Version 2.0 w/ better quotes/scenes) I spent a lot of time creating this second movie after my first in the series gathered a lot of positive feedback. I feel I’ve put a lot of effort into this particular one, so hope you all enjoy! This movie focuses on the adversity faced by the Blazers leading up to the playoffs, and then finally cinematic take on Games 1 & 2 (both Blazer wins)! – RaiyanL
Paul Allen is smiling right now. All’s right with the world. The Blazers have done it again. They thrashed the Thunder 114-94. For the first time since the 2000 opening series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Blazers stand at 2-0, winning both games 1 and 2 on their homecourt. Better yet, the Blazers are thus far the only team to be 2-0 in the playoffs this postseason.
Game 2 started out in ugly fashion. The Trail Blazers were missing shots, turning the ball over, making mistakes. There were eight lead changes and 4 ties. The Moda Center was quieting down. The Thunder seemed in control. They led most of the 1sr qtr, finishing it with a 5 point lead, 31-26.
The second quarter was a frustrating cluster of fouls and physical play that saw Oklahoma City lead grow to 10. The Blazers couldn’t get a call. The Blazers couldn’t get a shot. For eighteen minutes it appeared that the Thunder were in the driver seat and the series was headed for a road trip to Oklahoma tied 1-1. Then the Blazers got angry. The Blazers became the storm. The Blazers put in Meyers Leonard? That’s right. Meyers, with Kanter hurt (not seriously no worries) and in foul trouble, came into defend Adams. It worked. Meyers with buckets. Meyers with defensive plays. Meyers with screens. Meyers. Meyers. Meyers.Hammer time. The Blazers rolled back, CJ McCollum tying the game 54-54 at halftime with a buzzer beating 3.
The Blazers came out like a freight train in the third. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum couldn’t miss if they wanted to. A three here. A three there. A layup. A jumper. Net. Net. Net. Net. Nothing but net. There was only one lead change, Portland bulldozing ahead. They outscored the Thunder by 16 in the quarter. They took charge. The chewed up Paul George and Westbrook and spit them out.
The 4th quarter was a reiteration. The Thunder tried in vain to fight back, but they had little in them, and Portland had an answer. Always an answer. The Blazers pummeled the Thunder, unrelenting till a few minutes left, when both sides emptied their benches. The Thunder had flinched again. As the final seconds ticked down and the game clock expired, if the roaring crowd and confetti weren’t telling enough, Paul George’s face was. He was lost in astonishment and bewilderment. His teammate Russell Westbrook was already gone, probably waiting on the team bus, wanting out of the Moda Center. Wanting out of Portland. Well don’t let the door hit you.
Portland delivered the Thunder their 11th straight road loss and an 0-2 deficit in the first round series. Maybe after beating Portland 4-0 in the regular season, they thought that they had it easy. Well sorry to be the bearer of bad news Oklahoma City, when it rains it pours, and Like Damian Lillard said, we feel the rain here. Others just get wet. The Thunder got soaked. We love it. It’s a northwest thing.
Listen in as Chris and Eric go over the opening weekend of the 2019 NBA playoffs. They discuss how the games unfolded, talk stats, injuries, and celebrate the victory of their favorite team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Listen in as Chris Craig and Eric Millegan discuss the 2019 NBA playoff 1st rnd. They go over the Trail Blazers final game, strategy for the Blazers to beat the Thunder, answer your questions as well as go over playoff matchups with series histories and predictions. Tune in!
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #7, April 2019 edition where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
Who is your favorite matchup for the Blazers in the playoffs? Are there specific teams you want to see because of matchups, or teams you just think would be a fun watch? – TorturedBlazerFan
My favorite matchup for the Blazers in the playoffs is the Los Angeles Clippers. They don’t have any star players, meaning the Clippers wouldn’t get the calls other teams would. Portland would be the clear favorites. The Blazers took the season series 3-1. They won both in Portland and in Los Angeles. The game they lost included Tobias Harris before the trade deadline. Without him the Blazers trampled the Clippers 125-104 in their last meeting in LA.
While Danilo Gallinari, Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams might prove to be a handful, the Blazers could handle them, even without Nurkic. The Blazers are the deeper and better team. They have the best player in Damian Lillard. If you’re Portland, the Clippers are who you want in the first round.
A close second would be the Utah Jazz. The Jazz would be a tougher opponent with Rudy Gobert inside. Donovan Mitchell has struggled this season, and your hope if you draw the Jazz in the 1st rnd, is that continues. Still, the Jazz added Korver to a list of apt 3 point shooters. You don’t want to get into a war at the arc with them.
Too, they do a good job of trapping the Blazers in the half court. Lillard and CJ will be double teamed, so other players need to step up. Going inside to Kanter would be a good way to make the Jazz pay. The Blazers tied the season series 2-2 after starting 0-2 and those losses weren’t close games to say the least. Both teams won at home and away on the opponent’s court. It seems somewhat evenly matched.The Jazz would probably be the favorite though. Still, in a stacked west pulling the Jazz would not be the worst scenario. However, it would not be my favorite.
The Blazers could potentially beat the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, but they are not an ideal team to play. The Blazers tied the season series 2-2, but couldn’t win a game in San Antonio. The Spurs aren’t the team they used to be, but have DeRozan and Aldridge with a supporting cast. More worrisome, the Spurs have Gregg Popovich, currently the best coach in the NBA at the helm. He has a knack for getting deep in the playoffs. He alone makes an opening series with the Spurs nerve wracking.
The Blazers don’t want to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Thunder have owned the Blazers this season, sweeping the series 4-0. Paul George has been phenomenal and Russell Westbrook provoking. While you can wave off the season series and say it all starts over in the playoffs, the Thunder will be tough as nails to beat.
All four games between them have been at the highest levels of intensity, especially the last one. While fun to watch, the outcomes have been taxing on the team and on fans. It would be a thrill ride of a series. But, without Nurkic all odds will be against the Blazers.
Portland absolutely doesn’t want to play the Houston Rockets. James Harden and co would be near impossible to beat. Houston would get a majority of the calls and is the clear favorite. While the Blazers own the season series 2-1, but don’t let that deceive you. Those wins came without Houston at full power, and either Harden or Paul not playing.
As long the Blazers keep HCA, they won’t have to face Houston in the first round. To answer your second question, of course I want it to be fun. But, I also want the Blazers to win, so it’s all about matchups and HCA. With a traffic pileup in the Western Conference playoff race, and the loss of Jusuf Nurkic, it is going to be tough to keep HCA. The Blazers will have to face 2nd place Denver twice this weekend. If Portland loses both it could be all she wrote for HCA, depending on how the Jazz finish the season. The Blazers need to win every game they can to end the season.
It will most likely be Utah. But, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Clippers!
How does losing Jusuf Nurkic affect the Blazers down the stretch? In the Playoffs? – JoeB
It hurts substantially, like a breaking a leg. Wait, sorry that was terrible of me. With Nurkic the Blazers had a far better chance of securing 3rd place for the 2nd season in a row, or perhaps getting 2nd even, and making a dent in the playoffs. Without him Portland will be lucky to keep hold of home court advantage. I can see them getting to the 2nd round based on the matchup, but beyond that is uncertain and improbable.
Jusuf Nurkic provided offense, defense, and rebounding. Now Portland has several backup centers that can do one or the other. They don’t have a complete center like Nurkic waiting in the wings. That said, Kanter has been impressive since Nurk’s injury. So who knows?
What percentage do you give the odds of us winning the championship this year? – Eric M
If you were to ask me that question a week and a half ago, the answer would have been more optimistic. After the trade deadline sportsbook had Portland at +6000 behind every western conference playoff team except the Los Angeles Clippers. I would have placed Portland above Utah and San Antonio then. To be fair though they had the Lakers ahead of the Blazers then too. So what do they know?
Currently, ESPN has the Blazers at 2.4% behind 7 other teams, and ahead of every western conference team besides Golden State, Denver, and Houston. I would agree with those odds though offer a slightly higher percentage, say 5%, If the Blazers can get the right combination of playoff matchups, sans Nurkic and CJ McCollum returns and plays the best ball of his career. If they can beat long odds somehow and win it all I will be glad to eat crow.
How will the Blazers offseason moves change with the injury of Jusuf Nurkic? – Paul H
Good question Paul. Urgency? The Blazers will likely try to apply for a disabled player exception and use it to resign Enes Kanter or look to move one or more of Leonard, Turner, and Harkless and their 1st for a center. Nothing much else has changed. The Blazers still don’t have much cap space to use and won’t be able to bring everyone back without going deep into tax territory or somehow trading players to make space. They have Jake Layman’s bird rights and can wait to sign him. Curry, Hood, and Kanter will be due for pay days. The Blazers can’t afford to resign all of them unless they take peanuts, or Olshey pulls off some miraculous draft day trade to reduce salary. I don’t see that happening. Portland is going to have to make some tough decisions in the summer, one way or the other. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
With the team going 5-0 without CJ, has the team put any thought into using him to possibly solidify greater needs in other areas of the roster? – Jason O
No. When CJ returns his role will be the same. As much as it might be in the interest of Portland to look at different ways of using him, I doubt Stotts has thought much about it. CJ will be the same 2nd in command, shooting, isocentric player. Sorry, if you hoped otherwise.
Will the Blazers be able to finish the season with HCA? – Greg S
Yes! Despite the injuries to CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic the Blazers have won 8 of their last 10, including a six game winning streak. They are currently fighting for 3rd place, three games out of 5th. There is only 4 games left in the season, two against teams not going to the playoffs. The question is whether they will finish in 3rd or 4th. 2nd is possible, but very very improbable.
Do you think the Blazers should go for the best seed possible, try and match-up with a certain team, or make sure the players that are still healthy are fully rested for the playoffs? – Hoopsjock
They should go for the highest possible seed. Without Nurkic and CJ being an uncertainty, the Blazers find themselves at a real disadvantage. There are only five games left. The Blazers need to play to win, not only for home court advantage and a 1st round against a team like LAC or Utah, but for confidences sake. They need to feel like they can win going into the playoffs and have the home crowd behind them. It’s like a sputtering car. You don’t pull the battery when its almost home, you give it a push to keep it going.
I have heard the scenario about what if we get to the last game, and if we lose we get a better matchup. I don’t believe in playing that way. It shows weakness. Either your in it to win it, or your not.
By no means am I saying run the guys ragged. It looks like Damian is a little run down. Two of the games are against non playoff teams. If the Blazers have a big lead, rest the starters by all means. Stotts rested Dame and co in the second half of yesterday’s game versus Memphis. If gets to the last game or two and it’s set no matter what, rest the starters. Otherwise they need to play. They need to stay invested in winning.
How would you compare our current roster to the late eighties/early nineties team that went to finals twice? – Char C
The late eighties/early nineties teams that went to the finals was polished and deep as a well. Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Clifford Robinson, Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth, Buck Williams, Drazen Petrovic, and Danny Young is a hard group of guys to emulate. Lillard is like a combination of Porter and Drexler. Harkless and Robinson are similar in the energy they bring and the way they play. Aminu could be a mix of Kersey and Duckworth While Nurkic could be a more offensively inclined Williams. Some of those comparisons are pushing it, but hey.
I can see bits and pieces, fragments of those nineties players who helped the Blazers to the finals. But, the current blazers aren’t a complete picture. They are missing a guy or two (even with Nurkic and CJ). They are developing. They aren’t quite polished. But, it feels like there is a possibility that they can eventually get to that level. It’s up to the front office to keep the core together and add the necessary role players, allow for cohesion and growth. There was something quite special about those teams, and there is something special about this one.
Have the Blazers ever faced adversity like they are are now and been successful? – Lee Ann H
I guess it depends on what you mean by success. The Blazers have lost star players before to injury and ended the season with a winning record, as well as made the playoffs. Bill Walton suffered several broken bones his first two seasons with the Blazers, before returning to help them to a championship in 1977.
Despite Losing Sam Bowie to broken legs over the course of three seasons, the Blazers made the playoffs all three years, two with winning records. That’s turning Lemons into lemonade in my book.
The Blazers saw a roster overhaul when Aldridge/Matthews/Batum/Lopez were all gone after the 2014-15 season. The Blazers despite rebuilding have had winning records and made the playoffs the last four seasons. Last season the Blazers were NW Division champions, despite their youth.
The Blazers are used to adversity. They have been dogged by injury and circumstance. They haven’t let it keep them down. They always fight back. And, yes they succeed in many ways. I don’t know that they have ever lost two stars during a season, but the Blazers are showing they will treat this circumstance no different. They will battle on. It’s in their DNA to do so. That’s what being a Trail Blazer is all about.
Even if it gets a better matchup in the playoffs to lose i say we beat the hell out of the Lakers No Matter What. What say you? – kjironman1
You beat the Lakers come hell or high water. You always choose beating the Lakers.
That is the seventh edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
One of the most important positions in basketball, the shooting guard is often the primary scorer. They are depended on to be sharpshooters from the arc, to get to the basket with ease, and use their quickness to steal the ball from opponents. The Blazers have had some of the best shooters, some of the flashiest and quickest, some of the most elite players to play the game.
The Blazers have had 54 shooting guards in their franchise history. Some are hall of famers. Several are All Stars. A select few are Champions. Here at the top 10 (well 10.5) best shooting guards in Portland Trail Blazers franchise history.
18.5 PPG 4.8 RPG 4.1 APG
.436 FG% .811 FT%
17 PER .495 TS% 4.7 WS
Barnett only played 1 season for Portland, it’s first in 1970. He graduated from the University of Oregon, an All American. He played a year with Boston and three with San Diego before he made his way to Portland after being traded for Larry Siegfried following the expansion draft.
Barnett was nicknamed “Crazy Horse” for his
unpredictable antics. He was an animated and entertaining character on and off the court. He scored Portland’s first points. He was the first player to score 30 and 40 points in a game for the Blazers.
Barnett had the best season of his 12 year NBA career in Portland. He averaged 18.5 points per game coming off the bench behind Geoff Petrie.
He is partly to thank for the term Rip City, as announcer Bill Schonely yelled out the phrase following a long jumper he took against the Lakers that landed in an immortal moment. For that alone he belongs on the list.
8.2 PPG 2.2 APG. .483 FG% .796 FT%
12.7 PER .531 TS% 28.2 WS
One of the longest tenured shooting guards for the Blazers, Larry Steele was a staple during the seventies. He spent his entire NBA career with Portland and retired after he left the team. Though his career point per game average isn’t what you would expect from somebody of Steele’s caliber, he often scored in double digits, his career best, a 30 point effort against the Lakers.
Ironically, Steele, was the first steals champion, racking up the most steals in the NBA in 1974, the first year they were recorded. He also is fifth on the all time Blazers steal list and third in steals per game. He was part of the 1977 Blazers Championship team. His #15 Jersey was retired in 1981.
12.3 PPG 1.8 RPG 2 APG
.482 FG% .298 3PT% .811 FT% .491 EFG%
19 PER .535 TS% 6.9 WS
Bates was drafted and cut by the Houston Rockets before joining a CBA (Continental Basketball Association) team in Maine, where he was named rookie of the year and won the Slam Dunk contest. He was then signed by the Trail Blazers.
He had one of the highest known vertical leaps at 44.5 inches. He scored 26 points his first game as a Blazer in 20 minutes of play. He scored 40 points in 32 minutes and 35 points in 25 minutes in a phenomenal points per minute ratio.
Bates got to the playoffs with the Blazers both seasons he played for them. At 27.7 ppg, he has the highest point average in the playoffs of a non starter in NBA history. He has the 10th highest efficiency rating all time for Portland, behind only two other shooting guards, Clyde Drexler and Brandon Roy. He is #1 all time in usage percentage.
He was nicknamed “Dunk” for the electrifying aerial display he put on while throwing it down. He wasn’t a great shooter outside of the paint, and wasn’t your prototypical shooting guard. But, he was a fan favorite, he got the job done, and he was fun as hell to watch doing it.
14.3 PPG 3.6 RPG 2.6 APG
.461 FG% .369 3PT% .870FT% .513 EFG%
16.6 PER .585 TS% 18.6 WS
Traded to Portland after the Blazers lost in the western conference finals to the San Antonio Spurs. A loaded Blazer team was retooled with Isaiah Rider headed to the Hawks in return for Smith. He became a sharp shooter for Portland, shooting nearly 40% from the arc during his time as a Blazer. He won a gold olympic medal with Team USA after his first season in Rip City.
Smith scored 26 points in game six of the 2000 playoffs to help the Blazers force a game 7 in the Western Conference finals vs the Lakers. He was the second leading scorer his first season as a Blazer with 14 ppg. He is 3rd all time in free throw percentage.
15.4 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.2 APG
.438 FG% .394 3PT% .835 FT% .534 EFG%
15.1 PER .575 TS% 31.1 WS
A 3 point assassin and a defensive stopper, Wesley Matthews was a special player for Portland. He brought heart and fight to the Blazers. After outbidding Utah for his services, Matthews came to Portland, initially coming off the bench behind Brandon Roy, and later shared time with CJ McCollum and Will Barton.
He gained the starting spot after Roy suffered from knee injuries. He played at small forward as well as shooting guard. Matthew is number 2 all time in 3 point makes and attempts behind Damian Lillard and 10th all time in percentage. His time as a Blazer came to end, along with an era, with one step. He tore his achilles tendon in a season ending injury in the last year of his contract. Unsure of how he would play after returning, the Blazers opted not to resign him.
16.9 PPG 4.3 RPG 2.7 APG
.435 FG% .350 3PT% .806 FT% .482 EFG%
14.4 PER .523 TS% 13.2 WS
A controversial and problematic enigma, Rider was a star level player without the discipline and maturity to maintain himself or to live up to the immense potential he possessed. He was often in trouble with police and unaccountable as a teammate, often late for practices and team buses, etc. on purpose.
His skill alone puts him here on the list. He averaged 16.9 ppg, but could have averaged in the high 20’s if he pleased. He scored a near career high 40 points in a win over Boston during his first season with the Blazers. He was never, perhaps because of his bad boy image, named to the All Star team, though he by skill at least, deserved it. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t put his antics aside, to become something greater in Portland.
16 PPG 3.2 APG 2.3 RPG
.503 FG% .230 3PT% .508 EFG% .801 FT%
16.9 PER .552 TS% 50 WS
Paxon, the 6’6 shooting guard out of Dayton was drafted by the Blazers with the 12th pick in the 1979 draft. He played 9 seasons, all but two of the eleven of his NBA career in Portland. He was named an All Star twice, in 1983 and again in 1984. When he left Portland, he was the All time lead scorer, but has since slipped to 7, though only one shooting guard, Clyde Drexler (number 1) sits in front of him.
Jim has amassed several spots on the Blazers all time list. He is 4th in field goals, 3rd in 2pt field goals, 6th in games played, 4th in steals, 7th in points, 9th in free throws, 9th in minutes, 8th in all time win shares, and 8th in all time offensive win shares, again, all only behind one shooting guard, Clyde Drexler.
17.9 PPG 3.1 RPG 2.9 APG
.456 FG% .402 3PT% .840 FT% .522EFG%
17.2 PER .553 TS% 27.9 WS
McCollum is a speedy high scoring guard who can shoot off the catch or the dribble from the anywhere, and though he tends to be streaky is a 40% 3pt shooter, one of the best in Portland’s franchise history. He can also attack the basket at will, especially on transition but often finds himself in a crowded paint and becomes prone to turnovers.
He is a protostar next to Lillards burning sun. He has yet to make the All star team, but is Portland’s second highest scorer and has yet to reach his full potential. Though his season average is around 18 ppg, he often scores in the twenties and higher. He is one of four Portland shooting guards to join the 50 point club, along with Geoff Petrie, Clyde Drexler, and Brandon Roy. He did so against the Bulls in the 2017-18 season. He has scored 40+ two other times, not to mention multiple 30 point games.
McCollum in his sixth year is 3rd in Blazers all time 3pt field goals, 4th in 3pt field goal attempts, 6th in 3pt percentage, and 4th in usage percentage.
21.8 PPG 2.8 RPG 4.6 APG
.455 FG% .805 FT%
15.8 PER .502 TS% 26.1 WS
Geoff Petrie was Portland’s first starting shooting guard and first all star. He is the only shooting guard in Blazers franchise history to score 2,000 points his rookie season (and only two other guards Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson have done it). He spent his whole NBA career with the Trail Blazers.
He is another of four of Portland’s shooting guards to join the 50 point club, the first to do so. He scored 51 against Houston twice. He also scored 40+ points 12 times in his years in Portland. His 21.8 points per game is the highest Blazer career average of any of Portland’s shooting guards. His jersey #45 was retired by Portland in 1981. Though he and teammate Sidney Wicks were a near perfect duo, Petrie never made it to the playoffs and never saw the promised land.
19 PPG 4.3 RPG 4.7 APG
.460 FG% .352 3PT% .801 FT% .493 EFG%
20.1 PER .549 TS% 37.5 WS
Roy was acquired on draft night 2006(in which the Blazers also traded for LaMarcus Aldridge) in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye (I bet Minnesota regrets that) Nicknamed “B-Roy” “The Roy Wonder” and “The Natural” among others, for his elite level of play that he made seem so easy and intuitive, Brandon Roy was a star from the get go.
He scored 20 points in his debut against Seattle. He was selected as rookie of the year, despite only playing 57 games. Only two other Trail Blazers had won the award before him: Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks.
Roy, like Lillard was known for his accolades in the clutch. He hit many game winners at the buzzer, including a shot with eight tenths of second left on the clock against the Rockets on November 6th, 2008. That same season he joined the fifty point club, scoring 52 points against the Phoenix Suns. He helped the Blazers end a five year drought, and saw 3 playoffs with them.
Brandon Roy was a highly talented player. He was the newest hope of the Blazers to win it all again. With LaMarcus Aldridge, Wes Matthews, and Co it seemed inevitable. But, his knees couldn’t take the beating. One injury to them after another and several surgeries to try and save them, spelled the end of his career. But, fans are forever thankful for all he gave.
20.8 PPG 6.2 RPG 5.7 APG 2 SPG
.478 FG% .373 3PT% .789 FT% .494 EFG%
21.3 PER .545 TS% 108.7 WS
Clyde “The Glide” Drexler is unanimously Portland’s best shooting guard of all time. He is an 8 time all star with Portland. He is an olympic gold medalist with the Dream Team and is one of six Blazers to be named to the Naismith Hall of Fame. He led the Blazers in 1989-90 and 1991-92 to the NBA finals, first against the Pistons, then against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. He also led the Blazers to their most winning season (1990-1991) 63-19.
Drexler was drafted by the Blazers in 1983 with the 14th pick. He leads Portland in 20 categories on the all time list, including points, steals, free throws, games and minutes played, and win shares. He had triple doubles in 21 games. He joined the 50 point club in a 147-142 win over the Kings in ‘89. He had 12 40+ games. In his third season he had a near quadruple double (a feat only 4 players have accomplished: Nate Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson) with 26 points, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 9 rebounds.
Clyde Drexler was a high flying dunker. He could shoot the 3. He could rebound, steal, assist…he could do it all. He is often compared to Michael Jordan and came in 2nd to him in MVP voting in 1992. His career and achievements place him not only with the best Blazers, but with the NBA elite. His #22 Jersey was retired in 2001 and sits high in rafters of the Moda Center for all to see.
7 PPG 1.1 RPG 1.1 APG
.480 FG% .438 3PT% .824 FT% .515 EFG%
15.5 PER .573 TS% 3.1 WS
Petrović was one of the best shooting guards to play the game. His list of achievements in Euro and FIBA leagues runs a mile long. He was a highly energetic and aggressive player who attacked at will and was apt at creating his own shot. He medaled three times in the Olympics and beat out Arvydas Sabonis for the 1986 World Championship MVP. He is one of the few Blazers to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball hall of fame.
It can be argued he belongs in the top 10. He is definitely one of the best shooting guards to have played for Portland. Had the Blazers used him right, he might have been placed near the top of the list. The Trail Blazers took away his strengths and had him play off the bench in limited minutes, mainly throwing up threes from the arc. Not that he was a bad three point shooter, he shot 43% for his career, 4th in NBA history behind Steve Kerr, Hubert Davis, and Seth Curry. He did score a game high 24 points off the bench in a win over the Kings. I can only imagine if they had moved Drexler to Small forward and started him.
He showed sparks of his greatness in New Jersey, and would no doubt have become an All Star, but Petrovic, always moving on the basketball court with boundless energy, died in a car crash on the autobahn, ironically still, sleeping in the passenger seat, at only 28.
10.4 PPG 2.2 RPG 3 APG
.458 FG% .374 3PT% .825 FT% .522 EFG%
16.2 PER .555 TS% 11.4 WS
Ainge came to Portland a two time NBA Champion and All Star. A volatile and temperamental player, he was known for getting under other players skins, and often into fights. He certainly was not one to back away. He was a high powered offensive player, a pure shooter, especially from deep.
A native of Oregon, Ainge was welcomed by fans with open arms. His game high in Portland was 27 points in his second and final season with the Blazers against the Lakers. He helped lead the Blazers to the NBA finals in the 1991-92 season, but couldn’t help them get passed Michael Jordan and the Bulls. He considered staying after his second season, but ultimately signed with Phoenix.
12 PPG 3.1 RPG 3.7 APG
.402 FG% .349 3PT% .843 FT% .471 EFG%
15.2 PER .529 TS% 18.4 WS
Anderson was Portland’s starting shooting guard in the wake of the late nineties/early naughts run at the championship. Acquired in a trade for Steve Smith along with Steve Kerr, Anderson was an veteran guard1. He was an adept shooter from the arc and got his share at the basket. He was also a proficient ball handler. He was however plagued by injuries for most of his time in Portland, and missed more games then he played. His most impressive game for the Blazers came in his second season, when he put together a 31 point, 14 rebound game in a win over Golden State.
3.8 PPG 1.8 RPG 0.8 APG
.391 FG% .198 3PT% .412 EFG% .768 FT%
10 PER .448 TS% 0.1 WS
Barton is a case of the Blazers giving up on a player too soon. Stuck behind Matthews and McCollum the athletic guard was rarely used, and was eventually traded to Denver, where his numbers have jumped and he has become a serviceable starter. He had his best game as a Blazer during his last season in Portland, scoring 23 points to go with 10 rebounds in a win over the Clippers.
13.4 PPG 2.3 APG
.467 FG% .200 3PT% .825 FT% .469 EFG%
13.2 PER .510 TS% 9.8 WS
Brewer, a high school star and All American was
drafted by Portland with the 7th pick in the 1978 draft, Brewer spent the first three seasons of a long career in Portland. His 2nd season with the Blazers was his best, in which he averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He scored a game high 33 points against the Rockets that year, not mention two 30 point games his rookie season. He made the NBA All Rookie 1st Team in 1979.
9.3 PPG 2.1 APG
.438 FG% .767 FT%
12.7 PER .467 TS% 2.5 WS
Gilliam was a key cog of the Blazers 1977 Championship team, in what was the last season of his career. What a way to go out. He was integral part of Portland’s sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. He finished with 24 points, and propelled Portland to a 105-101 victory in the series winning game 4.
9.1 PPG 2.5 RPG 2.2 APG
.394 FG% .364 3PT% .508 EFG% .855 FT%
14.1 PER .552 TS% 12.9 WS
If wouldn’t be right not throw out some respect to the Spanish guard who quickly became a fan favorite with his three goggles and his high speed play. Fernández, a highly accomplished Eurostar, with several Olympic gold medals, had a NBA career high 26 points as a Blazer, in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. A long career in the NBA seemed imminent for him, but he was never the same after being leveled from behind by Trevor Ariza on a dunk attempt.
Jim Jackson (1998-1999)
Gerald Henderson (2015-16)
Juan Dixon (2006- 2007)
Bob Verga (1973-1974)
Steve Jones (1975-1976)
Charlie Yelverton (1961-1972)
Johnny Davis (1976-78)
Charlie Davis (1972-1974)
Arron Afflalo (2014- 2015)
Allen Crabbe (2013 – 2017)
Possessing the mobility and quickness of a shooting guard and the athleticism and strength of a power forward, the small forward position is the most multifaceted and balanced position on a basketball team. The Portland Trail Blazers has had 60 small forwards in it’s 49 year history. It’s the only position on the team that hasn’t had a player named as an All Star (Though some were named All Stars before or after their tenure with Portland).
Here are the top 10 Blazers Small Forwards
16 ppg 6.7 rpg 3.4 apg
16.7 per .522TS% 10.6 WS
A star small forward in high school and college, Johnson still holds scoring records for his alma mater. He averaged 27.9 points per game his final year. He was drafted by the Cavaliers and was named an All Star 2 of his three seasons on the team (he was the cavs 1st all star)
He played for three seasons in Portland from 1973-76 until he was traded for Steve Hawes, after Bill Walton’s injury. He was one of the original point forwards. He brought the ball up court and controlled the offense. He could pass with precision. He had a keen and focused court vision. He also played with the aggression and intensity of a big man.
13.5 ppg 3.5 rpg 2.3 apg
14.7 per .543 TS% 11.4 WS
McKenzie was taken by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 expansion draft. He was part of the inaugural team, one of the Blazers first small forwards, and played for Portland for three seasons towards the middle of his career.
He scored 19 points in Portland’s debut game to help lead the Blazers to their first win, not to mention 19 points in three of the Blazers first four games. He notched a career high 31 points in his second season with Portland against the Cavaliers. He was the ideal counterpart to Geoff Petrie and Rick Adelman. Though he didn’t get to the playoffs with Portland, he was a big part in their fast breaking high atmospheric play, that got them noticed around the league. He scored 1000 plus points in each of his first two seasons with Portland, in which he played all 164 games . He was traded seven games into his third season.
9.5 ppg 7.1 rpg 1.5 apg 1 spg
12.4 per .535 TS% 15 WS
The Chief has arrived (Al Farouq translated) on this list of 10 small forwards for the Blazers. While Aminu has played most of his career at small forward, the Blazers have integrated him as their starting 4. He was signed in 2015 after Lamarcus Aldridge left.
He has brought length, athleticism, and speed to Portland’s lineup. He plays better attacking the basket, often hangs around the arc, shooting three pointers when he can get open. He still needs to find better consistency there, but is shooting 35%. He can be a conduit for the Blazers fast break offense, but still has work to do on ball handling on the move.
Aminu is at his best rebounding and playing defense. His reach and quickness allow him to beat opponents on the boards and to record second chance points. He is a versatile player, can guard multiple positions, and often defends the best players on opposing teams. He netted a career high 28 points in his first season with Portland in a win against the Boston Celtics.
13.3 ppg 4.7 rpg 2.6 apg
17.3 per .530 TS% 19 WS
Snagged by the Blazers after he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons (much to their regret),Wells was a highly talented forward/guard. His potential was stunted by bad influence and immaturity, but all the same he possessed a demonstrative ability on both ends of the floor.
He holds the Blazers record for most points scored in a playoff game with 45, which he netted on the way to leading Portland back from an 0-3 deficit against the Mavericks to force a game seven. He scored a career high 37 points in his fifth season with Portland in a win against the Pistons, the very team that drafted and traded him.
He had the talent and skill to be a star, but he couldn’t quite put it together. His personality was to loud and distracting for it to happen for him. He found maturity later in his career in Memphis, and regret that he couldn’t have been something greater in Portland.
11.2 ppg 5.1 rpg 3 apg
15.2 per .568 TS% 37.4 WS
The French forward was nabbed from the Rockets in a trade on draft night in 2008. He was a starter 4 games into his 2nd season. His freakish length, athleticism, and agility enabled his ability to chase opponents across the court and swat them from behind at the last moment. He also was able to use his wingspan and quickness to get to to basket and score with ease.
Though he is an apt 3 point shooter (he shot 35% from the arc during his time in Portland. He shot 40% in his second season) he was asked to rely on it too much at times for the Blazers, taking away from his other capabilities. Batum had a career high 35 points during his fifth season in a two point overtime win against the Rockets. He has had a handful of 30+ point games in his time as a Blazer. He is one of three Blazers to pull off a 5×5 with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 5 Blocks (The other two…Bill Walton and Jusuf Nurkic)
11.4 ppg 5.3 rrpg 5.0 apg
15.6 per .524 TS 20.5
Pippen of course best known for the many championships he won playing next to Michael Jordan, was part of Portland’s late nineties early naughts run at the championship. He was a point forward (often starting at point guard), a solid veteran presence, and an integral part of Portland’s attempt to balance a volatile group of players, whose many personalities and egos threatened to, and inevitably overtook ability and talent.
He came to Portland a six time NBA champion and seven time All Star, not to mention an eight time defensive first team player, and a member of the Dream Team, the most magnanimous of USA
But, he also came with twelve years of wear and tear. He wasn’t near the same player he was in his heyday with Chicago, nursing several injuries including a meddling elbow injury. But, he still showed sparks of his prime self. He spent 4 of his last 5 seasons in Portland, helping the Blazers achieve 4 playoff appearances, including a trip to the western conference finals in his first season with the team.
9.2 ppg 4.5 rpg 3.0 apg
14.8 per .560 TS% 30.4 WS
Achievements:
1977 NBA Champion
1978 NBA All Defensive Second Team
#30 retired
The starting small forward for Portland’s 1977 championship team, Bob Gross played eight of his nine seasons in the NBA with Portland. He was picked by the Blazers in the second round of the 1975 NBA draft. He made the NBA All Defensive First Team in 1978. His Jersey #30 was retired by the Blazers in 2008.
Gross was the consummate small forward. He was the tributary for which the Blazers offense flowed. He was super glue, the cohesive bond that helped mold a balanced team into a contender and a champion.
He was the ultimate competitor on both ends of the floor. An original diamond in the rough. He could move with and without the ball with the utmost/greatest poise. He could shoot the ball with ease and was an excellent finisher on fast breaks. He was an exceptional passer and had a knack for finding cutters at the basket. He was an unremitting defender. He had an eye for the bigger picture. He has career highs of 27 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists, 6 steals, and 4 blocks with Portland.
17.2 ppg 6.9 rpg 2.2 apg
17.7 Per .592 TS% 34 WS
Natt played time at both the three and four but with the Blazers he was primarily a small forward. That didn’t stop him from going inside. He went into the paint like a piece of iron. He scored the majority of his points close to the basket.
His nickname was “Pit Bull” and for very good reason. He was an attack dog. He was the epitome of tough. He would have went against Paul Bunyan in the post if he got the chance. Backing down from bigger players wasn’t in his DNA. He prized the challenge and forced his way to the basket with an imposing strength.
He averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds a game his first year in Portland. He matched a career high 39 points that season. He was traded for Kiki Vandeweghe (along with Fat Lever, Wayne Cooper, 1984 2nd, 1985 1st) after 4 seasons in a blockbuster trade. Though Vandeweghe would prove to be a star level player in Portland, Denver got a steal. Natt became an Allstar and helped them advance to the western conference finals.
23.5 ppg 5.3 rpg 2.7 apg
18.9 per .600 TS% 33.9 WS
The Blazers lost a junkyard dog in Calvin Natt, but they gained a high powered shooter in Kiki Vandeweghe. Where Natt offered defense, rebounding, and scoring at the basket, Vandeweghe was a high profile perimeter shooter. He averaged 20+ points a game all five of his seasons with Portland. He shot 40% from three point land. And had a game high 47 points in a win against detroit his first season. Alongside Clyde Drexler, he made one half of a potent duo, helping lead Portland to the playoffs all five seasons, getting them to the 2nd round his first year.
12.1 ppg 6.1 rpg 2.2 apg
15.9 per .521 TS% 59 WS
Achievements:
2 NBA Finals appearances: 1990, 1992
Mercy Mercy Jerome Kersey! Playing in Portland for eleven seasons, Kersey is the longest tenured Blazer small forward. He was a steal in the second round of the 1984 draft with the 46th pick. He fell so far because he attended a lesser known college, at Longwood. But, if you looked closely as the Blazers did, you would see he set records there in nearly every category.
Kersey came off the bench his first two seasons and was a 6th man contributor. He started in his fourth season and never looked back. Kersey
was a beacon of energy on the court. He stripped defenders, dove for balls, tore down rebounds, threw down powerhouse dunks that shook the rim and reverberated within the cheers of the fans. He was the grit and the grind. He was the backbone of the late eighties early nineties golden years team, which featured a nucleus of Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Buck Williams, and Kevin Duckworth.
