Game 5: Portland vs Miami 7:00pm Root,Root+

[DaVoiceMaster]

Sharpe still looks great.I really hope they start him beside Ant next game.

Maybe Payton II comes back and starts.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Miami kinda out-Blazered the Blazers. Hopefully Limplard is only a thing for a game or two…

He is out 1-2 weeks.

[BNM]

Miami kinda out-Blazered the Blazers. Hopefully Limplard is only a thing for a game or two…

He is out 1-2 weeks.

They only have 2 games in the next 8 days - after having 5 games in the first 8 days of the season. It's a good time to let Dame get some rest. No reason to rush him back.

[BNM]

Sharpe still looks great.I really hope they start him beside Ant next game.

I'd love to see that too, but I suspect Ant will start at PG, with Hart moving to SG and Winslow or Little at SF. Winslow is a much better secondary playmaker than Nas or Sharp, so I expect his minutes will see a big up tick until Dame comes back. Sharpe should get plenty of minutes backing up both the SG and SF spots. Keon will also probably get some non-garage time minutes for the first time this season.

[Case2012]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

[BNM]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

It's not just about the roster spot and paying the tax this year. Avoiding the tax this year is beneficial, practically necessary if POR wants to remain competitive going forward to avoid the repeater tax penalties. Signing a vet min center means we will need to trade someone making at least $1.83 million by the trade deadline - without taking any salary back. Basically, give a player away who is currently under contract.

It's necessary due to Dame's mega extension, plus Ant's extension, Nurk's extension, Payton's contract, etc. Of course, trading Nurk while signing someone for less money would fix that problem, but if Nurk is really that bad, who would be willing to take on that big contract he just signed without POR including other incentives (future draft picks, a young player, etc.).

It's only been five games and I think we need to be patient. Last year, Nurk posted the highest 2FG% of his entire career. Before doing anything drastic that would cripple the team going forward, we need to give it enough time to see if Nurk can return to last season's form.

Plus, we can't trade him until December 15th anyway. Might as well wait until then and reevaluate the situation.

[Norm2953]

It'll be interesting to see if the team can replicate last seasons game from January to the AS break.

One would think we'll see Ant/Hart with Winslow/Grant and Nurk up front. Look for Nurk/Ant to once
again run the P/R game and they now have a legit scoring threat in Grant to play off of. Sharpe will
get some more minutes with both Dame/GP2 out.

Has anyone heard how much longer Trendan Watford will be out? Portland could use another big body
against the bigger physical teams like the Heat.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't know why this franchise has for the past decade failed to realize the importance of what kind of 3rd string backup PG can help get maximum production out of bench units. They seem to think score first 2nd and 3rd string PGs actually help a teams offense run smoother. Yeah you need lead guards like Dame and Simons these days, but when your bench is struggling with turnovers and not getting any good ball movement then maybe you need a guy who specializes in those skills... Old gripe, and one that a healthy Lillard can largely cover for, but we saw it last year and we saw it against Miami, defense shuts down our ball movement and our score-first guards simply don't know how to get the other 3-4 players involved without tons of turnovers.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

[PhilBlackson]

Just came to say it hurts my heart that Raps didn’t trade to get Sharpe when we had the chance. Cheering for him more than anyone in this draft class

[Case2012]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Don’t forget undersized.

[BNM]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Who is Hollins? The Blazers don't have anyone by that name on their roster.

[BNM]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Don’t forget undersized.

Correct. The only players the Blazers have taller than 6'9" are Nurk, Sarr and Butler. The latter two are long term projects on two-way contracts that aren't ready to step into the rotation if Nurk goes down. Sarr is currently injured and Butler is 7'1" and weighs 174 pounds. He makes Chet Holmgren look fat.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Don’t forget undersized.

No doubt!!!

[DaVoiceMaster]

I find it very concerning that our starting center has a fg percentage of 39.It's not like he's a shooter or anything, this guy takes all his shots at the rim.The Bosnian BUM. 18 million for a center that can't make layups, unbelievable.

We have an open roster spot, we should use it on a center. Aldridge's corpse would be better than this guy. Whiteside for his lackadaisical effort on defense still blocked almost 4 a game and shot it 70 percent. Favors is still available, so is cousins and all these guys are better than this dude. Is Jody that cheap that she won't fill the last roster spot because of the tax? Paul deserves better than this.

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Who is Hollins? The Blazers don't have anyone by that name on their roster.

Someone they signed to a 2-way contract just before the season started.

[BNM]

Dont they have a bunch of centers on the roster already? Granted, most are young, inexperienced, and injured.

Nurkic
Eubanks
Sarr
Butler
Hollins
Watford

Who is Hollins? The Blazers don't have anyone by that name on their roster.

Someone they signed to a 2-way contract just before the season started.

You only get two 2-way contracts and ours are Sarr and Butler.

[BNM]

All Blazers transactions since July 6:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/POR/portland-trail-blazers/transactions/

I don't see any Hollins listed? Are you thinking of Lionel? Maybe we should bring him out of retirement. We could use a veteran 3rd string PG.

[DaVoiceMaster]

All Blazers transactions since July 6:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/POR/portland-trail-blazers/transactions/

I don't see any Hollins listed? Are you thinking of Lionel? Maybe we should bring him out of retirement. We could use a veteran 3rd string PG.

Hmm, I got no clue what I read a few weeks ago. Maybe it was a bad dream.