NBA - Portland Trailblazers
Team:
| Location: Portland, OR | Arena: The Rose Garden (19,980) | Top minor league affiliate: Idaho Stampede | Owner: Paul Allen |
| GM: Kevin Pritchard | Coach: Terry Stotts | NBA Titles: 1 |
Portland News
| NBA draft order set, so who goes No. 1? |
|---|
The Cleveland Cavaliers are on top of the NBA draft yet again, only this time there is no LeBron James waiting to save them. There may not even be a Kyrie Irving. The first big NBA draft question was answered Tuesday night when the Cavaliers won the lottery for the second time in three years. |
Standings - WC Northwest
Team Leaders
| Name | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Pt/G | LaMarcus Aldridge | 21.1 |
| Rb/G | J.J. Hickson | 10.4 |
| As/G | Damian Lillard | 6.5 |
| St/G | Nicolas Batum | 1.2 |
| Blk/G | LaMarcus Aldridge | 1.2 |
| FG% | J.J. Hickson | .562 |
| FT% | Nicolas Batum | .848 |
| 3Pt% | Wesley Matthews | .398 |
| Mn/G | Damian Lillard | 38.6 |
| PF/G | Will Barton | 0.8 |
Team Rankings
| Total | WC Rank | NBA Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF/G | 97.5 | 11 | 15 |
| PA/G | 100.7 | 9 | 21 |
| Rb/G | 48.6 | 15 | 25 |
| FG% | .448 | 11 | 16 |
| 3P/G | 8.2 | 3 | 6 |
| PF/G | 18.5 | 4 | 7 |
| St/TO | 0.5 | 15 | 29 |
Latest Game - Apr 17, 2013
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State(47-35) | 24 | 26 | 16 | 33 | 99 | |
| Portland(33-49) | 17 | 19 | 27 | 25 | 88 |
Other Headlines
Player News
|
Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Kemba Walker and John Wall are expected to be invited to USA Basketball minicamp, according to Yahoo! Sports. Mike Conley and George Hill are also expected to be invited to join. The massive amount of point guard invites is really just a testament to how deep point guard is in the NBA these days. None of these seven guards were named to any of the three All-NBA Teams and most of them will be targets in the first two rounds of fantasy drafts. The USA Basketball minicamp is expected to start in late July. |
|
Kostas Papanikolaou's agent expects the Blazers to trade his client. "As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland," Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. "Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded." He won the Rising Stars Trophy for 2012/13 while playing for Olympiacos, but it's not clear when or if he'll come to the NBA. |
|
Greg Oden remains on the Celtics' radar, but he "doesn't seem to be a high priority," according to the Boston Herald. Why should he be? Oden is nothing but a lottery ticket for any team that signs him given his injury issues, and the Celtics need someone they can count on behind Kevin Garnett if KG returns. "We'll look into Greg still," Danny Ainge said. "He wasn't ready to play when he saw him last. He wasn't ready to work out." |
|
Nolan Smith, an unrestricted free agent, will not return to the Blazers next season. "They have a path they want to go down, and it's pretty obvious I'm not on it right now," Smith said during his exit interview. Smith added the team made it "pretty clear" that they don't want him to return, and now Smith will be playing with a chip on his shoulder wherever he lands. Right now, he's best known as the guy drafted ahead of Kenneth Faried in 2011. |
|
Meyers Leonard, Victor Claver and Joel Freeland will be part of the Trail Blazers' summer league team. Will Barton already said he'll be part of the team and Elliot Williams is willing if the Blazers retrain him. Leonard, Claver and Freeland were part of a massive youth movement in Portland this season and the Blazers need them to develop into at least solid rotational players, if not starters in Freeland and Leonard's cases. |
Player Injuries
| Player | Injury | Status | Exp Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Batum SG,SF | shoulder | Sidelined | |
| Nolan Smith PG | knee | Sidelined | |
| Elliot Williams SG | achilles | Sidelined |
Last 5 Games
| Date | Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Apr 17 | Golden State | L, 99-88 | Boxscore Recap |
| Tue, Apr 16 | @LA Clippers | L, 93-77 | Boxscore Recap |
| Sun, Apr 14 | @Denver | L, 118-109 | Boxscore Recap |
| Fri, Apr 12 | Oklahoma City | L, 106-90 | Boxscore Recap |
| Wed, Apr 10 | LA Lakers | L, 113-106 | Boxscore Recap |
Point Guard
| # | Name | Ht | Wt | DOB | Age | Exp | Birthplace | College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lillard, Damian  |
6'3" | 195 | 07/15/1990 | 22 | 0 | Oakland, CA, USA | Weber State | $3,065,040 |
| 6 | Maynor, Eric | 6'3" | 170 | 06/11/1987 | 25 | 3 | Raeford, NC, USA | Virginia Commonwealth | $2,338,720 |
| 4 | Smith, Nolan  |
6'2" | 190 | 07/25/1988 | 24 | 1 | Louisville, KY, USA | Duke | $1,404,960 |
Shooting Guard
| # | Name | Ht | Wt | DOB | Age | Exp | Birthplace | College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Barton, Will | 6'6" | 175 | 01/06/1991 | 22 | 0 | Baltimore, MD, USA | Memphis | $550,000 |
| 88 | Batum, Nicolas |
6'8" | 210 | 12/14/1988 | 24 | 4 | Lisieux, France | None | $11,950,000 |
| 18 | Claver, Victor | 6'10" | 230 | 08/30/1988 | 24 | 0 | Valencia, Spain | None | $1,254,720 |
| 2 | Matthews, Wesley | 6'5" | 214 | 10/14/1986 | 26 | 3 | San Antonio, TX, USA | Marquette | $6,505,320 |
| 3 | Pavlovic, Sasha | 6'7" | 235 | 11/15/1983 | 29 | 9 | Bar, Yugoslavia | None | $1,232,713 |
| 9 | Williams, Elliot |
6'5" | 185 | 06/20/1989 | 23 | 1 | Memphis, TN, USA | Memphis | $1,442,880 |
Small Forward
| # | Name | Ht | Wt | DOB | Age | Exp | Birthplace | College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Babbitt, Luke | 6'9" | 225 | 06/20/1989 | 23 | 2 | Cincinnati, OH, USA | Nevada | $1,892,280 |
Power Forward
| # | Name | Ht | Wt | DOB | Age | Exp | Birthplace | College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Aldridge, LaMarcus | 6'11" | 255 | 07/19/1985 | 27 | 6 | Dallas, TX, USA | Texas | $13,000,000 |
| 21 | Hickson, J.J. | 6'9" | 239 | 09/04/1988 | 24 | 4 | Atlanta, GA, USA | North Carolina State | $4,000,000 |
| 11 | Leonard, Meyers |
7'1" | 251 | 02/27/1992 | 21 | 0 | Robinson, IL, USA | Illinois | $2,126,520 |
Forward
| # | Name | Ht | Wt | DOB | Age | Exp | Birthplace | College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Freeland, Joel | 6'11" | 232 | 02/07/1987 | 26 | 0 | Farnham, England | None | $1,020,960 |
Game Information
| Average Age: 24.3 |
| Average Height: 6'7.3" |
| Average Weight: 214.7 |
Standard
| Player | GP | Mn/G | Pt/G | FG/G | FGA/G | FG% | 3P/G | 3PA/G | 3Pt% | FT/G | FTA/G | FT% | ORb/G | DRb/G | Rb/G | As/G | St/G | Blk/G | TO/G | PF/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldridge, LaMarcus PF,C | 74 | 37.7 | 21.1 | 8.6 | 17.8 | .484 | 0.0 | 0.2 | .143 | 3.8 | 4.7 | .810 | 2.4 | 6.7 | 9.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
|
Lillard, Damian PG
|
82 | 38.6 | 19.0 | 6.7 | 15.7 | .429 | 2.3 | 6.1 | .368 | 3.3 | 3.9 | .844 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 2.1 |
| Matthews, Wesley SG,SF | 69 | 34.8 | 14.8 | 5.1 | 11.7 | .436 | 2.4 | 6.2 | .398 | 2.2 | 2.7 | .797 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
|
Batum, Nicolas SG,SF
|
73 | 38.4 | 14.3 | 4.8 | 11.4 | .423 | 2.3 | 6.1 | .372 | 2.4 | 2.9 | .848 | 1.3 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| Hickson, J.J. PF,C | 80 | 29.0 | 12.7 | 5.2 | 9.3 | .562 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.3 | 3.4 | .679 | 3.3 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
|
Leonard, Meyers PF,C
|
69 | 17.5 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 4.0 | .545 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .429 | 1.0 | 1.3 | .809 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| Maynor, Eric PG | 64 | 15.0 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 4.4 | .377 | 0.5 | 1.5 | .354 | 0.7 | 1.0 | .726 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Barton, Will SG | 73 | 12.2 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 4.2 | .382 | 0.1 | 0.9 | .138 | 0.7 | 0.9 | .769 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Babbitt, Luke SF | 62 | 11.8 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 3.8 | .368 | 1.0 | 2.9 | .348 | 0.2 | 0.2 | .769 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