Kersey helped lead the Blazers to 11 playoff appearances, including two trips to the finals and three western conference finals, with 5 seasons of 50+ wins. He came in second behind Michael Jordan in the 1987 slam dunk contest. He scored a career high 36 points in 1988, his fourth season, to go with 8 rebounds in a 127-125 win against Philadelphia. He is still on several of the Blazers all time record boards among Portland’s best.
After his playing career he served as Director of Player Programs for the Blazers before becoming an assistant coach with the Bucks under Terry Porter. He later returned to Portland as a Director of Alumni Relations, until his untimely death at a young 52 from a blood clot, following a knee surgery. He will live on in glory through his storied career, a legend in his own right.
14.2 ppg 7 rpg 2.6 apg
16.7 per .569 TS% 6.1 WS
Wallace was nicknamed Crash because his highly energetic and competitive nature, which often led to him sacrificing his body for loose balls, rebounds, and very physical defense. Most of his accolades came before his time in Portland, notably during his time with the Bobcats. He played for a season and two thirds with Portland before being traded for a package that included the draft pick which become Damian Lillard.
During his time in Portland, he provided much needed offense in the absence of injured Brandon Roy. He scored 40 points, two shy of his career high in his first season with Portland against the Thunder.
13 ppg 4.6 rpg 2 apg 1.1 bpg
15.5 per .514 TS% 3.3 WS
Miles career was hampered by his no care attitude and his immaturity. He was a kid living the big life and it showed through his antics on and off the court, that establish him as part of the not so dignified Jail Blazers.
Still, undeniably he was a highly talented player, with a seemingly superhuman athleticism. He was known for his ability to run the floor and his high flying dunks. He had a career high 47 points to go with 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists in a showcase of his talent and ability.
10.6 ppg 7.3 rpg 2.1 apg
12.3 per .472 TS% 2.5 WS
Another original Trail Blazer, Gary Gregor played both small and power forward with Portland. He played at the three most of his NBA career, after playing as a power forward/center at the University of South Carolina. At 6’7 he played more like a big man than a wing, scoring the majority of his points closer to the basket.
Gregor played for Portland their first two seasons in the league. He achieved two 28 point games with Portland, a point shy of his career high. He also had a 24 point, 20 rebound game in a win against the Warriors his first season with the Blazers.
9.7 ppg 3.7 rpg
16.1 per .547 TS% WS 16.1
Patterson perhaps unfortunately known better for his criminal record than his ability on the basketball court, was a skilled forward. His true potential as a player was never realized due to his erratic behavior.
Still Patterson was an apt shooter around the basket and a solid defender. He foolishly dubbed himself the Kobe stopper. Though he didn’t really ever stop Bryant, Patterson often limited his output. Ruben was a lockdown defender who used his speed and athleticism to stifle opponents. He scored a franchise high 31 points in his second season with the Blazers.
4.3 ppg (8.0) 1.7 rppg (3.2)
12.3 per (15.3 per).553 TS% (.624 )
Layman has played three seasons with Portland in limited minutes. At .614 this season he has one of the highest true shooting percentages of any Blazers small forward. He scored 17 points in eight minutes during his fourth quarter debut against the Warriors. He became the second Blazer to hit 5 threes in his first game. The other: Damian Lillard. Layman was a long ball shy of matching Clifford Robinson’s six three pointers in one quarter. He scored a career high 25 points this season vs the Heat. He is lightning quick, a skilled cutter, and a highly energetic player. He has the potential to climb the top 10 list like he climbs the basket.
Travis Outlaw
Martell Webster
Walt Whitman
Stacey Augmon
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
A month and half shy of the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers (39-26) found themselves playing high in the NBA atmosphere, in a game thick with implication. They could not overcome the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-25), losing in overtime, despite a herculean effort by Damian Lillard. With the defeat, the Blazers end the season series with the Thunder, swept like a kitchen floor. They currently sit in fifth place, just outside of home court advantage.
It was a heartbreaker to say the least. It cut’s deep. In a nationally televised game with 23 lead changes and 16 ties, the Thunder proved to be the better team, yet again. Lillard finished with a season high 51 points, to lead the Blazers. CJ McCollum contributed 25 himself, for a combined 76 points between Portland’s dynamic backcourt duo. Russell Westbrook and Paul George combined for 69. Jusuf Nurkic was ejected late in the fourth quarter, paving the way for the Thunder to abscond with the win.
After a two quarter dogfight, the Blazers went into the locker room at the break up by three points. During the TNT half time show Kenny Smith remarkably predicted that the Blazers would make the western conference finals against the Warriors. Charles Barkley upped the ante, asserting the Blazers would make the NBA finals, with Kenny whimsically agreeing. They went as far as to write it down on their predictions board with Charles noting his prediction about the Lakers not making the playoffs, as if to prove his point.
As the third quarter began, instead of calling the game, commentators Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan decided to argue the point, having a good laugh at the idea. Miller seemed to openly mock the Blazers while Harlan conceded the possibility, however modest it may be. It made for a rather strange spectacle, the young Trail Blazers fighting to be taken seriously, battling the Thunder on the court in a tightly contested game, ridiculed by a broadcasting crew on national television. It felt more at times, like a comedy central roast than an NBA game. I was waiting for Jeff Ross to show up and start telling $#@% jokes.
The second half like the first was back and forth until the end of the fourth when Jusuf Nurkic was elbowed in the face by Paul George in a no call, that ended in the Thunder taking the lead with thirteen seconds left. The Blazers argued about it with the refs to no avail. On the other end of the floor, Nurkic was fouled hard on a rebound by Paul George, who baited Nurkic with a bevy of words. The trap worked, with Nurkic getting in George’s face and placing his forehead against the Thunder stars. Reggie Miller groused about it being a headbutt, while the officials reviewed the play. Nurkic was gone, and with it the Blazers chances at winning. They managed to make it to overtime, after a strange ending to regulation, only to succumb to the Thunder in overtime.
The Blazers could have won this game. It is easy to place blame on the officials for their missed/strange calls, claim that Kenny and Charles jinxed them with their half time Nostradamus bit, or put it on fatigue from a two week, seven game road trip.But, in the end the fault lies with the Terry Stotts and his players. The Blazers didn’t make adjustments. They missed nine free throws. They turned the ball over 14 times. Outside of Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic, no one showed up. They took 41 threes, making only nine, and got destroyed in the paint 70-48. The Blazers got beat 28-16 in second chance points.
It was plain to see the the Blazers were not at their best, they made many costly mistakes. They allowed the Thunder to get in their heads. They allow themselves to become victims of circumstance. They have to be better than this, if there is any chance to advance pass the first round of the playoffs. They need to possess a winner’s mentality. They need to play smart, invest in the game, not in the officials or the opponent. This loss should remind them of the chip on their shoulder. I implore them to dust it off, shine that bad boy up, and get to digging deep.
The Blazers have had fifty eight power forwards, including 31 who were starters during their time in Portland. Several of them also spent time at center, but predominately played at the four. Power forward has been one of Portland’s stronger positions throughout the years, though perhaps not recently. Sixteen Trail Blazers have been selected as All Stars (42 selections total) and six of those selections were power forwards. From bruisers to rebound kings, to high rolling scorers, Portland had a bit of it all at the four.
Here is the list of the top 10 power forwards in Blazers history.
(1997-00) 3 Seasons
10.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.3 apg (WS 15.7, PER 16 TS% .558)
Achievements:
1994-95 NBA All Rookie First Team 1995
Of players dedicated to their work on the court, Grant’s ethic was unmatched. He outworked everyone around him. His energy and determination provided a solid foundation for his play. He was a a fierce and dynamic force on the defensive end of the floor. At 6’9 he lacked some height in the paint, but he never let it stop him. He ate rebounds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
He was super glue in Portland, and was there for the late nineties – early naughts run for the Championship. He was on a team full of talent, perhaps too much. He was there for the infamous 00 WCF’s, where the Blazers came back to force seven games against the Lakers only to lose in that mind boggling series closing fourth quarter. It was the day Basketball died. (Well, for Blazers fans anyway)
Grant was moved before the next season, traded to Miami, in one of the worst moves the Blazers have ever made. It is a shame we couldn’t have seen that team go at it for another year, to allow the chemistry to mesh a bit more. Perhaps egos would have given away to a better unity, allowing the Blazers to win it all. We shall never know. We do know Grant was a fighter in all his days with the Blazers, and is a fighter today, as he battles Parkinson’s disease. If his war with Parkinson’s is anything like the war he waged on the courts of the Rose Garden, then that disease is in big trouble.
(1972-1979) 7 Seasons
11.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.5 apg (WS 22.7 PER 15.4, TS% .519)
Achievements:
NBA Champion: 1977 Blazers
NBA All Rookie 1st Team 1973 Blazers
#36 retired by Blazers
Neal played his entire seven year career in Portland, and was part of the championship team in 1977. His rookie year he averaged 13.4 points and 11.8 rebounds(including a 33 point, 22 rebound performance against the 76ers) and made the NBA All Rookie 1st team. He was known for the painstakingly hard work he put in and the energy he brought to the game. He played in all but 2 games his first three seasons. In the next three seasons, he averaged 62 games. Neal played only four games in his 7th and final season with the team. His career was ultimately cut short because of a nagging knee injury (a continuation of the Blazers center curse?) But, he remains one of Portland’s best big men.
(1982-1987) 5 Seasons
11.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.5 apg (WS 20, PER 14.5, TS% .569)
Carr possessed a tenacious and ebullient worth ethic. When he came, he came to play. That was who he was on the court and off. It was wired into his personality. Carr was a highly energetic player. He had the heart and he had the motor. He played with an aggressive passion and it was contagious. His teammates fed off of it, and it made them better, just to be around him.
He won a gold medal with team USA in the 1976 Olympics, one of only 10 Blazers to do so. He was drafted by the Lakers and played for 5 seasons in the NBA before he made it to Portland. He belonged in Rip City, and retired here, playing five seasons for the Blazers. Unlike many other players who make it to Portland towards the end of their journey, their best playing days behind them, Carr still had some of the best playing days of his career in store. He helped Portland to four winning seasons and five playoff appearances, including two semi finals.
Kenny Carr is now the owner of Carr Construction.
(2001-07) 6 Seasons
16 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.5 apg (WS 22.4 PER 19.5, TS% .466)
Achievements:
2X All Star (2010, 2013)
All NBA Third Team 2011
NBA Most Improved Player 2004
Zach Randolph one of the last Blazers players to unfortunately be dubbed a Jail Blazer, was drafted by the Blazers in 2001 and entered his career in the NBA in an era of Portland Basketball that hurt more than helped him. While there was good influence, there was also bad. It was the latter that drew in Randolph. He was like a plant trying to grow in a shaded room. That’s not to say he didn’t play well in Portland, as remains one of the Blazers best power forwards. It is to say, he had the potential to be even better. As it is, he was damned good player. He had one of the best post games of Blazers big men.
His best season in Portland was his last, in which he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds a game. He scored a career high 43 points that year, ironically against the Memphis Grizzlies, who he would later play for, and where he would become an All Star. A bit of experience and cultivation go a long way.
(1989-97) 8 Seasons
16.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg (WS 46.8 PER 15.6, TS% .513)
Achievements:
1X NBA All Star 1994
2X NBA All Defensive Second Team (2000, 2002)
NBA Sixth Man of the Year 1993
One of the most versatile players to don a Blazers jersey, the 6’10 Robinson played in three different positions for Portland, based on need. But, really he was a power forward. He could do it all, run the floor, score at the basket, block shots, rebound like nobodies business, etc etc. He was a virtual renaissance man on the court.
He fell to the Blazers in the 2nd rnd of the 1989 draft, wrapped and tied in a bow. Other teams passed on him because they rushed to judgment against his personality. But, hey let’s thank those rumors and the dimwit GMs that believed them, because it netted Portland one of the best forwards in its franchise history.
In his first season he was the second leading scorer and the Blazers made it to the finals only to be defeated by the Pistons. In his second season, the Blazers made their second WCF appearance. In his third season, the Blazers again made the finals to lose to Michael Jordan’s Bulls. His fourth through seventh seasons, he was up at twenty points per game. He had a career high of forty points during the 1992-93 seasons against the Jazz. He was named the Blazers first and so far only sixth man of the year in 1993 and became the Blazers 12th All Star.
(1989-94) 5 Seasons
10.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.1 spg (WS 50.4 PER 13.7, TS% .592)
Achievements:
3X All Star (1982, 1983, 1986)
All NBA 2nd Team 1983
2X NBA All Defensive First Team (1990, 1991)
2X NBA All Defensive Second Team (1988, 1992)
NBA Rookie of the Year 1982
NBA All Rookie First Team 1982
Buck Williams was selected to Team USA 1980, but never got to play in the Olympics because the boycott against Russia. It is a shame because there is a good chance he would be among the ten other Blazers players who have received a gold medal. Williams was drafted by the Nets and played 8 seasons there before being traded to Portland for Sam Bowie. While it hurt to see Bowie go, no pun intended, Buck Williams was an elite power forward.
Williams was known for his astounding ability to rebound. He always seemed hungry for the boards, and averaged around 10 a game throughout his career. He is fourth in both offensive and defensive rebounds all time for the Blazers, and 5th in rebounds overall. He held the other side of the coin too, and remains 6th all time in Blazer field goal percentage with .550. He has the best true shooting percentage of any Blazers power forward at .594%.
He scored a franchise high 26 points to go with 20 rebounds against the Orlando Magic in his first season as a Blazer. In his first three seasons, he helped lead Portland to three straight western conference final appearances and 2 finals appearances. Buck Williams complimented Drexler and Porter well, on a team that also had Jerome Kersey and Clifford Robinson. They didn’t lose for a lack of talent, that’s for sure.
Williams served as an assistant coach under Nate McMillan.
(1971-76) 5 Seasons
22.3 ppg 10.3 rebounds, 4.1 apg (61.3 WS, 18.9 PER, TS% .507)
Achievements:
NBA Rookie of the Year 1971-72
4X All Star (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
NBA All Rookie First Team 1972
Wicks, The Blazers first star power forward, was a already a star in college where he won three back to back championships with UCLA. He was named the Most Outstanding player of the final four in 1970. He was drafted by Portland, who bought the pick from Cleveland (what the hell were they thinking) and was a star as soon as he hit the court as a Blazer.
He paired perfectly with Blazers shooting guard Geoff Petrie, and could have made the run for a championship had they put a few better players around them. Wick averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds his rookie season. He scored a career high 38 points, three times, twice in his second season, and once in his third. He still holds the Blazers record in rebounds in a game, with 27.
Wicks finds himself on several of the Blazers all time record lists, including 1st in minutes played, 2nd in rebounding, and third in points per game. He set the bar high for Portland’s power forwards to come, and remains the cream of the crop.
(1996-2004) 8 Seasons
16.8 ppg, 7rpg, 2 apg, 1.3 bpg (61.3 WS, 18.2 PER, TS% .555)
4X NBA All Star(2000. 2001. 2006, 2008)
NBA Champion 2004 Pistons
NBA All Rookie Second Team 1996
Rasheed Wallace is perhaps one of the best big men to play the game. He was born to play basketball. He had so much potential and talent, but it was wasted at the hands of his emotions. He wore his heart on his sleeve, especially when it came to interactions with officials, who he thought were terribly unfair to him. If they were, he made it easy for them. He argued every call, and it earned him an infamous record. The most technical fouls in a season, with 41. If he could have just set aside the drama, we may have seen him at his best. He somehow made it work in Detroit.
As it is, he remains the second highest Blazers power forward in win shares at 61, and the 5th overall in the history of the franchise. He led Portland to seven straight playoff appearances, including two back to back western conference finals appearance, where the Blazers lost to the Spurs and the Lakers respectively. But, as Rasheed said, “both teams played hard..”
He was traded to the Hawks after 8 seasons with the Blazers, and then rerouted to the Pistons, who went on to win the championship that post season. That hurts. Still, Wallace carved a place for him self in the echelons of Portland’s Power Forwards.
(2006-15) 9 Seasons
19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1 bpg ( 69.4 WS, 20.3 PER, TS% .532)
Achievements:
7X All Star (2012-16, 2018, 2019)
2X All NBA Second Team (2015, 2018)
3X All NBA Third Team (2011, 214, 2016)
NBA All Rookie First Team 2007
Aldridge, though one of the least liked Blazers these days, is still without doubt one of the best power forwards to wear Portland’s colors. He has the highest win share of any Blazers big man (69), and sits in third all time in that category, behind only Drexler and Porter. He played in Portland for nine years, the longest tenure of any starting power forward.
While many will remember him for walking away into the sunset, without looking back, after swearing to the fans, that he would remain “a Blazer for life,” he did have one the best careers of Blazers power forwards to date. He still owns two all time records, defensive rebounds and total rebounds, with 3698 and 5434 respectively. He is second in four field goal records behind only Clyde Drexler. His franchise high in points was 44, which came in his second to last season with Portland, in a win against the Nuggets (His career high is 56, which he scored this season with the Spurs) In his last five seasons with the Blazers he averaged 20+ points a game. In his last two seasons he averaged a double double.
Aldridge was perhaps one of if not the best shooters from the Elbow of Portland’s power forwards, but his mid-range jumper was also one of his weaknesses. He relied to much on the shot, and never focused enough on his post game. He lacked the willingness to bring his game to the highest level. There was an existential fragility about him. That said, he was still a star in his own right. He did a bit of it all, scoring, rebounding, blocking shots. He was an All Star his last four seasons with the Blazers. He helped lead Portland to five playoff appearances including a trip to the semi finals.
It is hard to be contented with with LaMarcus Aldridge and his place on this list. There remains a lingering disappointment among fans, in the way his career ended in Portland. But, absent and regardless of emotion, Aldridge is one of the elite power forwards in Blazers franchise history, like it or not.
(1976-80, 1987-88) 5 Seasons
15.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.5 apg ( WS 23.6, 16.7 PER, TS% .508)
Achievements:
Champion 1977 Portland
4X NBA All Star (1977-79, 1983)
All NBA Second Team 1978
NBA All Defensive First Team 1978
NBA All Defensive 2nd Team 1979
Maurice Lucas, dubbed “The Enforcer” due to his fierce and aggressive predisposition to impose his will in the paint, remains one of Portland’s most dominate big men. He was the Blazers intimidator, a force to be reckoned with. The bruiser of bruisers. He would pull down rebounds with greatest authority and knock opposing players down like bowling pins in the process.
During that 1976-77 season, Lucas averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds a game ( His career high of 41 points came that year) and more or less carried those numbers into the playoffs, to lead the Blazers to their one and only Championship. Where Bill Walton was the leader and the swiss army knife, Lucas was the brawn. Where Walton was the fire that lit the fuse, Lucas was the dynamite. Ironically, Lucas was a gentle guy outside the game, but when he was on the court, there was no equal for him. Bill Walton once called him, “the greatest Blazer of all time”, and with that, I call him, the greatest Blazers power forward of all time. Lucas embodied all of what it means to be a Trail Blazer. The heart, the passion for the game, the physical innovation to the position. He did more then leave a mark, he tore one out.
Jermaine O’Neal
Trading O’Neal will always be one of Portland’s greatest mistakes. Taking his career in it’s entirety into count, he should be on this list. He only averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds with Portland in 4 seasons of play. His talented and potential were buried on the Portland’ s bench. He was played sparingly and forgotten because of his youth. When he did play, it was mostly at power forward, though later in his career he played at the center position.
The Blazers traded him for Dale Davis and he became a star in Indiana. With the Pacers he was voted as an All Star 6 of out of 8 Seasons, and All NBA 3 of those seasons. He developed into a juggernaut on both ends of the floor, while the elder Davis gave Portland the last of what he had in the tank. O’Neal deserves the recognition he never got during his time in Portland. He’ll get it here.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
While it could be argued that Abdur-Rahim should be up around 9 or 10 on the list, he was only in Portland for 2 seasons, after being acquired in the trade for Rasheed Wallace, along with Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau. He could easily be included in the top 10 Small Forward list, as he played at the three a good portion of his career. In his first year in Portland, he came mid season and only played in 32 games. He played 54 games in his second and final season in Portland averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds a game. He reached a franchise high 27 points twice in one month. Before Portland, in Atlanta and Vancouver (Grizzlies), he averaged 20 points a game to go with about 9 rebounds. He was a two time All Star and an Olympic Gold Medallist. The Blazers were looking to go young after the 2004-05 seasons and rebuild, so they let him walk away after failing to trade him to the Nets.
Shawn Kemp
The Shawn Kemp who came to Portland, was far gone from the one who had played in Seattle and Cleveland. His elite athleticism and his stamina were consumed by his issues with weight. He was tortured by a food and drug addiction that continued to strip away any ability that was left. He lasted 2 seasons in Portland, starting in eight games, and averaging 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds. That is a far cry from the 20 points and 10 rebounds he was averaging just two seasons earlier.
Picture – Oregonlive.com
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #6, March 2019 edition where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
How much chuck would a chuck chuck chuck if a chuck chuck would chuck chuck
– Andalusian
Go ask CJ
Whatever you do don’t ask Chuck Norris, he will kick you…in your face.
When the Blazers play Toronto in the finals will Enes make the trip, Blazers have some interesting roster decisions to make this summer, who do you think they focus on keeping, and Harkless…? – TorturedBlazerFan
The quick answer: No. Not, unless the Blazers resign him past this season. Kanter has said it’s going to take another year or so to get his visa issues in order. So, if the Blazers make the finals (should I have said when? Is that the proper vernacular?)and they are playing Toronto, Enes will play in the home games, but not the away games…dang.
There are going to be many decisions to make this summer, and they will determine the trajectory of the team. Al Farouq Aminu, Jake Layman, Seth Curry, Enes Kanter, and Rodney Hood are free agents. Layman is the only one who is restricted. The Blazers will keep him. They will have to pay the man, but since they have his bird rights, they can wait till everything else is done to take care of that order of business.
Resigning everyone else is going to be tough, unless Olshey can somehow move Evan Turner and Meyers Leonard. They will both be in the last year of their contract next season, so they will be easier to move by the deadline, but by the summer? That’s a tough cookie. The Blazers will have their MLE, and they will probably use it on Hood. Curry could be an odd man out. Aminu will probably be gone too, Collins taking over the starting power forward position out of his cold unsigned hands. There is a lot of work to be done. But, as Olshey sees it, he’s just going to enjoy the rest of the season and cross that bridge when it comes. I don’t envy him.
Harkless isn’t a free agent until 2020-21, so the Blazers can keep him if they want. But, he will have value as an expiring, especially with the performance he has given since the all star break. If it continues, the Blazers could easily trade him in the offseason to make room.
I know the feeling is no significant free agents would come to Portland, however, I do think its possible.
Which UFA should the Blazers seriously pursue this offseason? -Hoopguru
Well Hoop, the Blazers aren’t going to have much money this offseason. Even with Portland’s free agents taken off the payroll, team salary will still be up at $126 million, $17 million off the floor, and just $6 million below the luxury tax line. They will still be paying off the stretched contracts of Anderson Varajeo, Andrew Nicholson, and Festus Ezeli. The Blazers will have to put in a lot of work if they want the cash to chase a free agent. As it is, they won’t be seeing that kind of money till summer 2020, when Meyers, Turner, and Hark will be gone.
The Blazers will be looking to move those contracts before then, maybe at the draft, or in early summer, but likely won’t be able to till the deadline. It appears unless a miracle happens, or they choose to go deep into the luxury tax, the Blazers are going to lose some players and take a step back.
The Blazers won’t have the money or be in the running for guys like Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, or Klay Thompson, Unless they finally trade CJ and Co to make room. I don’t see that happening. If the Blazers do make some room by getting rid of Turner, Meyers, and perhaps, Harkless, they could go after guys like Mario Hezonja, Kelly Olynyk, JaMchycal Green, Taj Gibson, etc. The Blazer are more likely though going to be busy trying to figure out how to resign their own free agents. A little more than a year ahead in summer 2020, the Blazers will have more room. That is, if they don’t trade Meyers, Turner, and Harkless for longer contracts. Look for them to be players in free agency then.
If the Blazers win 50+ regular season games and one series in the playoffs, it is safe to say that Neil will likely run it back again next year with Stotts and the core of the roster. Should we be ok with this as fans or still expect a major roster/coaching move? – Trailblazer18
If the Blazers win 50+ games, Neil Olshey would probably like to bring this team back next year. But, as you. can see above, the only way he can resign everyone is to wade into luxury tax territory. Not sure, Jody Allen is down for that. If Neil can have his way Meyers and Evan will be gone, to provide room to resign everyone else.
Expect Stotts to return. His contract runs through next season, If he does get fired it will likely be during next season ( the ides of March) or after. It will be hard to expect much as fans, with the pile of you know what that Neil is knee deep in, with all the contractual mistakes he made back in 2015. As Blazers fans, we have become used to seeing the Blazers win games and make the playoffs. Should we expect more? I wouldn’t hold my breath.
If the Blazers are swept or make a first round exit, Stotts may be gone this summer. Olshey may be right behind him. It will be be hard to keep defending this current cycle, if the results aren’t there. The Blazers though are in the midst of being sold, so I wouldn’t think big moves like firing the coach, GM, or trading a star player will happen till after the sale is complete, and recipt is in hand. If the Blazers make the wrong moves, or act prematurely, they could end up diminishing the value of the team.
Whatever happens short of a championship, there will be fans who are upset and don’t agree with the trajectory of the team. There are fans who don’t like Stotts, Olshey, or certain players, and will remain angry till they get a one way ticket out of Portland. Likewise, there will be fans who are ok with it. There is an impatience when it comes to fans, they want to see their team win it all every year. But, if you can see the bigger picture, then perhaps you can practice some patience, otherwise you will find yourself in the former.
Will Stotts make an adjustment when Dame or CJ get trapped in the playoffs? – tlongII
We are talking about Terry Stotts right? We can hope so, but he hasn’t really made much adjustment to that issue so far this season. He will have off players set a lot of screens to get Lillard and McCollum open. The good news is the Blazers have better shooters this year to make defenses pay the price for double teaming Portland’s backcourt. Curry, Layman, Hood, Aminu, and Harkless will all be asked to be open for threes. Kanter and Nurkic will collapse defenses. The Blazers are weaponized this season, they can shoot from anywhere, attack the rim and corral second chance points. They are a different creature this season than last. A lot depends too on the match up. Though every team knows how succesfull the double team defense does against Portland, courtesy of the Pelicans, and will employ it. The Blazers better be ready.
That is the sixth edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
In forty nine seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers have had seventy eight centers. Most of them not lasting more than a year on the team. But, there are a handful of them who not only endured, but made a lasting impression on the team and fans. Some of them helped lead the Blazers deep into the playoffs, to the finals, and even to the championship. Some were All Stars. Some reached the highest plains, a place in an elite class, the hall of fame, with the greatest players in NBA history. I have compiled this list using a variety of stats and achievements. Some of the players here may surprise you.
Here are the top 10 Blazers centers in Trail Blazers franchise history.
*There are several players who played predominantly at PF who also played at center who may deserve to be on this list. Those players will show up on the top 10 PF list to come later.
(2013-15) 2 Seasons 7’0
141 GP 10.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.3 spg, 1.6 bpg, .545 FG% .802 FT%
Totals Blazers: 1474 points, 1094 rebounds, 128 assists, 41 steals, 223 blocks
Achievements:
Offensive Rebound Season Leader – 326 Season Offensive Rating – 128.1
A defensive minded big man, Lopez also brought offense at the rim, recording nearly 30 double doubles in his first season with the Blazers. The same season he set a franchise record for offensive rebounds with 326, which still holds today. He was exactly what the Blazers needed in a roster that included Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, and Wesley Matthews. The Blazers were touted as a dark horse contender in Lopez’s second and final season with Portland, but it wasn’t to be so, after injuries cost Portland their reach at the promise land. The victim of a rebuild, Lopez walked away in free agency after the 2014-15 season.
(1984-89) 5 Seasons 7’1
10.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 bpg
Achievements:
NBA All Rookie First Team (1985)
Ah, Sam Bowie, the Blazers most infamous center, drafted ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft (a pick acquired by trading center Tom Owens) and never was able to stay healthy. The real life Mr. Glass, suffered multiple breaks in both legs throughout the span of his time in Portland, crippling what could have been a more than exceptional career. In five seasons he played in only 139 out of 410 games, missing the entire 1987-88 season. Imagine if he had remained healthy, hard to take I know.
That said, his career while healthy was accomplished in itself. He averaged sixteen points and ten rebounds at his best. He had the potential play even better. But, the fragility of his body never allowed it. The Blazers traded him to the Nets for Buck Williams, fearing that Bowie would never be the center he should have been. He had his four best years in New Jersey, never missing more that twenty games a season. His injuries later returned to limit his abilities to play, and he retired after two seasons in LA.
(1977-1981) 4 Seasons 6’10
319 GP 13.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.6 bpg
.520 FG%, .167 3PT%, .766 FT%
Totals Blazers: 4437 points, 2310 rebounds, 795 assists, 173 steals, 195 blocks
Achievements: Top Win share 1978-79 – 10.4
The big man from New York spent most of the first half of his basketball career in the ABA after being drafted out of the University of South Carolina. He drifted between the Pacers, Rockets, and Spurs before he made it to Portland, but the Blazers became the pinnacle of his career. He remains one Portland’s highest scoring centers off the bench. In his second season with the Trail Blazers he averaged 18.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He had the highest win share that season for the Blazers at 10.4., the highest win share for a season of a Portland center to date. He was a big part of the Blazers runs, following their championship, with Dr. Jack, to try and win it all again. That never materialized, but Tom Owens remains one of Portland’s top centers.
(1970-71) 1 Season 6’10
74 GP 15.9 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.2 assists .443 FG% .801 FT%
Totals (Blazers): 1,179 Points, 907 rebounds, 235 assists
Achievements: NBA Champion (1972, Lakers)
Ellis was only in Portland for one season, but he left his mark. He was one of the Blazers first centers, drafted by Portland in the 1970 expansion draft. He started in the inaugural game, on October 16th 1970, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ellis gave the Blazers a defensive stop with moments left, blocking a shot to help give the Blazers their first win. He had a handful of high scoring games, hi best 33 points to go with 20 rebounds in a game against the 76ers. He was an agilely mobile big man, who made a place for himself in Portland lore, and this list.
(1986-1989) 3 Seasons 6’10
194 GP 14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.8 bpg .540FG% .620 FT%
Totals Blazers: 2713 Points, 1166 rebounds, 317 assists, 86 steals, 152 blocks
Achievements: 1x All Star
The Oregon State University star was drafted in 1981 and journied through three other teams in his first five seasons in the league, before being traded to the Blazers in 1986 for Mychal Thompson. Johnson was supposed to be Portland’s new starting Power forward next to Sam Bowie, but we know how that went. In Bowie’s absence, Johnson was played instead at center, where he enjoyed the best season of his career, averaging about 17 points and 7 rebounds a game. He would replace the again inured Bowie the following season as the starting center, but fell victim to the injury bug himself. He was replaced by Kevin Duckworth.
When he returned from injury, the Blazers tried to play him alongckworth, but it impacted the team and both players abilities in the post negatively. Johnson was later stolen in the 1989 expansion draft by Minnesota. He played with several other teams, but couldn’t find the comfort he had once had in Portland, and his play depreciated. He was chosen as an All Star in 1988, but was injured and couldn’t play in the All Star game. Was another Blazers centers career cut short by the injury “curse” or was it just bad dynamics and poor judgment at the hands of the Blazers? Either way, Johnson was a talented big man, and rightfully so belongs on this list.
(2017- present) 2.5 Seasons 7’0
158 GP 14.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.5 bpg .458 FG% .584 FT%
Totals Blazers: 2343 Points, 1516 rebounds, 393 assists, 147 steals, 237 blocks
Achievements: 2014-15 NBA All Rookie Second Team (1985)
Portland’s current starting center, Jusuf Nurkic is young in his career, but he already has earned a place on this list for himself. In three seasons with the Blazers he has put up some of the best numbers of any Blazers center. He is having his best season at 15.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Nurkic is one of two Blazers to accomplish a triple double with five blocks (10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 blocks). The other is Bill Walton. Nurkic also recorded the third 5×5 in Trail Blazer history, the second by a Portland center, and is the first and only player to have done so with 20 points and Rebounds. (24 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks)
Nurkic has a great trove of potential, that will be unlocked with experience. He is dominant at the hoop on both ends of the floor, and is a very adept passer. He plays in the vein and reminds of a young Arvydas Sabonis. The talent is there, the question is whether Portland will allow time for Nurkic to show us his true promise.
(1987-1993) 6 Seasons 7’0
527 GP 13.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.5 bpg .475 FG% .746 FT%
Totals Blazers: 7188 Points, 3327 rebounds, 498 assists, 255 steals, 243 blocks
Achievements:
2x NBA All Star (1989, 1991)
Most Improved Player (1988)
2 NBA Finals Appearances, Blazers (1989-90, 1991-92)
Duckworth, one of the most beloved centers in Portland lore, spent the majority of his career in Rip City. He was here for the golden years of the late eighties and early nineties where the Blazers reached two finals with a WCF appearance in between. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds in the 1987-88 playoffs. He was chosen as an all star twice, in 1989 and 1981. He earned the 1988 NBA Most Improved player award after taking over center duties from inured Sam Bowie and Steve Johnson. His defense received a notable boost along with rebounding and shooting, securing him the distinction.
Though he struggled in his latter years in Portland, his numbers slipping, he still remains among the best centers in Portland’s franchise history. After his playing career. He was an ambassador for the Blazers and help host basketball camps for kids. He sadly, passed away at the young age of 44.
(1978-86) 7 Seasons (Didn’t play 79-80 Season) 6’10
551 GP 16.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 3.0 bpg ,505 FG% .640 FT%
Totals Blazers: 9215 points, 4878 rebounds, 1848 assists, 504 steals, 768 blocks
Achievements:
2x NBA Champion 87 – 88-Lakers
NBA All Rookie 1st Team 1979
Blazers Career Blocks Leader – 768
Thompson played the first eight seasons of his career with the Blazers, starting in both front court positions, albeit mainly at center. Though, he would go on to win two championships with the Lakers, his best years were played in Portland. The Trail Blazers drafted Thompson with the 1st pick in the 1978 draft. He made the NBA All Rookie 1st team after averaging 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. In one of his second game with the Blazers, he put up an amazing 37 points against the Kansas City Kings In his fourth season, the best in his career, he averaged 20.8 Points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. That season he had a 26 point, 20 rebound, 11 assist, 6 block game against the Knicks, the first of several triple doubles in his career. His career high in points came ironically against the Lakers in which he scored 38 points to go with 21 rebound, in a what was to be a loss to the Blazers greatest foe, and his future team. He missed the 1979-80 season with a leg injury.
(1995-01, 2002-03) 7 Seasons 7’3
470 GP 12 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 bpg 0.8 spg,
.328% 3pt .520 FG% ,786 FT%
Totals Blazers/Career: 5629 Points, 3436 rebounds, 964 assists, 370 steals, 494 blocks
Achievements:
Naismith Hall Of Fame
Olympic Gold Medalist
9X FIBA/Euro/Russian/Spanish Champion
NBA All Rookie 1st Team 1995
“JÄ—ga! JÄ—ga! JÄ—ga!”
The big man from Lithuania was taken by the Blazers with the twenty fourth pick in the 1986 draft, but didn’t come over to join the Blazers until 1995, nine seasons later, and it’s a shame. The broken Sabonis the Blazers finally got was not the dominate force they drafted. By the time he arrived in Portland, his knees were shot, crippled by years of international basketball, the years in-between had taken a toll on him. But, he was still an amazing player and one of Portland’s best centers.
The Blazers got seven years out of him He averaged 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, with 16 and 10 in his best season. In the playoffs, after his rookie season, he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds. He had a 32 point 20 rebound game agaisnt the Bucks in his third year. He remains Portland’s best passing center. He could shoot all over the court including from the arc, and his remembered for his famous hook shot. If only Portland could have gotten the young version of him in ‘86. He would have no doubt been the best center to ever play in the NBA. Think of him with those golden Blazer teams that made the finals against the Pistons and Bulls. He no doubt would have pushed the Blazers over the top.
