NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Jason Hartzog grades the job that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts did during the 2012-13 NBA season. Rip City gave Stotts his third attempt at being a head coach, and he did well considering the roster he was handed. Placing Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge was a recipe for success from the beginning, but allowing Nicolas Batum to become an integral part of the offense is what pushed him toward All-Star levels.
Bryant Knox breaks down three spots where the Portland Trail Blazers need an upgrade. With JJ Hickson’s future up in the air, starting center is the obvious one. Eric Maynor’s future is also questionable in Rip City, so backup point guard is a priority as well. Wesley Matthews has become a very good player, but neither he nor Will Barton are great enough to hold down the 2-guard spot by themselves.
Bryant Knox grades the job that Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey did during the 2012-13 season. The good is highlighted by Damian Lillard, JJ Hickson, Eric Maynor and even Roy Hibbert. The bad is reserved for the depth, or lack thereof, that the team was depth. The Nicolas Batum contract and the drafting of Meyers Leonard look good, but are still up for debate.
Bryant Knox breaks down his predictions on which Portland Trail Blazers will be gone for the 2012-13 season. Portland’s year was filled with ups and downs. Players such as Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge excelled, but others can’t quite say the same. The likely candidates to be gone are Luke Babbitt, Nolan Smith and Jared Jeffries. The more questionable ones are JJ Hickson, Elliot Williams and Eric Maynor.
Lillard’s Big Night Sitting 11 games under .500, and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Portland Trail Blazers had very little to play for heading in to last night’s contest against the rival Los Angeles Lakers. However, any time Portland hosts the Lakers at the Rose Garden, no matter the situation, there’s always something to [...]
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers writer Rick Stella gives us his weekly Rick’s Picks, naming the All-Star performances showcased in Rip City. Damian Lillard, JJ Hickson, and Eric Maynor all put on the show in Minnesota, ultimately leading to all three of them receiving a selection to this week’s picks.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers Blogger Bryant Knox breaks down how the team earned an ‘A’ at the 2013 NBA trade deadline. Portland’s bench has been the worst in the NBA, and it found a huge upgrade at the point guard spot when it picked up Eric Maynor from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Damian Lillard has been fantastic, but he’s playing the fourth-most minutes in the NBA and he needs help. The other move—or non-move, if you will—was to keep J.J. Hickson.