| Claver, Victor SG,SF,F | 49 | 16.6 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 3.9 | .392 | 0.5 | 1.8 | .287 | 0.3 | 0.6 | .467 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
|
Smith, Nolan PG
|
40 | 7.2 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 2.9 | .368 | 0.2 | 0.7 | .214 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .714 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Price, Ronnie G 
|
39 | 13.1 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 3.1 | .325 | 0.3 | 1.0 | .256 | 0.4 | 0.6 | .708 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Pavlovic, Sasha SG,SF | 39 | 13.5 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 3.1 | .353 | 0.5 | 1.5 | .300 | 0.0 | 0.2 | .167 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Freeland, Joel F | 51 | 9.4 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | .408 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | 0.4 | 0.5 | .667 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
|
Jeffries, Jared PF,C
|
38 | 9.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | .296 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.6 | .522 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.5 |
Extra
| Player | GP | Mn/G | +/- | Eff | As/TO | St/TO | PPS | 2D | 3D | TF | FF | Ej |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claver, Victor SG,SF,F | 49 | 16.6 | -108 | 4.347 | 1.00 | 0.60 | 0.99 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Jeffries, Jared PF,C
|
38 | 9.2 | 12 | 1.684 | 0.82 | 0.35 | 0.81 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
Price, Ronnie G
|
39 | 13.1 | -74 | 3.308 | 2.15 | 0.76 | 0.88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Lillard, Damian PG
|
82 | 38.6 | -62 | 17.256 | 2.19 | 0.30 | 1.21 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Barton, Will SG | 73 | 12.2 | -205 | 3.767 | 0.97 | 0.57 | 0.95 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Babbitt, Luke SF | 62 | 11.8 | -2 | 4.129 | 1.32 | 0.64 | 1.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Freeland, Joel F | 51 | 9.4 | -93 | 3.490 | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Smith, Nolan PG
|
40 | 7.2 | -13 | 1.775 | 1.21 | 0.24 | 0.96 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Batum, Nicolas SG,SF
|
73 | 38.4 | -109 | 17.671 | 1.89 | 0.48 | 1.26 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hickson, J.J. PF,C | 80 | 29.0 | -265 | 18.450 | 0.61 | 0.33 | 1.37 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aldridge, LaMarcus PF,C | 74 | 37.7 | -24 | 22.784 | 1.34 | 0.43 | 1.18 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthews, Wesley SG,SF | 69 | 34.8 | -85 | 12.928 | 1.60 | 0.83 | 1.26 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
|
Leonard, Meyers PF,C
|
69 | 17.5 | -152 | 7.565 | 0.67 | 0.22 | 1.36 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pavlovic, Sasha SG,SF | 39 | 13.5 | -32 | 3.179 | 2.29 | 1.71 | 0.87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maynor, Eric PG | 64 | 15.0 | -72 | 4.234 | 2.30 | 0.28 | 1.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Recent
| Date | Opponent | Result | Pts Leader | Rebs Leader | Asst Leader | Game Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 31 | LA Lakers | W, 116-106 | Batum (33) | Hickson (14) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Nov 2 | @Oklahoma City | L, 106-92 | Aldridge (22) | Aldridge (15) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Nov 3 | @Houston | W, 95-85 | Aldridge (27) | Hickson (12) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Nov 5 | @Dallas | L, 114-91 | Aldridge (20) | Hickson (11) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Nov 8 | LA Clippers | L, 103-90 | Batum (25) | Batum (10) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Nov 10 | San Antonio | L, 112-109 | Batum (27) | Hickson (9) | Aldridge (4) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Nov 12 | Atlanta | L, 95-87 | Hickson (19) | Hickson (11) | Aldridge (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Nov 13 | @Sacramento | W, 103-86 | Lillard (22) | Hickson (13) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Nov 16 | Houston | W, 119-117 | Batum (29) | Leonard (16) | Matthews (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Nov 18 | Chicago | W, 102-94 | Batum (18) | Aldridge (15) | Price (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Nov 21 | @Phoenix | L, 114-87 | Lillard (24) | Aldridge (7) | Batum (4) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Nov 23 | Minnesota | W, 103-95 | Matthews (24) | Hickson (13) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Nov 25 | @Brooklyn | L, 98-85 | Matthews (20) | Hickson (10) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Nov 26 | @Detroit | L, 108-101 | Aldridge (32) | Batum (10) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Nov 28 | @Washington | L, 84-82 | Batum (20) | Hickson (19) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Nov 30 | @Boston | L, 96-78 | Aldridge (23) | Aldridge (8) | Barton (4) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Dec 1 | @Cleveland | W, 118-117 | Lillard (24) | Aldridge (9) | Lillard (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Dec 3 | @Charlotte | W, 118-112 | Aldridge (25) | Batum (13) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Dec 5 | @Indiana | L, 99-92 | Lillard (23) | Hickson (12) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Dec 8 | Sacramento | L, 99-80 | Aldridge (19) | Hickson (12) | Lillard (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Dec 10 | Toronto | W, 92-74 | Aldridge (20) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Dec 13 | San Antonio | W, 98-90 | Lillard (21) | Hickson (7) | Batum (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Dec 16 | New Orleans | W, 95-94 | Hickson (26) | Hickson (8) | Batum (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Dec 20 | Denver | W, 101-93 | Batum (13) | Hickson (9) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Dec 22 | Phoenix | W, 96-93 | Lillard (18) | Hickson (9) | Batum (10) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Dec 23 | @Sacramento | L, 108-96 | Aldridge (22) | Hickson (11) | Batum (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Dec 26 | Sacramento | W, 109-91 | Aldridge (19) | Hickson (9) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Dec 28 | @LA Lakers | L, 104-87 | Aldridge (26) | Hickson (8) | Batum (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Dec 29 | Philadelphia | W, 89-85 | Batum (29) | Hickson (11) | Batum (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Jan 1 | @New York | W, 105-100 | Batum (26) | Aldridge (14) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Jan 2 | @Toronto | L, 102-79 | Lillard (18) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Jan 4 | @Memphis | W, 86-84 | Matthews (21) | Aldridge (12) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Jan 5 | @Minnesota | W, 102-97 | Batum (26) | Hickson (11) | Aldridge (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Jan 7 | Orlando | W, 125-119 | Aldridge (29) | Hickson (13) | Batum (12) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Jan 10 | Miami | W, 92-90 | Batum (29) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Jan 11 | @Golden State | L, 103-97 | Lillard (37) | Hickson (12) | Aldridge (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Jan 13 | Oklahoma City | L, 87-83 | Aldridge (33) | Aldridge (12) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Jan 15 | @Denver | L, 115-111 | Aldridge (30) | Hickson (13) | Batum (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Jan 16 | Cleveland | L, 93-88 | Batum (31) | Batum (14) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Jan 19 | Milwaukee | L, 110-104 | Lillard (30) | Aldridge (14) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Jan 21 | Washington | L, 98-95 | Lillard (24) | Aldridge (13) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Jan 23 | Indiana | W, 100-80 | Aldridge (22) | Hickson (7) | Batum (3) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Jan 26 | LA Clippers | W, 101-100 | Batum (24) | Batum (9) | Batum (10) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Jan 27 | @LA Clippers | L, 96-83 | Aldridge (21) | Aldridge (11) | Batum (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Jan 29 | Dallas | W, 106-104 | Aldridge (26) | Hickson (9) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Feb 1 | @Utah | L, 86-77 | Lillard (26) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Feb 2 | Utah | W, 105-99 | Lillard (23) | Hickson (8) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Feb 4 | @Minnesota | W, 100-98 | Aldridge (25) | Aldridge (13) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Feb 6 | @Dallas | L, 105-99 | Aldridge (27) | Hickson (10) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Feb 8 | @Houston | L, 118-103 | Aldridge (31) | Aldridge (11) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Feb 10 | @Orlando | L, 110-104 | Aldridge (25) | Batum (8) | Lillard (12) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Feb 12 | @Miami | L, 117-104 | Lillard (33) | Matthews (6) | Batum (4) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Feb 13 | @New Orleans | L, 99-63 | Lillard (12) | Claver (6) | Batum (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Feb 19 | Phoenix | L, 102-98 | Hickson (18) | Hickson (13) | Lillard (18) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Feb 22 | @LA Lakers | L, 111-107 | Hickson (22) | Hickson (11) | Matthews (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Feb 24 | Boston | W, 92-86 | Matthews (23) | Hickson (9) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Feb 27 | Denver | L, 111-109 | Lillard (30) | Hickson (8) | Batum (10) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Mar 2 | Minnesota | W, 109-94 | Lillard (23) | Hickson (9) | Maynor (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Mar 4 | Charlotte | W, 122-105 | Aldridge (18) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Mar 6 | @Memphis | L, 91-85 | Lillard (20) | Hickson (13) | Aldridge (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Mar 8 | @San Antonio | W, 136-106 | Lillard (35) | Hickson (11) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Mar 10 | @New Orleans | L, 98-96 | Matthews (24) | Hickson (14) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Mar 12 | Memphis | L, 102-97 | Aldridge (20) | Batum (10) | Lillard (15) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Mar 14 | New York | W, 105-90 | Lillard (33) | Hickson (10) | Lillard (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Mar 16 | Detroit | W, 112-101 | Aldridge (32) | Hickson (9) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Mar 18 | @Philadelphia | L, 101-100 | Aldridge (32) | Aldridge (14) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Mar 19 | @Milwaukee | L, 102-95 | Matthews (28) | Aldridge (15) | Lillard (11) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Thu Mar 21 | @Chicago | W, 99-89 | Aldridge (28) | Hickson (21) | Lillard (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Mar 22 | @Atlanta | W, 104-93 | Matthews (28) | Aldridge (13) | Batum (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Mar 24 | @Oklahoma City | L, 103-83 | Lillard (19) | Aldridge (12) | Batum (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Mar 27 | Brooklyn | L, 111-93 | Aldridge (28) | Leonard (26) | Batum (10) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Mar 29 | Utah | L, 105-95 | Lillard (28) | Hickson (10) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sat Mar 30 | @Golden State | L, 125-98 | Leonard (22) | Hickson (10) | Batum (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Mon Apr 1 | @Utah | L, 112-102 | Matthews (23) | Hickson (7) | Maynor (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Apr 3 | Memphis | L, 94-76 | Hickson (20) | Hickson (10) | Maynor (7) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Apr 5 | Houston | L, 116-98 | Aldridge (33) | Aldridge (11) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Apr 7 | Dallas | L, 96-91 | Barton (26) | Barton (11) | Barton (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Apr 10 | LA Lakers | L, 113-106 | Lillard (47) | Aldridge (10) | Lillard (9) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Fri Apr 12 | Oklahoma City | L, 106-90 | Barton (33) | Hickson (7) | Lillard (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Sun Apr 14 | @Denver | L, 118-109 | Lillard (30) | Hickson (9) | Hickson (6) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Tue Apr 16 | @LA Clippers | L, 93-77 | Barton (17) | Hickson (6) | Lillard (8) | Recap | Boxscore |
| Wed Apr 17 | Golden State | L, 99-88 | Aldridge (24) | Aldridge (10) | Maynor (5) | Recap | Boxscore |
Depth Chart
| Position | Depth Order |
|---|---|
| PG | Damian Lillard, Eric Maynor, Nolan Smith |
| SG | Wesley Matthews, Will Barton |
| SF | Victor Claver, Luke Babbitt |
| PF | LaMarcus Aldridge |
| C | J.J. Hickson, Meyers Leonard, Joel Freeland |
Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Kemba Walker and John Wall are expected to be invited to USA Basketball minicamp, according to Yahoo! Sports. Mike Conley and George Hill are also expected to be invited to join. The massive amount of point guard invites is really just a testament to how deep point guard is in the NBA these days. None of these seven guards were named to any of the three All-NBA Teams and most of them will be targets in the first two rounds of fantasy drafts. The USA Basketball minicamp is expected to start in late July.
Kostas Papanikolaou's agent expects the Blazers to trade his client. "As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland," Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. "Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded." He won the Rising Stars Trophy for 2012/13 while playing for Olympiacos, but it's not clear when or if he'll come to the NBA.
The Trail Blazers are expected to shop the No. 10 overall pick, according to CSNNW.com The Blazers need "immediate help" for Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge, so we wouldn't be surprised if a deal went down. Still, GM Neil Olshey won't simply trade the pick just to make a move, so it's far too early to say with certainty what the team might do.
Greg Oden remains on the Celtics' radar, but he "doesn't seem to be a high priority," according to the Boston Herald. Why should he be? Oden is nothing but a lottery ticket for any team that signs him given his injury issues, and the Celtics need someone they can count on behind Kevin Garnett if KG returns. "We'll look into Greg still," Danny Ainge said. "He wasn't ready to play when he saw him last. He wasn't ready to work out."
The Cavaliers are "still considering" signing Greg Oden, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. The Cavs are "looking for a defensive center," Pluto concludes, and therefore may trade up to draft Kentucky C Nerlens Noel if they miss out on the No. 1 pick in the lottery. For what it's worth, Oden's agent said in February that the Cavs, Heat and Celtics were in contention, but no decision was expected until July.
Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas said Greg Oden "looks unbelievable" as he continues his rehab and attempt to return to the NBA. We heard a lot of positive reports on Oden this year only to see him never sign with a team, but it's possible he'll look to ink a deal during the offseason. "He's running, lifting weights," Thomas said. "You might be seeing a comeback. He looks like he's ready to go. He's running, getting in shape." It doesn't sound like Oden is all the way back yet, but his story will be an intriguing one as teams search in the discount bin for size this summer.
Kostas Papanikolaou will decide between playing for Olympiacos in Europe or going to the NBA next season. No other European team is in consideration for Papanikolaou, who won the Rising Star trophy in Europe this season. His rights were acquired by Portland in the Raymond Felton sign-and-trade deal.