(1974-1978) 4 years 6’11
209 GP 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1 steal, 2.6 blocks .510 FG% .674 FT%
Totals Blazers: 3,578 points, 2822 rebounds, 923 assists, 204 steals, 533 blocks
Achievements:
Naismith Hall of Fame
NBA Champion: 1977 Blazers, 1986 Celtics
Finals MVP 1977 Blazers NBA MVP 1978
2X NBA All Star (1977,1978) All NBA 1st Team 1978, 2nd team 1977
2X All Defensive 1st Team 1977, 78 NBA Sixth Man 1986
NBA Blocks/Rebounding Leader 1977
First Blazer 5×5
#32 retired by the Trail Blazers
Bill Walton, a two time NCAA champion, played perhaps better in college than any NBA center, accumulating a multitude of accolades along the way. He was the star of John Wooden’s Bruins. He played for Team USA at 17. He was on a steady path to become not just an NBA superstar, but a legend.
He was picked by the Blazers in the 1974 draft with the 1st pick, one of if not the best moves the Blazers have made to date as a franchise. He led the Blazers to their only championship in 1977, sweeping the Kareem Abdul Jabbar led Lakers in the WCF’s to get there. He helped a very unconventional Portland team, beat out the star studded 76ers for the trophy. He earned the Finals MVP for his efforts and contributions to the series.
He probably would have led them to more had his feet not gone to hell, not to mention the horde of other injuries he amassed. Name something he didn’t break. A rebellious relentless force, unstoppable by virtually any player, thwarted by his own body, one block he could not circumvent.
His best game as a Blazer came against the Hawks in his sophomore season where he put up 36 points and 22 rebounds. One of the most versatile centers to play the game, he could a little but of it all. A dunk here, a block there, add an assist and there’s a rebound. How about a steal! Along with Jusuf Nurkic, he is one of two Blazers centers to pull off a 5×5 game. He is unanimously the Blazers best center in the history of the franchise, (not including the young Sabonis they never got) and one of the best centers in the history of the NBA.
Rick Roberson
Roberson was only with the Blazers for a single season (1973-74), but that season was a statement. He averaged 13.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in 69 games. He amassed 933 points and 701 rebounds. He had an uncanny speed and agility possessed by few big men. At 6’9 he was one of the Blazers shortest centers, and one of the shortest centers in the NBA at the time. He allowed 10+ less points a game then the centers the year before him. An aggressive force, he earned a career high of a scorching 37 points after returning from leg injuries. It’s a wonder the Blazers traded him the following season. Perhaps, they feared his injuries would further plague him and the team. They would have been right. Lingering issues with his legs limited his play and shortened his career. He lasted two years after he left the Blazers. Still, he was a talented player in his own right. It is only fitting he should be on this list.
Dale Schlueter
Schlueter was one of the Blazers first centers. He was taken by the Blazers in the 1970 expansion draft and played in Portland for three seasons, the first two of which were the best years of his career. He averaged 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. In his second season he averaged 11 points and nearly 11 rebounds a game. He helped Portland to win more games in their inaugural year than either the braves and cavaliers who also joined the league that year. After he retired, he remained an ambassador for the Blazers for the rest of his life. He is a Blazer forever, and the list wouldn’t be right without him,
The Blazers will face off against Ex Blazers Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier for the first time since they left in free agency last summer, when they play the Nets this evening in Brooklyn. Before the season started I broke down the possible rotations that Terry Stotts would likely go with. I was wrong about a few things, and I’ll be the first to admit it. I thought Baldwin would beat out Curry who was rejunvenating his leg after a season off. It took less time then I imagined for him to get his feet back under him. I also thought Stotts would forgo Meyers Leonard and opt to play Collins at backup center and stagger stretch forwards Harkless and Layman between the backup 3 and 4. While Stotts has played Layman at the backup 4, he has also used Collins there and utilized Meyers Leonard at the backup 5. Let’s take a broader look at how the rotation has evolved.
Not long into the season, it became evident which way coach Terry Stotts was going with the rotation. He started Jake Layman in the place of injured Maurice Harkless, along side Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, and Nurkic. Evan Turner was usually the first off the bench with Collins or Meyers. With Ed Davis gone, Stotts put a lot of faith in Meyers Leonard at the back up 5, and Leonard didn’t terribly disappoint. With his new alter ego, “The Hammer” he has been throwing down dunks, setting apt screens, and shooting 3s at the top of the arc to help the offense. Turner and Curry replaced Connaughton and Napier.
Beginning the second and fourth quarters, Stotts went with a true 2nd unit of Seth Curry, Nik Stauskas, Evan Turner, Zach Collins, and Meyers Leonard. Wade Baldwin, Caleb Swanigan, and the two rookies were not in the rotation, as Stotts sought exclusively to rely on experience rather than work in youngsters. No surprise there. With his prone proclivity to turn the ball over and hurt the offense, I was down on Evan Turner to start the season. I was not excited to see him play. I’m still not really. But, he has played better than expected taking time at the backup point and the wing. His turnovers are down a clip and his production up. He has actually been, dare I say it, somewhat of a good presence in the second unit. The Bench is a step up this year, I’d use the word existent.
As the season moved on, Stauskas, whose production was never quite sustainable after a spectacular start in the home opener again the Lakers, fell out of the rotation, appearing here and there. Maurice Harkless returned from injury to the starting lineup, and Jake Layman moved back to the bench for sometime before Stotts realized his production value and placed him back in the rotation. Layman has played at the back up 4,3, and at times even the 2. With more minutes going to Layman, less have gone to Collins/Meyers. Harkless has missed games on and off because of his ailing knee, so the rotation changes a bit depending on if he is available or not, with Turner or Layman starting in his place.
Stotts decided against staggering Lillard and CJ like he did last year. It seems he is trying to cultivate a bench presence, and that is perhaps best done letting them run true. Though, we still see Lillard or McCollum in while the other is sitting, they play most of their minutes together. If Stotts could get Lillard and McCollum to play through each other that would be a sight to behold, but hey is no miracle worker.
The rotation was pretty set till the trade deadline, when Portland traded Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin for wing Rodney Hood, and signed big man Enes Kanter in the buyout market. These moves will make things a bit clearer for Stotts. Enes Kanter will be the backup 5, meaning Meyers Leonard will ride the bench. Collins has struggled this year, but playing next to Kanter will help him a good deal, and he will play next to Kanter when Jake Layman isn’t. Hood will take minutes from Curry and maybe Turner, but with Layman likely playing most of his minutes at the backup 4, it should even out. We will likely see the following rotation for the rest of the year.
Starters:
Bench:
Odd Men Out:
What do you think? Do you agree with my assessment of the rotation? How do you see the rotation going for the rest of the season? How will it change come the playoffs? Share your opinions below in the comments.
In the 49 year history of the franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers have had ten general managers. Twelve if you count interim GMs Todd Leiweke and Chad Buchanan. (I won’t for this list) Within those tenures, the Blazers made the Playoffs thirty four times, including six trips to the NBA western conference finals, three trips to the NBA finals, and a NBA championship in 1977. From 1982-2003 the Blazers enjoyed a window where they made the playoffs for twenty one consecutive years. The Blazers have had some top of the line GMs, and they have had some well, not so good ones. The longest tenured Blazers GM was 11 years and the shortest 1. Here are the Blazers GMs best to worst.
Coaches during tenure: Nate McMillan
Playoff Appearances: None DNQ
Notable Draft Picks/Trades:
Drafted Tyrus Thomas and traded him to Chicago for LaMarcus Aldridge
Traded Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff to Boston Celtics for Rand Foye, Raef LaFrentz, and Dan Dikau, then traded Randy Foye for Brandon Roy
Cash to Phoenix Suns for Sergio Rodriguez
Steve Blake, Ha Seung – Jin, and Brian Skinner for Jaamal Magloire
*Interim Todd Leiweke
Steve Patterson lasted about another season after John Nash left, before he too was gone. I list Kevin Pritchard next to Patterson’s name because he was the assistant GM and should be given a good deal of credit for the draft trades that netted the Blazers Aldridge and Roy. Patterson was the Blazers shortest tenured general manager, and for good reason. He was terrible at his job to say the least. He traded away the teams 3rd pick in the 2005 draft, that could have gotten the Blazers Chris Paul, in a move that sent the Blazers to the bottom of the lottery for Martell Webster. He sunk the team into bankruptcy with his ineptitude. The winning ways he (and Nash) Promised never materialized. Paul Allen couldn’t make him gone soon enough. It is a wonder he wasn’t shown the door at Nash’s side.
Coaches during tenure: Nate McMillan
Playoff Apperances: 1 (1st rnd exit)
Notable Signed Players: *Wesley Matthews, Joel Przybilla, Kurt Thomas, Jamal Crawford, JJ Hickson
Notable Trades:
Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a 2012 1st rnd pick (Damian Lillard)
Marcus Camby to the Houston Rockets for Johnny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet.
Rudy Fernandez and Rights to Petri Kaponen to Mavs, and Andre Miller to Denver for Raymond Felton
*Chad Buchanan (Interim) – Made the trade to get the draft pick that would become Damian Lillard- Scouted Damiain
Rich Cho was one of Portland’s shortest tenured general managers. Paul Allen was very excited when he hired Rich. He thought Rich was the perfect front office guy, with his statistic driven mindset. But, the magic died off quickly once Cho started making moves. Wesley Matthews was signed before Cho became GM, even though it is listed as during his years in Portland. Most of his trades made the Blazers worse, i.e. trading Miller/Fernandez for Felton, and sending Camby to Houston. Though Camby wanted out. Cho looked like he was building something, then tore it apart, like a kid with Legos. He did net the Blazers the draft pick that would turn into Damian Lillard, probably his only saving grace.
Coaches during tenure: Maurice Cheeks, Kevin Pritchard (interim), Nate McMillan
Playoff Appearances: NONE DNQ
Notable Draft Picks: Travis Outlaw, Sebastian Telfair, Martell Webster
Notable Trades:
Bonzi Wells to Memphis Grizzlies for Wesley Person and a 1st
Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person to Atlanta Hawks for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dikau
Jeff McGinnis to Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Miles
Dale Davis and Dan Dikau to Golden State for Nick Van Exel
Ruben Patterson to Denver Nuggets for Voshon Leonard/Brian Skinner
Notable signings: Joel Pryzbilla, Steve Blake, Juan Dixon
John Nash replaced one of the longest tenured general managers (Bob Whisitt) and lasted only three years in the captains seat. Whisitt was so big a presence to be replaced, the Blazers brought in two men for the job. The other being Steve Patterson who they hired as team president to handle the numbers. Nash, a veteran executive, was heralded as a resident big guy, who could survive the shadow left by Whisitt, and perhaps, cast a larger one himself.
Nash and Patterson were tasked with cleaning house. After so many years, of having one of the leagues largest salaries, and no title to show for it, Paul Allen wanted someone to come in and purge the payroll, not to mention scrub away the obstinate stain of the Jail Blazers era. Nash (and Patterson) did just that, for the most part. He traded Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, Jeff McGinnis, Ruben Patterson, and Dale Davis. He let Damon Stoudamire walk away. By the time the smoke cleared, the only Jail Blazers remaining, were Randolph and the incoming Miles, and the roster though better in character, was certainly not better or successful on the court. It turned out Nash was more a shadow puppet, then a durable regnant character.
Coaches during tenure: Nate McMillan
Playoff Appearances: 2, 2 1st rnd exits
Notable Draft Picks: Greg Oden, Patty Mills
Notable Trades:
Zach Randolph, Fred Jones, and Dan Dikau to New York Knicks for Steve Francis (waived) and Channing Frye
Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey traded to Houston Rockets for Nic Batum
Cash Considerations for Rudy Fernandez and James Jones from Phoenix Suns
Brandon Rush, Jarret Jack, and Josh McRoberts to Indiana Pacers for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu
Steve Blake And Travis Outlaw to Los Angeles Clippers for Marcus Camby
Notable Signings: Andre Miller, Juwan Howard, Steve Blake
Kevin Pritchard was a trader bob light, he saw the past two general managers before him go with such short notice, that he felt he had to make an impression and fast. First, he got rid of the remaining Jail Blazers, Zach Randolph and had the fiasco with Darius Miles and his “career ending knee injury.” He brought in talent in Batum, Miller, Fernandez, and Channing Frye. The competive spirit was returning to Portland with the drafting of Greg Oden, though many were upset he picked Oden over Durant. For the record I honked once. It was looking like an Oden/Aldridge/Roy dynasty, but you know how that story ends. And, thus ended Kevin Pritchard
Coaches during tenure: Terry Stotts
Playoff Appearances: 5, 3 1st rnd, 2 semi
Notable Draft Picks: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Will Barton, Jake Layman (via Orlando), Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons, Gary Trent Jr.
Notable Trades:
Jeff Withey in a three team deal involving New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings for Robin Lopez
Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson and a 1st for Aaron Afflalo
Mason Plumlee to the Denver Nuggets for Jusuf Nurkic and a 1st rnd pick
2nd rnd pick for Moe Harkless
Cash for Shabazz Napier
2 2nd round picks for Allen Crabbe
Rondae Hollis Jefferson and Steve Blake to the Brooklyn Nets for Mason Plumlee and Pat Connaughton
Nic Batum to Charlotte Hornets for Gerald Wallace and Noah Vonleh
Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas to New York Knicks for Jared Jefferies and Dan Gadzuric
Notable Signings: Mo Williams, Al Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, Evan Turner, Seth Curry, Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin, Enes Kanter
Listen, Neil Olshey has been Portland’s general Manager for seven years, the last GM under Paul Allen, who passed away earlier this season. Olshey now works for Paul’s sister Jody, and it appears his job isn’t in immediate trouble, even after all the blunders he has made. For all the flack he gets, he did build up the Blazers to a contending team in 2014-15 before Wesley Matthews took the infamous misstep and with him, it all came crashing down. Olshey allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to walk away without getting anything back for him. Then Blew it up letting Lopez and Matthews walk, and trading Nic Batum to Charlotte.
For the past four years he has been rebuilding/retooling the team, based on time of day you ask him. He resigned Meyers, Crabbe, and Harkless to 4 year loaded contracts back in 2016, and signed Evan Turner to a contract more bloated than a beached whale. Maybe it’s like one of those sliding puzzles, where things looks worse before they finally begin to fit together.
He seems to be finally turning things around a bit, with the trade for Rodney Hood and the signing of Enes Kanter to help Portland down the stretch, and to try and make a dent in the playoffs. And, the Blazers better or else it may be Olshey’s turn in the hot seat. The cake better be done baking soon.
Coaches during tenure: P.J Carlesimo, Mike Dunleavy, Maurice Cheeks
Playoff Appearances: 9, 7 1st rnd, 2 WCF
Notable Draft Picks: Jermaine O’Neal, Zach Randolph
Notable Trades:
Clyde Drexler and Tracy Murray to Houston Rockets for Otis Thorpe and a 1st
Bill Curly and James Robinson and a 1st for Isaiah Rider
Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant to the Washington Bullets for Rasheed Wallace and Mitchell Butler
Aaron Mckie to Detroit Pistons for Stacy Augmon
Kenny Anderson, Gary Trent, and Alvin Williams to Toronto Raptors for Damon Stoudamire and Walt Williams
A 1st rnd pick to Detroit Pistons for Bonzi Wells
Isaiah Rider (and Jim Jackson) for Steve Smith (Ed Gray)
Walt Williams, Stacey Augmon, Calvin Cato, Ed Gray, Carlos Rogers, and Brian Shaw to Houston Rockets for Scottie Pippen
Brian Grant to Miami Heat and Gary Grant to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Shawn Kemp
Jermaine O’Neal and Joe Kleine to Indiana Pacers for Dale Davis
Steve Smith to the San Antonio Spurs for Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr
Notable Signings:
Kenny Anderson
Brian Grant
Detlef Schrempf
Stacey Augmon
Ruben Patterson
Jeff McGinnis
Trader Bob is no doubt one of the best of Portland’s general managers, if you are measuring by the ability to trade for talent. He traded more than any other general manager (not considering the house cleaning that Nash/Patterson undertook), though Olshey isn’t far behind. He cared only about talent, dismissing character. He brought talent to Portland, but at great cost. He was the author of the Jail Blazers era, ushering in malcontents and waving off the idea that there was any problem, like it was no big deal. I’ll give him one thing, he took risks, but it hurt Portland, even if he did get us to the playoffs nine times. The Blazers were far too emotional to ever go all the way. They allowed refs and opponents to get in their heads, they disrespected coaches and fans. Talent could nor overcome the commotion.
Another issue was Whisitt never allowed for a team to coalesce. He was a gunslinger. He was addicted. He should have been in traders anonymous. He was moving guys every season, left and right. He had the impatience of a kid in a candy store. It is probably part of the reason he couldn’t get the Blazers to the golden land, and eventually Paul Allen got sick of footing the bill every year without results. He was tired of the image his team had come to reflect, and wanted to change directions, to purge over a decade of a failed campaign. Then, as fast as those trades he was famous for, Whisitt was gone.
Coaches during tenure: Rick Adelman
Playoff Appearances: 4, 1 WCF, 1 F, 1 1st rnd ext
Notable Trades:
Drazen Petrovic to the New Jersey Nets for Walter Davis
Byron Irving to the Kings for Danny Ainge
Notable Signings: Rod Strickland
Petrie, the Blazers first draft pick, had been hovering around the Blazers as a commentator, and various other gigs. He worked his way up to vice president then, general Manager. While he had the helping hand of Bucky Buckwalter, Petrie being a player understood talent, and was aptly qualified. That said, he didn’t make a lot of moves during his tenure, coasting off the work Bucky and others had already done. He traded Petrovic to the Nets, his worst move by far. He did trade for Ainge and sign Rod Strickland. Though, Ainge would leave the following year in free agency after promising to resign with the Blazers. Petrie was there for the golden days of the early nineties and the beginning of the aftermath. His job seemed mostly to maintain Portland’s core and achieve more trophies. The Blazers got to the finals under him, then couldn’t get back. That said, his tenure were probably the last good years, before hell broke loose.
Coaches during tenure: Mike Schuler, Rick Adelman
Playoff Appearances: 4, 3 1st rnd exits, 1 finals
Notable Draft Picks: Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Clifford Robinson
Notable Trades:
Walter Berry to San Antonio Spurs for Kevin Duckworth
Sam Bowie and a 1st rnd pick to the New Jersey Nets for Buck Williams
While Jon Spolestra was the GM, he was a genius with numbers, Bucky Buckwalter helped with player acquisition in the background. This is why his name sits next to Jon’s, as it deserves too. These were the golden years after Ramsay had left and the Blazers slowly built a contender again, while staying on their feet. It would lead up to the finals appearance in 89-90 and the other to come in 91-92. Working off of players drafted by Glickman and Inman, and adding guys like Williams and Duckworth gave Portland the gas to make a couple more runs at the championship.The Blazers Avengers team was finally assembled, but couldn’t quite go all the way against the Spurs, and later Michael Jordan’s Bulls. But, what a thrill!
Coaches during tenure: Jack Ramsay
Playoff Apperances: 4, 2 1st rnd, 2 Semi
Notable Draft Picks: Clyde Drexler, Sam Bowie (Over Michael Jordan), Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter, Darnell Valentine
Notable Trades: Calvin Natt, Fat Lever, 1st rnd pick to Denver Nuggets for Kiki Vandeweghe
Stu Inman was an integral component of the Blazers organization from the very beginning, and became general manager in 1981. He played a large part in putting together the 1977 championship team, and should almost really be number 1 on this list, almost (though I make sure to give him much deserved credit for his earlier success with the team). He committed two considerable gaffs, the greater of the two, and perhaps the greatest in the NBA’s history, passing up Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft, for oft injured Sam Bowie. The other being trading Calvin Natt and Fat Lever for Kiki Vandeweghe. Still, Stu should get his due. He has an eagles eye for talent, not considering MJ. Blazer’s fans owe him a great debt of gratitude, because not only did he help build the 77 team, but he drafted one of the best blazers, Drexler, and pieces to the nineties golden team, in Porter and Kersey. He made both runs possible. Thank you Stu.
Coaches during tenure: Rolland Todd, Jack McCloskey, Lenny Wilkens, Jack Ramsay
Playoff Appearances: 5, 1 Championship, 1 semi finals, 3 1st rnd
Notable Draft Picks: Bill Walton, Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Larry Steele, LaRue Martin, Dave Twardzik, Rick Adelman, Lionel Hollins, Bob Gross, Jim Paxson, *Maurice Lucas, Moses Malone
Notable Trades:
Larry Siegfried to San Diego Rockets for Jim Barnett
Moses Malone to Buffalo Braves ( Now the Clippers) for a 1st round pick (Mychal Thompson)
Geoff Petrie and Steve Hawes for 2md pick in 76 draft (Maurice Lucas)
Harry Glickman is the Blazer’s first and still best general manager. Stu Inman was a big help to him and he needed it. Glickman not only helped to get the Blazers in Portland (he had been trying since 1955 – and finally did so in 1970 with the help of Larry Weinberg and co), but he had to put the first team together, a whole team. He took guys like Adelman, Riley, Ellis, and Schulter in the 1970 expansion draft that also involved the new Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves(Now the Los Angeles Clippers).
Glickman then drafted Petrie, later Wicks, and Walton, not to mention other Portland greats. He, with Inman put together the 1977 championship team. Not many teams win a championship in their first six years. Glickman also hired Bill Schonely to be the voice of the Blazers. He eventually hired Jack Ramsay, the coach whose example, the rest of Portland’s coaches have been trying to live up to.
Glickman’s biggest mistake was trading Moses Malone, after drafting him in the ABA dispersal draft. They had Lucas and thought the two canceled each other out, but man, imagine if the Blazers had kept both. My goodness. Still, Glickman was responsible for putting together Portland’s franchise as we know it. We owe him everything.
Damian Lillard scored 9 of his 18 points in the 3rd quarter to help Team Lebron come back from a 13 point halftime deficit, to beat Team Giannis 178-164. Trailing 95-82 coming out of the lockeroom, the deficit climbed to 19 by the middle of the third quarter, before Lillard got his chance to shine.
After half time Lebron James was asked what his team would do to get back in the game. His response, find the hot hand and feed it. That hot hand happened to be Damian Lillard, who fueled the third quarter comeback. He did more than score, he got to ball to teammates Klay Thompson and Bradley Beal, racking up 5 assists. Two of his third quarter three pointers brought the game back to even.
His third quarter heroics awarded him floor time to finish the game, though he went scoreless in the fourth. After the buzzer sounded, Lillard had the honor of giving the post game interview, where he was praised for his hot hand, and asked about how he felt about being the engine of Team Lebron’s 50 point 3rd quarter.
“In a game like this, you know the floor’s going to be open. You’re going to get some good looks. It’s just a matter of seeing one go in. I saw one go in early, and I was able to get hot.”
*Damian Lillard also participated in the 3 point contest alongside teammate Seth Curry. Both Lillard and Curry were eliminated in the first round scoring 17 and 16 points respectively. Joe Harris of the Nets went on to win.
The Portland Trail Blazers has had 14 coaches in it’s 49 years in the league. Only five of them have lasted more than 3 years on the job. Eight of them led their respective team to the playoffs. Only four of them got the Blazers past the 1st round. Only three got the Blazers to the WCF. Only two got their team to the NBA Finals, and only one took the Blazers all the way to the championship. Who is the best? Who is the worst? Let’s take a look. Counting down from worst to best, here are your Portland Trail Blazers coaches.
14.) Kevin Pritchard
Kevin Pritchard became the Blazers 11th head coach after Maurice Cheeks was fired in early March of 2005. Pritchard who was the Blazers director of player personnel, was tapped as the interim head coach for the rest of the 2004-2005 season. He was head coach for all of 27 games for which the Blazers won five, to end the season 27-55. The Blazers would miss the playoffs for what would be the 2nd time in a 5 year span, the worst playoff slump dating back to when Portland missed the playoffs for 6 consecutive years from 1970-1976.
Pritchard might have won more had the Blazers not sat their best players to place higher in the following draft. Maybe. That said, he was an awkward choice for interim coach, and was not coach material. He was a better GM, helping Portland acquire LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy in the 2006 draft. He is currently GM of the Indiana Pacers
13.) Kaleb Canales
Like Pritchard, Kaleb Canales was an interim coach. He was originally a video intern, who was hired as the team’s video coordinator, then promoted to assistant coach. He became the Blazers 13th coach after Nate McMillan was fired in March 2012. He was both the youngest head coach and the first Mexican American Coach in the NBA. He was highly energetic and hardworking. The Players who had written off coach McMillan, took to Kaleb immediately.
Canales was inexperienced to say the least, but he loved the Blazers and he loved basketball. He would watch videos of the teams games for hours, studying them, looking for ways to make the team better. Canales coached the Blazers for 23 games, winning 8, finishing at a dismal 28-38 in a 66 game season, shortened by a lockout.While many wanted him to be resigned as the coach, the following season, the Blazers went with the more seasoned Terry Stotts. He is currently an assistant coach with the Knicks.
12.) Stu Inman
One of the architects of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise and its 1976-77 championship team. He stands no doubt as one of, if not Portland’s best front office executives, though he did infamously draft Sam Bowie or Michael Jordan. But as coach, well that’s a different story. He was Portland’s first interim coach, and second head coach, after the Blazers fired Rolland Todd towards the end of the 71-72 season. Inman coached for 26 games, winning 6, finishing 18-64, the Blazers worst season. In his defense the 71-72 Blazers were not a great team, and they were already 12-44 before he took over. Also, he was a front office guy filling a position until Portland could find a new coach.
11.) Rolland Todd
Portland’s first head coach and one of their least successful. He coached the Blazers for their first two years in the NBA. He brought the fast paced, fast breaking, adrenaline filled brand of basketball the Blazers have become known for. They won games against big name teams, but lost more than not. They finished the first season with 29 wins, not terrible for a brand new expansion team. He had Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks, often regarded as the Blazer’s first stars, who remain in the echelons of Portland’s top players, at his disposal. Still, Todd couldn’t put together a winning season and was fired towards the end of his second season as coach.
10.) Jack McCloskey
McCloskey took over for Stu Inman, becoming the Blazers third head coach. His tenure lasted two seasons, from 1972-1974. He went 48-116. He was a competitor, who demanded his players be competitive. He knew talent when he saw it. The problem was there wasn’t quite enough in Portland. He couldn’t turn the Blazers into winners or get the Blazers to their first playoff berth. He would become another example of a coach who would move on to perform far better in the front office. He won 2 championships (1989,1990) with Detroit as their General Manager.
9.)Lenny Wilkens
The Blazers first and only player/coach, Lenny Wilkens became the Blazers 4th head coach after the firing of Jack McCloskey. A hall of fame inducted coach, he is one of top 10 coaches in NBA history. It’s too bad his best years as a coach came after the Blazers. In his one year as player coach and one year as full time head coach, the Blazers had 28 and 27 wins.
He fared far better with the Supersonics coaching them to a total 880 wins – 478 losses, including a 1979 championship. He coached the Supersonics for three years before he played/coached for the Blazers, including a 47-35 season in 1971-72, and 7 years after.
* Though he is in a league better than several ahead of him, as a hall of famer, championship winning coach, I list him here based on his coaching in Portland alone
8.) Mike Schuler
The Blazers 6th head coach, hired after Jack Ramsay decided to leave, kept the winning ways in Portland, but couldn’t get the team past the 1sT round of the playoffs in both his two full seasons as coach. Though his records, 49-33 and 53-29 were nothing to pick at. He was fired halfway through his third season with the Blazers sitting at 25-22.
He was not a players coach by any means. He expected no nonsense and coached with a serious straightforwardness. He was not there to be the players friend. He and Portland star player Clyde Drexler didn’t get along, and a surmounting tension and uneasiness between him and his players led to his firing. He was the ninth coach in NBA history to surpass 100 wins in his first 2 seasons as a head coach.
7.) Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks became the Blazers 10th head coach after Mike Dunleavy was fired for failing to get the Blazers past the WCF. The Blazers in the midst of their Jail Blazer period, Portland passed up big names and hired Maurice Cheeks, a former point guard to take the reigns. He was a players coach, he treated the players like friends instead of like a boss. He brought little discipline to a team badly needing it. He opted against authority, feeling that it wouldn’t work with these guys, they wouldn’t respect him that way.
Cheeks had talented players though, and coached the Blazers to the playoffs his first two seasons, bu the Blazers couldn’t overcome off court misconduct and volatile emotions. Cheeks inherited a mess and had to endure the beginning of the Blazers cleansing of it’s most infamous era. He proved to be a decent coach.
6.) PJ Carlesimo
Carlesimo was Portland’s 8th coach, taking over after Rick Adelman’s tenure came to an end. PJ was not a players coach. He was organized and strict. He was demanding and eruptive. He didn’t care for shenanigans or excuses. He feuded with point guard Rod Strickland. He let players know he was the boss. Off court he was friendly and benign.
PJ coached the Blazers to three consecutive winning seasons, and three consecutive 1st round exits. He came in during the end of one of Portland’s golden eras, seeing Drexler traded, and the remaining pieces leave behind him, only for a new era to begin, those pesky Jail Blazers. Carlesimo couldn’t tame guys like Rider, though maybe no coach could. He couldn’t get Portland passed the 1st round, so the Blazers fired him.
5.) Nate McMillan
The Blazers nabbed Mr. Sonic away from Seattle, hiring him as their twelfth head coach. They were hoping Nate would succeed where Maurice Cheeks had failed. He was the polar opposite,a coach of discipline. Where Cheeks preached offense, McMillan praised defense. Where Cheeks was all for being buddies with the players, McMillan was the authority. The Blazers wanted to establish a culture of hard work and well behaved players. They wanted to end the Jail Blazers era once and for all. Nate was their guy.
McMillan is tied as Portland’s second longest tenured coach with current Coach Terry Stotts. He was coach during the heydays of Roy and Aldridge. The Blazers missed the playoffs the first three years under him, but they were rebuilding. Then he coached the Blazers to three winning seasons (54,50, and 48 wins), but couldn’t get the Blazers past the 1st round. In his last season as coach the Blazers lost Brandon Roy to bad knees and finished 28-38. He was fired that March. He currently coaches the Indiana Pacers.
4.) Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts is the 14th and current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He has enjoyed the second longest tenure as a Portland head coach behind Jack Ramsay at seven years and going. The Blazers have made five consecutive playoffs under him, getting to the semi finals twice (against the Spurs in 2014 and the Warriors in 2016) but losing. One of Portland’s most winning coaches in the regular season, he is one of the worst in the post season, at 11-24.
Stotts, an offense minded coach, is leading Portland during their latest rebuild/retool and keeping them competitive.He is liked by his players, who have nothing but praise for him. He is said to be openly communicative with them and friendly, but also calls them out when they are not giving their best. He gets a lot of flack for his lack of success in the playoffs. But, he remains in the top 5 of Portland’s coaches all time.
3.) Mike Dunleavy
Dunleavy, Portland’s 9th coach, helped the Blazers to two western conference finals appearances against the Lakers and Spurs. He failed to get the Blazers to the promise land and lost his job because of it. In his defense he had to deal with a revolving door of players, with GM Bob Whisitt making numerous trades every year, not allowing for the team to coalesce. Dunleavy was a true strategist. He was a players coach, but he was also demanding and authoritative. He got into many yelling matches with his players, but was well respected. Ultimately, Dunleavy couldn’t tame players like Wallace and Wells. There was too much talent and ego and he couldn’t make it work.
2.) Rick Adelman
No Blazers coach came as close as Jack Ramsay to bringing Portland all the way then Rick Adelman. He led the Blazers to the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992 where they lost to the Pistons (put together by ex Portland coach Jack McCloskey) and the Bulls respectively. Adelman has the highest winning percentage of any other coach in Portland’s history. He has Portland’s most victories in the playoffs as a coach, with 36.
Adelman was a point guard for Portland in it’s first three seasons in the league. He averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds a game. He went on the coach four other teams, most notably the Sacramento Kings.
1.) Jack Ramsay
Undisputedly, Ramsay is Portland’s best coach thus far. He helmed the Blazers for a decade before deciding to hang it up. He led Portland to nine playoff appearances, including, 5 first round exits, three semi finals appearances, and of course he coached Portland to it’s first and so far only championship in 1977. He did so in his first year as Portland’s coach and with an unconventional team. He is Portland’s most winningest coach with 453 wins under his belt during his tenure with Portland compared to 292 by Terry Stotts who sits behind him in second in that category. Jack Ramsay is a hall of fame coach, and one the top 10 coaches in NBA history. He is the stuff of legends, and he will always reminded enshrined in the rafters of the Blazer’s arena, with a banner bearing his name.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Enes Kanter for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. Kanter last played for the New York Knicks who tried to trade him at the deadline, but could find no suitor to take on his $18 million dollar contract. They waived him shortly after the deadline.
Kanter passed on the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets, who were also looking to add him, to join the Blazers. He took to twitter to confirm his signing with Portland.
The Blazers signed Kanter with their veterans minimum of $653,000. He has a career average of 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He will step in as Portland’s back up center. He will immediately help the Blazers second unit front court with rebounding and scoring.
Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has given the impression that Portland will be active in the buyout market, and will look to fill the remaining roster spot with a player who can help the Blazers down the stretch and in the playoffs. But, the move will be dictated by fit and roster weaknesses. If they do so, the Blazers will look to have it done by March 1st, the last day a player can be signed and be eligible to play in the playoffs.
Olshey may also opt to leave the roster spot open. He might have good reason to do so. As it stands the Blazers are $8million into luxury tax with a bill of about $13million to foot. The Blazers do have approximately $1.4 million left in their MLE.
If they choose to sign a player out of the buyout market, they will do so for the veterans minimum, which varies according to how many years the signed player has been in the NBA. Filling the last roster spot would cost the Blazers $2+ million more in taxes.That is expensive for a 3 month rental.
If Paul Allen were alive, that probably wouldn’t be a big deal. With his sister Jody in charge, who knows. Olshey will likely only risk it, if he thinks he can get a player who can help the Blazers get to the second round. A tall order.
If Olshey, were going to sign a player, there are a few of who could definitely help the Blazers. Yet, we have seen what has happened with the addition of Hood. It has thrown a wrench into the gears of Portland’s structure. There too many players and not enough minutes. Adding another player may further discombobulate things.
Still, the Blazers could use an upgrade at backup center or guard. Another prolific shooter or a post presence could help them. Here is a list of players the Blazers could go after in the buyout market, in order of how they will help the team.
10. Zach Randolph
PF
Randolph was waived by the Mavericks shortly after being acquired from Sacramento in a deadline trade. He fell out of the Kings rotation due to a youth movement, but had been averaging 14 pts, 6 rbds, and 2 assts a game. He would be a veteran presence, and help upgrade the Blazer at one of their weakest positions.
That said, Randolph had his first stint in Portland during the Jail Blazers era. He has had numerous run ins with the law and continued problems with drugs. He was most recently arrested for possession of Marijuana. That said, he is not the roughest of riders anymore.
Still, do the Blazers want to bring back that commiserable influence after spending years ridding themselves of the negative image they carried for over a decade. Probably not.
9. Carmelo Anthony
SF/PF
The Blazers went after Anthony a few summers ago. Lillard and McCollum pitched the Blazers hard. Talked up Carmelo, claiming he would make them instant contenders. Fast forward two years later. Carmelo couldn’t make it with the Thunder or Rockets. He got traded to the Bulls before the deadline and has since been waived.
Does he still make sense for the Blazers? How better can he make them? He averaged 13.4 pts and 4 rbds before being benched by Houston. He seems to make teams worse rather than better. Could he have the opposite effect in Portland. Not likely. He is at the end of his career and continues to decline. He could offer Portland 14 pts off the bench, maybe. He has been linked to Los Angeles who opened a spot, seemingly to reunite him with his buddy Lebron. He has talked about retiring soon.
8. Michael Beasley
PF
Beasley was waived by the Clippers after he was traded there from the Lakers. He could fit in well in Portland. He could offer a body down low and can shoot the three. He is shooting a lowly 17% from the arc so far this season, but is a career 35% shooter from deep. A change of scenery could bring that number back up.
He averaged 7 pts, 2 rbds, and 1 ast with the Lakers, in limited playing time. He isn’t much of a needle mover, but could be another offensive piece for Portland.
