A night in the wild
A reflection on a rare Blazers game with a few IPAs and the late lineup change
I haven’t been to a game as a fan for a very long time. Obviously there’s a lot of people who can say that about NBA games, especially with how few people seem to be showing up to arenas for fear of COVID and perhaps a greater appreciation for the variety of television options available in the fall. But I decided to stop being such a stick in the mud and take advantage of some cheap tickets. I needed to shake up my mental, it had been a little stale and throughout my life, basketball games have been a good way to do that.
My pal Brock and I were rewarded, after a brief scamming by a StubHub seller, with seats behind the Raptors bench and a ticket to the livest Blazers game of the season. While the top rows of the 300 level were vacant, the energy was electric once the team shook off yet another brutal start.
Speaking of the brutal start, one of the reasons I felt compelled to go to the game on Monday night was not only to see Scottie Barnes, but also because it felt like a pivotal night for Jusuf Nurkic. A night where another poor performance might turn the fans fully against him. While that vision did not come to pass, they were replaced by the loudest cheers of the year, as Larry Nance Jr. and Nassir Little took Nurkic and Robert Covington’s spots in the closing lineup.
And while the immediate reaction by almost everyone is can the Blazers trade Nurkic and Covington, the more realistic consideration at the moment, while they are basically without a top basketball executive amid the Neil Olshey investigation, is that Chauncey Billups gets more comfortable making decisions like pulling the starting frontcourt, in favor of a group that is playing better, a normal one.
Perhaps one of the biggest criticisms of Terry Stotts was his resistance to adjusting midstream. But that is also one of the biggest strengths of Clippers coach Ty Lue, whom Billups counts as a mentor. Being unafraid to urk Nurkic and not go back to him, is the type of creativity and flexibility that is going to get the most out of a roster that “gives up size” every night, as Billups himself said last night, undercutting the narrative from Olshey that Portland’s defensive deficiencies have nothing to do with the roster he built.
The Blazers are going to continue to give up size, but in going to Little and Nance, they added a little more quickness and athleticism to the equation. But the dance now will be how Billups manages the type of necessary flexibility this roster requires on a nightly basis while also making sure not to lose Nurkic.
However, the possibility of a deal becomes more likely if Olshey is no longer the one calling the shots. And that brings us to one of my other observations of Vulcan intrigue last night.
Jody and Bert come for a show
Who knew that the first game I would buy tickets to would also be the first time I saw Jody Allen and Bert Kolde at the Rose Garden. But there they were, sitting in Paul Allen’s old seats under the baseline with newly named Blazers team president Dewayne Hankins.
And in years past, in normal situations, the fourth seat under the rim would be occupied by Neil Olshey. It was occupied by another Vulcan employee. While there are stories coming out about Olshey’s disposition and the culture he created, Monday night’s scene courtside depicted a Blazers organization that is preparing to move forward without his influence.
Encore for Dame and CJ
Larry Nance Jr.’s near-perfect game and the continued emergence of Nassir Little continues to steal the hearts of Blazers fans. But I also came away from last night feeling a little sentimental about the guys everyone has already been resigned to break up.
When CJ came over for the block on Scottie Barnes, leading to the Dame dagger 3-pointer, leading to a classic high-five between them a few minutes later, it was perhaps one of their most iconic connections in a partnership full of them. They’ve always seemingly been on the same wavelength, communicating well without ever having to say anything at all, but last night will be on the highlight tape of their partnership when the kids are posting about how people forget Dame and CJ were a problem in 15 years.
Last night, with a little help and a little defense, they delivered a reminder of just how special they are. And after going as a fan, without my computer or a notebook and just enjoying the game with a few beers, they also reminded me how important it is to look at such a special duo with a fresh perspective. Hopefully the Blazers will soon have someone in charge who can.