Blazer's Edge - All PostsThe ultimate coverage and analysis of the Portland Trail Blazershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47543/blazersedge-fave.png2024-03-18T21:54:30-07:00http://www.blazersedge.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T21:54:30-07:002024-03-18T21:54:30-07:00Blazers Drop Close Duel vs. Bulls
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<img alt="Portland Trail Blazers v Chicago Bulls" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PAWtiqdA6xa3WeBeAUMeryKZCdU=/0x0:7693x5129/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73217005/2087341545.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>30 points from Simons and a fourth-quarter comeback came up just short.</p> <p id="Vde7QZ">A spirited <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a>’ road effort came within an Anfernee Simons 3-pointer of overtime against the Chicago Bulls tonight. The ball was still on Ant’s fingertips when the red lights flashed; the shot rimmed out, anyway. Ball game.</p>
<p id="kJ6nrN">Bulls win: 110-107.</p>
<p id="jR8xrQ">After the Bulls went on a transition and 3-point rampage in the third quarter to gain separation, the Blazers responded in kind with a 3-point fest of their own in the fourth to get Simons in position to tie it. Portland even took the lead a little earlier in crunch time. But the sneakily average Bulls (33-35) prevailed in the end. </p>
<p id="XekfNm">The Bulls won behind 28 points from the vet DeMar DeRozan, 23 points and 10 assists from third-year guard Ayo Dosunmu, and a strong showing from their center rotation.</p>
<p id="umxj9u">Simons shined for the Blazers with 30 points and nine assists. Deandre Ayton continued his stretch of “DominAyton” play with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while rookie Scoot Henderson continued his recent skid with a 4-17 shooting performance for 14 points and six turnovers.</p>
<p id="1L2x7Y">If you missed any of the action, <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105412/final-boxscore-blazers-bulls-anfernee-simons-deandre-ayton">check out Brandon Goldner’s quick recap and observations</a>. After you’ve read that, here’s an extended look at the details that defined the contest.</p>
<h3 id="uXcggS"><strong>Stellar Simons</strong></h3>
<p id="KOUeJ5">Simons played a lovely game, especially in the first half, as he looked more and more like a point guard than a microwave scorer. In 18 first-half minutes, Simons produced 14 points (on 5-10 shooting), five assists and just one turnover. He wasn’t neglecting his own shot to be a distributor, nor was he neglecting his teammates in order to be aggressive; instead, he naturally found a nice balance and rhythm by taking what the defense gave him. Nothing looked forced or awkward, just easy-going and effective. He burned the Bulls with touch on floaters and drives, continued to show his developing pick-and-roll chemistry with Ayton and hit his 3-balls at a decent rate in that first half. This is the ideal version of what Ant could become offensively. </p>
<p id="5pCNSm">Simons was still very good the rest of the game, though less pristine, as he was cold in the third quarter and his 3-point efficiency dropped some (4-14 on 3s for the game). With Portland trailing 89-75 to start the fourth, Simons played the entire quarter with an aggressive mindset and was a huge catalyst of the comeback. He scored 12 points (on 4-10 shooting), while registering two assists and zero turnovers. All in all, good stuff from Simons.</p>
<h3 id="z0ygpc"><strong>Your Nightly Positive DA Review</strong></h3>
<p id="vEv7Nu">All season long, we’ve heard the Blazers need to utilize Deandre Ayton by getting him the ball in the pocket — that little wiggle room the roll man occupies, generally in the midrange area of the defense, as he rolls to the basket after the screen. <em>DA isn’t a create-his-own-shot guy, DA needs to be set up in the pocket, DA operates better out of the pocket, etc., etc. </em>Chauncey Billups has said it. The media has said it. I’ve said it to my mom. <em>Somebody get this man the ball in that damn pocket! </em>Well, once again, the Blazers did a great job of finding Ayton out of the pick-and-roll in that aforementioned pocket, in the midrange and around the basket, and once again, Ayton looked like perhaps the best player on the floor. </p>
<p id="AZoUYO">Ayton’s latest 20-plus-point double-double came on great efficiency (11-17 shooting). He’s so comfortable catching in the close-to-extended midrange and simply rising above the defense for the jumper. His touch in that area, whether it’s a face-up jumper or a little push shot, is very impressive. Ayton wasn’t just scoring, he also brought activity and energy all night, evidenced by his four offensive rebounds and two blocks. </p>
<h3 id="5uhFi5"><strong>Scoot Struggles</strong></h3>