He has had his own troubles with the law and like Randolph would fall into the bad boy category the Blazers are trying to distance themselves from. Though, maybe the Blazers could use some fire and attitude.
7. Ben McLemore
SG
The sixth year shooting guard was waived by the Sacramento Kings to make room for a trade at the deadline. He is a 41% shooter from the arc, something the Blazers covet. He has seen better days though, playing just 19 games this season, and averaging 3.3 points. He can still be serviceable to Portland, but he would cause further upheaval in the minutes war within the Blazers rotation.
6. Robin Lopez
C
Lopez has yet to be bought out by Chicago, but he could be a good candidate for the Blazers. He played for Portland in their last iteration as a semi contender. He played well averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds a game. He was a big presence in the paint, tearing down boards and blocking shots.
He would be a solid backup to Nurkic, but would have to take minutes from Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins. A good risk to take? We will see. It probably won’t materialize anyways as it appears he will remain in Chicago the rest of the season.
5. Milos Teodosic
PG
The Blazers are comfortable with Seth Curry, and often use Evan Turner as their backup guard. But, if Portland wanted to upgrade, Teodosic would be a great fit. He is a better ball handler and distributor than either Curry or Turner. The 2nd year guard out of Serbia would help get Portland’s bench offense moving better. He isn’t a big scorer, but he is a damned good outlet. He is probably headed back overseas as is.
4. Wayne Ellington
SG
Ellington, recently traded by the Heat and on the way to being waived by the Suns, so that he can join a contender, would be a good fit in Portland. Yes, they just traded for Hood, but the more shooting the better. And, Ellington would bring it. The man with the golden arm is a 37% career shooter from deep. He would definitely be able to come in and help Portland.
That said, it appears Detroit is ready to snatch him off the table once he is waived. So, it looks like a no go for Portland.
3. Marcin Gortat
C
Marcin is in the winter of his career. He is not the young shot blocking, rim protector he used to be. His play has declined, but he still has a little gas left. Enough to join a contender and play off the bench. He has been linked to Golden State, and would probably fit in well there. Maybe get a ring before he hangs it all up.
If he ended up in Portland, he would be a solid for veteran leadership and good influence on Collins and Meyers, not to mention Nurkic. He is averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes a game. Though his numbers aren’t what they used to be, he can still be a defensive presence under the basket.
2. Enes Kanter
C
The Blazers tried to steal the big man away from the Thunder a few years back, and were unsuccessful. Now, after just being waived from the Knicks after they failed to find a suitable trade for him, he is up for grabs. He has been linked to Boston most heavily, and his name has come up in rumors surrounding Golden State and Houston.
Kanter would instantly make Portland’s bench better. He would be give the Blazers another scoring option and rebounding help on the bench to relieve a bit more pressure from the starters. He averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game with the Knicks this season. The issue is Kanter wants to start. Not sure if the Celtics will let him, while the Rockets and Warriors have starting centers in Capela and Cousins. If Portland is as aggressive as they claim they will be in the buyout market, they can get him.
1.Markieff Morris
PF
Morris would make Portland better than any other buyout candidate. He could provide an upgrade on both ends of the floor at PF over Aminu. He is versatile and can guard several positions. He is a 33% shooter from deep and a 51% shooter overall. He averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds a game this season. But has been out because of a neck injury. He has been cleared to play.
Morris is not however known for his well mannered ways. He is emotionally driven and dogmatic. He might instantly bring back reminders of the jail Blazers era. Like Rasheed Wallace he wears his emotions on his sleeve and is apt to get called for technical fouls. Maybe though, the Blazers could use a little edge.
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #5, Febuary 2019 edition where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
My question is why does Stotts refuse to let Layman start and bring Moe off the bench? Now leading into my main question, I love the pickup of Hood. Even though we haven’t seen a lot of him yet I love that punch that Jake and Hood bring energy wise. So do you think Stotts would even think of starting Hood over Moe? I think Moe and Jake off the bench would be awesome. What’s the advantages of starting Hood? Or switch it around and why should he stay on the bench…thanks so much! – Adam N
Well Adam, I don’t think it’s a matter of if Layman or for that matter Hood deserves to start or not. The case can be made that both of them certainly do. Terry Stotts is a methodical coach. He is married to his notecards and his system. In keeping Layman or Hood on the bench, he isn’t aiming to be callous. He is more likely scheming the best balance in his mind between the starters and the bench.
What if Stotts started Layman or Hood. How would it affect the production of the bench? If you throw all of your fire power up front, the result is not always the best. It is frustrating for us fans. We want Stotts to experiment with the lineups, so we can see for ourselves.
Why is Moe the starter? Seniority? For the sake of maintaining chemistry? The tools he brings? I’ll give Moe this, when he is at his best, he is a swiss army knife, stealing, running the floor, cleaning the boards for second chance shots, scoring at the basket, and playing tight as a knot defense. He is an energy source, not expected to score so much as do the little things that don’t necessarily show up in the boxscore.
There is benefit to starting him. That said, he can’t get passed a nagging knee injury. And, keeping Moe happy is probably another reason, and no it’s not a good one. But, you bench him and you will most definitely get the mopey, world is out to get me Moe, who is quite flaccid and unreliable. He already knows he was on the trading block. Bench him too? A storm of low self esteem will be a brewing.
Layman started in his place during the early part of the season and the Blazers won, more than lost. He fits easily into the starting lineup, and in fact plays later in the game with the starters. Layman will eventually be the starter, next year probably, after Moe is gone. He has shared the starting spot with Evan Turner in the games Moe had missed in this seesaw season, of will the knee heal, will it not?
What would starting Hood bring? More consistent shooting. Theoretically, a third guy at the arc, who would leave offenses pissing themselves because they no longer had the luxury of trapping Dame and CJ in ISO without consequence. What would it cost. Defensive presence. Ball movement. The fluidity of the motion offense.
I think it’s the right choice to bring Layman and Hood off the bench. Unless a certain matchup should dictate otherwise, of course. It’s important to maintain a homeostasis between the starters and bench. A balanced team, is a winning team. If your going to experiment it should be early in the season. There are a lot of egos and personalities to juggle on this team. It takes more than it appears to keep 15 guys content. We can argue Stott’s decisions all we want. We may want to consider that he is doing the right thing.
With the salary cap squeeze we are currently on, how does NO plan on retaining our needed free agents in Aminu, Curry, Layman and Hood since we didn’t make some type of consolidation trade to move Aminu before he expired? – Orion B
Orion, It’s not going to be an easy task to say the least. Neil Olshey has his work cut out for him (and he put himself there) His plan will likely be contingent on moving the contracts of Harkless, Turner, and Meyers, who after this season will be on the last year of their contracts. He will likely try to move them draft night.
Out of the four, Layman is the only one who is restricted. Expect him to get some serious competing offers. The Blazers have the power to match, and ultimately will, but it’s going to cost them. Al Farouq Aminu is likely gone this summer. I doubt there is any seriousness to trying to sign and trade him. The Blazers will watch him walk away into the sunset.
Hood and Curry on the other hand will be resigned. They won’t be as costly or as sought after by other teams. It is safe to say they will be here next training camp.
How will Neil get it done? He can find a team to take on Turner, Meyers, and Harkless’s contracts. He could trade CJ in combination with them to bring back fewer guys and open up some space in the cap. That probably won’t come to fruition, but you never know. Making harder, the Blazers will still have dead cap, paying out the stretched contracts of Andrew Nicholson, Anderson Varejao, and Festus Ezeli. Point is, like I said Neil is knee deep in it, and it i!s going to take some crafty maneuvering to get out.
What is the Blazers biggest strength? – TorturedBlazerFan
Tortured, the humor does not go unnoticed in the ironic contraposition of the positive nature of your question and your name. As Blazer fans, we all seem to be tortured. It is our daily bread.
Seriously though, when one speaks of a teams strength, offense or defense is among the first things mentioned. Maybe the fast break, athleticism, or the team is deep with three point shooters or talented rim protectors/shot blockers. These more fundamental elements are often at play in such analysis.
The Blazers however are deep in something else: Culture and Unity. I hear you sighing. I hear you saying chemistry is good and all, but isn’t that an answer for losers. Well, at least we have cohesion right. Hold the phone.
This Blazers team for the most part know each other, and as they continue to grow together they get better. The Blazers don’t have the luxury to rely on a roster full of stars. They have to depend on each other. Each of them bringing something different to fuel the machine.
They know they are underestimated. They use it, continue to carry a chip on their shoulders to remind them. They shouldn’t have succeeded as much as they did these last three years. They did so because they are all willing to place egos aside ( ok CJ is still working on that ) and commit to their given roles.They realize they are part of a larger whole. Something bigger than themselves. They succeeded because of an unflinching solidarity. Lillard himself, said that he didn’t want to trade players away at the expense of chemistry. It is a valuable commodity, some teams forget that. For the Blazers, it’s their greatest strength.
When Hood leaves this summer and either Stauskas or Baldwin turn into another Will Barton next season, which will be the worse trade, Afflalo or Hood? – jlprk
Jlprk,
Neither Nik Stauskas or Wade Baldwin IV will ever be a Will Barton level player. Stauskas is a guy who can give you a couple three’s a game and a double digit night every once in a blue moon. Baldwin, is more of a defensively minded player who is lacking on offense. Who knows though, he is young. If either of them will turn out to play at such a level, it would be Baldwin. That is very doubtful though.
Thus, between the two, the Afflalo trade will always be the worst trade. The Blazers traded away Barton for what amounted to an unsatisfying rental. In the Blazers defense though (and they could use some) at the time Barton was stuck behind Matthews and CJ. He was a young unknown. He showed potential, Portland was aiming to get back to the conference finals, and Afflalo then, was the better player. Portland couldn’t have known. But, hey excuses, excuses.
That is the fifth edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard has been chosen as a reserve for the 2019 NBA All Star game, to played on Sunday, February 17th on TNT. Lillard was drafted by Lebron James with the 7th pick in the All Star draft. He will join starters, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard, as well as fellow reserves, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Karl Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, Dwyane Wade, and Ben Simmons on Team Lebron.
He will face off against Team Giannis, with starters Giannis Antetokoumnpo, Stephen Curry, Joel Ebiid, Paul George, and Kemba Walker, and reserves Khris Middleton, Nikola Jokic, Blake Griffin, D’Angelo Russell, Nikola Vucevic, Kyle Lowry, Dirk Nowitski, and Russel Westbrook.
Damian Lillard is a 4 time All-Star appearing in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019. In three appearances he has averaged 13.6 pts,1.3 assts, 2 rbds, in 15 minutes of play. His best game as an all-star game last year, where he scored 21 pts, 3 rbds, and 2 assts, in 20.56 minutes of play on Team Stephen.
Blazers Point Guards Damian Lillard will participate in the 2019 Mountain Dew NBA 3pt contest.It will take place Saturday, February 16th, as part of All-Star weekend, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will not be easy as they will be facing Seth’s brother, Stephen Curry (Warriors), Danny Green (Raptors), Joe Harris (Nets), Buddy Heild (Kings), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Dirk Nowitski (Mavericks), Kemba Walker (Hornets), and last years champion, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. A Blazers has yet to win the contest.
Damian Lillard shoots 36.1% three point shooter for the season and a 36.7% shooter for his career. Seth Curry is the best three point shooter in the NBA at 48.5% this season, and 44.5% for his career.
Stephen Curry: 44% 2018/19 season, 43.7% career
Devin Booker: 32.4% 2018-19 season, 35.6% career
Danny Green: 42.1% 2018-19 season, 39.8% career
Joe Harris: 45.3% 2018/19 season, 41.5% career
Buddy Heild: 45.5% 2018/19 season, 42.7% career
Khris Middleton: 37.9% 2018/19 season, 38.9% career
Dirk Nowitski: 31.3% 2018/19 season, 38.2% career
Kemba Walker: 36.7% 2018/19 season, 35.9% career
The Blazers have traded 2nd year PF Caleb Swanigan to the Sacramento Kings for big man Skal Labissiere. Swanigan, the 6ft 9 PF out of Indiana played in 45 games for the Portland Trail Blazers averaging 2.1 points, and 2.4 rebounds. He couldn’t crack the rotation and played most of his minutes in garbage time, or in the G league. He was drafted #26th in the 2017 draft.
Labissiere played in 106 games for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 8 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. He is a 36% 3 point shooter, and offers the Blazers a slight upgrade. He is young and fits well with the Blazers. If he finds minutes, he can help on defense, and in offense in transition.
The trade deadline is less than 24 hrs away. The Blazers already traded for Rodney Hood. But, general manager Neil Olshey could have more up his sleeve. Here are seven possible trade scenarios we could see happen by 3pm tomorrow.
Blazers/Memphis
There has been a lot of rumors about Olshey being in contact with Memphis general manager Chris Wallace. Names that have come up include Marc Gasol, JaMychal Green, and Garrett Temple. Gasol seems to be headed to Charlotte and the trade for Hood makes the acquirement of Temple unnecessary. The Blazers could still go after JaMychal Green.
Blazers:
JaMychal Green
Omri Casspi
Memphis:
Meyers Leonard
2019 1st rnd pick
Blazers/Magic
The Blazers have long been interested in Evan Fournier. Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross have also appeared in the rumor mill. Some fans have mentioned a desire to trade CJ McCollum for Aaron Gordon and Ross.
Blazers:
Evan Fournier
Nikola Vucevic
Magic:
Al Farouq Aminu
Maurice Harkless
Meyers Leonard
2019 1st rnd pick
Blazers/Minnesota
It’s a shame Tom Thibodeau is gone because he was an Evan Turner fan. Dario Saric has come up in rumor discussions. Minnesota has been neglecting him. He would be a perfect fit for the Blazers.
Blazers:
Dario Saric
Anthony Tolliver
Minnesota:
Al Farouq Aminu
2019 1st rnd pick
Blazers/Detroit
Pistons power forward Blake Griffin has been paired with the Blazers in trade rumors. Though he claims to be happy there, the Pistons have made several trades that point to them trending younger, collecting picks, and creating salary cap space. Sounds like a rebuild. If Griffin does indeed get traded, and Detroit wants to dump him for players with shorter or expiring contracts, without wanting back a star/near star level player like McCollum, then a deal could happen.
Blazers:
Blake Griffin
Luke Kennard
Detroit:
Al Farouq Aminu
Evan Turner
Meyers Leonard
2019 1st
Future 1st
Blazers/New Orleans Pelicans
Portland has been called a dark horse in the Anthony Davis race. If Portland could trade for him they would be immediate contenders. Nikola Mirotic and Julius Randle have also come up in rumors and the Pelicans are shopping both. Portland has an open roster spot and a 1st rnd pick. Though just taking on one or the other would put Portland deeper into luxury tax. They would probably have to send someone back.
Scenario 1
Blazers:
Nikola Mirotic
Pelicans:
Meyers Leonard
2019 1st rnd pick
Scenario 2
Blazers:
Julius Randle
Pelicans:
Al Farouq Aminu
Scenario 3 – The Big One
Blazers:
Anthony Davis
Julius Randle
Solomon Hill
Pelicans:
CJ McCollum
Al Farouq Aminu
Evan Turner
2019 1st rnd pick
Future 1st rnd pick
Future 2nd rnd pick
The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired Rodney Hood from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Portland sent out Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin IV, their 2021 and 2023 2nd rnd picks.
Hood is an upgrade over Stauskas who has continued to struggle after a strong start to the season. Baldwin has played few minutes, mostly in garbage time. He never found his way ibto the rotation after showing potential mainly on the defensive end last season.
The 5th year guard/forward will provide the Blazers with help on both ends of the floor, off the bench. He will see most of his minutes next to Seth Curry in the back court. Though, he will also find some time at small forward.
He is averaging 13.0 PPG, on 37% from the arc and 42% over all. He is also averaging 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
The move opens up a roster spot for the Blazers to sign another player or acquire one in a trade with their 1st rnd pick.
The February 7th, NBA trade deadline is a week away. Rumors abound. New Orleans Pelicans star player Anthony Davis wants out. The Blazers will make a play for him. They have too. Actually getting him is another thing.
Davis is a top 10 player in the league. Trading for him will be expensive. Do the Blazers have the assets? Do they have the guts to take the risk? Are they even in the running? Don’t hold your breath.
Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has reached out, and he has to. It is an opportunity that can’t be passed up. The Blazers should go all in. Everyone not named Damian Lillard made available, along with an assortment of picks. Step right up.
The problem, Davis wants to go to a perennial winner, a team that has the ability to go all the way. While the Blazers have the first condition down, they have been to the playoffs 36 of their 49 seasons, including a 21 year streak, and appearances in the last 5 consecutive seasons, the that 2nd part, winning a championship has been elusive. The Blazers last went all the way in the 1976-77 season. That 42 year window will not leave Davis impressed.
Portland as currently constructed won’t get far in the playoffs. They need more help. They are still young and their roster is flawed. Internal development is necessary, especially with a small market team. But, even with the development of their current players, it won’t be enough. The Blazers need more. If they want a trophy within Damian Lillard’s window, they need to take risks.
Even after trading for Davis, if they luck out, they might not have all the pieces, depending on who is moved for him. They would probably have to sell the farm. CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic have both been mentioned, along with a slew of bench players in an outgoing deal, along with numerous picks. Who would be left? Would the Blazers be good enough that Davis would sign an extension? He is good friends with Lillard. How far that goes towards getting and keeping Davis here, well, your guess is as good as mine.
Rich Paul, Davis’s agent is also the agent of Lebron James. James wants Davis in Los Angeles. This sudden announcement has funny written all over it. And, not the laughing kind. If it is all a play to get Davis to the Lakers, then the Blazers have little chance in trading for him. It makes sense for Davis to go to a large market, if he wishes to finally win a ring.
While Boston can offer the best deal, they have to first trade or resign Kyrie Irving this summer. While the Pelican’s can wait, they are feeling more pressure to make a move. The Lakers can offer them role players and draft picks, not an extensively attractive package to say the least.
There are few other teams that have a chance at winning a ring. Houston could trade Capella, filler, and picks, again not the best offer the Pelicans can manage. New York could move Porzingis, and give Davis, the promise of going after Durant in the summer. Not sure Davis will buy it.
The Pelican’s don’t have a lot of options. Their decision will be dictated, by what direction they want to go in. They have some hard choices to make. CJ McCollum Jusuf Nurkic, filler, and picks wouldn’t be a bad get for them, certainly they could do worse.
There are also rumors Neil Olshey is pressing hard for Marc Gasol. Trading for him only makes sense if Nurkic is traded 1st. A $24 million backup center would put the Blazers further into the tax. If Neil is preparing to trade Nurkic in a package for Davis, Gasol would be a good replacement. JaMychal Green’s and Garrett Temple’s names have also been tossed around.
It could be Neil Olshey is covering his bases. Maybe he knows it is inevitable Davis will be traded to the Lakers, Warriors, or Celtics, and is trying to play middle man to secure the collateral damage of this upcoming blockbuster. Maybe he has his eyes on Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle, etc. It could prove to be a crafty way to move Turner and Leonard, whose contracts are far from pretty. Maybe he is trying to get Memphis to help facilitate a deal, where Gasol would go to New Orleans.
Who knows. It is all conjecture until a move actually happens. Getting Davis is a long shot if anything. Let’s hope Olshey and the Blazers take the risk. They can maintain +.500 seasons and first round exits or they can gamble for something more. You can’t win if you don’t play.
Yes and no.
The Blazers are a little bit better. They seem to be unstoppable when they play extensively through Nurkic, who has had his best season thus far. It opens up the Blazers offense and disallows the opponents defense from isolating Portland’s guards. Lillard and CJ are Lillard and CJ. Portland would be a lot better if they played through one another rather than parallel to one another. But, using Nurkic as a conduit is proving rather effective in its stead.
The Blazers have also have moved the ball much better this year. They are up to 22.5 APG from 19.5 last season. Not a huge jump, but it shows. Last year most of the Blazers assists were at the arc. This season we are seeing more assists at the basket, with cutters hitting the paint for open shots off confused and disoriented defenses who are still adjusting to Portland’s movement. They are used to last seasons team which was largely stagnant and seemed to have less movement then residents at an old folks home.
The Blazers bench is also somewhat better. They are at about 34 points a game up 6 points from last season. Curry is better than Napier, but needs to produce more. He is finding his legs after a season off and with them his consistency. Pat Connaughton and Nik Stauskas are interchangeable. Their stats are practically identical. Connaughton has slightly better shooting percentages, and Stauskas averages slightly more points a game. They both have suffered at the hands of inconsistency.
Zach Collins is still young and developing, and he is struggling a bit with more minutes and responsibility. But, his numbers are up. The Loss of Ed Davis has hurt the Blazers, but not as badly as expected. Evan Turner is finally fitting in to an applicable degree, after giving the Blazers and the fans headaches, earlier this year and the last few seasons.
Meyers Leonard 6.0 aka “the hammer” is a vast improvement over his ill-achieved previous iterations. He can score effectively and set screens like no ones business. He has helped Portland’s bench take a step forward this year. He should get more plays called for him.
Jake Layman has been the biggest and most pleasant surprise. Everytime he plays, it is like opening presents on Christmas morning. He can hit the three with savage ease or get to the basket with ungodly speed. He is a hell of a cutter. Opponents are still trying to figure him out.
The Blazers are 28-19, three wins better than this time last season when they were 25-21. Last season they had a 5 game losing streak, this year they have 2 three game losing streaks. Over all it is pretty even. The Blazers have an easier second half of the season schedule this year as opposed to last. Will they get another 13 game winning streak? No. But, they will get their wins a different way. The Blazers will probably end their season a couple games ahead of last season say 51 or 52 wins.
Is Terry Stotts better this year? No. Not really. He is starting to learn to adjust to opponents a bit and he is using timeouts more efficiently, but he is commiting a lot of the same mistakes. Overplaying the bench, making costly gameplan mistakes at the end of games, and is still married to that damned index card. He is roughly the same coach as he has been.
Does two effective beat downs of the Pelicans who swept Portland in the 1st round of the playoffs mean the Blazers are better? No. The first meeting saw Anthony Davis sitting on the bench in his suit. There is no equitable measurement to be had there. The second meeting was a dog fight till Jake Layman came in the game. Gentry was using the same tactic he used in the playoffs to suffocate Lillard and McCollum with double teams. But, Aminu who was left open was having an on night from the arc. It was shot for shot basically. The Blazers had a small lead going into the 2nd. The Pelicans fought back and then Stotts brought in Layman, who had 20 points in the quarter. Gentry and Pelicans weren’t ready for that, they hadn’t thought of it. How could they? You can bet when the Blazers see the Pelicans in New Orleans in a couple months, they will give Layman a bit more respect.
Also, trading Rajon Rondo hurt the Pelicans badly. Payton is a heavy downturn at PG. They will look to upgrade at the deadline. So, part of Portland’s success in those games is that the Pelicans got worse. They don’t get all the credit though.
And, before you say, “But, the Blazers beat the champs in overtime in Oakland, they must be far better,” remember the champion Warriors trounced them in the two meetings before that. The Warriors have gotten worse too, but I expect them to be #1 at the end of the season. They have had injuries, but also they miss the prescence of Javale McGee dearly. Their center Damion Jones suffered a season ending injury. And, they have been without DeMarcus Cousins who has recently returned. He is going to help them wipe the floor with opponents, and shore up any weakness they have had.
Will the Blazers fare better in the playoffs? Maybe. Portland has had more help this year, and they may bring in another player or two at the deadline. Will the Blazers get to the 2nd rnd? Depends on the matchup. Depends on if they run the ball through Nurkic or settle on Iso ball. Depends on the Blazers movement and trust in one another. So, yeah the Blazers are a little bit better. They are headed in the right direction. They will need more help before they can make a deep run. But, I believe they can make a hell of a dent.
Damian Lillard:
Portland star and leader, Lillard has had a tough season, working to break down suffocating double teams, a defensive scheme that has been on display since it was used successfully by the Pelicans to stop the Blazers in the playoffs. But, both defensive pressure, and the pressure of leading a young Blazers team have not stop him from averaging 26+ points a game. He has helped Portland to a 24-17 record at the halfway point, their best since 2014-15.
Lillard is working extra this season to get his teammates more involved in the offense averaging 6+ assists a game. He is an unstoppable force, playing sick, putting the team on his back, and getting his Dame time in.
He is looking a little worn out as of late, and jacks up some pretty long threes, but there really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to Lillard. He is a perennial all-star and a very rare franchise player, who gives his best on and off the court.
GRADE: A+
CJ McCollum:
The Blazers second in command has been struggling for sometime and has been inconsistent. One night he will take over a game, then seemingly struggle for a string of games, before taking over another, in a daunting cycle. Is it a slump? Is it that he is taking low percentage shots? He is shooting 33% from the arc but, 51% from inside for the season, averaging 20.8 pts per game, so maybe it is not as bad as it appears to be some nights.
McCollum and Lillard are one of the best back courts in the NBA. The problem is that they play parallel to one another rather than with each other. Someone needs to tell them to go with the grain and not against it. They need to pass to each other more, and Portland will be better off for it. CJ often over dribbles in an attempt to get open shots or a path to the rim and takes a low percentage shot or turns the ball over. Less dribbling, more passing, and moving off the ball to get open instead will help.
GRADE: B+
Jusuf Nurkic:
The Bosnian Beast is alive and kicking. Nurkic has played fantastic down this last stretch into the middle of the season. He was playing well early on too, but was a little slower on his feet, and wasn’t as active. Part of the problem was Portland not playing through him on the pick and roll or feeding him inside enough. But, hr has been hungry and has been playing his best basketball. He just made history as the first player in the NBA to have a 20-20-5-5-5 game with a 24 pt, 23 rbnd, 7 Blocks, 5 assists, and 5 steals showing against the Kings. Keep going to Nurk. The fever is back and hopefully here to stay.
GRADE: A+
Al Farouq Aminu:
Chief Aminu has been a beacon of energy for the Blazers, playing impressive defense, putting extra effort on putbacks and rebounds, and being a spark on the offense. He is only averaging 9.4 pts and 8.2 rebounds a game, but he does a lot of things that don’t show up in the stats.
He has been better on the dribble, and has developed a better inside game. He can be explosive, but he can also hurt the Blazers when he has off nights from the arc. He still inconsistent from the there, but is shooting 35% on the season. He needs to keep working on that shot so it falls more often. He isn’t your standard power forward, but in a league that has moved towards stretch bigs, he gets the job done, for the most part. He struggles against conventional bigs, but gives all he has got to the game.
GRADE: B+
Maurice Harkless:
Harkless has struggled to heal from a nagging knee injury. He missed the early part of the season and continues to miss games here and there due to continued soreness. Problematic, as he had the whole summer to heal.
Since returning he has been mostly “good” Moe, like Aminu bringing extra energy to the game. He can be a swiss army knife, shooting from anywhere, playing exceptional defense, going after loose balls, creating fast break opportunities off of steals, showing extra effort on putbacks and rebounds, etc etc.
“Bad” Moe does none of those things. So, it is key to keep his confidence up. So far this season, that hasn’t been a problem. He has played well, when he has played. He needs to get that knee to heal, so he can help the Blazers down the stretch and in the playoffs should they get there.
GRADE: B+
Jake Layman:
Blazers third year forward has made huge leaps and bounds over the summer. He started in place of Harkless for the first part of the season. While his overall stats may not look that great, he has had several games where he has brought huge levels of intensity to the game off the bench lately, hitting shots, cutting to the basket with amazing speed and ease.
It looks like he may have found his way into coach Stott’s rotation. Hopefully, because his good play seems to often be overlooked and he will mount several DNP’s till we see him again. A struggling Blazer’s bench need his help.
GRADE: B+
Evan Turner:
Turner has wrestled with fitting in Portland’s system. Stotts tried to make him into another three point shooter, but Turner can’t shoot the three to save his life. He is averaging just 14% on the season from the arc. Stotts is now using him as a backup point guard whose main task is to distribute the ball. He hasn’t done so great averaging just over 3 assists a game. He turns the ball over more than not and staunches the offense.
He has played better as of late, shooting well at the basket and elbow. He is starting to earn that oversized contract. He needs to focus more on helping keep the offense moving and passing into assists. He can be a bit selfish when he is on the floor passing up open teammates.
GRADE: C+
Meyers Leonard:
Legend has been redubbed “The Hammer, and he is living up to the new nickname, throwing down epic dunks. He has come a good distance from the Meyers fans were giving up on. But, he still has nagging bits of the old Meyers in him, and gets frustrating to watch. He is damn awkward setting screens, sets additional unnecessary ones instead of popping out for an easy shot. He still hesitates far to often and passes up good shots.
That said he is a prolific three point shooter. When he doesn’t hesitate and takes the shot it is almost always in. He is shooting 41% from far and 51% inside on the season. Whether the reason he hesitates is due to Stotts dictating who takes shots, or a continued lack of confidence, it needs to stop. The more Stotts shows confidence in Meyers, the more he will have in himself. He is capable of producing more, and the Blazers could use it.
GRADE: C++\B-
Zach Collins:
The Blazers back up big man has struggled in his second year after Ed Davis left in free agency and he was awarded with more minutes. The loss of Davis who was a good teacher for Zach, has set him back. Maybe Portland forced Collins to take more responsibility too soon.
Still, his stats have risen this season up 3 pts and a rebound. Not, what the Blazers hoped for exactly, but it is progress. It seems like he is not at the same level on defense, committing too many ticky tacky fouls and not having the impact on the glass and blocking the ball, but again his numbers are up. Part of it is playing next to Meyers Leonard who plays away from the rim and leaves Collins alone in there to guard the paint. Collins needs to keep working, and it will come. He is young and has a long career ahead of him.
GRADE: C –
Seth Curry:
Portland signed Curry this offseason to replace the outgoing Shabazz Napier, but he has played more of a shooting role than one based around distribution. He took a year off to recover from a stress fracture in his leg and took sometime to get his feet under him and find his shot.
He has become a somewhat steady production of offense off the bench. He is still a bit, inconsistent, but when he is feeling it watch out. He is shooting a smoking hot 48% from the arc. When he gets a little more time, consistency will follow. When he makes at least 9 points in a game, the Blazers are 9-0.
GRADE: B
Nik Stauskas:
The Blazers other signing of the summer, Stauskas has disappointed after an amazing debut. He put up 24 points against the Lakers, and hasn’t done much since. He has struggled from the 3 shooting 34% and averaging just 2.9 attempts from the arc. He has shot better at the basket, but has gone downhill with his production averaging just 6.2 pts per game. He has all but been replaced in the rotation by Jake Layman.
GRADE: D+
Wade Baldwin:
Baldwin has been a disappointment this season after showing glimpses of talent on defense at the end of last year. He hasn’t gotten much playing time with only 72 minutes total this season almost exclusively in garbage time. What he has shown when he has played this year has not been pleasing. He has not been in the rotation and was shipped to the G league in Texas with teammate Caleb Swanigan.
GRADE: Incomplete
Caleb Swanigan:
Watching Caleb play makes me wish the Blazers had moved him instead of Vonleh at the deadline last season. He is young and terribly raw. He just isn’t ready for the NBA. He is a hard worker and has a great story, but when he has played, mostly in garbage time, it has not been pretty. He has bad hands, something there is no remedy for. I doubt he lasts another season. That said, he is young and needs a lot more time to develop. He was assigned to G league in Texas, a good place for him.
GRADE: Incomplete
Anfernee Simons:
The Blazers rookie is very young. Just out of high school young. No one expected much from him, but he has shown glimpses of what he could become. His potential is crazy. This kid is fast and get to the rim with ease. His shot is ever smooth. There have been a lot of Blazers who ride the bench and never amount to much. I sincerely hope the Blazers don’t waste this kids talent. He can be something fantastic in this league, and it would be a shame to see it never be realized.
GRADE: Incomplete
Gary Trent Jr:
Portland’s other rookie, the Blazers bought into the second round to get him. He hasn’t played much, but in garbage time. At times he looks like he could be a solid role player, at others he is frustrating to watch. It will be interesting to watch him develop. He gets compared to his father who played in Portland, but I think he can be even better. No offense Sr.
GRADE: Incomplete
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The two NBA conferences are disproportionate. The west is heavy with a plethora of the league’s best talent. Only nine games seperate the first and fourteenth spots. Three and a half games separates first from seventh. It is stacked and the parity remains highly appreciable. Only the Suns are definitely out of the race for the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets:
27-12
1st Western Conference
1st Northwest Division
The Nuggets are enjoying the 1st seed in the western conference. They have surpassed all expectation. They started the season 9-1 and have won 7 of their last 10. They are 5-0 against division rivals and have the western conference’s best home record at 16-3. Head coach Michael Malone is in the running for coach of the year, and rightfully deserves it. The Nuggets were heavily underestimated by many after their play the last few seasons. But, behind Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and crew they have become a dominant player in the first half of the 2018-19. The question is can they contain it? Paul Millsap has already been injured, breaking his toe. Can he stay healthy? They have shown so far that other teams better take them seriously. If they keep it, they will most definitely not be enjoying and early summer. Sorry, Nurkic.
GRADE: A+
Golden State Warriors:
27-14
2nd Western Conference
1st Pacific Division
The Warriors haven’t looked as dominate this year. They miss the presence of Javale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, and David West in the paint terribly, are suffering at the hands of the deterioration of Draymond Green, and have been held back a bit by injuries. Damian Jones is out for the season with a pectoral injury. They are waiting for DeMarcus Cousins to come back from an Achilles injury. He has set January 18th as his return.Their other stars have taken turns on the injury wagon this season.
Still, don’t be fooled. They seem almost bored after winning a handful of O’Brien trophies, and I daresay are relaxing their way through the season. They started 10-1, had a four game losing streak in November, and have won 6 of their last 10 games. They are 1st in the NBA in FG%, assists, and steals. Don’t expect them to lose too many more games. Especially,when Cousins returns from injury. They will be a force to be reckoned with. I feel sorry for whoever has to face them in the 1st round, come the playoffs. Make that any round.
GRADE: A
Oklahoma City Thunder:
25-15
3rd Western Conference
2nd NW Division
The Thunder have played better than expected. Paul George is playing impeccable basketball in his second season with the team. Russell Westbrook is averaging a triple double with 21.1 pts, 11 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game. Dennis Schroder has worked out, and chemistry has awarded them with a .625 record. They started the season 6-4 (and 0-4 in their first four games)and have won their last 6 out of 10. They are 1st in the NBA in offensive rebounds and assists. We will see if they can sustain it. With a tough second half of the season schedule we may see them drop.
GRADE: A-
Los Angeles Clippers:
24-16
4th Western Conference
2nd Pacific Division
The Clippers for the past few years have been the better of the two teams sharing the Staples Center. With the arrival of Lebron James to the Lakers, it appeared that might change. However, the Clippers are sitting ahead of the Rockets in fourth place. No one expected them to be as good as they gave been. Everyone has been waiting for them to drop, but they have been steady in their play. And, they have done it without a star on their team, though Tobias Harris may as well be one. With a mixture of youth and veteran role players, Doc Rivers has quietly coached a successful first half of the season. They started out 6-4 and have won 6 of their last 10 games. They are 1st in the NBA in made and attempted free throws per game, with 23.5/29.2. They are on track to finish better than their 42-40 record from last year, after trading Blake Griffin and watching Jordan head to Dallas. We will see if it is sustainable.
GRADE: B+
Houston Rockets:
23-16
5th Western Conference
1st Southwest Division
The Rockets have underperformed. Shipping out Ariza and Mbah A Moute hurt them. The Carmelo Anthony saga was a year in the making, and lasted less than two months. He hurt the team more than helped and has since been benched awaiting a trade or release. Injuries to both Chris Paul and James Harden have hampered them. They started 4-6, but have won 8 of their last 10. They are 1st in the NBA in 3 pt attempts and makes with 15.1/42.8 per game. They can burn anyone if their thrusters are allowed to get started. Look for them to tighten their grip as they make a run for the top of the west. As much as is disliked, don’t underestimate the weird beard.