Damien Lillard was the All-Rookie team's lone unanimous selection. Lillard led all rookies in points (19.0), assists (6.5), 3-pointer made (2.3) and minutes (38.6). He's joined on the All-Rookie team by Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Dion Waiters and Harrison Barnes. The second team consisted of Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kyle Singler and Tyler Zeller. Note that the All-Rookie teams are voted on by the league's coaches, so they carry more weight than the awards voted on by the media.
Damian Lillard said he wants to use the offseason to "bring my percentages up as a shooter, tighten up my handle, be a better ball-handler" and watch film to learn from his mistakes. Fresh off of winning the Rookie of the Year Award, Lillard is not satisfied. Lillard averaged three turnovers and shot 42.9 percent from the field, so he could improve in both of those areas. The Weber State product shot 36.8 percent from behind the 3-point line and 84.4 percent from the charity stripe, so any improvement in those two areas would only make him more dangerous. Lillard also said he's well aware of his defensive critics and will spend time with Gary Payton during the offseason to improve that area of his game. This kid has a very bright future.
Damian Lillard was announced as the unanimous selection for the Rookie of the Year on Wednesday. Lillard received all 121 first-place votes to become the fourth Blazer in team history to win the award and only fourth unanimous selection in NBA history. Lillard entered the season far behind presumed favorite and No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, but Lillard's stunning rookie campaign made him impossible to ignore. Lillard led the league in total minutes while averaging 19 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game to go along with a rookie record 185 made 3-pointers. Yeah, the kid is good.
Damian Lillard will be named Rookie of the Year during a press conference on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers have scheduled a "major announcement," but the team has made it clear that it will be Lillard winning his award. It will be interesting to see a breakdown of the voting, and Lillard will become the fourth player in Blazers team history to win the award. He finished the season with averages of 19 points, 6.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and made 185 3-pointers, the most by a rookie in NBA history. He also led the league in total minutes with 3,167. The kid is going to be special.
Nolan Smith, an unrestricted free agent, will not return to the Blazers next season. "They have a path they want to go down, and it's pretty obvious I'm not on it right now," Smith said during his exit interview. Smith added the team made it "pretty clear" that they don't want him to return, and now Smith will be playing with a chip on his shoulder wherever he lands. Right now, he's best known as the guy drafted ahead of Kenneth Faried in 2011.
Meyers Leonard, Victor Claver and Joel Freeland will be part of the Trail Blazers' summer league team. Will Barton already said he'll be part of the team and Elliot Williams is willing if the Blazers retrain him. Leonard, Claver and Freeland were part of a massive youth movement in Portland this season and the Blazers need them to develop into at least solid rotational players, if not starters in Freeland and Leonard's cases.
Wesley Matthews has been told to stay off his ankle for about a month. Matthews sustained a pretty severe sprain on April 7 and missed the final five games of the season. It's not a long-term concern. He'll return next season as the clear-cut starting shooting guard once again. Matthews ranked fifth in the league in 3-pointers made per game in 2012-13 at 2.4 a night. Only Steph Curry, Ryan Anderson, Klay Thompson and Kyle Korver averaged more.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder, wrist) said he plans on joining the French National Team in July. Batum's injuries were bad enough that he sat out the final eight games of the season. However, it looks like he'll avoid surgery and should enter next year at 100 percent. Batum and Kevin Durant were the only players to average at least one block, one steal and one 3-pointer this season. He's a second-round fantasy pick at worst in 2013-14.
Will Barton is planning to play on the Blazers' summer league team this year. Barton struggled to find minutes for most of the season but did take advantage when given a starting role, averaging 15.2 points 6.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in five starts this season. Those averages are encouraging, but most of the production came with Portland's lineup decimated by injuries. Barton will have to work on his shooting this summer if he wants to earn consistent minutes (and fantasy consideration) next season. The second-round pick shot just 38.2 percent from the field and 13.8 percent from 3-point range.
Blazers GM Neil Olshey expects his team to be active in free agency. They'd better be. The Blazers have significant cap space in the offseason, and just about everyone is expecting some type of splash this summer. "We're going to be aggressive to construct a deal to make the team better on draft night," he said. The team will attempt to use draft picks to acquire a true, starting center, which is the priority in free agency if one isn't landed via trade. The Oregonian suggets Marcin Gortat could be a potential trade target.
Trail Blazers waive Jared Jeffries. Jeffries hasn't played in a game since March 10, making this move completely expected. Jeffries' lack of offensive upside makes it a long shot he'll have any fantasy value going forward regardless of where he lands in free agency.
Joel Freeland says he doesn't believe the torn ligament in his finger will require surgery Freeland tore a ligament in his right index finger in late March but played through the injury. Freeland's rookie season was a pretty big disappointment, but the 26-year-old British import has potential if given minutes. Freeland averaged just 9.4 minutes this season but could see that number rise next year if he remains healthy and J.J. Hickson departs in free agency.
Elliot Williams says his torn Achilles is healed, but he has to strengthen the muscles around it. Williams is scheduled for free agency but said the Blazers told him they'd like to have him back next year. He'll likely play for Portland's summer league team while trying to earn a spot on the roster for next season. Once the No. 22 overall pick in 2010, Williams has been sidetracked by injury problems and will have to stay healthy before proving he has any sort of fantasy value.
J.J. Hickson said he would prefer to play power forward instead of center next season. Hickson played out of position at center for the Blazers this year and GM Neil Olshey admitted Hickson wasn't the rim-protector Portland needed. With Portland already boasting LaMarcus Aldridge at the four, it seems likely Hickson will take his talents elsewhere in free agency this summer. Still, considering that Hickson averaged 12.9 points on 56.8 percent shooting, 10.5 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 0.7 blocks in just 29 minutes per game, we expect he'll have a length list of suitors.
Aldridge had 30 points and a season-high 21 rebounds Wednesday but he couldn't prevent Portland from ending the season with a 13th straight loss and a team-record eighth in a row at home. A 99-88 defeat to Golden State helped equal the franchise's longest skid, set in 1971-72. The effort helped Aldridge topped a 21.0-point average for the third straight season (21.1). He also averaged a career-best 9.1 rebounds in this injury-shortened campaign.
LaMarcus Aldridge had a monster game in Wednesday's finale with 30 points, 21 boards and three blocks in a 99-88 loss to the Warriors. He was questionable with a left ankle injury and turned in one of the best lines of his career. He had a season high in boards, shot the ball well from the field making 12-of-23 and knocking down all six free throws. Aldridge's jump-shooting ways helped him become this season's highest-scoring power forward and he turned in a big year with his 74 games played.
Damian Lillard finished his once-in-a-generation rookie season on Wednesday with 21 points, one board, three assists, one steal and two 3-pointers on 7-of-13 shooting. He's the first rookie to lead the NBA in minutes since Elvin Hayes in 1969, had the most 3-pointers ever for a rookie and became the second player in franchise history with 1,500 points and 500 assists. Lillard is a fantasy machine and savvy fantasy owners will have to take him in the second round next year to acquire his services.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) will play in Wednesday's season finale against the Warriors. He was a game-time call and he's been bothered by his left ankle injury for about two weeks. The Blazers probably wouldn't suit him up at anything not close to 100 percent, so he belongs in just about all lineups considering he leads all power forwards in scoring. Meyers Leonard should go back to a secondary role and has very little value.
Wes Matthews (ankle) is questionable to play on Wednesday vs. the Warriors. Matthews sat out on Tuesday, and because he hasn't played since April 7, it would be a surprise to see him push the issue and return for the finale. Will Barton will likely draw another start.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) and Wes Matthews (ankle) are both questionable to play Wednesday vs. the Warriors. Neither guy suited up on Tuesday against the Clippers, so we're considering each very questionable to play on Wednesday. If both sit out again, Meyers Leonard will start for Aldridge and Will Barton would start for Matthews.