<p id="964yaJ">Success isn’t linear, especially for a rookie point guard adapting to the NBA. Bumps are to be expected, but it’s disappointing to say Sterling “Scoot” Henderson is on a slight skid at the moment, especially after the positive stretch of progress he had shown before going down with an injury in late February. While Scoot continues to get to the basket, he continues to struggle with finishing around the rim. Henderson put up 14 points (on 4-17 from the field, 1-3 from 3, 5-6 on free throws), six rebounds, five assists and six turnovers in 30 minutes. The performance included a 1-6 opening shift where all his misses were from within the restricted area (though, a few of those misses were tough put-back attempts on his other misses). Henderson started the game, but Billups elected not to close with his rookie point guard.</p>
<h3 id="2whfBx"><strong>Bulls Separate, Blazers Bring it Back</strong></h3>
<p id="EuP7VB">After keeping within close distance of each other in the first half, the Bulls and Blazers traded big quarters in the second half to end up with a close game down the wire. A lot of what went into that big third quarter from the Bulls and Portland’s ensuing response had to do with 3-point shooting and transition offense.</p>
<p id="bqBGIi">The Bulls created their separation in the third with 3-point shooting and a relentless transition attack led by Dosunmu. Chicago shot an okay mark of 11-33 from 3-point distance for the game, but a blistering 6-11 from deep in the third, while the Blazers shot 1-7 in the third and 3-17 through three quarters. The Bulls also scored 15 fast break points in the game, but 11 of those came in that third quarter. The athletic Dosunmu accounted for <em>nine </em>of those 11 points in the quarter as he nearly ran Portland out of the gym. It all helped Chicago win the quarter 35-26 and head into the fourth with a double-digit lead.</p>
<p id="TG457B">The fourth quarter was Portland’s turn to run and shoot. Portland shot a seemingly out-of-nowhere 5-11 mark from 3-point distance. Duop Reath hit two. Simons hit two and Dalano Banton hit the other. Portland also produced 12 fast break points in the quarter, helped by a grittier defense, to outdo Chicago in that category 21-15 for the game. These factors fueled the comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. </p>
<h3 id="a5QxmZ"><strong>A Few More Notes</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="nJzZTA">Chauncey Billups switched the setting to <a href="https://twitter.com/jalex_819/status/1611225621014650880">“Wumbo”</a> late in the fourth and went with a fascinating jumbo lineup of Simons, Banton, Jabari Walker, Reath and Ayton. Simons is the only player below 6-foot-8 in that group. That’s a lot of size, and it worked pretty well.</li>
<li id="7NBrdE">Despite Reath coming through big in the fourth quarter with those 3-pointers and 14 points for the game, Bulls reserve center Andre Drummond presented a massive mismatch for Reath in the first half, helping the Bulls surge ahead a little to start the second quarter. Drummond bullied Reath down low for deep paint position and killed Portland on the offensive glass, collecting seven offensive rebounds (11 rebounds total) in 14 minutes of play. It was a little reminiscent of how former Blazers backup center Drew Eubanks sometimes got outclassed by pure size in center matchups last season.</li>
<li id="EdL7UC">It should be mentioned Bulls starting center Nikola Vucevic also played a solid game, putting up 22 and 9 (on 10-17 shooting).</li>
<li id="A9EWjJ">Portland forward Matisse Thybulle exited the game after playing just five first-quarter minutes due to a right ankle injury, <a href="https://twitter.com/TrailBlazersPR/status/1769893648118759767">the team announced on social media</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="3Yorsw"><strong>Up Next</strong></h3>
<p id="hFU0hK"><a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585614"><strong>Boxscore</strong></a></p>
<p id="SpXvtt">The Blazers’ next game comes on Wednesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, the first of two consecutive games against the Clips. Tipoff is scheduled for a little after 7 p.m. PDT.</p>
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<p id="HWbzYf"></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105509/portland-trail-blazers-chicago-bulls-score-recap-anfernee-simons-deandre-ayton-demar-derozan-nbaConor Bergin2024-03-18T21:50:55-07:002024-03-18T21:50:55-07:00Damian Lillard Sits Courtside For Blazers vs. Bulls
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<img alt="NBA: MAR 18 Trail Blazers at Bulls" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6Tpm0ZTWodsTta9ZWnUL2BqmZhk=/0x0:3580x2387/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73217001/2087339990.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>On his day off, the former Blazers star enjoyed being a spectator of his old team.</p> <p id="zjiQ60">Former <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> All-Star Damian Lillard was in attendance as his former team <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105412/final-boxscore-blazers-bulls-anfernee-simons-deandre-ayton">played</a> the Chicago Bulls Monday night. Lillard was traded from the Blazers to the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com">Milwaukee Bucks</a> during the 2023-24 preseason. </p>