GRADE: B
San Antonio Spurs:
24-17
Tied 6th Western Division
2nd Southwest Division
The Spurs finally said goodbye to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. They traded all-star Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar Derozan. Many expected the Spurs to cool and for their perennial winning ways to cede. They started out 6-4, then struggled through November and the beginning of December. They found their way under the best coach in the league, Gregg Popovich and have won 8 of their last 10. The Spurs are 1st in the NBA in both 3pt% and FT%. LaMarcus Aldridge has struggled to make a place for himself in the shadow of Tim Duncan, and has played better this season, after his play seemed to deteriorate. Derozan has finally gotten comfortable. Moral: Don’t ever count out a Popovich coached team.
GRADE: B
Portland Trail Blazers:
24-17
Tied 6th Western Conference
3rd Northwest Division
The Blazers started 7-3 and climbed to the top spot in the west before struggling with a hard schedule in November and December. They have won 6 out of their last 10. They currently sit in 7th place after tie breakers in the west at 24-17, just 3.5 games out of 1st.
CJ McCollum has been in a slump most of the season. Moe Harkless can’t get past the soreness in the knee he had surgery on at the beginning of the summer in order to remove a loose body. The bench has struggled terribly, with Nik Stauskas and Zach Collins still in funks. Seth Curry after a slow start, coming back from a season off, has finally got his legs about him, and is starting to make a difference. The Blazers are 9-0 when he scores at least 9 points.
Another strange streak the Blazers have is winning/losing games based on the 3rd quarter. They are 24-0 when leading after the 3rd, and 0-17 when trailing after the 3rd. The last team to do this was the Washington Wizards, who finally broke the streak after winning their 42nd game of the season after trailing in the 3rd.
Jake Layman has been bright spot on the team this season. After seeing very limited minutes the last few seasons. He worked hard over the summer, making a jump to the starting lineup to replace the injured Harkless. He showed sparks of his improved game during that tenure, but it has been of late, that he has become a beacon off the bench, with his quickness, three point efficiency, and a well needed boost of energy. He is Portland’s best cutter by far. Look for his minutes to increase again into the 2nd half of the season.
Meyers Leonard, now known as “The Hammer” has played better this season. He is Portland’s second best 3 point shooter and has taken to rebounding and throwing down monstrous dunks. Portland still needs to find a way to work Lillard and McCollum out of screens. Their ball movement has been mostly poor this season, though it has gotten better as of late.
The Blazers have been a 2nd half of the season team. Last season after the halfway point, after a slow start, they went on a 13 game winning streak and finished 49-33. They are on pace to surpass number that this season. Last year they were division champions. This year, they are stuck behind OKC and hot handed Denver. Can they make the run to take the Northwest again?
GRADE: B
Los Angeles Lakers:
22-19
8th Western Conference
3rd Pacific Division
Let’s not kid ourselves, minus Lebron James the Lakers are the same team as last year, as can be seen due to his recent absence to nurse a groin injury.They are 2-5 without him and 20-14 with him. Lonzo Ball is highly overrated. Sophomore Kyle Kuzma has cooled off after having a breakout rookie season. They don’t have a great supporting cast, but with Lebron, they will likely make the playoffs, if that means he has to drag them there.
Sacramento Kings:
20-21
Tied 9th Western Conference
4th Pacific Division
The Kings have impressed this year. After several seasons of it appearing general manager Vlade Divac didn’t know left from right, with his strange trades and signings, there is finally something coherent here. The Kings drafted Marvin Bagley and he has fit in with the rest of the Kings youth. Sitting tied in 9th in an unpredictable west , with a winning home record, and a nearly winning road record, opponents are starting to pay attention and take them more seriously. The kings need more experience and probably won’t make the playoffs this year, but who knows. They started the season 6-4, but have lost 6 of their last 10 games. Looks like the Kings maybe be cooling off.
GRADE: B –
Utah Jazz:
20-21
Tied 9th Western Conference
Tied 4th Northwest Division
The Jazz have struggled this year after a breakout year. They looked to be one of the more dominant teams in the west, but Sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell has had a terrible second season. Ricky Rubio has also been in a terrible slump. These struggles and an injured Rudy Gobert, the Jazz have lagged behind. They started the season 4-6 and sit tied for 9th place. Expect them to have a far better second half of the season. They have won 6 of their last 10 games.
GRADE: C
Minnesota Timberwolves:
20-21
Tied 9th Western Conference
Tied 4th Northwest Division
The Timberwolves finally made the playoffs last year, but couldn’t get passed issues with star guard Jimmy Butler, after a bad start to the season (4-6). They traded him to the 76ers for Dario Saric and Robert Covington. Their woes didn’t leave with Butler. After a short winning spree, they sank again in the loss column. Days ago, the Timberwolves fired head coach Tom Thibodeau. The Wolves will be glad when this wreck of a season is over. They aren’t out of the playoffs yet, but interim coach Saunders likely won’t win any more than Thibodeau did. They need to keep building around Towns.
GRADE: D+
New Orleans Hornets:
19-22
12th Western Conference
3rd Southwest Division
The Pelicans looked like they were done last year after DeMarcus Cousins went down, but got hot after trading for Nikola Mirotic, and rode the energy to the second round of the playoffs. Many thought they would a dangerous team this season. But, after trading Rajon Rondo (They miss him) to the Lakers for Julius Randle, they just haven’t looked the same. They started 4-0, but then proceeded to go on a six game losing streak. They haven’t quite found their way back. While it is possible they can make a run, it looks like the Pelicans are more focused on trading for better pieces to appease star Anthony Davis, who could decide to leave in free agency.
GRADE: D
Memphis Grizzlies:
18-22
Tied 13th Western Conference
4th Southwest Division
The Grizzlies failed to put the right pieces around an aged Marc Gasol and Michael Conley. They have some talented youth, but they just don’t have a complete picture. They won 6 of their first 10 but have fizzled out losing 8 of their last 10. It is long past time to trade Gasol and Conley and start over. This season is over.
GRADE: F+
Dallas Mavericks:
18-22
Tied 13th Western Conference
5th Southwest Division
The Mavericks are ending one era and beginning another. This is Dirk Nowitzki’s farewell season before retires. The Mavericks welcomed their new future star when they traded up in the draft to take gem Luka Doncic. Doncic has played star level basketball in his first season, and looks only to get better. He is a lot of fun to watch. The Mavericks signed Deandre Jordan in the offseason. It will be a few seasons of rebuild before they compete again. But, Doncic is a win in itself.
GRADE: C-
Phoenix Suns:
10-32
15th Western Conference
5th Pacific Division
The Suns are disappointed in their rookie big man Deandre Ayton, after taking him first in the draft. His college play has not translated well in the NBA, and it’s been a rude awakening. They Suns have an assembly of youth after trading veterans Trevor Ariza and Jared Dudley as well as buying out Tyson Chandler. They are invested in the draft, aiming for another #1 pick, and hoping for the development of their youth. There is a drought in the desert and it isn’t ending soon.
GRADE: F
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Eastern conference is weak to say the least with nine of of it’s fifteen teams with records below .500 halfway through the season. The balance of the league is incommensurable. The top five teams are feeding off their subordinates for easy wins. The bottom three playoff teams, will likely have losing records. Something that is not all too uncommon in the east. All said, the top teams in the conference are formidable regardless.
Toronto Raptors:
31-12
1st Eastern Conference
1st Atlantic Division
The Raptors traded DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard before the season. They fired their head coach Dwayne Casey, who had won coach of the year, in the off season, and hired Nick Pope, who has led them to the the leagues most wins halfway though the season at 30. The Raptors are one of several teams trying to inherit the east. They look to be the front-runner. They have struggled to get far in the playoffs, making it only to the second round last season. Now, with Lebron gone, and Kawhi come to roost, the Raptors may very well take the throne as the Eastern Conference Champs and reach the finals.
GRADE: A+
Milwaukee Bucks:
28-11
2nd Eastern Conference
1st Central Division
The Bucks led by Giannis Antetokounmpo have quietly become one of the best teams in the east. They too are vying to inherit the eastern conference after the exodus of Lebron James this summer. They started the season strong going 7-0. They have won 10 of their past 12 games. They are fighting to stay atop the conference, trading places with Raptors, reciprocating between 1st and 2nd. They have the best home record in the NBA at 19-4. They are one of a few teams that might have any chance to knock of the champion Warriors in the playoffs. Look for them to continue to be a force down the stretch.
GRADE: A+
Indiana Pacers:
27-13
3rd Eastern Conference
2nd Central Division
The Pacers are a solid team in the east. On paper, they don’t look like much. They have a lot of skilled youngsters in Oladipo, Sabonis, Bogdanovic, and Myles Turner. The have veteran leadership in Young and Collinson. Their defensive minded play under head coach Nate McMillan has been successful. Though part of this success to stem from playing in a weak conference, made evident by their 21-6 record against conference foes, meaning with a 27-13 record, they have only played 13 games out of 40 against western conference teams. The Pacers have struggled against the Raptors, and may not yet be good enough to take the East. They have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games though. Not only are they battling for the top spot in the east, just 2.5 games back from the Raptors, they are battling the Bucks for the central division. It is going to be tough, especially with a second half of the season, that sees more games on the schedule against a tougher west.
GRADE: B+
Philadelphia 76ers:
27-14
4th Eastern Conference
2nd Atlantic Division
The 76ers have been rebuilding for years and have benefited from several 1st and high lottery picks. Many thought this might be the year they put it together. They traded Dario Saric, Robert Convington, and Jerryd Bayless for Jimmy Butler. He has helped, but is now giving the 76ers the same behavoiral problems he displayed in Minnesota and Chicago. Dominate young center Joel Embiid, has had his healthiest year and Ben Simmons continues to look good. The 76ers are in the thick of the battle for the east, just 3 games behind the Raptors at the top spot, both for the conference and the division. One concern, is Markelle Fultz whose shoulder and shooting woes continue. The 76ers may be at the end of the road with him. They too may be benefitting from a weak conference at 18-11 against conference foes. And, with a 27-14 record, that means they have played 29 of 41 games against eastern conference teams.
GRADE: B
Boston Celtics:
24-15
5th Eastern Conference
3rd Atlantic Division
The Celtics have underachieved after their play last year, making the eastern conference finals against the Cavaliers. Many thought that with the return of injured Gordon Hayward, the Celtics would be the shoe-in to inherit the seat of the eastern champions. They started 6-4, had an eight game winning streak in November, and have won 6 out of their last 10. Still, they have yet to assert the dominance many thought they would, and perhaps are still capable of. Boston has a deep team, and we will see if they can make the push to take the top spot. We may see trades at the deadline to bulk up the roster. They will make the playoffs, the question is what seed? Right now they are sitting at #5. Without much competition below them, they aren’t likely to slip further. They are also battling for the Atlantic division, stuck behind Toronto and Philadelphia. They have ground to make up. It appears they have a good chance of doing so. Now, they have to prove it.
GRADE: B –
Miami Heat:
19-20
6th Eastern Conference
1st Southeast Division
If you needed more evidence of how weak the east is, the Heat sit in the 6th spot, a game under .500 which means, three playoff teams in the conference have more losses than wins. Heat GM Pat Riley tried to upgrade his team by trading for Jimmy Butler earlier in the season, but Minnesota kept asking for more, and Riley ended up hanging up the phone cursing out Minnesota GM Tom Thibodeau. They have Hassan Whiteside who has been averaging a double/double with 12.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. He has helped them to 4th in the NBA in Blocks with 2.8 per game. For the most part, the Heat have a hodgepodge of decent role players who can get some wins. Dwyane Wade is taking a farewell tour in his last year, before he retires, and leaves the Heat to rebuild, much like Nowitski and the Mavericks in the west. The difference being, the Heat do not have a star in the making to replace him with. What direction will they go in?
GRADE: C+
Brooklyn Nets:
20-22
7th Eastern Conference
4th Atlantic Division
The Nets have actually started playing some good basketball. Expected to be at the bottom of the heap, they have found themselves in the mix for the playoffs come the halfway mark. They are gaining confidence and team chemistry is kicking. They are just two games under .500. If that is all they do this season, they have accomplished a lot. They have won 12 of their last 16 games. They won’t catch anyone above them in the Atlantic division, and probably can only hope to get as high as 6th in the East, but even they probably couldn’t imagine themselves where they are now at the beginning of the season.
GRADE: C+
Charlotte Hornets:
19-21
8th Eastern Conference
2nd Southeast Division
Two games under .500, the Hornets are battling for a place in the playoffs and for the Southeast Division Championship. They haven’t made the playoffs in three years, and they lost in the first round when they did. The last two seasons, they couldn’t get to forty wins, finishing with thirty six in both. They have had one winning season in the five since they became the Hornets again. Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist won’t be enough to get out of the first round. The have an assortment of verterans and youth. They would like to rid themselves of Batum and Kaminisky, and find help, to bolster their late season run down the stretch. Things don’t look promising. They will have to keep up with the two teams ahead of them, and keep the Pistons at bay. Doable, but the Hornets haven’t been exactly succesfull as of late, so they better pick it up.
GRADE: C
Detroit Pistons:
17-21
9th Eastern Conference
3rd Central Division
After trading for Blake Griffin and hiring coach of the year Dwayne Casey, the Pistons are not where they would like to be. Sitting at 17-21, they are 4 games under the .500 mark and 10.5 games back from the top of the east.. As bad as it looks, they still are only two games out of the playoff picture. In the past decade they have only made the playoffs once in the 2015-16 season. In that same time span, they only had a winning record one season as well (the same year). Things aren’t looking good for them as they continue to rebuild. It was a strange move to trade Tobias Harris and company for Griffin. He continues to be an ill fit. On paper, other than him and Drummond, they don’t have a whole lot, and that shows in their record. Until, they can get more help, they will stay where they are at. They could eek their way into the playoffs, but they have lost 7 of their last 10, so things aren’t looking good at all for them. They likely have the 3rd spot in the central division cemented, as they have no need fear the Bulls or Cavs beneath them, nor do they have a cold chance in hell to catch the Pacers and Bucks above them. They are stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for the icy runway in Detroit to thaw.
GRADE: D+
Orlando Magic:
17-23
10th Eastern Conference
3rd Southeast Divsion
Orlando hasn’t had a Magical season since 2009 -10 when they made the Eastern Conference Finals. They have had one winning year since then, and haven’t made the playoffs in 8 years. Since then they have averaged only 26 wins per season. Yikes! They are near or last in most stats. The Magic have a good core in Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. In their 5th and 7th seasons with the team respectively, they Magic have failed to build a team around them, capable of winning. They are a couple of usable pieces in Fournier, Isaacs, and Ross.They drafted Mohamed Bamba, but the rest of the roster is a heap of young players with limited talent. They have many rebuilding years to go, waiting for the right draft picks, and development. There is nothing magical about it.
GRADE: D-
Washington Wizards:
16-25
11th Eastern Conference
4th Southeast Division
The Wizards continue to try and build around John Wall and Bradley Beal. They are better than their record as it currently stands, but have struggled with a tough schedule and injuries. They traded Kelly Oubre Jr to the Suns for Trevor Ariza, and have a forward heavy roster. They have had winning records the last 5 years, and made the playoffs four of those years. . Last month they lost star John Wall for the rest of the season, after suffering injuries to his heel, and opting for surgery, to forestall risk of further damage. Another part of the problem is that they traded away Marcin Gortat and signed Dwight Howard who has been sidelined, much of the season, having played only 9 games. They had 16 win halfway two years ago and finished with 41 wins, but without Wall it will be difficult. Still, they are only 3.5 games back from eighth place, so we will see what happens.
GRADE: D-
Atlanta Hawks:
12-28
12th Eastern Conference
5th Southeast Division
The Hawks are regretting drafting and trading Luka Doncic for Trae Young, but they are invested in their rookie now, and the development of their youth. I don’t expect them to win much this year, or for several to come. Hopefully, in the end Young works out for them. Right not they are last in the southeast division, and so far south in the standings, that their only real hope is getting a good lottery pick in the draft come summer. They went to the playoffs for 10 straight years between 2007-2008 and 2016-17. In the past two seasons, they have been in rebuild mode, firing their head coach, and trying to start a new era in Atlanta. I hope Hawk fans are patient, it is going to be awhile…a long while.
GRADE: F
Chicago Bulls:
10-30
13th Eastern Conference
4th Central Division
The Bulls completely fell apart this year, and it cost head coach Fred Hoiberg his job just over two months into the season. They have a solid core of young players in Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr, Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, and Bobby Portis to build around. They jettisoned Justin Holiday and would like to do the same with Jabari Parker who is not what they hoped he would be for them, after picking him up from Milwaukee. They have gone a long way down, since the glory days of Jordan. They have lots of rebuilding and losing to do. Carry on.
GRADE: F
New York Knicks:
10-31
14th Eastern Conference
5th Atlantic Division
The Knicks have entered a new era of rebuilding after hiring GM Scott Perry and Coach David Fizdale.. Fans were not excited with their drafting of Kevin Knox.They were able to nab Mario Hezonja from free agency. They missed out on Lebron James who stated publicly that he chose between New York and Los Angeles in the summer, and he isn’t wearing a Knicks jersey. Which is too bad for the the big apple, because he would have paired with Porzingis, and drawn stars to join him, making Madison Square Garden, a winning arena again. Something, that has happened in six years, since the Carmelo Anthony Years. But, Perry’s job will not come so easy, leaving the Knicks to play a paper house season developing youth while they wait for their star Kristaps Porzingis to heal from an ACL injury. The Knicks have some good future pieces in Tim Hardaway Jr, Frank Ntilikina, and perhaps Noah Vonleh who is having is best year in the NBA so far. They will have another pick in the lottery, perhaps the #1 after this season. This season isn’t about winning, it is about Perry figuring out what the hell he is going to do. Look for the top teams in the east to rack up wins on them like a pinball machine on a Saturday night.
GRADE: F+
Cleveland Cavaliers:
8-33
15th Eastern Conference
5th Central Division
The bottom of the heap, the worst team in both the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA. Lebron James left for the Lakers after dragging them to the finals one last time. Even the self proclaimed GOAT couldn’t nearly muster what was needed to take on the Warriors. The Cavs fire head coach Tyronn Lue after a 0-6 start, less than a month into the season. Many wondered what kind of coach he would be without Lebron, and it didn’t take long to find out. The Cavs are putting their hope in oft injured big man Kevin Love and rookie Collin Sexton. They will trade the farm for assets and look for gold in the draft next summer. They will probably give up on Love in the process, maybe by the deadline, who knows. One thing is for sure, the city that was long used to losing before the days of Lebron, better get used to it again.
GRADE: F-
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #4 where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
How close is Dame to being the best Blazer ever? – TorturedBlazerFan
Damian Lillard has quickly ascended the ranks of Portland Trail Blazer players to become one of the best in the team’s history. He has played seven seasons, achieved rookie of the year, 3 time all-star (hopefully, this year makes 4), and All NBA first team as of last year. He also has NBA 2nd and 3rd teams. He leads in several Blazer records, and will catch up before long in many more. Lillard has climbed the pinnacle faster than most players to wear the pinwheel. How close is he to being the best Blazer ever? Very.
In the minds and hearts of many fans he already has reached that title. It probably depends on what you mean by best ever. Stats wise? Leadership? Presence? The former is the only thing holding him back. Well, that and reaching the highest achievement of all, hoisting the O’Brien trophy. Winning a championship has been out of his reach thus yet, but I have no doubt, that if the Blazers are to get to the promise land again, he is their Moses.
Curious of what colleagues and friends would answer, I posed the question. The reactions were for the most part very similar. Hands steepled together, thumbs drumming. Nodding of the head of various degree to the left and the right. Stroking of the chin. Pursing of the lips. Contemplation. Then, the majorical answer, Lillard is the 3rd best. That is right, there are two players in his way to the top: Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler.
Bill Walton is the best Blazer ever so far, because he is the only Portland star to bring the Blazers all the way to the trophy. He played in Portland for four seasons, going all the way in his third. He did so, playing through the crux of several injuries. He is a 2 time all-star, an NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, All NBA 1st team, two time All-Defensive NBA 1st team, sixth man, blocks leader, rebounds leader. He went on to win second championship with Boston in 1986. As you see he has the credentials. The man sits rightfully on top.
Clyde Drexler is #2 on the list. He would be number 1 if he had won a championship in Portland. He failed to do so in his 11 seasons in Rip City. Though, he led the Blazers to the NBA finals twice, once in the 1989-1990 season against the Pistons, and again in the 1991-92 season against the Bulls. Drexler is a 10 time all-star, all NBA 1st team, and a 2 time all NBA 2nd and 3rd team. He still owns a majority of Portland’s records. He managed to win a championship with Houston the season after being traded from the Blazers. He is compared to Michael Jordan, though clearly was a pedestal or two below him. Drexler came second to Jordan in MVP votes in the 1991-1992 season. Clyde has carved himself a spot in Blazers history that will not be easily surpassed.
That goes to show you the rare talent that is Damian Lillard. The young guard has made a place for himself with good company. In four years once Lillard has played as many seasons as Drexler did with Portland, he will have most likely beaten most of Drexler’s records. Some such as Drexler’s defensive records are probably not in danger. So, only when Lillard surpasses Clyde the Glide for the most part in stats, and puts a ring on it, will he climb Portland’s Everest and become the undisputed best Blazer ever. Hopefully, it is sooner rather than later. But, regardless keep watch, history is being made.
What is the most important goal for NO to improve the Blazers? And what are NOs realistic chances of achieving this goal before the trade deadline? – Oldfisherman
The most important goal is to get rid of Turner and Leonard, and to try and do so without sacrificing the Blazers assets, namely 1st round picks. That is a large task, and an improbable one at that, considering Turner’s albatross contract and a highly overpaid Leonard to boot. Though I must say moving Leonard may be easier now with his uptick in production, owed to his new persona, “The Hammer.” Rebuilding teams like the Knicks and Cavaliers might take a chance on him. Portland has already eaten most of his contract.
The bench needs help in a terrible manner. They are averaging 46 points per game, .398% field goal shooting, and .236% from the arc. Neil needs to acquire a good two way player. The Blazers are weak at the forward position. They need consistent shooters who can help open the floor.
The Blazers really need a third scorer in the starting lineup to take the heat off of Dame and CJ. Nurkic for the most part already fits that bill, but the Blazers need another consistent shooter from the arc. This caliber player will be hard to get in a trade, which is why Neil is trying his darnedest at developing young players, in the hopes that he can get that third option homegrown. The problem is he has taken the wrong kind of risks and has set Portland back.
Knowing Neil, the likelihood of meeting these goals by the deadline is slim. He doesn’t like to kill his lovelies so to speak. He holds his cards close, and though he may be a card or two away from a winning hand, he doesn’t like to make a trade unless he knows he has gotten the better of his opponent.I do think that Neil will get a start on that goal by the deadline, most probably trading Leonard in combination with other players, but he will all most certainly have to include picks. This will cause Neil to hesitate, and might stall out a deal from getting completed. Whatever move happens at the deadline, it will probably be cosmetic.
Is there a line in the sand or a benchmark as to what the team win/loss record is come the trade deadline that would push the organization to explore major moves versus letting the cake bake? If so, what is it? – Jason O
The Blazers are three games ahead of where they were last season, after the toughest early schedule in recent memory. They have 15 games left before the deadline, unless they lose most or all of those games, or a GM calls with a deal that is simply too good to turn down, I don’t see the Blazers finding themselves across that line.
I don’t foresee the Blazers pulling off any major moves at the deadline for two main reasons. Portland is stuck with the behemoth contracts of Turner, Leonard, and Harkless. They will be hard pressed to find a team who is willing to take them on, especially without further compensation. Like I said above in answer to another question, Olshey doesn’t like to kill his lovelies. He also won’t admit that me messed up royally. He doesn’t like to give up a lot in a trade. He always likes to get more than he gives. And, he is a let the cake bake kind of guy.
If the Blazers go on a long losing streak before the deadline, Neil might be pressured to make a big deal, say including CJ McCollum, but don’t get your hopes up. It may be boring and quiet like last year when Neil paid Chicago to take Noah Vonleh. But, then again who knows. We will just have to wait and see.
Who should the Blazers trade CJ for? -Bryan B
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are one of the best back courts in the NBA. They are best friends, even more so, they are like inseparable brothers. That is all good. But, that said, their games don’t complement each other. They can’t seem to coexist in the same game. One is always on while the other is off. They both can play high octane offense and take over a game. They both attack the rim with savage grace and get screaming hot from the arc. They both find themselves to often in slumps. Their ppg averages are both over 20, but the problem is they don’t play with each other, but parallel to each other. This ends up hurting the team and costing wins, especially in the playoffs. If they played off each other more, it would help to break down defenses, and bring Portland’s offense up another notch.
Neil Olshey has stated numerous times that the Blazers will not trade Dame or CJ, but will build around them till they reach the trophy. That said we are in the fourth year of the Lillard-McCollum era and it can’t go forever. It is only a matter of time before one of them, most likely McCollum is traded. So if Neil was going to trade him, for who you ask?
Well the Blazers would need a new starting Shooting Guard. There was talk earlier in the season of trading him for Jimmy Butler. Since Butler was traded to Philly, that is probably moot. You can make the case for trading him to Milwaukee for Middleton and Hill/Brogdon. To the Clippers for Tobias Harris and Montrezl Harrell/Lou Williams. To the Magic with filler for Aaron Gordon and Terrence Ross. To Boston with Turner for Hayward/Brown/Morris. These are a few scenarios and there are many more. Keep in mind though CJ is probably not going to get as much on the market as many fans are hoping. He probably won’t even be traded just yet. Neil wants to succeed in building a winner and is adamant to do it the hard way. He just better watch the cake so that it doesn’t burn.
That is the fourth edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
Last night on New Years Eve, an hour before midnight, I found myself playing two resolutions and a lie. I must confess that before that moment in time I hadn’t put much thought into what changes I might make in 2019 to better my life. I was a little busy enjoying my vacation.
But, then and there I had to start thinking seriously about it. I decided my most important resolution is to spend more time with my 6 year old son. He is growing fast. Santa brought him a new Blazers City Jersey, and the both of us a Blazers package of tickets to see several games in the new year. So, we will definitely spend some time together watching our favorite team in 2019.
Speaking of that team, the Blazers could use some resolutions why we are at. Don’t get me wrong they are 20-16 going into 2019 after one of the hardest stretches of the schedule. Still, there is always plenty of room to improve. Here is how.
CJ McCollum:
CJ has been struggling with shooting and has been in a long slump. He is shooting about 34% from 3 and 46% total. He awoke the other night vs the 76ers. Most of the season it has been more miss than hit. Too much dribbling and clanking. All rain and no rainbow. CJ needs to resolve to keep shooting it. To dribble less, take more shots off the ball, and to be decisive when he is playing with the ball.
Meyers Leonard:
Leonard has played far better this season. In fact he is nearly a new man. He has even created a new persona, “The Hammer”. You can see him pregame walking into the arena with a silver sledge hammer on his shoulder, roaring, bearing his teeth. It’s good to see. Still, a little of the old Meyers remains. Leonard should resolve to hesitate less and trust himself more. His stats could and should be a bit more inflated. He is certainly capable of bigger numbers. He needs to play near the glass more on defense and hit the boards.
Evan Turner:
Sigh. I could write a long list of things I wish Turner would resolve to be better at. He is a misfit for Portland. No matter how you try to use him, he is a square peg. That said, as long as he is here, and Stotts plays him, Turner should resolve to turn the ball over less by cutting down the over dribbling and focusing more on his passing since he is standing in as Portland’s backup point guard. He can attack the rim and use his size on turn around jumpers against smaller defenders. Again, just dribble less. I am glad he isn’t taking 3s this year. Continue to stay away from those unless he can work on it in practice until he can shoot it sufficiently.
Zach Collins:
Zach has struggled this season and is starting to be overshadowed by Meyers Leonard. He is young and it is only his 2nd year. He should resolve to keep shooting the basketball, attack the rim, and hit the glass as much as possible, especially when he is playing alongside Meyers. Collins used to have an intensity on defense that has dimmed this season. He needs to find it again and keep working on his offense. It will come.
Al Farouq Aminu:
Chief brings an extra energy and effort to most games. He has gotten better dribbling the ball, though it is still scary at times to see him put it on the floor. He is at his best attacking the rim on offense. On Defense he is on key, and helps on the boards pulling down 8 rebounds a game. He can resolve to work on that 3 pointer so he can more proficient. He has to many off nights and it hurts the Blazers. He should keep attacking the basket and try to get those rebounds up to double digits.
Moe Harkless:
You get good Moe or you get bad Moe. Good Moe is a swiss army knife. Energy on the offense, steals, rebounds, blocks and tight defense on the other end. Bad Moe is down on himself. He doesn’t bring the energy and effort. All those facets of that swiss army knife, those nifty scissors that make great cuts, that magnifying glass that sees the opponents moves before they happen on defense, the corkscrew agility on offense, they are all closed up tight. Harkless should resolve to be the good Moe. To leave the bad Moe behind. Let all of the what ifs go. Stop worrying about being traded and starting. What will be, will be. Put the energy into the game, and good will come.
Seth Curry:
Seth is getting back to his pre injured self. The Blazers haven’t even seen yet, the full amplitude of what he can provide. Curry should resolve to keep strengthening his legs. Use his speed to get around picks and explode to rim where he has been phenomenal. Get those corners off the ball for open 3s, and create shots for himself on isolation.
Nik Stauskas:
Nik has shown a capability of getting to the basket and creating a shot. He should resolve to do that more and also to find himself from the arc. His 3pt shot has been terrible. He sits at 34% which doesn’t look to bad, but he has shot up at 40% for his career. He needs to get back to that hot hand.
Jusuf Nurkic:
Nurkic has been playing a lot more consistent for the Blazers. His effort and energy have shot up as of late. The only two pickles I have are that Jusuf should resolve to stop shooting the 3 until he gets more sufficient. The other is to cut to the basket more after screens. Otherwise he is beasting.
The Team:
The Bench needs to step things up. After a hot start to the season, the production of the 2nd unit has dissipated. Maybe it’s the lineup, but something needs to change there. As a team the Blazers should resolve for more movement both on and off the ball. The Blazers need to raise their assist numbers. When they move amd pass the ball more they open up the offense. They need to focus on that heavily.
The NBA trade deadline is on Febuary 7th, 2019. It is just over a month away. You can bet the phones are already ringing. Trades will be coming soon. Here is team by team look at who might be on the way out.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Denver Nuggets:
Will look to move Mason Plumlee, Juan Hernangomez, and perhaps Jamal Murray.
Golden State Warriors:
Will look to move Andre Iguodala, Jonas Jerebko, Shaun Livingston, and Perhaps even Draymond Green.
Keep an eye out for a deal with Chicago, probably a three team deal that sends Lopez and maybe Parker to the Warriors. Though Parker would likely go to the third team involved.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
The Thunder will make a move at the deadline. Look for some combination of Nerlens Noel, Terrance Ferguson, Jerami Grant, and Alex Abrines to be shipped out.
Los Angles Clippers:
The Clippers will likely not be big players at the deadline. If they do make a move, look for Lou Williams and Avery Bradley to be involved.
Houston Rockets:
The Rockets will look for a home for Carmelo Anthony in a trade, but end up waiving him. With the addition of Austin Rivers they won’t be as aggresive as they would otherwise have been. They are probably no longer looking to trade for Kentavious Caldwell Pope, who they were interested in.
Los Angeles Lakers:
The Lakers will no doubt look to upgrade at the deadline. Look for Kentavious Caldwell Pope, Josh Hart, Michael Beasley and other filler to be on the move. They will be the most likely to pick up Carmelo Anthony off of waivers.
Portland Trail Blazers:
The Blazers won’t make many moves, but Olshey will find a way to move Meyers Leonard, probably with a first and a filler player for an upgrade. Evan Turner however, is going nowhere. Aminu and Harkless could also be headed out, but its doubtful. They could pick up Carmelo Anthony off of Waivers.
San Antonio Spurs:
The Spurs would no doubt like to trade Aldridge, but it won’t happen at the deadline. They will likely be quiet after trading Kawhi Leonard this Summer. Though, they may play facilitator. We could see Rudy Gay, Lonnie Walker, Marco Belineli, or Patty Mills moved.
Sacramento Kings:
The Kings will be surprisingly mostly quiet at the deadline. Vlade Divac loves to make deals, but his Kings are finally starting to win. He may not want to mess with them. If there is a move look for Zach Randolph and Ben McLemore to be involved.
Memphis Grizzlies:
The Grizzlies failed as a facilitator in the Wizards/Suns trade, and likely will not be big traders at the deadline. They may try and play facilitator again. If they do, let’s hope they get the players right this time.
Utah Jazz:
After trading for Kyle Korver, the Jazz will sit quietly during the deadline.
Dallas Mavericks:
The Mavericks have the league jealous of their rookie Luka Doncic, and Cuban could look to upgrade at other spots. They could look to deal J.J. Barea, Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, and Devin Harris. It is more likely they stay put and make moves in the summer.
Minnesota Timberwolves:
The Timberwolves already made their big move of the season sending Jimmy Butler to the 76ers for Dario Saric and Robert Covington. They won’t make any moves at the deadline. (It would be nice to see Thibodeau trade for Turner, but it likely won’t happen. I can dream though)
New Orleans Pelicans:
Though Lebron made a bid to play with Anthony Davis, the Pelicans are adamant in keeping him. They will try to trade up around him to keep him happy. Look for E’Twaun Moore, Solomon Hill, Julius Randle, Ian Clark, and picks to be headed out. They are desperate to keep Davis and will sell the farm to do so.
Phoenix Suns:
After waiving Chandler and Trading Ariza, the Suns have done most of what they will this season. If there is a trade it will likely involve TJ Warren. As upset and embarrased as much as they are with rookie DeAndre Ayton and his underwhelming play, they probably won’t give up on him yet. The desert will be pretty quiet at the deadline.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Milwaukee Bucks:
Sitting at the top of the east and already having made a trade with Cleveland for George Hill, they will likely stay pat at the deadline.
Toronto Raptors:
After making their big move this past summer trading DeMar Derozan for Kawhi Leonard and the development of their youngsters, they won’t be players at the deadline.
Indiana Pacers:
Pacers GM Kevin Prichard is always looking to upgrade, but with a handful of their best players off the table, there isn’t alot for teams to call about. Still look for Tyreke Evans, Thaddeus Young, and Kyle O’Quinn to be on the move if a deal breaks.
Philadelphia 76ers:
The 76ers already made their big deal trading Dario Saric and Robert Covington to the Twolves for Jimmy Butler. Still, after some down play and a spanking by Portland, they may look to upgrade. They would be happy to rid themselves of Markelle Fultz at this point. I could see them dropping him on Chicago, Phoenix, New York, or Orlando. I could see a spate of their filler players being used to facilitate deals.
Boston Celtics:
The Celtics have been underwhelming. After their play last year, the return of Gordon Hayward, and the exodus of LeBron James from the east, Boston seemed next in line to lead the conference. Don’t be surprised if Bean town shakes it up. Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris and Marcus Smart could be on the way out.
Charlotte Hornets:
The Hornets will be players this deadline. Kemba Walker could find a new home. Malik Monk, Jeremy Lamb, Marvin Williams, and Frank Kaminsky could also be on the way out. Lord knows they would like to trade Batum and Biyombo, but it’s not happening.
Miami Heat:
The Heat tried to trade for Butler early on, but talks fell apart with Riley cussing out Thibodeau and hanging up the phone. Miami will be dealing at the deadline. We could see a blockbuster here with Hassan Whiteside moving elsewhere. Look for Justice Winslow, Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and even Goran Dragic to be possibly moved before the deadline.
Detroit Pistons:
The Pistons will likely make a move. Griffin and Drummond will be staying put. Look for some combination of Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson, Jose Calderon, and Reggie Bullock to head out in a trade. Detroit wants to try and make things work with Griffin. How long till they admit its a misfit?
Brooklyn Nets:
The Nets couldn’t trade Crabbe if they wanted to. They won’t trade their crown jewel Caris LeVert. Look for Joe Harris, DeMarre Carroll, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to be on the move. They could trade Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier, but look for them to remain after the deadline.
Orlando Magic:
The Magic always seem to be talked into moving players and usually good ones. Don’t be surprised if Nikola Vucevic or Aaron Gordon are moved at the deadline. Terrance Ross, Jonathan Simmons, and Jerian Grant are likely names to look for in trades. Evan Fournier meanwhile, isn’t going anywhere.