Joel Freeland had 13 points, six rebounds, two steals and zero blocks on 5-of-10 shooting in 28 minutes on Tuesday. J.J. Hickson started, but had just seven points and six rebounds on 3-of-8 shooting in 25 minutes. Hickson is banged up and it's possible that Freeland (and Meyers Leonard) could see the bulk of the big-man minutes in Wednesday's finale against the Warriors.
Damian Lillard played a whopping 40 minutes, but hit just 4-of-12 shots and two 3-pointers for 12 points, three rebounds and eight assists in Tuesday's ugly loss to the Clippers. Lillard came through if you needed dimes and threes, and the minutes were nice, but his lack of offense was disappointing, given the minutes he played. The Blazers have nothing to play for, but it does appear that Lillard has a decent chance of putting the final touches and some icing on the cake for his Rookie of the Year swan song on Wednesday night vs. Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Just watch for news to be sure he's going to play tonight.
Will Barton had 17 points, six boards, five assists and three steals on 8-of-14 shooting in 40 minutes of Tuesday's start at shooting guard. With the Blazers banged up and nothing to play for, Barton looks like a must-start in Wednesday's finale against the Warriors.
Wesley Matthews (ankle) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Clippers. Matthews hasn't played since badly rolling his ankle against the Mavs on April 7. He hasn't been ruled out of the finale, but there's little reason for him to force it. Rookie backup Will Barton is averaging 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three starts this year.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) and Wes Matthews (ankle) are both out for Tuesday's game against the Clippers. The Blazers will roll with a starting lineup of Damian Lillard, Will Barton, Victor Claver, J.J. Hickson and Meyers Leonard. Aldridge's ankle will be reevaluated before Wednesday's finale, but we'd be surprised if he returned. The Blazers have been out of the playoff chase for weeks. Note that Leonard is averaging 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in eight starts so far this season.
Wesley Matthews (ankle) is questionable to play on Tuesday vs. the Clippers. Matthews has missed three straight games and could be in line to miss his fourth. If he does sit out again, expect Will Barton to have the green light while filling in for him.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) and Wes Matthews (ankle) are both questionable to face the Clippers on Tuesday. Neither player suited up on Sunday and it's possible they'll be sitting out again on Tuesday considering the Blazers are only playing for pride. If Aldridge sits, Meyers Leonard should draw another start, while Matthews' absence would open up more minutes for Will Barton again.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. The Blazers play Tuesday and Wednesday, but Batum's year is over. There will not be any surgery required, but Batum needs to rest. He finishes the season with averages of 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.3 triples, so he'll again be a popular commodity among fantasy owners entering the 2013/14 season. Victor Claver will likely continue to start in Batum's place.
Lillard had 30 points in Sunday's 118-109 loss at Denver. Lillard continues to turns heads and should unanimously win the Rookie of the Year award.
Will Barton started at SG for the Blazers on Sunday, scoring 17 points with nine rebounds and five assists, while hitting 5-of-8 FGs (one 3-pointer) and 6-of-6 FTs. Portland's roster is decimated and Barton has been taking advantage of extra minutes in April -- in the past four games he's averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He is 1-of-12 from downtown this month, however, and a combined 8-of-62 as a rookie, which is something to file away for evaluation purposes.
Luke Babbitt, who is not expected to be re-signed by the Blazers, finished Sunday's defeat with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 23 minutes. Portland's four-rookie starting lineup summarizes the lunacy of late-season NBA games -- Damian Lillard, Will Barton, Meyers Leonard, J.J. Hickson and Victor Claver, with Luke Babbitt and Sasha Pavlovic as the primary reserves. It's anyone's guess where Babbitt will sign as a free agent this summer.
The Trail Blazers lost their 11th consecutive game on Sunday, as Meyers Leonard fought through foul trouble to finish with 10 points, five rebounds and zero blocks in 23 minutes. Portland is licking its wounds and evaluating young players, so Leonard should get all the minutes he can handle in the final two games. GM Neil Olshey has already said that J.J. Hickson isn't likely to be re-signed this summer, and it will likely be Leonard or a newly-signed free agent starting at center on opening night.
Damian Lillard finished Sunday's road loss with 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting, the first time in three weeks that he's made at least half of his shots. Lillard even went 4-of-10 from downtown, with five rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks. He turned the ball over eight times, but that can be forgiven from a rookie PG who filled up the boxscore everywhere else. He's been a borderline top-30 option in eight-cat leagues this season.
J.J. Hickson, who recently received a vote of no-confidence from GM Neil Olshey, finished Sunday's loss with 19 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six assists. Hickson knocked down 7-of-16 FGs and 5-of-6 FTs, and it's hard to fault his numbers in 29 minutes per game this year -- 12.9 points on 56.8 percent shooting, 10.5 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 0.7 blocks. Olshey acknowledged that Hickson isn't a natural rim-protector and he's playing out of position at center, and we expect a long queue for his services as a free agent this summer.
Blazers guard Nolan Smith has been diagnosed with a partial tear in his patella tendon, ending his 2012-13 season. An MRI revealed the injury and it could hardly have come at a worse time for Smith, who is heading into unrestricted free agency this summer. He'll try to fill a productive niche off an NBA bench next season, and he remains an unlikely fantasy option.
Wesley Matthews (ankle) will not play against the Nuggets on Sunday. He rolled his ankle one week ago and he's usually a warrior, but the Blazers may have more of a say in keeping their number two 3-pointer shooter behind Damian Lillard out of the lineup. Will Barton will start and might have a chance to flirt with 20 points for the short-handed Blazers.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will not play against the Nuggets on Sunday The earliest Batum could return is on Tuesday and this was certainly expected. Victor Claver will continue to start, but hasn't done much with his opportunity.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle), Nicolas Batum (shoulder) and Wesley Matthews (ankle) will not play against the Nuggets on Sunday. He scored 12 points and didn't look like himself on Friday, so it's not that big of a surprise. Aldridge is certainly a shutdown candidate in Portland's remaining two games. Meyers Leonard will start and could post a double-double against the up-tempo Nuggets.
Jared Jeffries hasn't played in a game since March 10th, and he's expected to leave the Blazers as a free agent this summer. This is a predictable report considering Jeffries' lack of activity this season. He hasn't shot better than 41 percent from the field in any of the past four seasons, and it would take a string of unlikely events for him to emerge as a fantasy option.
Sasha Pavlovic is not expected to re-sign with the Blazers. Pavlovic has played 22 minutes in each of Portland's past two games, thanks to the absence of both Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. The Blazers have prioritized finding a starting center this offseason, however, and retaining a veteran backup SF isn't high on their to-do list.
Nolan Smith expects to leave the Blazers as a free agent this summer, possibly for the Bulls, Hawks or Thunder. "This just wasn't the right situation for me, and I think everybody can see that," said Smith, who is averaging 2.8 points in seven minutes per game this season. He feels that he's been unfairly buried on Portland's bench, while incurring the fans' anger simply because he was drafted one pick ahead of Kenneth Faried (to which he added, "I don't blame them at all.") He'll need to prove himself before earning fantasy consideration next year.
Damian Lillard shot 3-of-14 from the field for 10 points with three boards, eight assists, one steal and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes on Friday. He said that his right knee injury is fine and he didn't look to be bothered by it in a blowout loss. Russell Westbrook got the best of this year's Rookie of the Year, but Lillard should rebound on Sunday.
J.J. Hickson returned from a back injury on Friday, playing just 13 minutes for seven points and seven boards vs. Oklahoma City. He doesn't appear to be back to 100 percent and the Blazers might wind up sitting him on Sunday. His owners will want to check back for updates and Hickson is someone that is a cut candidate at this late point of the season.