<p id="sjSeml">With a two-day break for the Bucks after Sunday’s home victory over the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com">Phoenix Suns</a>, Lillard took some time to visit with old friends from both teams, and just enjoy the festivities.</p>
<p id="a4u8tS">The game ended with Anfernee Simons barely missing an opportunity to send the game into overtime at the buzzer.</p>
<p id="XT3LGZ">Here’s an image slideshow from tonight’s game.</p>
<div id="Rx38J5"><div data-anthem-component="gallery:12283359"></div></div>
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https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105422/damian-lillard-courtside-blazers-bulls-photosTimmay!2024-03-18T19:39:36-07:002024-03-18T19:39:36-07:00Recap: Blazers Come Back But Fall to Bulls, 110-107
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<img alt="NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hJEVa0_hGnBKtcpmH9Pxxiqk9Fg=/0x0:4500x3000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216871/usa_today_22808332.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Portland got back into a game they had no business being in, but fell just short.</p> <p id="W0cXkW">After leading early, the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> fell behind by double digits in the third quarter and despite a spirited, three-point-fueled fourth quarter where they retook the lead, couldn’t quite close it out, falling to the Chicago Bulls 110-107.</p>
<p id="xGUqkx">The Blazers got another big night from Deandre Ayton, going for 25 and 15 on 11-17 shooting with most of his damage coming in the first three quarters, as well as 30 points and 9 dimes from Anfernee Simons, who at times was playing with the swagger and confidence the Blazers would love to see from him nightly.</p>
<p id="I9O7LC"><a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585614">Box Score</a></p>
<h2 id="VemLJK"><strong>Things I Noticed</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="qIdZRi">Deandre Ayton’s dominance continues. It’s not only that the Blazers continue to look for him, and it’s not only that he’s content to just put up a shot when he’s certain it can go in. He’s also leaning in to his role more - literally and figuratively. While Ayton is one of the best big men to take and hit fades, the man is seven feet tall, and when he remembers that and physically leans his body weight toward the rim, good things happen. There were multiple short shots and putbacks that at his most tentative would have been flips or fadeaways, but he instead took up vertical space that the defender couldn’t contest by just shifting his mass toward the bucket.</li>
<li id="qSt6cG">Nikola Vucevic is exactly the kind of stretchy center you would expect to expose Deandre Ayton’s defensive limitations. When Chicago guards drove, you could see Ayton deciding in real time, “do I stop the drive and leave Vuc, or stick with my man?” From some elite defenders, this isn’t an issue. For most, including Ayton, it is, but he predictably had an easier time guarding Vucevic pick and rolls when Vuc went downhill instead of popping. Ayton also did better when Vuc tried posting him up. In the long-term, if NBA centers are shooting more and more, Ayton will need to learn how to adapt his defensive skills. </li>
<li id="0znGQH">Dalano Banton’s relentless driving jumps off the page. Whether it’s in transition, off the ball, or because he’s setting up the offense, Dalano’s first, second, and third choice is to use his burst and length to get to the rim, something that would be more effective if the Blazers had more shooters. Still, creating room either for Simons to shoot or Scoot to get the pass and do something himself is something that provides value on this Blazers squad.</li>
<li id="8s8GHg">Scoot’s turnovers are of the “oh, this guy is new to the NBA” variety. There were passes that may have worked out okay had they reached their intended target, but whether it was through his eyes, his body positioning, or just the available passing options, were telegraphed far in advance and were picked off easily. He ended with six of them, but it honestly felt like even more than that.</li>
<li id="caW5Sw">I like how Kris Murray uses his peripheral vision on defense. While at times he still has the “head flicking back and forth” thing common with a lot of younger players (or career-long bad defenders), there were moments when his head was still as the action unfolded around him, using his arms to follow the ball and his man and subtly shifting his position as the play developed.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="EFeAWt"><strong>What’s Next:</strong></h2>
<p id="DQxHTB">Portland comes back home and face the LA Clippers for the first of two games in a row on Wed. March 20 at 7pm Pacific.</p>
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https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105412/final-boxscore-blazers-bulls-anfernee-simons-deandre-aytonBrandon Goldner2024-03-18T18:15:00-07:002024-03-18T18:15:00-07:00Blazers vs. Bulls Second Half Discussion Thread
