NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider Bryant Knox breaks down how Damian Lillard won the 2013 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year award. This award was decided a long time ago, but it was officially announced on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Lillard became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the award unanimously, stealing first-place votes away from Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond. On his own team, Lillard had a bigger impact than LaMarcus Aldridge, all but solidifying the award.
Good signs for Rip City In case you haven’t noticed, the Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of a significant rebuild. The 2012-13 season came and went without a trip to the playoffs, but if there was one positive takeaway, it was the performance of rookie Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard did it on the court, but [...]
Bryant Knox recaps the 2012-13 NBA season with grades for every Portland Trail Blazers player. LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, JJ Hickson, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum all played well in the starting lineup. Meyers Leonard and Eric Maynor showed signs of potential off the bench, while the rest of the reserves struggled more than they succeeded.
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 which NBA prospects the Portland Trail Blazers should target in the 2013 NBA draft. If PDX can enter the top 3, Nerlens Noel has to be on their radar. Big man Alex Len will be tough to obtain, but with a draft-day deal, he could be a target. Michael Carter Williams, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cody Zeller should also be on Portland’s radar.
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.
Jason Hartzog previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ April 17 matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Damian Lillard versus Stephen Curry is a fun match-up to watch. These two guys can fill it up on any given night. They have had some great games against each other already. LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews have all missed the past few games. Jason is hoping the all come back soon.
Jason Hartzog previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ April 16 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Blazers are currently on an 11-game losing streak. They will look to end the season on a strong note in their final two contests, but they’ve been playing without starters Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMArcus Aldridge, and/or JJ Hickson for most of their current skid. The key matchup in this one will be at the center position between Meyers Leonard and DeAndre Jordan.
Jason Hartzog previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ April 14 matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Jason says they key matchup he’s watching is Wilson Chandler versus Will Barton. If Barton can have a nice game and keep up with Chandler’s defensive intensity then it could open up things for Damian Lillard. Lillard will likely see a lot of double teams in this one if Lawson is limited again as he was last game.
Jason Hartzog previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ April 12 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jason says the Thunder are still playing for the top seed in the west. They won’t let this one slip away without a fight. Can we get more Lillard please? Damian Lillard was outstanding as he scored a new career high 38 points vs. LA. The Blazers got off to a quick start, shot the ball well, and really looked in control the whole game.