Washington Wizards:
The Wizards already traded Kelly Oubre to the Suns for Trevor Ariza. Otto Porter could be moved, but its less likely now. Look for Markieff Morris, Jeff Green, and Ian Mahinmi to be moved.
Atlanta Hawks:
The Hawks are hurting after letting Luka Doncic slip through their hands. But, they still want to see what Trae Young can become before they lose grasp of him. Look for Kent Bazemore, Taurean Prince, Dewayne Dedmon, DeAndre Bembry, and Miles Plumlee to be traded.
Chicago Bulls:
The Bulls have all but collapsed. Wait, no they have completely collapsed. Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and rookie Wendell Carter Jr are safe. Look for Jabari Parker, Robin Lopez, Kris Dunn, Justin Holiday, Denzel Valentine, and Bobby Portis to be named in trades.
New York Knicks:
New York is rebuilding. They have time. Their pick is going nowhere. That doesn’t mean they won’t deal. Look for Courtney Lee, Emmanuel Mudiay, Noah Vonleh, Damyean Dotson, and Trey Burke to be traded. Though it wouldn’t surprise me to see Vonleh still in NYK after the deadline.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
As much as they want Kevin Love to be their star, he will be traded at the deadline, probably to the Bulls, Boston or Lakers. Rookie Collin Sexton and the Cavs pick are safe. J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, and Rodney Hood are on the way out. The Warriors or Houston perhaps?
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #3 where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
So give Blazer fans some hope! Is the hope just Dame is that good? -James H
Well James, Blazers fan could certainly use some hope. If your referring to championship aspirations, even Dame won’t be enough. We already know he is that good. But, he can’t do it alone. He needs help. More help than the Blazers currently have on the payroll.
And, what a big payroll. The Blazers have the third highest payroll in the NBA. One would think with that kind of moola being spread around, Portland would have a contender on its hand. Yet, the Blazers aren’t one of the big dogs, but rather secondhand lions.
You might blame it on the GM, the coach, or player effort. And, they are all owed some chunk of the responsibility. The biggest perpetrator maybe Portland’s small market. You can’t get big stars here in free agency, so you pay big to keep young players here in hopes that that they become stars and more than decent role players. You gamble. More than not you lose.
The Blazers are on the losing side of that game with most of their current investment. So, yeah the hope is that Lillard is that good. But, it is also that some of these other guys step up and make something of themselves. The hope is that CJ takes the next step and stops playing isoball. That Collins has what it takes to develop into our PF of the future. That Simons gets a little age on him, a little experience and blossoms into a freak of nature.
But, these hopes lay in the distance. They aren’t realistically there for today. If your hope is in Turner, Harkless, or Meyers. If it is in Stauskas or Curry. Then it is probably a futile daydream. This is a place card season. Next season probably too. But, after Turner, Hark, and Meyers are gone. After Collins and Simons get a few more years and the Blazers are able to make moves. There will be lot more room for hope in Ripcity.
Should Blazer fans wear a paper or reusable canvas bag over their heads? -Bryan B
Paper bags are easier to decorate and write messages on. While reusable canvas bags are harder to cut holes in for the eyes and mouth. Fans can alternatively not cut any and just sit in the stands (or at home) taking in the game without sight.. If you are paying to see the game, it may be a waste, but then as of late, the way the Blazers are playing is perhaps, better not seen.
Also, this is Portland, a highly environmentally conscious city. Both options are reusable and one at least is recyclable. They both are functionally applicable. Though, the canvas bag will doubt be better at carrying your tears home after the game if you are in attendance.
Explain the sudden collapse of the team in the last couple weeks? -Josh B
Defense. Poor and sometimes no movement on offense. Lack of assists (See above sentence). The inability of the Blazers to adjust to opponents systems of play. Player slumps. Players coming back from injury, still adapting.
It is hard even excruciating at times to watch. The passionate fan base is beside themselves about it. They want to blame Olshey, Stotts, the Players. They want to shake their fists at the basketball gods. Voice their ire with the most overly emotional dramatics. I know. I’ve done it.
But, then I call it for what it really is. It’s a slide. They come and go. Feel often, more like a seesaw. This particular slide stings a bit more because of the strong start to the season. It’s just static electricity. Soon, the Blazers will start winning again and it will fall by the waist side. No worries.
The Blazer forward situation seems to leave fans frustrated. Who should they give minutes too at the 3 and 4? -James H
Yes, frustrated is a good word. The forward positions are the Blazers weakest positions and biggest headache. When the Blazers next make moves, whether its at the deadline or next summer, (probably the latter with the Blazers ownership in limbo) look for these positions to be the focus.
The Blazers could really use a 2 way player at the starting three. Jake Layman started at the 3 till Harkless got back. Neither are starting caliber forwards. Layman has taken a good leap since his rookie year, and wasn’t a terrible place holder, but he got the Vonleh treatment, starting but only getting 10-15 minutes. His numbers weren’t great, but he did open up the floor a bit.
Harkless is a talented and flexible player and can play both the 3 and 4. He has yet to find consistency and is now working back from an injury. Some question whether Layman should be reinserted into the starting line up till Harkless is 100%. It would probably give the bench more depth. But, it may be moving backwards.
Evan Turner gets most of the left over minutes there. The Blazers have tried to surround him with shooters and allow him to be a distributor. It has had limited success and Turners presence on the court has often hurt the Blazers.
I would like to see a bit more of Stauskas. It is a shame is defense gets in the way of him earning more minutes. He can really open up the floor when he is on.
Aminu does good things at the 4, he can shoot the 3, defend adeptly, and rebound. He can at times inject energy into the game. But, he is also a liability with his inconsistency. He is more of a bench player and in a year or two Collins will replace him as the starter.
For now Harkless should start at the 3 and Aminu at the 4 as is. It would be justifiable if Stotts reinserted Layman, but it won’t happen. We are going to have to continue to deal with Turner in the 2nd unit. The Blazers aren’t about sit a player making $17+ million. I’d give more of those minutes to Stauskas as he isn’t going to get a lot behind CJ.
Collins seems to play better at center where he can spend more time in the paint, though he is often played at the 4 and Meyers Leonard given more time at the 5. Collins should definitely play at the 4 when he is in with Nurk. When he is in with Meyers he should play the 5 while Meyers plays the 4.
That is the third edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
Alright, it’s here! Blazersland Mailbag #2 where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
What is Zach Collins potential/ceiling? – Bryan B
Zach Collins is still raw. He is only in his 2nd year in the NBA. There is a lot to be excited about. He has a natural and already near proficient ability on the defensive end of the floor. He is a rare big with the speed to guard between the arc and the basket. His high motor and fearlessness have propelled his development. He is already a regular rotation player and would probably be a starter if Portland’s front court were a bit deeper.
As the NBA has moved away from the rim, Collins is the ideal stretch four. He can play both power forward and center. He can also navigate on help defense to pick up small forwards outside the arc. His offense is still unpolished but he is showing glimpses of what he is capable of. He can attack the rim with intensity, hit clean jumpers from the high post, or shoot 3s with utmost confidence. The perimeter game is strong with this one.
Zach has a career high of 17 pts which he achieved twice this season. He is averaging 10 points per game and 3.7 rebounds. He needs to work the boards more(he has a career high of 10 rebounds) but that will come.
At his floor Collins is a reliable rotation player. In his prime he is likely to be a solid starter. His ceiling at least a fringe if not perennial all star. I expect him to be Portland’s starting power forward by next season.
Small sample (I know) but what early season Blazer trend has you the most excited? – James H
Several trends come to mind when I think about what I have seen so far from the Blazers. The quicksilver chemistry, the bench scoring and presence, not to mention the sustainability on the boards sans Ed Davis(the Blazers are second in the league in both offensive and defensive rebounds).
The most exciting trend for me would have to be the high octane scoring. The Blazers are versatile and fast. They have been living by the three, trying to secure consistency. They have attacked the paint with regularity. They are finding their rhythm, mostly with an ease Portland fans were not accustomed to seeing last season.
The Blazers have averaged 117.3 points per game and are 5th in the league in that category. That is up from 105 points per game last season(16th). The Blazers so far in ten games played, have had six 120+ point games and 2 110+ games. It is still early in the season. Those numbers may not sustain, but this is surely a good sign for things ahead
One trend I want to see more from the Blazers is an uptick in assists. They averaged 19 last season and are at 20 per game this season. In the preseason they averaged 24 per game, allowed by a focus on ball movement, and that extra pass to get high field goal percentage shots.
The Blazers ball movement has stagnated a bit as they get used to running against different teams defenses. They often get caught and isolated, and the flow ceases. A continued effort on keeping the offense in gear along with some fine tuning of the rotation will aid in getting those numbers up, and boosting that trend.
With the question regarding potential new ownership in the near future, will the front office still be looking to improve the roster as needed by the trade deadline, or will the team largely be in idle until new long term ownership is solidified? – Jason O
First off, excellent question. As the season moves on, the continued atmosphere and brand of basketball Portland fans are accustomed to remains. In all the excitement, the familiarity, and the comfortability, one may temporary forget that Paul is no longer here, and then be hit again by the shock of recollection. His death continues to hit deep not only because he personified the greatest dreams of Blazer fanhood, but because his absence leaves a gaping hole of excruciating uncertainty when it comes to the future of the team.
As fans we want to know what is going to happen? Who will buy the Blazers? Can he/she/they be anywhere near as passionate an owner as Paul? Is that possible? Can we go to bed and sleep comfortably knowing that the house that Paul built won’t soon be vacant? Can we be assured that the franchise he adopted and grew to love and call his own will remain in Portland? It is unfathomable that not only an era, but a franchise could be at its end.
Neil Olshey let fans know during his preseason press conference that despite the loss of Paul Allen, his ability to complete trades has not changed, been suspended, or limited.
“There are enough advocates for the Trail Blazers, of wanting to see us do well, that it would get done, and there would be even more fluidity because of wanting to do things on behalf of Paul,”
Where before Neil got permission for moves from Paul, who okayed trades through a shooting of a succession of quick emails and texts back and forth, for a yes or no, Olshey now has to answer to Vulcan. No, not Spock.
Vulcan is a corporation created by Paul and his sister Jody Allen in order to house all of his philanthropic ventures and business projects, aimed at bettering the world. A subsidiary of that corporation is Vulcan Sports (Vulcan Arts +Entertainment) which controls the Blazers and Seahawks. Paul till his death was the chairman.
His sister now takes that role and Blazers President Chris McGowan is the CEO of the company. Paul’s sister has let known she is not interested in running the day to day operations for a sports team, let alone two.
Being that the Blazers are now controlled by an entity, driven by business and not motivated by passion for the game or team as Paul was, such unease and uncertainty are understandable and perhaps reasonable. Neil will no longer be able to just call up Paul and get a yes, inspired by the possibility of contending for an elusive O’Brien trophy. It feels like he will have to call up a boardroom of guys in suits, pitch moves and wait awkwardly on hold for answers. It feels very “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”
Neil will probably not get his way like he did with Paul. There may be more nos than yeses. The wallet is tighter, especially with the Blazers about eight million over the cap. If the Blazers do make moves it may be to save money rather than to improve the team. Businesses are about making money.
That said, there is some comfort in knowing that the Blazers president Chris McGowan and Vice Chairman, Bert Kolde are part of Vulcan’s board. Kolde especially. Allen’s college roommate and a childhood friend is one prospective buyer. He has been around the Blazers since Paul has, and is one of his greatest confidants. He knows Paul’s vision for the team inside and out. He is the continuity the Blazers need.
If he ends up buying the team as part of a group (perhaps with the help of Paul’s other longtime friend and partner Bill Gates) than Portland could let its shoulders untense, in a collective relief. For now, knowing that he is there behind the scenes, as a voice for the Blazers, means perhaps Portland and Neil can breathe easy…for now. Kolde is one of those “advocates” Neil spoke about. Maybe that means the Blazers will be just as likely to make some trades to improve the team come the deadline, as though Paul were still here. We will see.
That is the second edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
The last few days have been discombobulating to say the least. The air in Portland is infused with a confliction of feelings. A pervading melancholy lingers after the sudden death of Paul Allen. An intensifying excitement surrounds the upcoming home opener vs the Lakers. Are we fans allowed to feel both?
The news of Paul Allen’s death has sent Blazer fans reeling. The man who fought hard to keep the Blazers in Portland, built the Rose Garden arena, and provided a blank check to make the team a winner, is gone from this Earth. The implications of his absence are profound. They send shivers down my spine. How ironic Halloween is just around the corner.
Speculation has run rampant. Who will buy the Blazers? Did Paul stipulate whoever it is, must keep the team in Rip City? Will they inevitably be moved? Seattle? Las Vegas? Kansas City? A fifth team for California? The nightmares. All of this on the eve of the 2018-19 season.
Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey and President Chris McGowan held a news conference Tuesday to show that the Blazers are still here, even sans its fearless leader and greatest fan. Business as usual. The Moda Center windows aren’t boarded up. There is no for sale sign on the front lawn. The Blazers still reside there in the house that Paul built. The Rip city sign sits adorned with roses, transformed into a shrine. The organization, the players, and the fans mourn.
The news conference, partially used to quell the fears of fans, wasn’t really about the future of the team though. It was about Allen, about painting a picture of who he was and what he meant to the city of Portland. He lived every Blazer fan’s dream of owning the team, being a part of the every day decision making, building a brand on the foundation of the franchise. He always believed in the team and the city, even when others shunned small market Portland. He was a superfan. A basketball man through and through. His greatest desire was to bring a second championship to the city. That ambition proved elusive. He never got to see the promise land.
Allen lived the Trail Blazer name. He was a pioneer of modern computer systems, co-founding Microsoft. He contributed to aerospace, building the world’s largest plane. He was a renowned philanthropist, giving back so much to the World. He invested in dozens of charities and causes. His legacy is powerfully entrenched in his work, and in the hearts of the people whose lives he touched.
The loss of Paul Allen runs deep. In Portland it will reverberate for some time. It will be felt at potent levels when the Blazers take on the Lakers Thursday in their home opener at the Moda Center. Allen’s empty courtside seat will be left as a reminder. The Blazers will wear special patches on their jerseys. A special memorial video will be played. Damian Lillard will deliver a heartfelt speech. The fans will embrace and unite. There will be an energy there like never before.
There is a lot at stake in this game. It is far more than a pitting of the leagues two most fiercest rivalries. It is more than a debut for Lebron in his new uniform. Far more. This is about a new era, in Blazers basketball. This is about celebrating the end of another, more than thirty years in the making, composed of great adversity and triumph.
I propose this of Blazers fans. Whatever the ratio of opposing fans, be louder. Paul Allen would not want us with our heads down. But, standing tall, arms raised, cheering and screaming the Blazers to a win. Be louder still. Drown out the national tv announcers, drown out all the Lakers hype. Be louder still. For at stake is the future of the Blazers. Lest this season be this franchises last. Fight for this team. Fight for this fandom. Fight for this city. Be louder still. The Moda Center is our house.
Rest in peace Paul Allen, you will be missed. Thank you for everything you did for the Trail Blazers!
Here is what we learned from the Blazers Preseason
1.) The Blazers offense looks better this year all around. They are going to shoot and make the three better this year. They are working on the fast break. They are attacking the paint.
2.) Seth Curry is better than Shabazz Napier. Not only can he be the consistent three point shooter the Blazers sorely need, he attacks the basket without pause. He is going to be phenomenal off the bench and in the three guard lineup with Dame and CJ.
3.) Nik Stauskas wasn’t as bad a pick up as was thought. Other teams tried to fit him in incongruous roles. Stotts has a knack for creating systems that cater to players strengths and hide their weaknesses. Stauskas is going to be a killer shooter for Portland off the bench.
4.) Zach Collins still has a lot of developing to do. He put on some muscle this summer, and is getting used to his new frame. His scrappy mindset helps to offset his blunders. He needs to work on his hands. He was 15 and 10 in the last preseason game. His high post jumper is a thing of beauty. If he can have a similar performance consistently, the Blazers won’t miss Ed Davis as much.
5.) Meyers Leonard may be finally tired of all the criticism and ready to show he can play the game. During preseason it was obvious he was still in his head at times, especially on defense. He often seemed a bit lost. Too, he plays mostly out at the arc, and is not around the basket to rebound. In the last preseason game against the Kings he seemed to get this and finished with nine boards. His offense has been impeccable. His three on point. He had the best field goal percentage in the preseason. Meyers is for real.
6.) Caleb Swanigan isn’t quite ready for a role in the rotation. He belongs on a court, the G League court. He needs to work on his body movement, spacing, hands, shooting…ok he needs to work on just about everything. He can pass adeptly. He’s scrappy. He is a workhorse. There is still a lot of work to do.
7.) CJ McCollum is working on passing the ball. It looks good when he does, instead of taking horribly contested shots around the key. That is not the shot we are looking for CJ. Keeping working on passing. I know it is an alien concept for you.
8.) Blazers are valuing assists. The Blazers averaged 19 assists last season. So far in the preseason that is up to 25. Part of that is the Blazers have players besides Dame and CJ that can shoot.
9.) Blazers are rebounding. The Blazers are matching their rebound numbers from last year. 45 a game. Well, minus an offensive board. Not bad though minus Ed Davis. We will see how it translates.
10.) The Blazers are deeper than they look. The Blazers have a lot of guys who put in some work this preseason. Harkless hasn’t played, Aminu played limited minutes, as did Dame and CJ. The Blazers bench produced. Good.
11.) Evan Turner is still a terrible fit. Turner stunk it up during the preseason, taking terrible shots, missing seemingly unmissable open shots right at the basket. Not to mention the turnovers. I hope he shapes it up for the regular season.
12.) Jake Layman can play. He had 18 points in the first quarter of the second suns game. Finished with 29. He has been showing he can play this preseason. He has put on muscle and put in the work. I expect him to be in the rotation and eventually beat out Turner. Layman will play at the 4 as well as the 3.
13.) Baldwin has disappointed. After his play at the end of last season, I had hoped he would make a jump this offseason. As it is he will miss out of the rotation, pushed behind Curry, and be on the outside looking in. Maybe he thought the back up point was his till Curry showed up. Keep your head up kid. Constant vigalance.
14.) Nurkic is expanding his offense. Nurkic showed off a new three point shot this preseason, hitting them in the early games before shooting terribly from the arc to end the preseason. He still needs to develop it more, but it could be a potent weapon for the Blazers.
Note: The preseason is probably not a clear representation of what to expect in the regular season, but if anything we can glean a solid indication that the team is headed the right way.
Here is an A-Z of the Blazers heading into the 2018-19 season
Assists: The Blazers ranked last (30th) in assists last year in the NBA. They averaged 19.5 assists per game. A big reason for being dead last is a lack of consistent shooters on the bench and around the Blazers back court of Lillard and McCollum who averaged 43% of the Blazer field goal attempts and makes per game for the 2017-18 season. This season the Blazers have more reliable shooters. During the preseason they have clearly worked on moving the ball better, and have averaged 25.4 assists per game, with an assist on 64% of their field goals. If the Blazers keep an added focus on moving the ball going into the season, it will benefit them greatly.
Bigs: The Blazers lost Ed Davis this summer and will feel the loss around the basket. They are hoping added minutes will accelerate the development of Zach Collins. Don’t expect him to become a force on the offensive glass like Phys Ed, but the young big man out of Gonzaga is a scrapper. Though his game on both ends is still a work in progress, he will make an impact this season. I just hope he works on his hands, if there is such a thing.
Meyers Leonard is in his 7th year now, and has yet to really prove himself. His unflattering to say the least contract is probably the only reason he is around. That and his three point shot, which we will see quite a bit more of this season off the bench. That said, Meyers played well in preseason, working hard on both ends of the floor. Lillard’s praise of him during media day interviews may be more than hype. It finally looks like Meyers is finding himself. Let’s hope so.
Caleb Swanigan is the Blazers other remaining big. He is adept at passing, but he is tortoise and the hare slow. His hands and body movement need a good deal of work. A lot of it is youth and confidence. He will won’t be in the rotation, sans injuries, though he may see some minutes based on match-ups this season.
Al Farouq Aminu needs to work on his consistency from the arc. When he is on, he makes teams pay for doubling Dame an CJ. When he is off, he is a defense’s wet dream. He will be important in trying to make up for the lost rebounds from Ed’s absence.
Calendar: The Blazers will play 12 back to back games, fewer than years past after league changes aimed at limiting player exhaustion. A good thing because the Blazers travel further mileage than any team due to their isolated location in the northwest. Portland will enjoy nine of their first 13 games at the Moda Center, but will end the season playing 16 of their last 25 games on the road, including an aching 7 game road trip down the last stretch. The Blazers will play on Christmas Day for the first time in 8 years, taking on the Utah Jazz.
Defense: Blazers finished last season 8th in defense. They finished 5th in opponents points per game. They held opponents to 44% field goal shooting, 4th in the league. In short the Blazers have it together on defense. The Moda Center is one of the hardest courts to win on in the NBA. Blazers are going to need to keep it up on the defensive end this season. Going to be harder without Davis around.
Draft: The Blazers drafted guard Anfernee Simons. This young kid out of prep school may very well be the steal of the draft. He has already shown raw skill in preseason. He exhibits an uncanny agility to get to the basket with ease. His shot is gold, and though he lacks size, it is easy enough to pack on a few pounds of muscle. Simons has the makings of a star.
The Blazers bought into the second round to take Gary Trent Jr. The sharp shooting wing can contribute immediately, the question is at what level? His youth has shown through in the preseason. He has the makings of a decent role player. Like his father before him, he can cut out a role with the team, if he puts in the work. This season most of that work will probably be in the G league.
End of Quarter: Blazers last season had woes in the second quarter, digging holes they couldn’t come back from. When the Blazers lost the 2nd quarter, and went into the half trailing the opponent, they lost more of those games than not. That said, the Blazers were the come back kings, going on legendary runs to come back and win games. Still, the Blazers need to win as many 2nd quarters as possible and to stay out of holes, if they want to build on their win column this season.
Fans: The Portland Trail Blazers have the best fans in the NBA and with them one of the loudest arenas in the league. The fans are always ready to scream the Blazes to a win, to let them known when they need to pick it up, and to remind the visting opponents that the Moda Center is a force to be reckoned with. It is not merely a place on game nights, but an organism, composed of 19,980 beating hearts and voices synced as one.
Gazelle: Precisely what the Blazers can’t afford to be. There is going to be a lot of hungry teams this season, especially with a packed west, and a eastern conference in open season without Lebron at the top. Teams at the bottom, in rebuild mode, who don’t have the personnel to contend, are the gazelle, ready, knowing they are going to be prey for upper tier teams. The Blazers need to stay hungry, be ready to fight for 82 games. Be chasers, not roadkill. Not gazelle.
High Post: Look for the Blazers to have more of a presence in the high post this season. Zach Collins looks to be getting comfortable there. Good.
Injuries: The Blazers need to stay healthy this season. Mo Harkless’s knee has lingered, and if he can’t stay on top of it, it will hurt the Blazers. Portland is razor thin in the front court, so thin, a wind could blow them down. Let’s hope the big bad wolf doesn’t show up. The Blazer’s bigs need to stay away from the injury bug. If the Blazers can stay healthy and rested as much as possible it will go a long way.
Jump shots: When it comes to pull up jumpers, the Blazers were one of the better teams last year. When it comes to catch and shoot that is another story. With more consistent shooters this year (Curry, Stauskus not to mention Dame and CJ will only improve there) look for the Blazers to hit more jumpers. That said they need to find a balance, and attack the basket in more than healthy doses.
Kicking the Ball Out: This was a problem for the Blazers last season, especially for CJ who more often than not forced the ball into the lane and took low field goal percentage shots, many that were deflected, ending in Portland turnovers. This preseason though, CJ was kicking it out to the corner and top of the key to open shooters, who made the defense pay. McCollum had 6 assists in the last preseason game versus the Kings. If he can keep that up, the Blazers will be better off.
Leadership: There is a special kind of leadership in Portland. Damian Lillard leads the way on and off the court. He is a shining example of the power of hard work and humility. He praises his teammates when they earn it, he calls them out when they need it, and gives them a voice of hope when they are down. He fosters trust, and builds a tribe.
Minutes: With Napier, Connaughton, and Davis gone and a sparse front court to contend with, Stotts is going to have to figure out how to disperse minutes. We will likely see a tight nine to ten man rotation, with Harkless and Layman seeing time at the power forward. Expect starters to spend more time on the court, and less on the bench.
National TV: The Blazers will play six games on national tv, including two against the Lakers. That is five less than last season. Not, a big surprise. The small market Blazers don’t often get the spotlight.
0ffense: The Blazers offense sans Lillard and McCollum was terrible last year. Portland had no other consistent shooters, who could be relied on to take the pressure off of it main two scorers. The Blazers mostly relied on Aminu, Harkless, Napier, and Connaughton, who were hit and miss. Opponent defenses were glad to let them take shots. This season with Curry and Stauskus, not to mention Portland’s bigs who can also shoot the long ball, that will hopefully change .
Personnel: Bazz was ok. He hit threes here and there, but he never attacked the rim. Connaghton was what he was. Layman didn’t get much of a chance. Turner was and is a terrible fit for Portland. Yeah Turner is still here, but the Blazers have better personnel to hide him, and help Lillard and McCollum. Curry is going to be just what the doctor ordered. Stauskus, finally used correctly, will help keep defenses honest. Layman has made a jump, and will contribute this year. Portland is deeper than it looks. Does it have the personnel to be a contender? No. But, it has the personnel to take the next step towards that ambition.
Quickness: The Blazers are not the best fast break team. In fact last season they were one of the worst. Besides the three, the fast break can be a weapon for the Blazers to wield on offense. They definitely have the speed to beat opponents to the other end, they just have to keep the metal to the petal, and finish once they get there.
Rebounds: The Blazers out rebounded their opponents last year by about 2.6 rebounds per game. That was with Ed Davis. How much will missing him hurt the Blazers? Well if the preseason is any indicator, not too much. The Blazers averaged 45.5 rebounds per game, five rebounds better than their opponents. Last season the Blazers averaged 10.2 offensive boards, 35.3 defensive rebounds, and 45.5 total rebounds. This preseason the numbers aren’t much different so far: 9.4 Offensive rebounds, 35.8 Defensive rebounds, and 45.2 total rebounds.
System: Terry Stotts gets a lot of flack. But, he is a hell of an offensive coach. The problem has been he hasn’t had a lot to work with. His offensive systems have been catered around Lillard and McCollum, and have been easy for opponents to break down. Terry’s system has to evolve to better include Nurkic. He has to figure out how to get the bench in position to contribute. More so than high screens and shoot as many threes as humanly possible. Stotts needs to get the offense to remain fluid until they can get the open shot. It instead often stagnates and the Blazers become turnover prone or take terrible shots.
Three Pointers: The Blazers shot 36% from the three point line last season, hitting 845 out of 2308. Expect all three of those numbers to go up. Blazers are going to shoot lights out from the three this season, and they are going to do it often.
Under Estimated: The Blazers are used to being under estimated. They have and will probably always be the under dog. The Blazers need to continue to use this as a positive, as they have been. The chip on their shoulder hasn’t gone anywhere, and I don’t expect it to.
Victory: The Blazers won 49 games last season. Can the Blazers match or better that this season? If they get to 50 wins in an overcrowded west, I will consider that a victory.
West: The west is packed. Lebron just moved in. The Warriors and Rockets aren’t going anywhere. The Blazers are going to have to fight through a crowd to get back to the playoffs. They have made it the last five years, and will fight to make it again. Many are saying they are on the outside looking in. I say don’t count those chickens till they hatch.
XFactor: The Blazers will need an Xfactor, a player who brings extra energy when needed. That guy has been Harkless. If Harkless can stay healthy expect him to use his swiss army knife and bring the 6th man power. He can play the extra energry on D, he can still, drive the fast break, he can rebound and block shots. He can shoot. He can do a little bit of it all. Another guy to keep an eye on for energy surplus is Seth Curry.
Yelling at the refs: Guys like Nurkic need to stop yelling at or paying much attention to the refs. Focus on the next possesion. Get back to the other end and put that energy to good use. Keep your mind in the game. Don’t give teams 5 on 4 advantages because the ref missed a call, don’t get t’d up and give the other team an extra point. It is not worth it.
Zero: As in the letter zero. Damian Lillard. Dame Time.
The Portland Trail Blazers waived center Chinanu Onuaku, forward Cam Oliver, and guard Gary Payton II Saturday, leaving both spots for their two way contracts open. The three were signed last month to training camp contracts.
After the cuts, the Blazers roster is trimmed down to 15 ahead of the regular season home opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Payton, Oliver, and Chinanu played in three preseason games, in limited minutes. Payton made the least impact. Cam Oliver and Chinanu Onuaku had better odds of making the team, seeing that the Blazers front court is razor thin.
The moves show that the Blazer are perhaps waiting to see what players other teams cut before filling their two way spots.
Alright, it’s here! The first edition of Blazersland Mailbag where I answer your questions regarding the Portland Trail Blazers.
Do you think the Trail Blazers will be better this season, be that 50+ wins and/or a better showing in the playoffs? And why? – Eric Millegan
That depends on your idea of better. Will they be a better 3pt shooting team? Yes. Will they be better on defense? No. Does Curry + Stauskas + Simons + Trent Jr – Davis – Napier – Connaughton = better? Yes and no. The Blazers ejected two parts of their core in order to gamble on 3pt shooting. They are worse in the front court. They will miss Davis sorely on the defensive end. They are depending on Zach Collins to pick up the slack around the basket. No Davis also means more Meyers Leonard who will mainly shoot threes in short bursts off the bench. But, that is where the Blazers are headed this season, shooters, shooters, and more shooters.
The Blazers are also working on passing the ball better. This was evident in the first quarter of the Blazers opening preseason game vs the Raptors. The Blazers moved the ball well and had something like an assist on nine straight possessions. This is going to do the Blazers wonders in alleviating suffocating defenses on Lillard and McCollum, not to mention Curry and Stauskas will be far more consistent than Napier and Connaughton. So, the Blazers will do far better keeping opponents defenses honest.
Where were we, oh yes threes, threes, and more threes. The Blazers offense is going to be focused heavily around the arc. Last season the Blazers shot 2308 three pointers, and made 845 of them. Expect both numbers to go up. Expect the Blazers to make more. That in itself will equal more wins for the Blazers.
The Blazers had 49 wins last season. This season the western conference is even harder. Lillard gets better every year. McCollum gets better every year. The Blazers have the tools and the talent to make fifty wins. I believe they can eek out a few more w’s than last year to get past the mark. Do they do it? We will see. The Playoffs? You talking about the playoffs? The Blazers have made the playoffs the last 5 years in a row, I don’t expect them to stop now. Will they have a better showing? If they can reformat the offense to take defensive pressures off the front court, and have consistent offensive output from players not named Lillard or McCollum, they stand a good chance of competing in a series.
Are you satisfied with the pieces that have been put around Dame? – James H
Short answer: No. Longer answer: While I am not satisfied with all the pieces put around Dame, there are some pieces I think are good. Still, most still feel like stop gaps. The Blazers have had a lot of trouble getting elite players to Portland to play with Dame. We can’t expect that to suddenly change. What we can expect to happen is the continuing revolving door of role players, gambling with the draft, and those low risk high reward diamonds in the rough, like Harkless.
I think Nurkic is a fantastic piece. He is really the ideal type of center to play along side Lillard. He does a little bit of everything. He is mobile, passes well, runs the pick and roll like nobodies business, and is a force to be reckoned with around the basket. That and he is still young. McCollum is of course a great piece, as he and Damian make one of the best back courts in the NBA. CJ’s star may not have risen as high as Damian’s yet (it may not as long as he plays next to Lillard) but he can take over games similarly when he gets hot. Aminu and Harkless are valuable pieces, in that they are swiss army knives for the Blazers. Zach Collins is an exciting prospect. He is young, coming off his rookie season, and has a lot of untapped potential. He could very well be the Blazers future starting power forward if he pans out. Anfernee Simons is money in the bank. He is going to be a cold blooded combo guard. There is no doubt about that.
The issue is there is a lot of youth in Portland. Too much. Damian Lillard’s window isn’t going to last forever. Simply experimenting on new role players and draftees isn’t going to get it done. Portland needs to break the curse and get some elite and veteran talent to Portland stat.
It has come to my attention that the granny shot is quite a hot topic. Give us your thoughts on the subject. Something more than “It worked for Rick Barry” – Kjironman1
It worked for Rick Barry. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. The granny shot free throw is a bit novel in the NBA to say the least. It started with big man George Mikan who had success with it, shooting 78% for his career from the charity stripe. Wilt Chamberlain tried it out, and shouldn’t have quit. His free throw percentage went up ten percent from one season to the next. Though it was only 68% (He was a terrible free throw shooter) his percentage was in the fifties before that, and dropped into the forties and thirties after abandoning it. Of course Rick Barry used it, and his son Canyon who plays over seas is also an underhander.
The granny shot has worked for more NBA players than it has not. It seems to work for Chinanu, so I am not going to knock it. Shaq was far too embarrased to go underhand. God knows he could have used it. His one hander was just as silly looking. Maybe guys like Deandre Jordan, Dwight Howard, and Andre Drummond should try it out. What is it going to hurt, ego I guess.
That is the first edition of Blazersland Mailbag. If you want to see your questions answered in the next edition, submit them via the mailbag form at Blazersland.com/submit-questions/ -OR- by emailing them directly to mailbag@blazersland.com
The Basketballs were lined up neatly on tables along with jerseys, shoes, and lunch boxes. All crisp and brand spanking new. The players, coach, and gm had yet to arrive. Just the Blazers memorabilia ready to be autographed. One could only hope the team it represented was just as fresh, ready for a new season.
Media day is about showcasing progress. The players come out looking reinvigorated for the cameras, talk about their summers, how they hit the gym, worked on this or that. The day is about excitement. Getting the fans attention before preseason.
Well, the Blazers media day wasn’t very exciting. In fact it felt like much of the same. While there were moments that felt like the Blazers were ready to build on last season, there seemed to be more complacency than anything. Lillard said the Blazers aren’t complacent, can’t afford to be. He called it being comfortable. The Blazers can’t afford that either.
Newcomer Seth Curry who missed last season due to a broken tibia is still trying to get his shot back. He has played a lot of pick up games during the summer, but it is not nearly the same as 5 on 5 NBA level basketball. It may take time for him to get in a groove. A lot of people expect him to come out of the door shooting lights out to start the season. That may not happen.
Maurice Harkless is still not cleared for 5 on 5. His knee is still not mended from a late season surgery to remove a loose body. Not a good sign. It should have been healed by now. Blazers and knees don’t seem to get along well at all. But, if the Blazers are concerned, they aren’t showing it.
With Harkless probably out for the start of the season, Turner will likely take his place in the starting lineup. Aminu could play some 3. The rookie Trent Jr. will get some time. Another likely choice, a name that Neil seems to be excited about: Jake Layman. Most everyone else, are not so excited.
Neil touted Layman during his interview. Talked about how he stayed in Portland this summer and worked his tail off, went to vegas to help the Blazers win the summer league championship, before coming back to work some more. He claims that Layman has made a jump and he’s glad that he didn’t decide to let Layman go back in June.
Stotts lauded the guards the Blazers added this summer and suggested that CJ will be used less to run the 2nd unit. He spoke about the number of ball handlers on the bench in Curry, Baldwin, Turner, and….Stauskas? Stauskas a ball handler? I’ll believe that when I see it.
Speaking of believing when seeing, during Damian Lillard’s interview, he sang Meyers Leonard’s praises. Apparently, Meyers has been working hard this summer around the rim. Apparently, he is looking good. Could it be, that Meyers is finally ready to show up. He played pretty decent in very limited minutes last season. No Ed Davis means the training wheels need to come off. Question is, can he ride without squinting.
Maybe, though not much has changed. Most of the roster is the same. There was a lot of, look at last year. Look at that 3rd seed. Look at those 5 years in a row of playoffs. I wanted to see more of, look at this year. I wanted to feel excited. I did, perhaps fleetingly, but mostly that nagging theme of sameness. I wanted the euphoria that comes with every new season as a fan. It didn’t come. Not yet. I’ll be waiting.