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<img alt="Chicago Bulls v Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EvqdLGkcdQlN9JEV_F2m0Xr53Zc=/0x0:4572x3048/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216771/1972064797.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blazers visit the Bullss tonight at the United Center.</p> <p id="g4sdg4">The <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> are on the road tonight against the Chicago Bulls.</p>
<p id="TiEgYy">This is your Game Day discussion thread, open for all your conversational needs. This is the second half thread. Be sure to enjoy the conversation and stay tuned after the game for recaps and analysis!</p>
<p id="eXHUrm"><a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/"><strong>Portland Trail Blazers</strong></a><strong> (19-48) vs. Chicago Bulls (33-35) - Mon. March 18 - 5pm Pacific</strong></p>
<p id="BFGNvZ"><strong>How to watch on TV:</strong> Root Sports, NBA League Pass</p>
<p id="iABk4F"><strong>Trail Blazers injuries:</strong> Matisse Thybulle (questionable); Jerami Grant (doubtful);<strong> </strong>Malcolm Brogdon, Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams III (out).</p>
<p id="DG3mKZ"><strong>Bulls injuries: </strong>Alex Caruso, Coby White (day-to-day);<strong> </strong>Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips (out).</p>
<h3 id="KuYRPI"><strong>Conversation Rules</strong></h3>
<p id="qElXqy">Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.</p>
<ul>
<li id="td8IM2">Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it</li>
<li id="q1cb9S">Remember Blazer’s Edge is basically a non-profanity site</li>
<li id="YLdRRc">Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads</li>
<li id="fKPVH6">The commenting system is your lifeline to fellow fans and making yourself heard. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.</li>
</ul>
<p id="thRQhL">Enjoy the game and the conversation!</p>
<p id="68YatO"></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105287/trail-blazers-vs-bulls-second-half-discussion-threadJeremy Brener2024-03-18T16:00:00-07:002024-03-18T16:00:00-07:00Blazers vs. Bulls First Half Discussion Thread
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<img alt="Chicago Bulls v Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eJTw7dFlERBr9cdOkX5rlPSBxKs=/8x0:4280x2848/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216604/1983627259.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blazers visit the Bullss tonight at the United Center.</p> <p id="g4sdg4">The <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> are on the road tonight against the Chicago Bulls.</p>
<p id="TiEgYy">This is your Game Day discussion thread, open for all your conversational needs. This is the first half thread. The second half version will post during halftime. Be sure to enjoy the conversation and stay tuned after the game for recaps and analysis!</p>
<p id="eXHUrm"><a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/"><strong>Portland Trail Blazers</strong></a><strong> (19-48) vs. Chicago Bulls (33-35) - Mon. March 18 - 5pm Pacific</strong></p>
<p id="BFGNvZ"><strong>How to watch on TV:</strong> Root Sports, NBA League Pass</p>
<p id="iABk4F"><strong>Trail Blazers injuries:</strong> Matisse Thybulle (questionable); Jerami Grant (doubtful);<strong> </strong>Malcolm Brogdon, Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams III (out).</p>
<p id="DG3mKZ"><strong>Bulls injuries: </strong>Alex Caruso, Coby White (day-to-day);<strong> </strong>Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips (out).</p>
<h3 id="KuYRPI"><strong>Conversation Rules</strong></h3>
<p id="qElXqy">Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.</p>
<ul>
<li id="td8IM2">Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it</li>
<li id="q1cb9S">Remember Blazer’s Edge is basically a non-profanity site</li>
<li id="YLdRRc">Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads</li>
<li id="fKPVH6">The commenting system is your lifeline to fellow fans and making yourself heard. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.</li>
</ul>
<p id="thRQhL">Enjoy the game and the conversation!</p>
<p id="68YatO"></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105285/trail-blazers-vs-bulls-first-half-discussion-threadJeremy Brener2024-03-18T14:42:00-07:002024-03-18T14:42:00-07:00Deandre Ayton Nominated for Western Conference Player of the Week
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<img alt="Milwaukee Bucks v Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W6MFn-igl169w5QVAzkAtjtADYU=/0x73:1851x1307/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216505/1976747943.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Deandre Ayton has balled out for the Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p id="YeXPAk">Deandre Ayton has been playing well and he’s gained some notoriety from people around the league.</p>
