The Blazers will still take what they have
The Nets put an end to Portland's late-game magic, but the Blazers are still in a great spot
Thursday night was a reminder of the roles teams have to play during the NBA’s 82-game season. Just when one fire is put out, the other one is already blazing hot. The Portland Trail Blazers finally got burned after walking the tightrope over every close game this season, ending most of their closest battles with Ws. On the other side, the Brooklyn Nets walked out like Danny Ocean and co., finally shaking their trails after losses to the lowly Lakers and a National TV shellacking at the hands of the Kings.
After three wins by 2 points and one by 3, the Blazers lost by 2 on Thursday night. In my duties covering for the Associated Press, for the great Annie Peterson, my responsibilities centered mostly on the Nets coming back from a 30-point loss in Sacramento before the impending return of Kyrie Irving. Ben Simmons looked to be a spry version of himself, dunking on multiple occasions and calling out Portland’s plays before they happened. The Blazers crowd also booed him like he was Raymond Felton, which probably indicates Philadelphia fans weren’t the only ones financially harmed by Simmons's decision to pass against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
But the Blazers, even if they didn’t have to say it following the loss, have easier fixes than whatever ails the Nets. Shooting better than 29% in the 2nd half seems like an easier bargain than getting Kyrie Irving to commit to a team built on defense and pace.
What the Blazers went through tonight is one of the losses that wakes you up. One that reminds you that perhaps, you can sleepwalk to a win against a team playing Jeremy Sochan heavy minutes at point guard. But when facing Kevin Durant, you probably won’t get away with that. But in comparison to the problems the rest of the league has, the Blazers have luxury problems.
And that perhaps is the biggest sign that the Blazers are much further than anyone thought they’d be. I bet the Blazers to make the playoffs and hit the over, but did anyone expect them to be 10-5 through 15 games??? Jerami Grant and Josh Hart fit like a glove while Anfernee Simons looks ready for the mantle of Second Guy. And somehow lost in how the group has played, about what makes Billups thankful for the group he has versus coaching the Nets, again, is Dame.
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My first year with a press pass was Dame’s rookie year. I was Casey Holdahl’s intern for the Blazers website. You know the story if you’re here. Dame’s amazing first game against the Lakers, his first buzzer-beater, Rookie of the Year, etc. Dame was always going to be that guy. But what I’ll never forget is how easy that first Dame and LaMarcus pick-and-roll looked. And I’ll also never forget what a difference it made for Dame to play with someone who could command a double team. The difference it made to have the 10 eyes of a defense divided. These Blazers are much better than the group from Dame’s rookie year, but seeing Shaedon Sharpe grow so quickly, Dame’s journey as a rookie is the only parallel I can grasp.
And as I see Dame lead this young group, particularly Sharpe, I realize that Dame has been preparing for this his entire NBA career. Now he is in a position to be the type of teacher Aldridge never could be. Just like Aldridge, Dame remains an elite player. But you don’t get to 10-5 and have the entire team standing for each other from day one by accident. The intention of this Blazers team shines through even in the losses.
The Blazers are still +2 wins above their expected point-differential so far this season, according to CleaningTheGlass.com. Dame’s overall cool in big moments is a big reason why. His nature as a leader is something that–at the very least–cannot be dismissed as something which has unlocked the potential of this entire team. His leadership has impacted everyone. Including and especially Sharpe, whose reservoir for potential is so deep the CIA is funding a military junta to distribute his potential to Conoco-Phillips.
Yeah, the Blazers lost. And the Nets have been a punchline for much of the season. But the 82-game schedule has a way of turning storylines upside down. And as both teams move forward, I’d rather take Portland’s problems.
“How much better can Shaedon Sharpe get by playing with Dame?” is a much more fun question to handle than “Now that we’re playing well for the first time all season, how do we add Kyrie back in?”