Victor Claver (ankle) scored three points with two boards, one assist and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes against the Thunder on Friday. He's going to start for Nicolas Batum, but Claver has yet to really make an impact for the Blazers in his rookie season. His upside is too low to be considered as a asset in most fantasy leagues.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points with two boards and one assist in 28 minutes against the Thunder on Friday. He had an illness and his 28 minutes tonight were well below his season average of 38 minutes per game. He should be fine for Sunday's game against the Nuggets.
LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) will play in Friday's game against the Thunder. Aldridge has had the sniffles for a few days now, but it's nothing serious. We'd expect something close to 40 minutes once again in this brutal matchup.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will not play in either of the next two games. The earliest Batum will play again is Tuesday, but why would he? His shoulder is still weak and the Blazers have been eliminated from the playoffs. We're expecting Will Barton and Victor Claver to close out the season as the starting wings.
J.J. Hickson (back) and LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) will play in Friday's game against the Thunder, but Wes Matthews (ankle) and Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will not. Credit Hickson for not just packing it in. He's an unrestricted free agent playing for a team that has been eliminated from the playoffs, but he's going to fight through his injury. Hickson has missed just two games all year. Look for the Blazers to start Damien Lillard, Will Barton, Victor Claver, Hickson and Aldridge Friday night.
Damian Lillard, who appeared to sustain a right knee injury in Wednesday's game against the Lakers, reiterated that he's fine and doesn't plan to take any time off and is expected to play Friday vs. OKC. Lillard said "it was just one of those sharp pains for a moment. I needed to sit down. So I sat down and rubbed the pain off." Lillard, who is on pace to play in all 82 games during his rookie season, added that "it would take a lot for me to sit out a game." We're witnessing a special young player who will not fly under the radar in any fantasy drafts next season.
Wesley Matthews (ankle) will not play Friday night against the Thunder. Matthews rolled the ankle on Sunday but X-rays and an MRI were both negative. The injury still looked pretty severe when it happened, so we would be kind of surprised if Matthews suited up again this season. Will Barton is worth looking at for owners seeking a plug-and-play option over the next four games.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) went through a light workout at Thursday's practice. Batum is slated to be evaluated Friday before determining his status for tomorrow night's game against the Thunder. It's encouraging that he's doing some version of practicing, but without only four games left it's possible the Blazers could shut him down. We should know more after tomorrow's shootaround. Victor Claver would likely start again if Batum is sidelined.
J.J. Hickson (back) and Nicolas Batum (shoulder) both went through light workouts at practice Thursday. Hickson and Batum both missed Wednesday night's game and are slated to be re-evaluated tomorrow in advance of Friday night's game against the Thunder. With the Blazers' season essentially over, it's definitely possible both players will sit out the Blazers' remaining four games. Check back Friday morning to see if either player will be able to go against OKC. If both are sidelined, Victor Claver would likely start for Batum while Meyers Leonard would start at center.
LaMarcus Aldridge is under the weather and didn't practice Thursday. Aldridge played through the illness Wednesday and managed to put together a 17-point, 16-rebound performance. This sounds like the Blazers just resting their best player in practice with nothing really left to play for. We fully expect Aldridge will be in the lineup Friday night against the Thunder we'll sideline him just to be safe.
LaMarcus Aldridge played through his migraine on Wednesday and had 17 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and no blocks on 7-of-13 shooting in a loss to the Lakers. The Blazers have nothing left to play for, but the good news is that all four of their remaining games are against playoff teams (OKC, DEN, LAC and GSW), so they may still be making a strong effort in hopes of playing spoiler.
Will Barton, who had 22 points and a massive stat line on Saturday, started at shooting guard against the Lakers Wednesday, but hit just 4-of-12 shots for nine points, two assists and two steals in a tough loss. He played 29 minutes and could continue to start and get heavy minutes, but owners who picked him up due to his last performance have to be disappointed. He should play somewhere in between the two performances if he continues to start.
Damian Lillard hit 12-of-25 shots and five 3-pointers for a career-high 38 points to go along with nine assists and three steals in Wednesday's loss to the Lakers. This performance will go ahead and wrap up the Rookie of the Year Award for Lillard, who was obviously pumped up to go against Kobe and the Lakers tonight. He's been in a bit of a slump and dealing with a hip injury, but clearly looked healthy tonight.
Aldridge had 17 points and 16 boards in a 113-106 loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. Aldridge increased his team-high total to 36 double-doubles.
Lillard poured in a sensational season-high 38 points in a 113-106 loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. Lillard probably locked down NBA rookie of the year honors, proving he can occupy the same stage as the legendary Kobe Bryant and hold his own.
Victor Claver suffered a sprained left ankle in the second half of Wednesday's game and went to the locker room. He rolled his ankle in transition and hobbled back to the locker room after calling for a sub. He was playing well with nine points, but now the Blazers will likely go with a combination of Sasha Pavlovic and Luke Babbitt to replace him.
Hickson missed Wednesday's game due to a sore back but played Friday. Hickson played 13 minutes in his return.
J.J. Hickson will not play on Wednesday night due to a sore lower back. Meyers Leonard will start in his place, while it's interesting that Hickson didn't miss a game all season until rumors came out that he was not likely to return to the Blazers next season. It doesn't really matter what the problem is, as fantasy owners are not going to be able to use him tonight. Check back on his status going forward, as this is an injury/situation that could linger the rest of the way.
LaMarcus Aldridge is feeling better and will play through a migraine on Wednesday. He was a little iffy coming in, but it sounds like he's good to go, so get him in your lineup.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will not play against the Lakers on Wednesday night. Batum was considered doubtful at best to play tonight, so it's no surprise he's been ruled out. While most thought Batum would pack it in, it's clear the swingman still wants to play this season. Unfortunately for Batum, the Blazers have just four games left after tonight and it remains to be seen if Batum's shoulder will let him suit up again this season.
J.J. Hickson (back spasms) is considered a game-time decision against the Lakers on Wednesday night. Hickson hasn't missed a game all season but the back injury popped up Tuesday afternoon. With the Blazers firmly out of the playoff chase and Hickson approaching free agency, there's not a ton of incentive for Hickson to push through the pain. We should know more after pregame warmups. Meyers Leonard would likely start if Hickson can't play.
LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) is probable for Wednesday night while J.J. Hickson (back spasms) is considered a game-time decision. Aldridge just returned a few days ago from an ankle injury but is "under the weather," according to coach Terry Stotts. He might be at less than 100 percent but we fully expect LMA to play. We'll sideline him just in case and owners will want to check back around warmups to be safe. As for Hickson, the back injury is fairly new and he was considered questionable for tonight's game against the Lakers. He hasn't missed a single game all season so it would be a little surprising to see him start now, even though he has little incentive to push through. Much like Aldridge, we should know more after pregame warmups. Meyers Leonard could be in for some big minutes tonight if either player sits.
J.J. Hickson is not expected to re-sign with the Blazers after the season. "For us to make a jump next season, JJ can't be our starting center,'' GM Neil Olshey said. "I'm not saying he can't be part of the roster. But we need to find a starting-caliber center who protects the rim and gets defensive rebounds at a high rate and that has a presence." The Blazers give up an eye-popping 47.4 points in the point per game, and they desperately need a rim protector alongside LaMarcus Aldridge. Hickson will be looking to command a multi-year deal in free agency.
Coach Terry Stotts confirmed that Will Barton will likely start Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Wesley Matthews (ankle) and Nicolas Batum (shoulder) are both sidelined for a team that has already been eliminated from the playoffs. Barton showed up with a 9/6/4 line in 20 minutes on Friday and then burst onto the fantasy radar Sunday night with a 22/13/6 line in 32 minutes. There's some downside here as the second-round rookie isn't a special talent, but owners streaming for games played and looking for a boost off the waiver wire should look no further.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) is doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Batum did get some shooting in at the end of Tuesday's practice, so he's not just packing it in for the season. But with just five games left, it's unclear if he'll actually play in a game as his shoulder is still burning. Wesley Matthews' (ankle) status is also in doubt for the rest of the season, thrusting Will Barton firmly onto the fantasy radar.