<p id="y4HhiJ">The <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> center was among the nominees for Western Conference Player of the Week. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 21 of the 2023-24 season (March 11-17). <a href="https://t.co/qkvhElduJL">pic.twitter.com/qkvhElduJL</a></p>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1769808538749010115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="g5S0gy">The honor was ultimately given to <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com">Phoenix Suns</a> guard Jalen Green, who is averaging 26.3 points per game in his last three contests.</p>
<p id="UIc9rx">Other nominees alongside Ayton were Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving (<a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com">Dallas Mavericks</a>), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) and Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans).</p>
<p id="4BleK7">He averaged 26.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in the four games this week, including a 33-point, 19-rebound explosion in Portland’s win over the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com">Atlanta Hawks</a> on Wednesday night.</p>
<p id="LHLRJF">If Ayton continues to play at this level, perhaps he’ll take home an award one of these weeks.</p>
<p id="fozWuc">Ayton and the Blazers are back in action tonight against the Chicago Bulls. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT.</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24105280/portland-trail-blazers-deandre-ayton-nominated-for-western-conference-player-of-the-weekJeremy Brener2024-03-18T11:39:21-07:002024-03-18T11:39:21-07:00Blazers’ Deandre Ayton Coming Into His Own
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<img alt="Portland Trail Blazers v New Orleans Pelicans" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I3xK6AAfAJp6lhXB7ghdVKTfhng=/0x1:4547x3032/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215877/2082121842.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Deandre Ayton has continued to impress for the Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p id="RFKCJJ">The <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> faced a tough schedule this week, and went 1-3 in their game. The Blazers lost to the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com">Boston Celtics</a>, <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com">New York Knicks</a> and New Orleans Pelicans who are all within the top six team of their respective conferences. The lone win for Portland came against the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com">Atlanta Hawks</a>.</p>
<p id="EnyuMv">Despite the tough schedule, there were a number of individual standout performances for the Blazers, but one player stood above them all. This week’s Blazer of the week is Deandre Ayton.</p>
<p id="bFVUuy">Ayton has been playing incredible basketball since the all-star break, and this week was no exception. He averaged 26.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in the four games this week, including a 33-point, 19-rebound explosion in Portland’s win over the Hawks. </p>
<p id="l3PGOI">Ayton took some time to get settled into the Blazers’ system, and his teammates took time to adjust to him as well. However, Portland has been able to find a balance that allows Ayton’s impact to be maximized while not detracting from those around him. </p>
<p id="xbFAo7">His ability to score efficiently helps make that system easier to perform. Ayton shot 65.8 percent from the field this week as he capitalized on almost every shot he took. In turn, the Blazers’ offense around him was able to create their own shots when defenses were forced to react to Ayton’s gravity in the paint. This allowed for multiple other Portland players to have big nights of their own in tandem with Ayton, not at the expense of one another.</p>
<p id="BB8W49">Ayton’s size and ability to roll to the paint also put him as an ideal pick-and-roll partner for some of Portland’s guards. Anfernee Simons especially benefits from the hard screens set by Ayton, allowing Simons to either find Ayton on the roll, or create his own shot with an abundance of space.</p>
<p id="l4zDET">Ayton has also seen an increase in aggressiveness, leading to the uptick in shot attempts. He is searching for his own shot more and more, but still not sacrificing his efficiency from the field while doing so.</p>
<p id="s4IqpQ">Although it took him a decent chunk of the season to truly carve out his role on the team, Ayton has turned himself into an imposing presence in the middle, something that has greatly benefited his teammates.</p>
<p id="F5muSD">This week’s honorable mention is Anfernee Simons.</p>
<p id="27z4cW">Simons missed the game against the Knicks, but put up a pair of impressive performances in two other games this week. A somewhat underwhelming performance against the Celtics hurts his overall numbers, but he still was able to record averages of 26.0 points and 6.3 assists per game. He also shot 40.6 percent from three during the week. His ability to force defenses to play him way outside has been something that head coach Chauncey Billups has lauded during the season as a way to increase the overall offensive efficiency of the team.</p>
