Game 56: Portland vs Memphis 5:00pm SNW

[d-train]

It's going to be hard to beat Grizzlies for the 8th seed when we lose head-to-head games against them.

[Norm2953]

It will be interesting to see how management views this team this off season. Team has some real holes
that likely won't be filled by the 2020 draft class or free agency. They likely need a trade but are they
more concerned about getting under the tax line or improving the team?

[PDXKnight]

Tough one to lose. Still lots of time but this could be the playoffs now

[PDXKnight]

This will be a very good excuse to rest Dame

[d-train]

It will be interesting to see how management views this team this off season. Team has some real holes
that likely won't be filled by the 2020 draft class or free agency. They likely need a trade but are they
more concerned about getting under the tax line or improving the team?

I think they already decided how they view it. I think we are going to have 3 or 4 roster openings and we are going to fill them through the draft, nontax-MLE, BAE, and trade exceptions. You are not going to see a trade involving our core players Lillard/CJ/Nurkic plus Collins.

[d-train]

Tough one to lose. Still lots of time but this could be the playoffs now

We just played the team we have to beat and we lost.

[d-train]

Is there any status on Lillard?

[d-train]

Lillard is out for the all-star game. Hopefully, that's the only game he misses.

[d-train]

Lillard said:

It's far from over

[trix17]

Season all but over now. Let's rest some dudes and give minutes to the likes of Ant, Trent, Gabriel, Hoard and so on.

Can't believe we didn't move Whiteside's lazy expiring ass. Would **** love a mini blow up involving moving CJ for a 3+D wing and keeping Dame, Nurk, Collins, Ant, Little and Trent but making everyone else expendable. Will never happen, Olshey stuck in his ways. We will give some **** players contracts they don't deserve (Whiteside) and use our mediocre picks on a project big or a combo guard and rinse and repeat.

I still have high hopes for this team without the injuries, but won't be unhappy at all if I don't have to watch Hassan and CJ next year.

[monopoman]

Sucks, that Lillard is hurt right before the all-star game. Knowing the type of person he seems to be he will likely try to get himself back into game action ASAP.

He has been remarkably healthy though in his career looking at his first 7 years in the NBA he has played in 95.6% of his possible games in the regular season. He has never missed a playoff game due to injury...

[zzaj]

Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time. Lillard was in a virtual tie with Harden for most minutes played per game and easily lead the league in minutes played this season.

Blazers don't have a healthy PG on the team any longer. In my dreams they showcase CJ as a PG and he excels so some team can be duped into thinking he can be played there full time...giving the Blazers a star SF back in return.

[Sinobas]

I actually hope Lillard get's shut down for the year. It's over.

[BlazersBroncos]

14th pick most likely according to the stat gurus.

Whiteside at the end there was a punk. Hard to root for a guy that acts like that. I still strongly want to resign him because we are capped out with only the MLE to look towards in building this squad and we have his bird rights at least.

[DaVoiceMaster]

With Lillard going down, I'm ready call it a season. Play the young guys a ton of minutes and only play the starters like 20-25 minutes. Leave Nurk and Collins on the injured reserve list and bring em back next season. No reason to risk any more injuries to key players. If Lillard already pulled out of the All Star Game, then he's gonna be down for a couple of weeks.

[Nonstop]

Whiteside at the end there was a punk. Hard to root for a guy that acts like that.

That acts like what? Defending himself? JV looked like he was bout to throw the ball at him out of frustration and Hassan stopped that real fast

[ungin_74]

but won't be unhappy at all if I don't have to watch Hassan and CJ next year.

agree, CJ has to be moved.

[BlazersBroncos]

That acts like what? Defending himself? JV looked like he was bout to throw the ball at him out of frustration and Hassan stopped that real fast

Hassan clearly swung into JV and initiated unnecessary contact. JV was contemplating throwing the ball and Hassan reacted by moving towards him with clear malice rather than try to protect himself or diffuse the situation. Again, it all started with Whiteside unnecessarily and immaturely posturizing after a meaningless dunk during a game where we got smoked.

Its not the end of the world, sholdnt be a suspension or anything. Just don't like that stuff from my team.

[Wizenheimer]

That acts like what? Defending himself? JV looked like he was bout to throw the ball at him out of frustration and Hassan stopped that real fast

Hassan clearly swung into JV and initiated unnecessary contact. JV was contemplating throwing the ball and Hassan reacted by moving towards him with clear malice rather than try to protect himself or diffuse the situation. Again, it all started with Whiteside unnecessarily and immaturely posturizing after a meaningless dunk during a game where we got smoked.

Its not the end of the world, sholdnt be a suspension or anything. Just don't like that stuff from my team.

twice on plays earlier in the game I saw JV swing elbows at Whiteside's head. This wasn't a one time incident...it had built over the course of a game, and I saw a couple of tweets saying that Whiteside and JV had issues when they played in Miami and Toronto respectively. Bigs can be like elephants...long memories