Blazer fans let’s just accept it, All stars aren’t going to just start coming to Portland to build super-teams. Neil Olshey has. Role players? Sure. By the dozens. Especially if Olshey is willing to keep dolling out hefty contracts. The Blazers moves this summer though, point towards a different strategy. For a small market team that struggles to attract elite free agents, internal development and finding the right mix of role players has become Neil’s go to patent for the Blazers franchise.The great northwest bake-off.
Neil Olshey has been trying to sell us on this cake baking venture for some time. Look, its a multi year rebuild/retooling process. Yes, it is tedious. Yes, it requires patience. Yeah, there is a chance it doesn’t work, Lillard leaves, (not likely) and the Blazers wipe the slate clean and start again. Yada yada yada. I am not going to try and sell you a lemon like a used car salesman. I offer no guarantees. Yes, the rhetoric is tiring. Maybe it is just time time to accept it.That said, what if I told you, it is kind of sort of working. What if I told you there is progress. I know it is slow going, and you’ll probably give me a, my dead grandma can move faster quip in response. But, hey hear me out. Before you grow more impatient, let’s take a look at the evolution of the roster since this so called rebuild/ retool and decide how successful it’s been.
2015 – 16
Out:
LaMarcus Aldridge – FA
Wesley Mathews – FA
Nic Batum – Trade (Hornets)
Robin Lopez- FA
Arron Afflalo – FA
Steve Blake – Trade (Draft trade, Nets)
Tim Frazier – FA
Joel Freeland – FA
Alonzo Gee – FA
Dorell Wright – FA
( Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson were traded during the preceding season)
In:
Mason Plumlee – Trade (Draft trade Nets)
Maurice Harkless – Trade (Magic)
Pat Connaughton – Trade (Draft trade via Nets)
Gerald Henderson – Trade (Hornets)
Noah Vonleh – Trade (Hornets)
Brian Roberts – Trade (Heat)
Luis Montero – FA
Cliff Alexander – FA
Roster:
Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Al Farouq Aminu
Maurice Harkless
Ed Davis
Mason Plumlee
Allen Crabbe
Gerald Henderson
Noah Vonleh
Pat Connaughton
Brian Roberts
Chris Kaman
Meyers Leonard
Luis Montero
Cliff Alexander
In 2015 came the unraveling of an Era. When the smoke cleared, all that was really left of substance was Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The Blazers traded for Mason Plumlee and draft pick Pat Connaughton.They signed Al Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis. Traded for Maurice Harkless. They put their faith in their youth, Allen Crabbe, Noah Vonleh, Meyers Leonard, Brian Roberts, Luis Montero, Cliff Alexander. The rebuild began. No one expected much of anything. The young Blazers performed shy of miraculous and made the 2nd round of the playoffs, only to be handed plane tickets home by the Warriors. It was nearly a fun series to watch the young Blazers tangoed, and caused Golden State to take them seriously.
Roberts became another failed back up point guard attempt. Maybe the Blazers gave up to soon on Tim Frazier. Still, neither of them turned into a Patty Mills. Montero and Cliff Anderson never clicked. Gerald Henderson who had been a energetic 6th man, was lost in the fray. The rest of Portlands youth had quickly become a close knit group, a solid core.
Record: 44-38 (.537) Playoffs: Conference semifinals, lost to the Warriors 1-4) Place: 2nd Northwest Division, 5th in western conference
5 of the players from that roster remain. (Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, Harkless, and Leonard)
2016 – 17
Out:
Gerald Henderson
Brian Roberts
Chris Kaman
Luis Montero
Cliff Alexander
In:
Shabazz Napier – Trade (Magic)
Jake Layman (Draft Trade – Magic)
Tim Quarterman – FA
Festus Ezeli – FA
Evan Turner – FA
Roster:
Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Mason Plumlee
Al Farouq Aminu
Maurice Harkless
Ed Davis
Shabazz Napier
Evan Turner
Allen Crabbe
Noah Vonleh
Pat Connaughton
Festus Ezeli
Meyers Leonard
Jake Layman
Tim Quarterman
The summer of ill repute. The Blazers non factors in the draft, sans a pick. They bought into the second round to pick up Jake Layman. Desperate for a needle mover, the Blazers jumped the gun and gave Evan Turner a contract he couldn’t refuse: $70million over 4 years. Allen Crabbe showed promise, so Neil doubled down. $75 million over 4 years. Meyers Leonard? Sure. He was streaking at 40/50/90 remember? 4 years $40 million. Harkless too. Yep. 4 years, $41 million. Add a trade for Shabazz Napier and you get high expectations. Too high. Pressure cooker. Impossible. It’s a summer Neil would like to forget. Me too.
Meyers Leonard and Allen Crabbe are the perfect antithesis for internal growth. Crabbe got paid, and seemed to lose care for the game. Not sure how much was effort, a lack of effort, or a lack of skill. The Blazers offloaded him to the Nets. The joke is on them. Meyers still persists. Festus Ezeli’s knees were gone before het got here. A low risk gamble. Not sure what Portland’s obession is with big men and bad knees. Just a roll of the dice I guess. Ok, that was a lemon. How about some lemonade? 2016 saw the Blazers trade for Jusuf Nurkic. Plumlee was good, a solid player. He was an adequate rebounder, an adept passer, but small in length compared to other bigs. He would have cost too much to retain and would never have been what the Blazers truly needed. A beast like Jusuf Nurkic. A young explosive center who could not only be a Juggernaut of a presence in the paint, but help to reinvigorate a stagnated Blazers offense.
Record: 41-41 (.500) Playoffs: 1st rnd, lost to Warriors 0-4 Place: 3rd Northwest Division, 8th Western Conference
7 of the players from that roster remain. (Lillard, McCollum, Nurkic, Aminu, Harkless, Layman, and Leonard)
2017 – 18
Out:
Allen Crabbe – Trade (Nets)
Festus Ezeli- FA
Tim Quarterman – Trade (Houston)
(Mason Plumlee was traded the preceding season)
In:
Zach Collins
Wade Baldwin
Caleb Swanigan
Georgios Papagiannis
Roster:
Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Jusuf Nurkic
Al Farouq Aminu
Maurice Harkless
Ed Davis
Shabazz Napier
Evan Turner
Zach Collins
Noah Vonleh
Pat Connaughton
Caleb Swanigan
Meyers Leonard
Jake Layman
Georgios Papagiannis
Wade Baldwin (2 way)
CJ Wilcox (2 way)
2017 brought action in the draft in the form of a trade for big man Zach Collins. Blazers also drafted Caleb Swanigan. The Blazers offloaded Allen Crabbe in the summer. Signed Georgios Papagiannis. In their first year of 2 way contracts, signed Wade Baldwin IV and CJ Wilcox.
The Blazers played inspired basketball and made third place in a stacked western conference, winning the NW division. The Blazers traded Noah Vonleh mideason to avert luxury tax, a move that may still comeback to haunt them. He played well next to Nurkic, but in a guard focused offense, his play never evolved. Did the Blazers give up on him too soon?
The same ghosts continued to haunt them in the playoffs. An all to predictable offense that relied almost exclusively on Lillard and McCollum.The Blazers didn’t have dependable shooters to stretch the defense. Aminu, Harkless, Napier, and Connaughton all had the distance, but no consistency.
Record: 49-33(.598) Playoffs: 1st rnd, lost to the Pelicans 0-4 Place: 1st Northwest division, 3rd western conference
11 of the players from that roster remain. (Lillard, McCollum, Nurkic, Collins, Aminu, Harkless, Turner, Baldwin, Layman, Swanigan, and Leonard)
2018-19
Out:
Ed Davis
Shabazz Napier
Pat Connaughton
Georgios Papagiannis
(Noah Vonleh was traded the preceding season)
In:
Seth Curry
Nik Stauskas
Anfernee Simons
Gary Trent Jr
(Noah Vonleh was traded during the preceding season)
This summer was a heart breaker. Ed Davis walked away at the opening of free agency. Olshey, not having been able to unload Leonard or Turner had to let him walk, asked him too. Shabazz Napier followed suit. He was a good back up point guard, too good. He deserved to start somewhere, get paid to do so. The Blazers gave up on Pat Connaughton who had shown progress the season before. Papagiannis struggled terribly in summer league. Left, headed to Europe before the Blazers could hand him a pink slip.
The Blazers drafted young Anfernee Simons and bought into 2nd round for Gary Trent Jr. They signed Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas. They are perilously thin in the front court, but they have more than enough shooters to start a gun fight at the O.K. Corral. Terry Stotts is going to have to come up with some unorthodox lineups, but then he seems to be pretty good at that .The Blazers are going to give Meyers Leonard a last chance, not that they have a choice. Hope that guys like Evan Turner and Maurice Harkless show up. It will be interesting to see how they fare minus a physical player like Ed Davis. Zach Collins please don’t let us down. Let’s take a look at the roster as it stands, and see what kind of shape the Blazers are in.
Damian Lillard: The best example of internal development. Drafted in 2012 Lillard was a a star in the making from the get go, and the NBA was found wanting. A three time all star, he is one of only three players in NBA history with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in his debut. (Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson are the other two) and received rookie of the year honors. Over 6 seasons he has become an elite player. He is a natural born killer…I mean leader. The John Conner of this Blazers resistance.
CJ McCollum: Another great example of internal development. CJ drafted the following year spent time behind Wesley Matthews and battled over playing time with Will Barton. It did him well. He won most improved player in his third season. He has become a star next to Damian Lillard.The pair are considered one of the best back courts in the NBA.
Jusuf Nurkic: The Blazers traded for Nurkic at the 2016 trade deadline. The Nuggets have been enjoying their summers since. Nurkic confused teams for half a season with his high pick and roll and brought much needed energy to Portland basketball, and provided a third scoring presence. He posted similar numbers last season albeit a slow start. He needs to work on keeping control of the ball in the lane, and finishing strong in the paint. Truth be told dude is a monster, and he is only going to get better.
Al Farouq Aminu: Aminu came to Portland with 5 years already under his belt. He has emerged as a salacious defender and rebounder. He has become a decent 3 point shooter, though he lacks consistency. There is that and his dribbling. I have never been so scared as when he dribbles into the crowded lane or across half court. Scary stuff. I hope he worked on that this summer.
Maurice Harkless: The Magic are still kicking themselves. Harkless has for the most part been a diamond in the rough. The issue has been getting that diamond polished. Harkless entered last season in a rut after being the center of trade speculation during the summer. His struggle hurt the Blazers. He is an energizer bunny for them, fueling steals and fast breaks. He is also another option from the arc when he is on and clicking. He never found himself last year. Hopefully, this season begins with a revitalized version of Harkless. He is still young and on the upswing.
Evan Turner: Ugh. Turner is not a terrible player. He is a player who is being terribly misused and who doesn’t fit in with the Blazers. He is a hell of a ball handler and a play maker. In his element he posts against smaller guards like no ones business. It hasn’t worked yet as a Blazer. He has hurt the team terribly on the offensive end. He has been developing his 3 pointer to fit into Stotts system. Truth is if he didn’t have such a terrible contract he would be gone. But, as is the Blazers will try to stick a bunch of shooters around him and hope it works.
Zach Collins: Collins a McDonald’s All American out of Gonzaga is everything the Blazers never got out of Leonard. He can shoot from distance. He isn’t scared to battle in the paint for rebounds. He is a scrapper. Highly explosive and quick in the paint. He will block you six weeks from Sunday and then dare you to your face to say something about it. Collins is on a promising trajectory. A multi talented big man, he will soon be a starter, hopefully the Blazers PF of the future.
Meyers Leonard: Meyers Leonard has suffered at the hands of self confidence issues since joining the Blazers in 2012, and has yet to make a real impact on the court. Many have given up on him or have little faith left in his capabilities 6 years in. I get it. Don’t forget though this is the big who shot 50/40\90. He played decent basketball last season in limited minutes. He will get more this season. He has a year left to prove himself, and if he hopes to further his basketball career in the NBA, he’ll get his head straight and leave it all on the court.
Wade Baldwin: Talk about exciting. The Grizzlies threw him in the dumpster. The Blazers claimed him as their own. One teams trash is another team’s gold. Well, in this case anyway. Baldwin is still developing and has shown glimpses of what he can be. Explosive on both ends, with a tenacious knack for defense. He can be exactly what the Blazers need. That said, he is still very young and expectations must be tempered. Still, he is a guy to keep your eye on.
Jake Layman: Layman had the best Blazer rookie debut since Damian Lillard, torching the Warriors in the fourth quarter for 17 points on 5-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Don’t let Jake Layman’s overall stats fool you. In limited minutes through his first two years, Layman has not had much opportunity to show his athleticism. I’ll tell you, dude can play. He will get minutes this year, and chance to prove himself, some probably at the 4. He needs to show up with some of that vertical lift he brought in summer league, where he helped lead the Blazers to a championship. Those alley oops on the fast break were a sight for sore eyes.
Caleb Swanigan: You gotta like the kid. He has faced a good deal of adversity ( his weight, homelessness, his father’s death) in his young age and bounced back from it through hard work. Swanigan was a dominant big man in college and showed promise in the summer league, his first year averaging 16 pts and 10 rebounds a game. He got opportunities to play in the regular season but, eventually got lost in a pile up of Blazer bigs. He showed great energy on the boards, but struggled with his hands on the offense, was weak at passing and creating for himself. Swanigan showed some progress on some of those faucets during the summer league this time around. He will be fighting Meyers Leonard for playing time this season. At least we know Swanigan will have his eyes open.
New:
Anfernee Simons: Fresh out of prep school is the explosive pure shooting, play making combo guard that all teams dream of. The only problem, is he is 19, undeveloped, lacks size, and has a deficit on the defensive end. It may take a year, or a few, but dude is a freak on the court. He can beat other guards off the dribble with his speed, and shoot from anywhere. He can finish at the rim with crisp ease. The future looks bright for the youngest Blazer. Another cake fest, but worth waiting for.
Gary Trent Jr: A prolific three point shooter and effective transition player, Trent could help the Blazers stretch defenses if he somehow cracks the rotation. His lack of explosiveness could hurt him. That along with a lapse on defense are definitely his weak spots. Like his draft companion Simons, he will likely see a lot of time in the G league.
Seth Curry: The 5th year 6’1 guard is not his brother, but he can sure as hell shoot the 3. Dude is an assassin. He average 42.5% before sitting out a season with a broken leg. He will be less of a playmaker in Portland and more of a spot up shooter. He is reliable too and will keep the defense honest. He will be a huge asset for the Blazers. Problem is he won’t be playing much with both Lillard and McCollum on the court because of his size.
Nik Stauskas: Threes Threes and more threes. Stauskas another lights out three point shooter joined the Blazers in free agency this summer. He will be a quick draw off the pass shooter. Another attempt by the Blazers to keep double teams off of Lillard and McCollum and bring more offensive power to the bench. Problem is Stauskas is a defensive liability. Has been. That is not going to change. Hopefully, he will work on his transition play too. Dude is slow, and it seems to be rooted in a lack of effort. But, oh those threes.
Looking at the team since the rebuild, things have been tough playoff wise. Fans want their team to be a contender now not later, to hoist the trophy, they want the parade. It’s not their fault. They crave it. Impatience festers. They call for heads to roll. The politics of basketball are intense. But, I tell you waiting can pay off. Waiting got the Blazers one of the best back courts in the NBA in Lillard and McCollum. It got us a behemoth of a center in Nurkic. A young and freaky Big man in Collins. Not to mention a spate of role players and developing prospects. There seems to be an identifiable trajectory here, one of a positive nature. Through quite a bit of trial and error the Blazers are assembling talent. Through the process the Blazers did let go of some players that maybe should have stayed like Davis, Napier, and arguably Henderson. One could contend that guys like Connaughton, Frazier, Roberts, Quarterman, and Vonleh didn’t get enough time. That the Blazers revolving door is moving to quickly, but its all just part of the system in play. And, It’s working! The Blazers have finished each season since the rebuild at or above .500 basketball. They have made the playoffs every year since then. The roster for the most part has steadily improved. So, I say let the great northwest bake off continue. Let, the cake bake. Be patient even though it is at times excruciating. Because waiting will pay off. It is all in trusting the mechanism, and the Blazers franchise is one heck of an oven.
The Portland Trail Blazers offseason has been nothing short of anticlimactic. In a somewhat deep draft the Blazers took youngster Anfernee Simons, a guard with an exciting future, but who is probably a few years out from contributing, with their first round pick. Then they bought into the 2nd round and took Gary Trent Jr, whose father played in Portland. Hopefully Jr is the better player.
Then came free agency. It didn’t start well either. First, Ed Davis walked away at the behest of Neil Olshey to join the Brooklyn Nets seemingly at the strike of midnight. Gone for a lousy four mil. A gut punch. Shabazz Napier soon followed him to New York. Not as surprising, nor as painful. ( The good out of it, is that they will both get a chance to be starters. I wish them the best. No hard feelings.) Then went Pat Connaughton back to the midwest to join the Bucks. Not very distressing. Bye bye Papagianis. Innocuous. 3 open spots!
So, Neil Olshey threw up a hail mary shot, trying to put together a trade that would have brought All Star DeMarcus Cousins to the Blazers. A desperate attempt to get another star in Portland. Air ball.
Turns out DeMarcus Cousins and Jusuf Nurkic have the same agent, Andrew Rogers. He saw a trade that was not beneficial to his clients and nixed it. “This is chess not checkers.”
Not sure how a post torn achilles Cousins would have fitted in Rip City anyhow. With no insurance that he would heal to be the same elite player, and with the probability that the trade had Jusuf Nurkic heading out, it’s probably a good thing it didn’t pan out.
Then Olshey went after Mario Hezonja, the young Croatian forward who had just come off 3 years with the Magic. He would have been a fantastic get for Portland. Someone to take a good amount of stress off Lillard and McCollum. Neil threw out the line, snagged him, had almost reeled him in. Columnist and NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski even tweeted that Hezonja and the Blazers had reached a deal. Much to the chagrin of Blazer fans, the tweet was rescinded moments later, for Hezonja had decided on a last second whim to choose a different team. Shot off right rim to New York.
At least Neil was going after worthy players. Needle movers. Who would be next? Blazers sign Nik Stauskas? I waited for another rescinding. Nope. Stauskas? Really? Glad to know we aimed high. Don’t get me wrong, he can shoot the three like nobody’s business. Well, in college anyway where he shot 41%. He has struggled in his four years in the NBA to match that. Though he did shoot 40% last year in Brooklyn on very limited attempts.
So, Stauskas. Ok. He gives the Blazers another shooter who can stretch the floor and take defenders off of Lillard and McCollum. Hopefully, he fares better here.
Two spots open. Blazers sign Seth Curry. A good signing. Blazers needed a replacement for Napier. Check. While he is not Stephen by any means, he can shoot the ball from beyond the arc with ease, finishing at just over 42% last season for the Mavericks. If he can come back from a broken tibia with his shot in form, the Blazers should be in good hands.
One spot left. The Blazers decide to guarantee Wade Baldwin’s contract. Baldwin, a young energetic guard has earned his keep. He has shown promise on both ends of the floor. He will get his chance this season.
If you thought the summer was over yet, you’d be right. Blazers had the $12.9 million Crabbe Trade Player exception. Olshey touted it as a tool he would use in the off season to bring a needle mover to Portland. The Blazers would would use it like cap space, in lieu of a trafitional trade, since their heads were essentially pushing against an expensive ceiling. There was obviously a short list of targets, names we can only guess. None of them could be wrested from their prospective teams. The TPE was let to expire.
So, there is the offseason. Nothing to get excited about. No fireworks. The no big name free agents coming to Portland curse remains. The Blazers haven’t moved the needle much if any from last season. They are thinner in the front court. The Blazers still have 2 two way contracts left to fill. (Training camp invitees Chinanu Onuaku, and Cam Oliver may fit the bill)
The Blazers will undoubtedly shoot better. Teams will have a harder time doubling Lillard and McCollum with Curry and Stauskas around. Hopefully, we get the better side of Harkless to start the season. It would help things if Aminu worked on his dribble and Meyers on his stage fright. There is a lot of work to be done. Another unfulfilling summer. Another season of cake baking. Perhaps, the games should be televised on the food network. Either way, it looks like we will be waiting a bit longer for the frosting.
Terry Stotts is no doubt scratching his head, watching different lineups run the floor at the Blazers practice facility. He has to put together a new rotation this season, after Ed Davis, Shabazz Napier, and Pat Connaughton hit the road this summer, only to be replaced by 3 guards. Last season the Blazers squad was more evenly balanced, though a little lopsided towards the front court end. Now, it is heavily lopsided the other way with a short handed front court. So, as Stotts watches the Blazers scrimmage he has a pickle to contend with.
Stotts has plenty of time to gameplan still with the rest of training camp and preseason coming in the weeks ahead. The starting unit is all but already decided. Stotts will no doubt, go with Lillard, McCollum, Harkless, Aminu, and Nurkic, Portland’s best lineup. Stotts could shake things up and start Collins at the 4 and bench Aminu or Harkless. The problem with that is, that it leaves a bigger hole on the bench for the front court. No doubt Collins will get starts this season, but the beginning of the season will see him come off the bench.
The next thing Stotts must decide then, is whether Collins come in at center or power forward? The Blazers no longer have Ed Davis to rely on. Noting that Collins will probably be one of the first players off the bench, if not the first, he will most likely come in at PF to relieve Aminu. Though we will definately see him play minutes at the 5 as well.
The center position is a quandry for the Blazers. Behind Nurkic and Collins the Blazers have little option. Meyers Leonard and Caleb Swanigan are all that is left. This provides one of a couple important questions Stotts must answer. How will he contend with a short handed front court? He could sub Harkless out early and bring him back in at the 4. He could use Layman as a PF. (We will probably see this at some point, as the NBA is moving toward smaller lineups, though not often) Stotts will be forced to use Meyers Leonard, the Blazers big man now in his 6th year, who has struggled with self esteem issues, and has yet to prove himself. With Davis gone he will get his chance. Swanigan will be used, but sparingly and behind Meyers. He likely won’t be in the rotation.
On the other end of the floor, Stotts has a history of staggering Lillard and McCollum’s minutes together, in order to bring CJ out with the second unit. We are likely to see this again this season, though with a number of guards on the roster, we may see a true 2nd unit. This brings the other big question. Who will earn the minutes off the bench in the back court with a guard heavy roster?
The Blazers best and most used 2nd string group last season was Napier, McCollum, Connaughton, Collins, and Davis. Three of those players are gone. Who is heir apparent to Napier? Curry or Baldwin? Curry is the more offensively inclined of the two, but Baldwin who has shown flashes of great energy on both ends of the court, has claimed a guaranteed roster spot this season. Napier’s minutes are up for grabs.
It seems the idea for the second unit is to put Turner in the middle and surround him with shooters. Curry, Baldwin, and Stauskas fit the bill. Though Turner has not played well since signing with the Blazers, and has in fact hurt them on the offensive end. The Blazers have been better with him riding the bench. But, with his high price tag the Blazers have to give him another chance.
To start the season the Blazers will probably sit McCollum and Harkless early, bring in Curry and Turner. Bring McCollum and Harkless back in with a bench of Curry, McCollum, Turner, Harkless, Collins. Stauskas will sub in for Turner midway, Baldwin for McCollum. Aminu for Harkless. (Rookies Gary Trent Jr. And Anfernee Simons will have a chance to find themselves a way in) Then the rest of the starters will come back in, staggered. Stotts will no doubt look to almost always have starters in the game.
We will at some points see a true 2 unit with Curry, Baldwin, Turner\Stauskas, Leonard, Collins, but not for long minutes, especially at first. If it works out, we may see more of it deeper into the season. We will definitely see this lineup and others in preseason to measure chemistry.
With 2 two way contracts still in order (Chinanu Onuaku, Cameron Oliver, and Gary Payton II are invited to training camp) the Blazers may get a little more help in the front court. As it is the 9 player rotation looks like this.
9 Player Rotation
Starters:
Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Maurice Harkless
Al Farouq Aminu
Jusuf Nurkic
Reserves:
Zach Collins
Seth Curry
Evan Turner
Wade Baldwin
The Rest:
Nik Stauskas
Meyers Leonard
Gary Trent Jr.
Anfernee Simons
Caleb Swanigan
Jake Layman
Who do you guys think will make the Blazers rotation?
(Getty Images)
It’s going to be a sweltering summer in Portland. No, I am not talking bout the nice weather Portlanders have to look forward to in the coming months, after a cold and wet spring. I’m talking about the cap hell the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in. The players may have booked their flights to the Caribbean and planned their trips to the gym last Wednesday, a day after being eliminated from the playoffs, and after a long chain of exit interviews, but general manager Neil Olshey isn’t going anywhere. He will be in his office working the phones at his desk, in the war room with his colleagues trying to drum up plans for the draft and free agency. No, there will be no vacation yet for Neil until hes dug himself out of the hole he’s put himself and the Blazers in. Get the shovels.
Olshey has somehow convinced Paul Allen he deserves more time. For now he and Terry Stotts have survived 10 playoff loses in a row, counting a sweep in the 1st round at the hands of the dark horse New Orleans Pelicans. Neither of them, especially Olshey has me fooled. During his exit interview Olshey waved off concerns, attacked angry fans instead of admitting to his mistakes, and once more with his used car salesman rhetoric, claimed the cake needs more time to bake, that internal development was key. The Blazers may not have much choice in the matter.
Neil Olshey messed up to say the least, in resigning Meyers Leonard and Allen Crabbe a few years back, and signing Evan Turner to a more than inflated contract. Olshey was able to get rid of Allen Crabbe. The Blazers though find themselves stuck to Leonard and Turner for a combined $27 million towards their 2018\19 team salary of just over $110 million, not including the free agent resigning’s of Jusuf Nurkic, Ed Davis, Shabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton, Wade Baldwin, picking up the remainder of Jake Layman’s contract, not to mention the rookie contract of whoever the Blazers might take should they keep their pick. Those included, the Blazers would be well over the 2017/18 $119 million hard cap they got under by trading Noah Vonleh at the deadline, and far into the luxury tax win it comes to the projected $123 million hard cap for the 2018/19 season.
Going into the summer the Blazers have the 24th pick in the 2018 NBA draft, a $5.2 million tax payer mid level exception, a near $13 million trade player exception from the Allen Crabbe trade that expires in July, and a $3.5 million trade player exception netted from the Noah Vonleh trade. Unless they somehow offload Turner or Meyers into oblivion for nothing, the Blazers won’t have access to the full $8.8 million MLE or the $3.4 million BAE(BI-Annual Exception) let alone have much room to use the exceptions I mentioned above. The Blazers are in between a rock and a hard place, and that is no easy metaphor here.
Neil Olshey will probably work towards trading the Blazers draft pick in combination with Leonard or Turner. He may move up in the draft, and then move out in order to expel a contract and find some help for Lillard. Frankly, the Blazers won’t be able to afford signing their draft pick and all their free agents. If Neil fails in the draft, it will be a matter of who goes and who stays. Layman is gone anyway. Pat Connaughton may be right behind him out the door. Shabazz Napier too. Blazers will probably focus on retaining the services of Ed Davis and Jusuf Nurkic. Napier and Connaughton would be missed, but Wade Baldwin could make up for some of that loss. Without trades the Blazers will have little to no room to sign free agents.
For all the hocus pocus Neil Olshey has performed in getting Lillard and McCollum, in turning Mason Plumlee into Jusuf Nurkic and invariably Zach Collins. He dusted off unwanted players in Harkless and Napier and gave them a place to shine. He signed Ed Davis and Al Farouq Aminu. But for all the good he’s done, Neil has sold a lot of lemons.
He’s created the death trap that is Portland’s 2018 summer cap hell. It’s up to him to get the Blazers out of this mess. Somehow, Paul Allen still trusts him. Maybe Paul is still in denial about the Blazers playoff woes, maybe the Blazers regular season success has him excited for the future. Neil better work his magic because he is in a corner, and if he fails this summer there is no way out of it for him. His let the cake bake rhetoric, that he gave once again during his exit interview, may be him readying the fans for disappointment. It’s at least saying, “hey don’t get your hopes up.” It has never taken me this long to bake a cake. And, I have never burned one. I’m not in anyway saying I’d do a better job than Neil, or that his job or easy. I am left wondering if he is the right baker. I hope he proves me wrong and swings for the fences. At this point he has convinced me of nothing.
8 Reasons Why Terry Stotts Should Be Let Go
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I am going to break a rule today. I am not going to write as a sportswriter or an analyst. I am going to speak as a fan. It is ironic I use the word speak, because as I write this I have no voice. I lost it last night trying in vain to scream the Blazers to a victory. I don’t regret it. I will, however be frank. Blazer fans do not deserve this. As I say that I know that there are other fan bases who are probably less fortunate, some that have not seen many a playoff, let alone having won even a single championship. Blazer fans though, have endured a special kind of adversity. As a fan of the team for nearly 30 years, I am very familiar with it.
I started watching the Blazers when I was three years old. I was born in Texas far away from Portland, but that didn’t keep me from becoming a fan. Whenever my dad would put a basketball game on, a certain team garbed in black and red jerseys caught my eye. I always rooted for them. My dad would say son, you are rooting for the wrong team. And, I would say no dad, that’s my team. That team of course was the Blazers. As fate would have it my family moved to Portland a few short years later. The rest is history…well not quite.
I grew up playing basketball on the local court down the street. I would meet up with other kids from the neighborhood, especially after Blazer games, to talk and play basketball. We celebrated the wins and shared the angst of losses. Some of those loses were hard ones. It was those games, when we brought our toughest ball. We played hard, no blood no foul rules. I played with broken fingers and jammed toes. I had teeth knocked out. Concussions and black eyes from stray elbows. I guarded guys twice my size and I stopped them. I rebounded, passed into assists, shot through rough contact and made the basket anyway. All inspired by my love of basketball and the tenacity and perseverance of the Blazers. They have shown me adversity is a challenge to be sought out and overcome.
Being a fan has also taken its toll. I wasn’t yet alive to witness the 1977 championship, or old enough to understand the repercussions of picking Bowie over Jordan. But, I remember the two trips to the finals in the early nineties, only to be let down. I remember Drexler leaving to win a trophy with the Rockets. I remember the Blazers attempts to rebuild something tangible into the mid nineties, all those first round exits. I remember the 2000 Western Conference finals, though I like every other fan, wish I didn’t. It makes me nauseous to think about. I remember the Jail Blazers. I was there to be teased by the hype of Brandon Roy, only to watch his knees fall apart. I was there when the Blazers picked Oden over Durant, only to have Oden “Benjamin Button” us. I threw up my hands when Wesley Matthews blew his Achilles. I shook my head and laughed at the basketball Gods when the Texas Turncoat (LaMarcus Aldridge) walked away the following summer, after promising he was a Blazer for life. Maybe he is a complete ass, or maybe he saw the writing on the wall.
I couldn’t tell you when the Blazers might win it all again. As a Blazer fan and a homer I claim unrealistically every year, that this will finally be the year. And, when the Blazers get knocked out, I dissolve into the subtlety of my anguish, and then reform again spirited for the next season. The mediocrity is maddening. And after not only losing home court advantage, but dropping the first two at home in such a chaotic fashion, I cannot help but to be drawn back into the doubts. How will this ever get better? Stars don’t want to come here. They see how the NBA treats Portland. They want none of it. The Blazers are stuck building from the draft, and entertaining a revolving door of role players, that never seem to work out. The Blazers have Damian Lillard, the star who can’t seem to shine bright enough. His best pal CJ McCollum who openly flirts with star status, but can’t quite achieve it. Not to mention a supporting cast who is inconsistent to say the least. Blazer fans, the best, the loudest in the NBA don’t deserve this mediocrity, this playoff tango.
Even still, I will root for them tonight, and every other night they play because I am a fan. Yeah, I have doubts, but whenever those negative vibes enter my mind, I think back to those games after Blazers losses on that court down the street of my childhood. Then, I remember the team I grew up watching. I remember my broken bones and teeth. I remember to persevere. I hope the Blazers remember too, remember themselves tonight and the rest of the playoffs, remember what they are capable of, and bring their toughest ball.
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Feb 8th, 2018
On Thursday, minutes before the end of the trade deadline, the Portland Trail Blazers traded infrequently used Noah Vonleh and cash considerations to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the rights to Serbian player Milovan Rakovic and a $3.5 million traded player exception. The deal dips the Blazers below the luxury tax and opens up a crowded front court, that saw rookies Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan absorbed most of Vonleh’s minutes this season.
After gaining the starting spot at power forward last season, next to Jusuf Nurkic, and showing sparks of potential, Vonleh started the season on the bench with an injured shoulder. Caleb Swanigan, then Zach Collins took his place, before Al Farouq Aminu was reinstated as the starting PF, causing further congestion in the front court. Vonleh averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, playing in 33 games.
The trade also clears a roster spot for the Blazers, leaving them with two open spots available. The Blazers could sign a player after buyouts begin, or leave it open until the summer.
Milovan Rakovic, a center for the Swiss basketball league, was picked last in the 2011 NBA draft, and will likely remain in Europe for the foreseeable future.
Vonleh, the 9th pick in the 2014 NBA draft, was acquired by the Blazers 3 years ago in a June 2015 trade with the Hornets, in which they sent forward Nicolas Batum to Charlotte in exchange for Vonleh and Gerald Henderson. The hope was that Noah Vonleh would become the Blazers Power forward of the future, replacing the outgoing LaMarcus Aldridge, in what was to become a massive rebuild. His potential was however, never realized in Portland.
1 minute in the 4th quarter. That’s it?!
Consistently getting out coached like this has proven you’re not the right fit for the current roster. Your basketball wisdom is lost (not sure it was ever found) and your time has come. Pack your bags Terry, it was a good run. Thanks for all you’ve done. Wishing you the best of luck with your next opportunity.
Sincerely,
~Blazersland.com
Lillard’s new single Run It Up feat. Lil Wayne from the upcoming ‘Confirmed‘ album is hot fire!
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Monday night, the buzzer sounded and the Blazers season was over in a brutal fashion. I sat back in my Lazy Boy, watching as the Blazers and Warriors hugged it out, the ice in my glass of rum melting away, simulating the Blazers game four performance. I was full of emotion, mostly negative ones, as my team exited stage left. I felt depressed, angry, bitter at the Warriors who so indestructibly trounced the Blazers in four games: broom drop. But, underneath all of that disdain for the leagues best, under all the pain for the ending of the Blazer’s season, there was another feeling, one that came from the other end of the spectrum: relief. I was relieved that it was over.
I took a drink and with the tip of my fingers searching for answers in my beard, I looked back on this arduous season to find the gems in the mud. There was a lot of mud. Evan Turner struggled to mesh with his new team, and integrate within the Blazers system. Allen Crabbe and Harkless pressured perhaps by the expectations of their bulging contracts, could not seem to find the needed consistency to bring their game to the next level. Meyers Leonard spent the season just trying to find his footing after a summer marred by injury in which he could not train or work out. It never materialized. But, there too are some gems. Jusuf Nurkic came to town just before the end of the trade deadline and changed the very aura of the game for the Blazers. He inspired Noah Vonleh who is finally developing into a respectable player. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have become the highest scoring back-court in the league.
I thought to myself why be angry? Why feel devastated? I realized I was too caught up, something so easy to do for a fanatical fan like myself, and that I was looking at the Blazers far too myopically. I decided to take a further step back to see the bigger picture. The Blazers started rebuilding just last season, after most of our roster left, finishing 44-38. This was only the second season of that rebuild, we finished 41-41 just 3 games behind. Those kind of results for a team that is rebuilding are unheard of. In most rebuilds it takes years to find winning ways again, some spend years in the dungeon, but the Blazers are resilient. Last season they played far beyond expectations, setting an impractically high bar for this season, that could not be met.
The Blazers then are not failures, there is not something horribly wrong as a certain bald-faced sportswriter contends. The Blazers are where they need to be. A teams growth during a rebuild is not always linear as this season as has proven. The fans and players alike wanted to step into the identity of a contender, became set on expectations for this season that were unrealistic. The Blazers made the second round last year, so this year they must make it there again at least, if not further….um no. The Blazers fresh off a summer where gargantuan contracts were handed out like Gatorades, stumbled into the season, weighed down by the pressure to perform at a level they weren’t quite ready for. The result was a losing record much of the year, injuries across the roster, not to mention broken egos and spirits. The pressure proved to much and the Blazers collapsed beneath it, nearly.