<p id="6zVVV6">Simons’ presence on the perimeter is something that opposing defenses fear, which allows for many chances for Portland to capitalize on four-on-four opportunities if his defender tries to keep him out of the play. This allows for new dynamics of the offense to thrive, which has been greatly complimented by Ayton’s recent surge.</p>
<p id="5SQODc">Which Blazer impressed you the most this week? Let us know in the comments!</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24103668/portland-trail-blazers-deandre-ayton-coming-into-his-ownJoe Moore2024-03-18T10:29:01-07:002024-03-18T10:29:01-07:00Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls Preview
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<img alt="NBA: Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HugdXyl4hvPgZg8Co6XK2Ey9AvE=/0x0:7061x4707/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215640/usa_today_22396804.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Blazers travel to the windy city to face the painfully mediocre Bulls</p> <p id="SX5qn4">To call today’s contest between the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com">Portland Trail Blazers</a> and the Chicago Bulls <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mid%20off">a mid off</a> is probably unfair to the Bulls: after all, they’ve won nearly half their games and haven’t had a three-game losing streak since November. The Blazers, meanwhile, went the entire month of February without a single, solitary win.</p>
<p id="0ITy1P">Nonetheless, neither of these teams have much to play for, with the Blazers recently being eliminated from playoff contention and the Bulls 4.5 games out of 8th and therefore playing for a 9/10 play-in game, which if won would give them second play-in game... which in turn could earn them a date with the East-leading <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com">Celtics</a> at best.</p>
<p id="af8qLr">The Bulls, having refused to break up their core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and the injured Lonzo Ball, find themselves in the NBA’s “mushy middle” which Portland fans are all-too familiar with, save for a few moments of hope in 2019 before running into a prime Warriors team. Who will want to win this game more? Probably Chicago, but if LaVine, Coby White, and Alex Caruso are all ruled out, we might be a Dominayton game and Dalano Banton explosion away from another unexpected Portland win.</p>
<p id="eXHUrm"><strong>Chicago Bulls (33-35) vs. </strong><a href="https://www.blazersedge.com"><strong>Portland Trail Blazers</strong></a><strong> (19-48) - Mon. March 18 - 5pm Pacific</strong></p>
<p id="BFGNvZ"><strong>How to watch on TV:</strong> Root Sports, NBA League Pass</p>
<p id="iABk4F"><strong>Trail Blazers injuries:</strong> Matisse Thybulle (questionable); Jerami Grant (doubtful);<strong> </strong>Malcolm Brogdon, Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams III (out).</p>
<p id="DG3mKZ"><strong>Bulls injuries: </strong>Alex Caruso, Coby White (day-to-day);<strong> </strong>Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips (out).</p>
<h2 id="z8dZGX"><strong>Blazer’s Edge Reader Questions</strong></h2>
<p id="PXoekM">As has been Blazer’s Edge tradition since <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/17/24104262/portland-trail-blazers-deandre-ayton-air-mattress-nba-news">Deandre Ayton slept on an air mattress</a>, we asked for your questions for tonight’s game! Look for <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/17/24103655/portland-trail-blazers-chicago-bulls-nba-preview-questions">posts just like this one</a> the night before the game, and we’ll plan to pick one or two (or more!) every game and answer them as best we can.</p>
<p id="nyMs2h"><strong>From TTBlazing77:</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="8vMvoM">I’m watching Denver vs. Dallas on ABC. This is great basketball. Both teams compete and very competitive. Maybe it’s my wishful thinking but can the Blazers ever be anything like these teams in the next 1 - 2 years? It will be so exciting!!!</p></blockquote>
<p id="arZc2c">Denver, definitely not. Dallas? Probably not. Denver as a bona fide title contender and current NBA champion whose best players are in their prime puts them in a very rare category of NBA team that has ever existed, so we can set them aside. But both Dallas and Denver have something Portland doesn’t: a clear-cut, MVP-level number 1 option. Having that is not only the most important part of modern NBA teambuilding, but it clarifies the job for the front office about how to build your team around them. </p>
<p id="5WLN6d">As much as I love both Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, we still have no idea what their ceilings could be, and neither does Joe Cronin. That means the Blazers will firmly be in “asset acquisition mode” for some number of years before they even think about building out the rest of a contending team.</p>