Wesley Matthews (ankle) will not play in Wednesday's game against the Lakers. The X-rays and MRI on Matthews' right ankle have both come back negative. But when he rolled it on Sunday night, it looked like a very severe sprain. We would be a little surprised if Matthews played again this season, making Will Barton an intriguing plug-n-play going forward.
J.J. Hickson (back) is questionable and Wesley Matthews (ankle) is out for Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Hickson's injury is new as he hasn't missed a game since November. He's dealing with a sore lower back, and there isn't much incentive for him to push through discomfort at this point. Hickson is an impending unrestricted free agent and the Blazers are out of the playoff race. Meyers Leonard would likely start next to LaMarcus Aldridge if Hickson sits.
X-rays were negative on Wesley Matthews' sprained ankle on Sunday night, but he left the arena on crutches and in a walking boot. It's the same ankle that Matthews sprained on February 1, and the fact that he's dealt with continued issues with his foot and ankle may be a determining factor in how much time he's forced to miss. Matthews will likely be evaluated again on Monday or Tuesday at which point we should know much more about his long-term outlook. Will Barton, who had a career night on Sunday, would likely be in line for more minutes if Matthews is forced out.
Barton posted career highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday's 96-91 loss to Dallas. Barton, a second-round pick out of Memphis, was brimming with confidence afterwards. "Everyone on the team says I've got a special talent," he said. "You've just got to wait your turn sometimes." Fantasy owners should keep a close eye on Barton down the stretch.
Damian Lillard (hip) continued his shooting slump vs. Dallas on Sunday, as he scored 15 points on 6-of-19 field goals, including 0-of-5 from downtown. Lillard hasn't shot at least 44 percent in any of the past eight games, all of which (not coincidentally) have been Blazers losses, the team's longest losing streak since 2004-05. His recent hip pointer didn't help, but it's reasonable to conclude that the future Rookie of the Year is simply worn down after playing 38.5 minutes per game, third-most in the entire NBA.
Will Barton led Portland on Sunday with 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and zero turnovers in 32 minutes, while knocking down 7-of-11 FGs and 8-of-9 FTs. The Blazers' rookie guard led an improbable 17-2 charge during garbage time which brought Portland within three points, and he took full advantage of Wesley Matthews' early exit with a sprained ankle. This was his third game all season in double-digits, but he's worth keeping an eye on in case Matthews sits out Wednesday's game.
Meyers Leonard fell down the Blazers' rotation on Sunday, finishing with two points, one rebound and one block in 14 minutes. He wouldn't have even played that much if it weren't for garbage time, as Terry Stotts turned toward smaller lineups against the Mavericks. With three blocks in his last nine games combined, there's not enough upside to use him in Portland's three-game Week 24.
Matthews was helped off the court with a right ankle injury against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. He has not played since. Matthews appeared to roll his ankle with 8:27 left in the second quarter and he did not return. The extent of the injury was not immediately known. The three-year NBA veteran was averaging 15 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists going into the game.
Wesley Matthews appeared to badly roll his right ankle during Sunday's game, and he will not return. Wes was immediately helped into the Blazers locker room, unable to put any weight on his ankle. The Blazers don't play again until Wednesday, which could be enough time to recover for one of the toughest guys in the league.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will be re-evaluated on Monday and he hopes to practice on Tuesday. This gives him an outside chance of playing vs. the Lakers on Wednesday. Batum wants to return and the Blazers' head trainer believes he can play through a superior labral tear, but we're waiting for Monday's results before getting excited. Batum has regained strength in his injured shoulder but he still has pain and limited mobility, and he hasn't even shot a basketball since Monday.
Nicolas Batum (right shoulder) did not practice on Saturday and will not play in Sunday's game vs. Dallas. He sat out of Friday's game and it was costly for the Blazers, losing badly at home to the Rockets. Batum is dealing with a tear in his labrum and there's at least a chance that he has to miss the rest of the season. Although, Terry Stotts said he expects Batum to return at some point this year. This puts fantasy owners in a tough spot and cutting him may be the prudent move in many formats. Victor Claver started on Friday and scored nine points in 27 minutes, so he's more of an asset for deep leagues.
LaMarcus Aldridge returned to action on Friday April 5.
Sasha Pavlovic returned to action on Friday April 5.
LaMarcus Aldridge returned from an ankle injury on Friday during a 116-98 loss to the Rockets, shooting 12-of-19 from the field for 32 points with 13 boards, three assists and one block in 40 minutes. He passed Mychal Thompson for seventh place on Portland's all-time scoring list tonight and also leads the league with 30-10 games. Aldridge looked pretty healthy as indicated by the 40 minutes and he looks to be good to go even though Portland has mathematically been eliminated from playoff contention.
Sasha Pavlovic returned from a quad injury and didn't score in his two minutes of action on Friday. He's been out since February 19 and shooting just 34.5 percent from the field this year. His not-so-triumphant return obviously suggests that he has no fantasy value right now.
Wesley Matthews shot 6-of-19 from the field in his 38 minutes against the Rockets on Friday, scoring 18 points with three boards, four assists, two steals and one 3-pointer. He shot 1-of-11 from downtown in the loss and he's made a putrid three of his last 21 attempts in the past two games. Matthews is third in the league in 3-pointers since the All-Star break and a slump isn't going to stop him from hoisting treys.
Damian Lillard suffered a left hip pointer in Friday's loss to Houston, finishing with 11 points, three boards, seven assists, two steals and one 3-pointer. He was in extreme pain when he had the injury and went to the locker room, but came back out just a few minutes later. Lillard is cooling off on offense, but the phrase "rookie wall" shouldn't come to mind for this year's Rookie of the Year.
Damian Lillard went to the locker room with a left hip pointer injury during Friday's game against the Rockets and he started the second half He looked to take a shot to the midsection and was in agonizing pain as he walked back to the locker room. It appears that the crisis is averted for now and we'll see if he's managing the pain in the second half.
Blazers F Joel Freeland is playing through bursitis in his left heel. Freeland isn't going to miss any time, but it's a condition that will need some rest after the season. The British import is playing just 8.8 minutes per game off the Blazers' bench this season.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) will play in Friday's game against the Rockets. During Aldridge's four-game absence, the Blazers went 0-4 and blew any shot at rallying for the Western Conference's final playoff spot. Now he's returning for what has become garbage time. Owners that were sneakily streaming Meyers Leonard need to move on as Aldridge is a good bet for 30-plus minutes in this dream matchup.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) will not play Friday and there is no timetable for his return. Coach Terry Stotts says Batum is feeling better and is expected to play again this season. The problem is that no one knows when that will be. The Blazers have just six games left in the season after Friday, and are six games out of the playoffs. It wouldn't make much sense for Batum to return this season if he's feeling any pain or fragility at all.
LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) is expected to play on Friday and is not listed on the injury report. The fact that Aldridge isn't even listed on the injury report is a great sign that LMA will be ready to roll after he said he was able to return to practice on Thursday. Aldridge said he would play Friday, so we're not surprised to see him off the injury report. Get him back into your lineup. Meyers Leonard is expected to move back to the bench.
Nicolas Batum (shoulder) is listed as "doubtful" to play on Friday against the Rockets. Batum did not practice on Thursday, and while he'll be reevaluated on Friday, he already admitted that there is a possibility his season is over. Victor Claver, who had seven points, two boards and a three in 26.5 minutes on Wednesday in a start for Batum, is expected to fill in once again.
Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey says he's finished his evaluation of point guard Eric Maynor but wouldn't commit to keeping him after this season. Maynor, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, came to Portland in a mid-season trade and has done a solid job as Damon Lillard's backup. Olshey says he's happy with what he's seen but noted that "certain variables" will affect Maynor's standing with the team in the offseason. If he remains in Portland, Maynor won't offer a ton of fantasy value barring injury, but he could be worth something if he landed with a team that gave him significant playing time.
Meyers Leonard is expected to return to the bench once LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) returns to the lineup. Aldridge is expected to play Friday night and coach Terry Stotts says he's leaning toward starting Aldridge and J.J. Hickson with Leonard coming off the bench. Despite a disappointing rookie year, Leonard has looked solid when given the chance to start, averaging 13.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks over six starts this season. Fantasy owners might want to part ways with him once L.A. returns, but Leonard's brief run gives us hope for next season.
NBA draft order set, so who goes No. 1?
May 22, 5:15PM
Men report attack after snapping photo of Lillard
May 20, 7:33PM
Nate Tibbetts joins Blazers as assistant coach
May 14, 7:46PM
Cavs Waiters, Zeller named to all-rookie teams
May 14, 5:15PM
Damian Lillard is NBA Rookie of the Year
May 2, 2:34AM
Thunder's Westbrook out, needs knee surgery
Apr 26, 5:01PM
Nuggets, Warriors won't slow down any
Apr 18, 10:45PM
Curry sets 3s mark; Warriors beat Blazers 99-88
Apr 18, 2:24AM
Clippers rout Trail Blazers 93-77
Apr 17, 3:07AM
Faried to miss final 2 games with sprained ankle
Apr 15, 7:02PM
Nuggets set NBA franchise mark with 55th win
Apr 14, 9:44PM
LeBron calls Kobe's season-ending injury 'sad'
Apr 14, 6:40PM
Faried sprains left ankle against Portland
Apr 14, 5:55PM
Westbrook has 33 and Thunder beat Portland 106-90
Apr 13, 1:56AM
Bryant has 47 in Lakers' 113-106 over Blazers
Apr 11, 1:50AM
Mavericks hold on for 96-91 win over Portland
Apr 8, 12:47AM
Rockets defeat Blazers 116-98
Apr 6, 2:26AM
Former Blazers C Oden returns to watch Grizzlies
Apr 4, 1:53AM
Grizzles top Blazers for franchise-record 51st win
Apr 4, 1:49AM
Blazers F Batum out against Grizzlies
Apr 3, 9:31PM
Jefferson, Williams lift Jazz over Blazers 112-102
Apr 2, 1:00AM
Curry's 39 leads Warriors past Blazers, 125-98
Mar 31, 2:13AM
Utah rallies to beat Portland 105-95
Mar 30, 1:49AM
Aldridge out for Blazers against Jazz
Mar 29, 9:46PM
Evans (22 points, 26 rebounds) leads Nets
Mar 28, 2:16AM
Durant helps Thunder drop Blazers, 103-83
Mar 24, 11:24PM
Matthews has 28 points, Blazers top Hawks 104-93
Mar 22, 11:12PM
Blazers complete season sweep of Bulls, 99-89
Mar 21, 11:58PM
Jennings and Ellis lead Bucks over Blazers 102-95
Mar 19, 11:33PM
76ers rally late to top Portland 101-100
Mar 18, 10:34PM
Aldridge has 31, Portland beats Detroit 112-101.
Mar 17, 1:56AM
Lillard leads Blazers' 105-90 rout of Knicks
Mar 15, 2:18AM
Gasol has 20 and Grizzlies beat Blazers 102-97
Mar 13, 1:52AM
Anderson lifts Hornets over Trail Blazers, 98-96
Mar 10, 11:03PM
Lillard leads Blazers to 136-106 rout of Spurs
Mar 9, 12:42AM
Gasol scores 23 as Grizzlies beat Blazers 91-85
Mar 7, 12:39AM
Blazers rout the Bobcats 122-105
Mar 5, 1:50AM
Lillard's 24 points lead Blazers past Timberwolves
Mar 3, 1:35AM
Lawson has 30 in 111-109 Denver win over Blazers
Feb 28, 3:04AM
Finch, Brown hope Olympics lead to NBA head jobs
Feb 26, 5:54PM
Fisher rejoins Thunder, not planning on retiring
Feb 26, 4:53PM
Thunder sign veteran point guard Derek Fisher
Feb 25, 10:05PM
Blazers acquire backup PG at deadline
Feb 21, 9:11PM
Bobcats trade F Warrick to Magic for F McRoberts
Feb 21, 8:36PM
Hickson 'meant no harm' with Valentine's tweets
Feb 20, 9:12PM
Suns hold off Blazers 102-98
Feb 20, 1:58AM
Portland's Lillard wins Skills competition
Feb 16, 9:39PM
Blazers' Matthews hurts left ankle vs. Hornets
Feb 13, 8:58PM
LeBron on a roll unlike any in NBA history
Feb 13, 3:23AM
LeBron sets mark, Heat top Blazers 117-104
Feb 12, 11:37PM
Portland Trailblazers history is coming soon!
Portland Trailblazers message board is coming soon!
Transactions
| Date | Player | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2013 | Jeffries, Jared, PF | Waived |
| Feb 22, 2013 | Price, Ronnie, G | Waived |
| Feb 21, 2013 | Maynor, Eric, PG | Traded For a trade exception |
| Oct 27, 2012 | Harper, Demonte, G | Waived |
| Oct 27, 2012 | Holiday, Justin, F | Waived |
| Oct 27, 2012 | Karl, Coby, SG | Waived |
| Oct 27, 2012 | Morrison, Adam, SF | Waived |
| Oct 25, 2012 | Lauderdale, Dallas, F | Waived |
| Oct 12, 2012 | Holiday, Justin, F | Signed as Free Agent |
| Oct 1, 2012 | Karl, Coby, SG | Signed as Free Agent |
| Sep 30, 2012 | Lauderdale, Dallas, F | Signed as Free Agent |
| Sep 21, 2012 | Harper, Demonte, G | Signed as Free Agent |
| Sep 21, 2012 | Morrison, Adam, SF | Signed as Free Agent |
| Jul 20, 2012 | Pavlovic, Sasha, SG | Traded Part of three team deal |
| Jul 19, 2012 | Gadzuric, Dan, PF | Waived |
| Jul 18, 2012 | Batum, Nicolas, SG | Matched Offer Sheet |
| Jul 18, 2012 | Price, Ronnie, G | Signed as Free Agent |
| Jul 16, 2012 | Gadzuric, Dan, PF | Traded Part of a six player trade |
| Jul 16, 2012 | Jeffries, Jared, PF | Traded Part of six player trade |
| Jul 16, 2012 | Papanikolaou, Kostas, F | Traded Part of a six player trade |
| Jul 16, 2012 | Printezis, Giorgos, SF | Traded Part of Raymond Felton trade |
| Jul 14, 2012 | Barton, Will, SG | Signed as Draft Pick |
| Jul 13, 2012 | Freeland, Joel, F | Signed as Draft Pick |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Claver, Victor, SG | Signed as Draft Pick |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Hibbert, Roy, C | Signed/Offer Sheet |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Hickson, J.J., PF | Re-Signed Re-signed for one year |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Leonard, Meyers, PF | Signed as Draft Pick |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Lillard, Damian, PG | Signed as Free Agent |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Williams, Shawne, F | Waived |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Crawford, Jamal, G | Declared Free Agency Opted out of contract |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Felton, Raymond, G | Declared Free Agency |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Flynn, Jonny, PG | Declared Free Agency |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Przybilla, Joel, C | Declared Free Agency |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Smith, Craig, PF | Declared Free Agency |
| Jul 1, 2012 | Thabeet, Hasheem, C | Declared Free Agency |
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