The tortoise however, always wins the race. The Blazers like last season after a similar slow start, played an inspired late season run, helped by newly acquired big man Jusuf Nurkic. The hangover from those early season woes seemed to vanish, as the Blazers played with a renewed energy and fight, they brought that exciting brand of basketball the fans are accustomed to. The Blazers made a mad dash for the 8th seed and a place in the playoffs. Some fans however, were of the idea, that it would be better for the Blazers to miss the playoffs, that there would be nothing to gain from a first round showdown with the Warriors. It would be better, in this frame of thought, to lose and take our chances with the lottery. Many other fans, myself included rejected this idea, and I’ll tell you why. Its about fostering a winning culture, there is something to gain, even in getting swept by Golden State. It builds up that insatiable hunger to win, it puts those chips back on the players shoulders, removed last summer by massive paydays. It gives the Blazers, the youngest team in the league, not only playoff experience, but that tearing out of the heart, gut wrenching, anguish of being swept, a feeling they will be keen not to suffer through again.
So, next year when the Blazers begin the season they will have the series with the Warriors in the back of their minds, and they will play their hearts out not to be put in that position again. That means winning, and winning early, having a successful start, and keeping the momentum going through the season, to place in a higher seed come the playoffs. Rather than just putting this past season behind them, they can use it to inspire growth and start fresh with a healthy Jusuf Nurkic and a rested roster. Players who under-performed can return in better shape, the pressure valve released, and realize their potentials.
First, though comes the summer, and there is a lot of work ahead. Olshey has three picks in the draft that he seems to be more on the side of trading for established, capable players and veterans who can help the Blazers take the next step, rather than restocking on rookies. He will look to teams who are tearing the walls down to the studs, rebuilding, and teams with no picks. There are six teams with no 1st round draft, including Golden State and Cleveland who will be of little help to us, (Not to mention one of our picks is from the Cavs.) The Clippers, the Pelicans who traded their pick to Sacramento, Memphis, and possibly the Lakers, who have a pick unless they fall out of the top three in the lottery.
The Kings, Nets, Suns, Lakers, Knicks, and 76ers are among a hand full of teams who are on the rebuild and could use first round picks. General Manager Neil Olshey has limited options, and so must milk those resources. He will have to move a heavy contract or two along with the picks, to make cap room for guys he will bring back. It will not be an easy task. Many of the Blazers contracts are not exactly appetizing considering last seasons performance. But, if anyone can sell a lemon its Neil Olshey. That said, Neil has let on that he will be depending mostly on internal development for the progression of this team, meaning look for most of the guys on the roster now to still be here in September, mostly because those contracts are going to be hard to move, but as well because Neil is not a sell low guy. That said, there will be moves made, and you can expect most of them to come on draft day.
So, with a retrospective measure of this team, I assuaged myself and I stared out the window towards summer, and saw a bright future. Now, that could have been the headlights from a passing car, but whether that light is metaphoric or not, I believe the best is yet to come. The Blazers already have the highest scoring back court in the NBA in Dame and CJ, found the center of the future in Nurkic, now its time to shore up the supporting cast, and bring this team to the next level. I am excited for what lays ahead of this team. After watching the exit interviews I am confident in the front office, in the players, I am ready for what next season brings. That said, we as fans have to remember not to get ahead of ourselves, to level our expectations. Oh and lastly, yes Denver, I will enjoy my summer because I am relieved.
The anthem for the Bosnian Beast, Jusuf Nurkić.
hook:
Bosnian ballin out something like Nurkić
They callin now trynna see how I’m doing
I got my money up now they all on me
ballin like jusuf please get from around me (x2)verse 1:
Yeah I been ballin im feelin like jusuf
we both hail from Bosnia they know we do it
came to the states now we making a name,
running this shit but we in different games
Big ups to the big bro yeah he gettin them buckets,
they love to hate I be tellin em fuck it,
Blazing right thru em he making a legacy,
what comes with fame is a whole lotta enemies,
Ballin like jusuf and ball like teletović
All that I know is I just been a workin beast
bosnians running it,
Couldn’t be done with it
Whether the court or the stu y’all be loving it
Been on the hustle the grind always coming first
you can keep talking up while we go put in work
Ballin like jusuf we know that he next up,
moving up you know that we couldn’t get stuck –hook:
Bosnian ballin out something like Nurkić
They callin now trynna see how I’m doing
I got my money up now they all on me
ballin like jusuf please get from around me (x2)verse 2:
b-I-h to these 50 states,
We goin up yeah it’s only dat way
ballin like Nurkic I feel like a blazer
Rich Immigrant shit yea we gettin the paper
passport really in my bag,
first class yeah we livin that,
19 and boomin I feel like I’m metro,
Leaving a mark yeah that shit is essential
Big ups to Bosnians always stay grinding
Just know I got you yeah I been behind it
No one deny it,
Built it up ain’t no one supply it –
Every night is a good night,
When you living out the good life
Ballin like jusuf yeah I got the juice
My way of ballin is here in the booth
came for the dub it be so hard to lose
All in the game and we payin them dues
Getting that buck you know that we next up,
and we keep moving forward we couldn’t get stuck…hook:
Bosnian ballin out something like Nurkić
They callin now trynna see how I’m doing
I got my money up now they all on me
ballin like jusuf please get from around me (x4)
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The NBA trade deadline was mostly lame duck, uneventful for nearly half the league who sat out amidst a season conflated with under whelming play for many teams and a cap which will not rise by much of any come summer. The trades that did happen were to bolster playoff runs and to get teams like the Nets, 76ers, and Nuggets closer to or over the salary cap floor as to avoid penalties. There was no spate of blockbuster moves, no stars moving across conferences to change the balance of the league.
The biggest move of mid-season happened days before the deadline when the Sacramento Kings sent DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans:
New Orleans Pelicans get:
DeMarcus Cousins PF
Omri Casspi SF
Sacramento Kings get:
Buddy Hield SG
Tyreke Evans G
Langston Galloway SG
2017 1st round pick
Future 2nd round pick
The Kings had to decide between paying DeMarcus Cousins the largest contract in the history of the NBA at just over $200 million, which would have taken up a majority of their team salary for years to come, or to unload him and rebuild with maximum flexibility. Vlade Divac was adamant that he was not going to trade Cousins, their sole star, but in the end decided on the ladder and traded him to the Pelicans in what is considered one of the worst trades in the history of the NBA, not because the Kings traded Cousins, but because they got little back in return. Divac openly admitted there were better offers that he turned down to accept the deal with the Pelicans.
The Kings have high hopes for Buddy Hield, the main target of the trade for owner Vivek Ranadive who has coveted him since last year’s draft. Ranadive feels Hield is all-star material and will seek to build the team around him. Tyreke Evans is an expiring contract, who returns to Sacramento for the second time, since being traded in 2013. He has a chance to prove himself with the Kings once more, but will probably be shown the door this summer as a free agent. The Kings also get Langston Galloway a 3rd undervalued undrafted shooting guard who will look to prove himself, a first round pick in this year’s draft to begin their rebuild, as well as a future second round pick.
New Orleans meanwhile gets a second star to place next to power forward Anthony Davis who has yet to find success with the Pelicans. The duo makes them the league’s most dominant front court. Along with guard Jrue Holiday they will look to make a push for the playoffs, and to be a contender for years to come, that is if they can Cousins to resign with them next summer. The Pelicans also waived PF Terrence Jones and signed PG Jarrett Jack to a 10 day contract.
The Washington Wizards traded the Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic to fortify their roster for a playoff run, in turn helping the nets climb to the cap room floor, and insure flexibility come this summer.
Washington Wizards get:
Bojan Bogdanovic SF/SG
Chris McCullough PF
Brooklyn Nets get:
Andrew Nicholson PF
Marcus Thornton SG
Lottery protected 2017 first round pick
Bogdanovic will no doubt help Scott Brooks and the wizards make a strong push for the playoffs. McCullough who has struggled in his development to become a capable big man in the NBA will probably see little time in Washington. The Nets get young power forward Andrew Nicholson who will no doubt be a part of their rebuild. They also received the expiring contract of Marcus Thornton who will likely be waived and a lottery protected pick in this year’s draft which will more than likely be in play with the Wizards playoff run in order.
The Nets also acquired guard K.J. McDaniels from the Houston Rockets for cash considerations.
Brooklyn Nets get:
KJ McDaniels G
Houston Rockets get:
Cash Considerations
The trade helps the Net climb to within about $800,000 of the cap floor and gives Houston cap space for flexibility this summer. K.J. McDaniels has a team option for next season meaning the Nets will be watching him closely for the rest of the season to decide whether to keep him or let him walk this summer.
Houston was one of the busiest teams this trade deadline pulling off two other trades besides the one with the Nets. Both other moves were with the Los Angeles Lakers:
Houston Rockets get:
Lou Williams SG
Los Angeles Lakers get:
Corey Brewer SG
2017 1st round pick
And
Houston Rockets get:
Marceo Huertas PG
Los Angeles Lakers get:
Tyler Ennis G
The first move with the Lakers nets the Rockets a SG that fits well in Mike D’Antoni’s system, and will help them make a deeper playoff push come April. The move nets the Lakers a 1st round pick in this year’s draft to help them begin the new era that sees Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka taking over the front office. They inherit guard Corey Brewer who just signed a three year contract last year with the Rockets and has had a horrible shooting year, hitting just 23% from the arc.
The second trade gives the Lakers a young PG in Ennis to replace Marceo Huertas who wasn’t quite working out. The Lakers will be able to sign Ennis whose contract is expiring on the cheap if they decide to hold on him. The Rockets waived Huertas and created cap room and a player exception that they will use to claim a player off of waivers, perhaps Sullinger from the Suns, bring back Terrence Jones, or make a run at Bogut should he be waived by the Sixers.
The Philadelphia Sixers were also busy during the deadline making several moves including sending F Ersan Ilyasova to the Altanta Hawks for Tiago Splitter, and Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks for Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a protected first round pick.
Philadelphia 76ers get:
Tiago Splitter PF/C
2017 second round pick (Miami)
2017 second round pick
Altanta Hawks get:
Ersan Ilyasova F
2017 second round pick (Warriors)
Both trades net Philadelphia draft picks for this year’s draft and helps them get to the cap floor. They will probably waive either Tiago Splitter or Andrew Bogut. Splitter is more likely Anderson gives the 76ers another young prospect, and though he has struggled in Dallas, he has a chance to redeem himself in philly. The moves also help to open up playing time for Dario Saric. The 76er’s were heavily shopping Okafor but had to trade Noel instead at the deadline when no deals for the rookie big man could be made.
Atlanta gets Ilyasova who will give them more length and strengthen the roster for a playoff push. They rid themselves of Splitter who was an ill fit to begin with, and was only taken on as a favor to Greg Popovich last season to facilitate signing LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Dallas Mavericks finally get Noel who they have coveted and who will bring a defensive presence the Mavericks have been missing since the days of Tyson Chandler. They will have to resign Noel this summer to a hefty contract, but have retained his bird rights allowing them to match any other offers. Noel will likely help the Mavericks who are hoping to make the playoffs this year.
The Denver Nuggets after trading center Jusuf Nurkic to the Blazers more than a week ago for Mason Plumee, traded the Milwaukee Bucks a 2019 second round pick for the expiring contract of Roy Hibbert.
Denver Nuggets get:
Mason Plumlee PF/C
2018 second round pick
Cash Considerations
Portland Trail Blazers get:
Jusuf Nurkic C
2017 1st round pick (Memphis)
And
Denver Nuggets get:
Roy Hibbert C
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Protected 2019 second pick
Both moves help the Nuggets get close to the cap floor to avoid penalties. Both Hibbert and Plumlee are expiring, and both will likely find new homes this summer. Though Denver may look to resign Plumlee.
The Blazers get rid of Plumlee’s expiring contract, who will be looking a big pay day this summer that Portland can ill afford with one of the largest team salaries in the league. Portland gets young center Jusuf Nurkic who will provide an inside presence and third scoring option the Blazers have been missing. They also get a third 1st round pick in this year’s draft where they will look to trade up in the draft and find some new talent on the cheap.
The Denver/ Milwaukee trade was Roy Hibbert’s second move of the season, after being traded several weeks ago to Milwaukee from the Charlotte Hornets along with Spencer Hawes in return for Miles Plumlee.
Charlotte Hornets get:
Miles Plumlee
Milwaukee Bucks get:
Roy Hibbert C
Spencer Hawes PF/C
The move is an attempt by the Hornets to get younger at Center, where they already have Cody Zeller. They take a risk with the seemingly overpaid Plumlee who under performed in Milwaukee. For the Bucks it is a straight up salary Dump. Plumlee’s contract worth $50 million was a regret of Bucks GM John Hammond, and somehow he was able to convince the Hornets to take it.
The Phoenix Suns also made a few moves sending PJ Tucker to Toronto and acquiring big man Mike Scott from the Hawks.
Phoenix Suns get:
Jared Sullinger PF/C
2017, 2018 second round picks
Toronto Raptors get:
PJ Tucker SF/PF
And
Phoenix Suns get:
Mike Scott
Draft rights to Cenk Akyol
Cash Considerations
Atlanta Hawks get:
2017 second round pick
The Suns wanted a 1st round pick for Tucker but they settle for two seconds and Jared Sullinger who they will likely waive. The Suns will also waive big man Mike Scott who they acquired from the Hawks. Atlanta signed ex-Laker forward Ryan Kelly to fill the roster spot opened by Scott.
The Raptors get PJ Tucker who along with Serge Ibaka who they acquired in an earlier trade with the Orlando Magic will strengthen their roster for the playoffs amidst a championship run.
Toronto Raptors get:
Serge Ibaka PF
Orlando Magic get:
Terrence Ross SF
2017 1st round pick
Toronto gets a dependable defensive big man in Ibaka to help them in their push for the O’Brien trophy. Ibaka is also a 41% shooter from the arc. The Magic get young forward Terrence Ross and 1st round pick to help them find some fresh talent in the draft. Ibaka is a free agent who was traded to the Magic from the Thunder in last years draft. He was likely to leave this summer in free agency. Instead of not being able to retain him, the Magic moved him for some assets.
Speaking of the Thunder they were another team who opted to make a move to place talent around PG Russell Westbrook. They shipped Cameron Payne, Joffery Lauvergne, and Anthony Morrow to the Chicago Bulls for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and a draft pick.
Oklahoma City Thunder get:
Taj Gibson PF
Doug McDermott SF
2018 Second Round pick
Chicago Bulls get:
Cameron Payne PG
Anthony Morrow SG
Joffery Lauvergne PF/C
For the Thunder, Westbrook gets some help from Taj Gibson as they continue their playoff run. McDermott who struggled in Chicago will have a chance to redeem himself in Oklahoma. The Thunder will have to decide whether to pay up and resign Gibson at the end of the season when he becomes a free agent. He is restricted as Oklahoma receives his bird rights, so they can match offers from other teams.
The Bulls will develop young PG Cameron Payne as their PGOTF. Rajon Rondo will probably be headed elsewhere this summer. Lauvergne and Morrow will get a chance to audition for the bulls before they become free agents in June.
The trade deadline came and went. Reserved would probably be a good word to describe it. About half the NBA sat it out, including the Blazers. Neil Olshey, a little more than a week removed from his single mid season trade, which netted the Blazers Jusuf Nurkic and 2017 1st round pick from the Nuggets in return for center Mason Plumlee and a future 2nd round pick, decided to play his cards close to his chest. No moves at the buzzer, despite holding three 1st round picks and a bloated salary more fitting of a championship contender than a team on the rebuild.
The lead up was exciting. Olshey was sitting on three picks, surely he would cash in 1 or 2 now, and perhaps a contract for a needle mover. Would he move the bungled Meyers contract, or that of Allen Crabbe to chip away at luxury tax ceiling? The Blazers were looking at Okafor and Noel, then Drummond. Damian Lillard’s name came up. It seemed absurd that the Blazers would move him, but DeMarcus Cousins was just traded to Pelican’s so anything seemed possible. Then nothing happened, just some false anticipation.
(AP Photo)
For now maybe no move was a good move, maybe not. Olshey is hedging his bets that the young Blazers who he admits have under-performed turn it around and that the values of contracts like Meyers Leonard and Allen Crabbe go up. Olshey likes to sell high, and most of the Blazers contracts are perceived at a low value at this point in such a down season, where several players seemed to have regressed. He has until next trade deadline to shed salary, but it is not going to be easy if players don’t improve.
There are 26 more games left in the season for players to develop. Hopefully Meyers Leonard came find himself, we can get a better view on what Vonleh is capable of, and Allen Crabbe starts to earn that $75 million. Who knows now that the trade deadline has past and the players can breathe easy again, chemistry will improve and they will get back to the winning ways of last season. Maybe Nurkic will be exactly what the Blazers need, and some inside help will unlock the Blazers offense and help facilitate a defense that has been missing. It may be a long 26 games. We will find out starting tonight when the Blazers start their second half run for the playoffs which they may or may not make. A month from now they could be in the lottery who knows, for now its up in the air.
The Sacramento Kings have traded DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a 2017 first round pick, and a 2017 second round pick in a move that is controversial and puzzling considering Cousins was set to sign a $200 million plus extension to stay with Kings long term. General Manager Vlade Divac has made questionable choices in the past, and many have been critical of his capacity to be a general manger.
Two Summers ago, coming off a season where Wesley Matthews took a bad step and ended what could have been a deep playoff run, and a dark horse contention for the O’Brien trophy, instead manifested into the Blazers stumbling into the playoffs and getting knocked out in the first round by the overzealous Grizzlies. Then came the exodus of LaMarcus Aldridge, leaving Neil Olshey with a hard decision to make. He could resign the rest of the core, hope the achilles of Wesley Matthews would heal unscathed, and hedge his bets that they could, sans Aldridge still compete, or he could blow it up, let Matthews and Lopez walk away and trade Batum, to start over. The former would make little sense without Aldridge, considering there was no guarantee that Wesley Matthews would return to his pre injury iron man form, Batum was regressing, and Lopez was to expensive to keep around for what he provided. So, Olshey made a volatile, audacious, move. He chose the ladder, to show Matthews and Lopez the door, and trade Nic Batum for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh, and to rebuild around Damian Lillard.
The NBA trade deadline is four days away. The Blazers find themselves in a tough spot. Currently in the 10th seed in the west, on the outside looking in, amidst a close playoff race, that they could easily make or miss. Rewind to the beginning of last summer. The Blazers were fresh off a stunning season in which they played with a surprising resilience and surpassed every expectation to make the second round of the playoffs. Things were finally looking up. The Blazers were looking to capture a top tier free agent to build on to their success and become a true contender. But, left and right all of the Blazers targets headed to other teams, leaving the them in free fall. Neil Olshey opted to jump to the next tier and snag Evan Turner before other teams could get to him, signing him for four years at $70 million, a steep contract to say the least. Olshey with little other options decided to retain the rest of the roster as not to lose assets, matching a four year $75 million contract for Allen Crabbe with the Nets, resigning Meyers Leonard to a 4 year $41 million contract, and Harkless to a similar one. The Blazers ballooned from the lowest team salary to the second highest.
The Blazers have traded Mason Plumlee to Denver Nuggets for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 1st round pick. The move alleviates Portland of the burden of trying to resign Plumlee this summer, when his services will be costly. While he brought a high level of play making ability for a big man, with average scoring and rebounding, he lacked the size defensively needed under the rim for the Blazers, and a larger capacity for offense to pull the defense off of Lillard and McCollum.
The 2016-17 NBA season is upon us. A new piece of history is about to be written. Whether you believe in fate, luck, or that the results of the season ahead are based on what the players themselves leave on the court, the game is on. One of the best parts of offseason, after the draft and free agency, with all the cards on the table, is to predict what is to come. Will you favorite team be the champions come the end of the season? How many wins will so and so have? Below are my predictions.
Summer 2016 has brought a lot of roster changes, especially in the east. Some teams made the grade, while others missed the mark. Here are my off-season grades for the eastern conference.
Summer 2016 has shifted the balance of the western conference. The draft and free agency has recarved the face of teams. Some have taken the next step, others a step back. Here are my grades for the 2016 offseason for the west.
Thursday evening, the Brooklyn Nets signed restricted free agent Allen Crabbe to an offer sheet of 4 years, $75M with incentives that could bring the total amount of the contract to a staggering $83M. The Blazers have 3 days to match this offer sheet in order to keep Crabbe, and it’s going to be a tough choice due to the amount of money offered by Sean Marks and the Nets.
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Now that Kevin Durant has gone with the, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” approach, the rest of the West must be wondering what’s the point of the season. The Warriors just added Durant to a team that won 73 games last year. Regular season games might now be a good chance for opponents to rest their starters for the next game. Why not, right?
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(Source: SI.com)
Sometimes there is a reality, that whether fair or not, just isn’t very palatable. There are no sour grapes here, and one tries to take enough time after an event, to come down from the initial emotional or knee-jerk reaction so as to remove the euphoria or Debbie-downer aspect. Some cars are just more expensive even if they don’t perform better or get better gas mileage. Real estate costs more in some places just due to location even though traffic may be terrible and the area is not as clean and safe as it once was. That is not being negative. It just may be the reality of the situation.
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The Free Agency cavalcade of Salary Cap dollars begins its overflowing waterfall of financial ferocity Friday morning at midnight. There are only so many ‘top tier’ players available and maybe using a plural is a bit generous. Kevin Durant is THE top free-agent and whether someone else might be a better fit is up to each individual team. Any team would love to have him but he is only realistically going to a small handful of teams and that might really be just 1 or 2. People forget that LeBron James is also a free-agent but that is mostly because few think he is going anywhere but back to Cleveland.
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(Credit: Photoshop Skillz)
As I posted yesterday on S2 would be happening this morning, I was able to have a conversation with someone who has been very plugged into the NBA for a number of years and whose opinion I greatly respect. It has been suggested that Portland is one of the places that will get consideration for Whiteside’s services in what would easily be the biggest free-agent ‘get’ in the history of this franchise. Here is a summary of that conversation.
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According to an article in the Seattle Times, “The Blazers’ problematic 10-year, $120-million deal with Comcast expires after 2016-17. Sources say the team will announce within a week or two they’ll join Mariners-owned ROOT Sports Northwest on a partnership with enhanced distribution of Blazers games.
(Photo: Getty Images)
(Portland Tribune / Christopher Onstott)
Two days removed from the 2016 NBA draft, the Blazers are left with an ultimatum. Free agency or nothing. The draft saw other teams in the west get better, like the Suns who drafted Dragan Bender, Tyler Ulis, and traded for Marquese Chriss. The Timberwolves added Chris Dunn to their already intriguing fountain of youth. Oklahoma City traded Serge Ibaka for Oladipo, Illyasova, and future draft picks, to convince Durant to stay. The Nuggets drafted Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez, and Malik Beasley. Even Utah got better, trading for George Hill. As these other teams took steps forward, Blazer fans hoped that Neil Olshey would jump in the fray, make a crazy lopsided deal, and bring needle moving talent to Portland.
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(Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America)
(NBA.com)
This time of year is a internet surfer’s dream. Every few minutes there is a new rumor, article, or Woj-bomb that lifts or dashes the spirits of fans in cities all across the country. So here is a brief roundup of what is going on … which will likely change in the next 5 minutes. That is part of the fun.
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(Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)
So, I hear you want to sign Dwight Howard.
Dwight Howard, along with Al Horford and Hassan Whiteside, is one of the most talked-about free agent centers; and naturally, since Portland has a max-contract-sized hole in its cap space, the Trail Blazers are considered to be a front-runner for the player formerly known as Superman.
According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops and the Associated Press, “Bucks are shopping Greg Monroe hard. He’s owed $17.1 million next season and has a $17.8 million player option for 2017-18 season.” This could potentially include the Trail Blazers, as Monroe is someone that Neil Olshey has shown great interest in acquiring in the past. They were first linked to Monroe in 2014 when there was talk of a sign-and-trade with Detroit and then he was mentioned as a coveted piece last summer when Neil Olshey attempted to sign him as an unrestricted free agent. The Bucks have been reportedly trying to dump Monroe since before the trade deadline and the Blazers are constantly mentioned as one of the possible destinations.
According to a press release from the team, “The Portland Trail Blazers have hired award-winning broadcast veteran Kevin Calabro as its new television play-by-play voice starting with the 2016-17 season, it was announced today by Trail Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan. Calabro takes over for play-by-play host Mike Barrett, who departed the Trail Blazers along with color analyst Mike Rice earlier this week after 13 years calling Portland’s games. McGowan said a national search continues for a color analyst to pair with Calabro, recognized as one of the top play-by-play broadcasters in the country.
It’s been a couple days, but the fallout from the dismissal of 3 of the 4 broadcast personalities still seems like a very fresh wound. It seems many fans are more irritated with HOW it happened than that it happened at all. If\t felt like there was a lack of personal touch and that it was delivered in a very cold and corporate way and maybe that is just what the NBA has become. It still didn’t feel very Portland. Some sport cities have a different relationship with their teams … just ask Green Bay.
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Professional sports is a business. We are constantly reminded of that fact, as our favorite players leave in free agency (like LaMarcus Aldridge), and our arenas are renamed after failing healthcare corporations. But at the heart of pro sports, there is supposed to be a deep connection between the team and the city it represents. The Yankees and New York, the Celtics in Boston, or the Packers in Green Bay, these teams are built into the bedrock of that town. They are part of the culture…. the community… the sense of that place. So when a team moves away but keeps the same name, as seen with the San Francisco 49ers, or they fire three of the four team broadcasters in one day, it diminishes that connection. It damages that symbiotic relationship between the team and the city that supports it.
Trail Blazer guard CJ McCollum interviews the two-time MVP from the Golden State Warriors for Facebook Live. Just another example of how great CJ is at interviewing and getting the other players to let down their guard and answer questions. Great job CJ!
According to Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury-News, “Stephen Curry will not play in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil and he may not be the only Warriors star to opt out. According to multiple sources, Curry has already told USA Basketball he will not be playing for a gold medal. He will instead let his right knee heal.”
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Superstars win Championships but there is only so much money to spend and the difference in winning and losing often comes from how a team’s depth is comprised and the contributions you get from unexpected places. Andre Iguodala anyone? But that also means getting value from inexpensive contracts of players drafted in the 2nd round….our ‘Diamonds’ in the Rough. Continue Reading
(trulyamazing.com)
On July 1st the floodgates will open. It will be a free for all battle for teams to chase coveted free agents and try to resign their own before other teams can snag them. The Blazers have six players entering the fray, three of them restricted. The Blazers will no doubt let Kaman and Roberts walk (though if they strike out on an upgrade at the backup point, they may eventually resign Roberts). Gerald Henderson is probably also out the door, as his cap hold would take away precious dollars that could be spent on luring a big name free agent. Crabbe and Harkless are likely to return, and will surely be matched. Meyers Leonard is the mystery man, no telling what the Blazers do with him.
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(Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
Last year, the The Portland Trail Blazers traded their 2016 first round pick at the trade deadline for Arron Afflalo, in what was then seen as a deal that needed to be made, however, the trade resulted as a bad one for the Trail Blazers. Afflalo never found his groove playing in Portland’s offense and left after the season. Will Barton, who was also part of the trade, broke out in 2016 as one of the most improved players in the league playing for the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 14 points a game and was a spark plug off the bench. The draft pick Portland gave up was lottery protected, meaning that Portland wouldn’t have to give up the pick if they missed the playoffs. This created a debate between Blazer fans about whether or not the Blazers should try to miss the playoffs. They won, made the playoffs and lost the pick.
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(Basketballforum.com)
This summer a hodgepodge of free agent names will find themselves on notepads on the desks of GMs, and on dry erase boards behind closed doors in front offices around the NBA. Key among them will be Kevin Durant’s. Every team with cap space will send out their star players and personnel to woo him. Miami, Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and even yipes, Golden State have all surfaced as possible destinations. Why not Portland? We’ve all heard the excuses. Portland is too small of a market. It has never been a place that has lured big name free agents. The team isn’t a contender. Analysts have speculated that Durant won’t even look Portland’s way.
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(Portland Trail Blazers on YouTube)
It’s been a long time since so many teams have had this many multiple Draft picks. That means for teams wanting to move up or for teams that don’t have a pick at all (CLE, MIA, NYK, OKC, POR, and WAS) there are a plethora of opportunities to do just that. In fact, it is an almost certainty that teams like Boston, Denver and Phoenix don’t make all of their selections. Depending on how high up a team wants to go just depends on what they are willing to offer as there will be Draft picks moved.
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(Bruce Ely / Oregonlive.com)
Last year the Blazers looked primed to be a dark horse contender for the championship. Behind the offense of Lillard and Aldridge, the iron defense and 3 point prestige of Matthews, and the Renaissance man esque play of Batum and Robin Lopez, the Blazers looked to make a crater in the playoffs with their explosive play. Then came March and with it the beginning of the end of an era. Wesley Matthews in a dumbfounding moment took a wrong step and tore his achilles tendon. A collective sigh of Blazer fans, and a familiar pang of what could have been, filled the Portland air supply. The Blazers lagged and staggered their way to the playoffs, sans their heart, and collapsed in the first round to the Grizzlies. The same old tune.
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(AP Photo/NBA.com)
It was just three short years ago that the Portland Trail Blazers added Robin Lopez to a core of LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and a very young Damian Lillard. There were hesitant expectations as the team had certainly over-performed for a large part of the previous season with an undersized JJ Hickson at center. Now with the addition of the defensive minded twin of the Lopez brothers, there was reason for optimism to start the new year.
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(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Portland Trail Blazers have updated their personnel for the upcoming season. After interviewing with various teams around the league, assistant coaches Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool will be back on the sidelines along with Jim Moran. Jay Triano, who joined Earl Watson’s staff in Phoenix, will be replaced by Dale Osbourne. Fourth year, advanced team scout John McCullough will also join the coaches as an assistant.
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(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
For Allen Crabbe, it’s good to be wanted. The Portland Trail Blazers will be fending off suitors for three restricted free agents this summer, with possibly none more appealing than Crabbe. The 24-year-old shooting guard out of Cal has shown a great deal of growth in his third season, with improvements across the board in shooting, rebounds and assists. With so many teams having cap space this summer, and so few wings available in free agency, this could mean a big payday for the young shooting guard.
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Dame D.O.L.L.A. ft. Brookfield Duece – They Sleep (prod. Jahlil Beats)
@Dame_Lillard x @BrookfieldDeuce are back on this Jahlil Beats production! The Trailblazer and his homie don’t understand why They’re still sleeping on them! Don’t be like “They”!
Bill Schonely describes the origins of ‘Rip City’ in the fifth installment of the Rip City Legacy commercial series.
The Portland Trail Blazers came to Oklahoma City for game 3. They got a taste, to remind themselves what the Thunder were like on their home court. The stuck their foot in the water. It was cold. They took their time getting in. OKC got the better of them while they acclimated. The Blazers were fully adjusted by game 4 on Sunday Evening. They beat the Thunder handily 111-98.
Portland controlled the game pretty much from the get go. OKC made some runs early to take a brief lead, but the Blazers had answers. With Damian Lillard a little off to start, Aminu stepped in. Kanter got it going. McCollum was on key. The Bench showed up, Collins having perhaps his best game of the series.
The Blazers won and led after all four quarters. They played inspired defense, they passed the ball, they went after offensive rebounds. When OKC made their runs, Portland stayed calm. They were collected. There was never doubt.
Damian Lillard and CJ Mccollum had their best game in some time together. Maybe it was their best. They combined for 51 points. They were both on. Both dialed in. No fragment of the players from last year’s playoffs remained. No hesitation. No panic. No timidness. Just fluidity and unison. They wore experience well.
The Blazers outshot the Thunder on every front. They beat them 41.1% to 37.5% from the field, and 42.9% to 37.5% from long distance. Portland won at the free throw line(95.7% to 77.3%) They won on the glass 49-44. It was the third game of series the Blazers held the Thunder under 100 points. They outscored OKC in the paint 36-22.
With the win Portland goes up 3-1 with a chance to close out the series on Thursday back in Rip City in front of the home crowd. The Blazers seem ready to advance. They look and believe like they can go far. The Thunder are a pesky fly to be swatted away.
Before the season started all the pundits predicted OKC would be the one up 3-1 right now, if not have had already swept the Blazers. No brooms for the Thunder. No they are going to need a mop because they are getting drenched in the northwest division series. The Blazers have proven to be the storm. Not just talk. Formidable clouds. Gail force winds. A force to be reckoned with.
The Thunder are like a nearly beaten character in Mortal Kombat, fumbling in place, FINISH HIM across the screen in giant letters. I know that dates me. Good stuff. Point is time for the fatality Blazers. Hey Thunder….COME HERE!!!
Listen in to Episode 5 as Chris and Eric catch you up on games 3 and 4 of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. There is a sweep, a brawl, two gut punching end of game mishaps, and more! As always Chris and Eric follow their favorite team, the Portland Trail Blazers. Stay tuned!
In an aggressive and often overly physical game unrestrained by officiating, the Trail Blazers could not overcome a 39 to 24 free throw disparity, and fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three, 120-108. The Blazers were beat on Friday night, but they were not defeated. The still lead the series 2-1, and walked away confident in their place in the series, despite the loss.
It was a night that seemed all to indicative of a Thunder win. Two different fans hit half court shots to win twenty grand in the opening quarters. The Thunder had a fluky night on offense, shooting an atypical (15-29) 51% from the arc. Three of the Blazers starters had 4 or more personal fouls. The Blazers had a mostly self imposed fourteen turnovers in the first half.
The Blazers despite a bad shooting start, led after the first quarter. Then came the poor performance by Portland’s bench, who were hampered by foul calls that had the distinct impression of being one sided. From then on it seemed to be, as Lillard put it,“ a quick whistle to every bump, every little grab and contact.” The Blazers didn’t panic. They didn’t play any less physical, fouls non-withstanding. They showed composure. They kept shooting. They made the Thunder beat them from the free throw line, the only way it was going to happen.
Damian Lillard scored 25 of his 32 points in the third quarter bringing Portland back from a 16 point deficit, as the Blazers outscored the Thunder 43-37. Lillard exploded hitting several contested threes off screens as commentators argued over the color of the Thunder’s jerseys. The Thunder lead collapsed, and was only four at the end of the Lillard show. The Thunder were up 86-82 heading into the fourth. If Lillard had stayed in the parade might still have continued.
McCollum took over to begin the fourth, tying the game 89-89 on a three off a screen out front, and looked like the Thunder were going to choke. But, then came the fouls again. The Thunder built their lead to 10 before Terry Stotts was hit with a technical foul, fed up with the Thunder being allowed to get away with overtly illegal physical play. The fouls continued to mount, the Thunder living at the free throw line the rest of the quarter. The Thunder took 15 free throws in the quarter, 8 of those in the last three minutes.
The Blazers starters were pulled with less than a minute left, and the Thunder up 10 points.They waved the white flag tired of the shenanigans. For some reason, Paul George unnecessarily stayed in. At the Buzzer he showed a disrespectful and feckless disregard for the game. He went up for a tasteless reverse double pump dunk. So much for his injured shoulder. That dunk was meaningless on the stats sheet. It happened after the game clock expired and wasn’t recorded. But, it had meaning and it was an emphasis on something that if not already clear, was made so. The Thunder are a classless act. They lack humility and character.
Their immature taunting only highlights their insecurities and their fear. They can rock the baby, imitate Lillard’s call sign, or dunk at the Buzzer all they want. It is not a show of strength. It is an ugly attempt to bring the Blazers down to their level. But, Lillard and Co. could care less. They will not play by the Thunder’s rules. The Blazers will not lower themselves to such crass behavior. They possess all the things the Thunder don’t. The Blazers have more humility, respect, integrity, and poise in their pinky than the Thunder do in…well you get it. The Thunder found themselves in the eye of the storm, able to steal one, but the worst for them is coming.
Voices of many Colors
Now that the Blazers have hired the voice of the NBA Finals from ESPN (a huge get no matter what one’s thoughts on the outgoing broadcasters) the next move is to hire a Color Commentator to round out the team. It sounds like Calabro will have some say in who will be chosen although he said he didn’t have a specific person in mind right away, just an idea of what he thought would work from an energy standpoint.. So who are the names being thrown about?
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