losses. Injuries plagued the Blazers all season, with the team missing more players to injury than any other team in the playoffs.

Injuries will continue to be one of the team’s biggest question marks over the summer.

Prized draft pick, Greg Oden, and former starting center, Joel Przybilla, are both recovering from season-ending knee injuries.

The Blazers hope both will be healthy enough to play when the new season opens in the fall.