Portland Trail Blazers Analysis

Where Do Dame And The Blazers Go From Here?

by Wes Goldberg

Mar 30, 2023 1:25 PM

Damian Lillard has been the rare superstar in today's era that stays. The question is whether continuing the partnership serves either's own interest. Read more »

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Discuss
Ten-Year NBA Net Rating Rankings (Infographics For All 30 Teams)

by RealGM Staff Report

Apr 11, 2022 9:55 PM

The Suns jumped from 30th in the NBA in Net Rating in 17-18 to 29th to 18th in 19-20 to third last season and first in 21-22. Read more »

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, NBA

Discuss
Dame Lillard And The Blazers Have No Idea What They Want To Be

by Colin McGowan

Dec 8, 2021 3:55 PM

Damian Lillard is an irritatingly tentative star at the center of an irritatingly tentative organization. Read more »

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Discuss
Concern Strolling: Celtics, Blazers In Rough Transitions

by John Wilmes

The Blazers and Celtics brought in new coaches to address questions that we may see to be more existential and personnel-based than strategic or cultural. Sometimes you're just putting a new face on the same disappointment, and sometimes that disappointment ossifies, and then morphs into something worse. Read more »
Twelve Characters: CJ McCollum

by Colin McGowan

C.J. McCollum doesn't get to do whatever he wants; he posts his 20-whatever in the negative space Dame Lillard leaves in his wake. It's a peculiar rhythm you have to strike, not being The Guy but playing as if you were, however intermittently. Read more »
Damian Lillard, Ballad Man At A Crossroads

by John Wilmes

The repetitive nature of the Blazers' failures seems to be grating on Damian Lillard. Will he remain content to pour all his power into a cyclical ballad about how the little guys can never be amazing enough to overcome the big boy advantages elsewhere? Read more »
Damian Lillard Is Inventing Reasons To Leave Portland Instead Of Sticking With The Obvious One

by Colin McGowan

Damian Lillard is trapped by his own myth- the loyal one, the fierce underdog- and attempting to square his actual desires with what he thinks he should be, for other people. Read more »
Ten-Year NBA Net Rating Rankings (Infographics For All 30 Teams)

by RealGM Staff Report

The Jazz jumped from ninth in Net Rating last season to first in 20-21. Read more »
The Special Resonance Of Damian Lillard's Discipline

by Colin McGowan

Some extra appreciation is due for the guy who remains engaged as ever. It's been a year of death and debt and lost wages and fissuring sanity. Read more »
20-21 NBA Season Preview: Northwest Division

by Keith P Smith

The Nuggets and Jazz will largely look the same, while the Blazers addressed their depth issues, Minnesota looks for a third star, and the Thunder begin their aggressive rebuild. Read more »
Thirty Futures: Portland Trail Blazers

by Colin McGowan

Any basketball league that doesn't have room for Jusuf Nurkic is headed in the wrong direction. He's built his career on massiveness but also a mind as agile as any guard in the league. Read more »
Ten-Year NBA Net Rating Rankings (Infographics For All 30 Teams)

by Christopher Reina

We look at the trajectory of every team in the NBA in terms of how they rank in the category. Read more »
Suspended Indefinitely: Damon Stoudamire Submits His Sample

by Colin McGowan

Damon Stoudamire was successfully scolded into becoming what other people wanted him to be. Hopefully, though few in the media thought to ask, this is what he wanted for himself too. Read more »
Suspended Indefinitely: Jermaine O'Neal Spins Baseline, Into The Abyss

by Colin McGowan

Jermaine O'Neal's career, viewed in hindsight, takes on the shape of a slasher film. He got the rawest cosmic deal of his generation. He sat in Portland, flourished in Indiana, and suffered through an aborted phantom season that could have seen him realize new heights. Then he started to get hurt all the time. Read more »
Suspended Indefinitely: J.R. Rider Misses The Bus

by Colin McGowan

You could glimpse something spectacular in his sporadic effort, his brief spells of best behavior. Defenders couldn't contain him, he couldn't contain himself. An entire league of bosses, teachers, and allies couldn't hold him. Read more »
It's The Fleeting Stuff That You Need To Write Down

by Colin McGowan

If, a decade from now, we curiously look back on this week in time, the record doesn't need to state that Luka Doncic was awesome. Carmelo Anthony temporarily channeling his younger self is more notable. Read more »
2019-20 Northwest Division Season Preview

by Keith P Smith

While the Nuggets, Jazz and Blazers all try to climb to the elusive level of true contender, the Thunder begin their rebuild and the Wolves try to rebound from a lost season. Read more »
Thirty Histories: Portland Trail Blazers

by Colin McGowan

The maturity that Brandon Roy displayed upon his NBA arrival was even more hard-won than it seemed, as he entered the league with a clock ticking over his head. Read more »
2019 Western Conference Offseason Chatter From Summer League

by Keith P Smith

With so much turnover this offseason, and another exciting draft class, teams had lots and lots to say. Read more »
Portland Trail Blazers: 2019 NBA Offseason Preview

by Keith P Smith

The Blazers have the second-most returning players on guaranteed contracts of any team in the NBA with 10. That group includes four of five starters, but only one of the team's main reserves. Read more »