<p id="JinR0a"><strong>From Timmay!</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="sWCibe">The Bulls are kind of stuck in the mud, right? Not bad enough to be awful, not good enough to be great, and limited upward mobility. And despite being a huge market, major free agents don’t seem to be interested. Are there any scenarios for them to move into contention in the East that don’t involve really lucky draft pick, and/or a total rebuild?</p></blockquote>
<p id="eDPeYt">The mushy middle makes fools of us all, and when ownerships imperative is to chase the 8th seed, your team looks like... that. I don’t think their current core will ever win a playoff series, which is a bummer, because making the all-in moves Chicago did is exactly the kind of thing you want to see NBA teams doing to create a league with competitive parity. Unfortunately, they have become another data point in the larger tapestry of cautionary tales woven by teams that thought they could be better than they were.</p>
<p id="uuZopH"><strong>From CWBlazerfan:</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="c8fDQF">Coby White or Scoot Henderson, who would you rather have as your starting PG? Coby was a lottery pick but it seems like Chicago didn’t really commit to him as their full time starter until this year, why?</p></blockquote>
<p id="thphmT">Sometimes players just take time to pop, and while I’m not going to pretend to be a Coby White expert, sometimes it’s just that simple. Related: I hope Blazers fans are buckled in for the possibility that IF Scoot ever pops, it might not be until his age 23 season just like White... which would be 2027 at the earliest. Woof.</p>
<p id="5nlXch">To the question: today, right now, White. For the career, Scoot. I have faith.</p>
<p id="gykJpH"><strong>From conspirator5:</strong></p>
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<p id="Gwvpd5">Did you know you can play Bulls vs Blazers on the web here?</p>
<p id="PFtRoB"><a href="https://oldgameshelf.com/games/snes/bulls-vs-blazers-and-the-nba-playoffs-1404">https://oldgameshelf.com/games/snes/bulls-vs-blazers-and-the-nba-playoffs-1404</a></p>
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<p id="M4AFsv">No, but we do now! This is rad.</p>
<p id="OEruFY"><strong>From Scappoozer:</strong></p>
<blockquote><p id="3guisR">What’s your best guess as to what might happen with the draft pick Portland owes the Bulls? Does Portland plan to give Chicago a 1st round pick? Will Portland wait and let it lapse? Will they negotiate it into a 2nd round pick? It doesn’t become a 2nd round pick until 2028. Might they do a trade with Chicago? It doesn’t seem to hamper the future as long as Portland has lottery picks, but they really can’t move forward making this team better with trades, until their own pick gets resolved.</p></blockquote>
<p id="vD7yQT">For more context, <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/2023/5/13/23716531/portland-trail-blazers-chicago-bulls-larry-nance-derrick-jones-draft-trade-first-pick-protected">check out this piece from last year from our resident Aussie Adrain Bernecich</a>, where he argued the Blazers and Bulls will eventually renegotiate the terms of this pick. The details: Portland owes Chicago that lottery protected first round pick as part of a multi-team deal that got the Blazers Larry Nance Jr. for 37 games. My best guess is that once Chicago decides it’s done pretending that Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will lift them to contention, their eyes will turn to the lottery, where - unfortunately for them - they have a pretty bare cupboard. They owe a top-10 protected pick in 2025 to San Antonio (with additional protections in the following years if it doesn’t convey), owe all of their second-round picks from now through 2027, and have no other draft assets. That means they need draft picks, and they need them now. Portland, on the other hand, has some draft pick flexibility that makes sending out their picks a little more palatable if Chicago were to make it worth their while. Having said that, the machinations of NBA asset evaluation can be a bit complicated, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.</p>
<h2 id="9fibKb"><strong>About the Opponent</strong></h2>
<p id="xERHI4"><a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/03/17/chicago-bulls-coby-white-2/">Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune</a> shares some delightful stories in a behind-the-scenes look at Coby White as he’s grown from a role player into a near-star:</p>
<blockquote><p id="NtTCgU">With 1.6 seconds left in a game against the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com">Phoenix Suns</a> in January, White made a gesture to catch Patrick Williams’ eye from the sideline. They were waiting on the referee’s signal to launch a lob to Williams at the basket, hoping for a dunk that would send a heated game into overtime. It was a major responsibility for Williams, who rarely takes potential game-tying shots. So when White shouted his name, Williams turned to listen with rapt attention. “Pat,” White motioned at his own shorts, then pointed at Williams. “Tuck your shorts in!” It took Williams a second to clock the glint in White’s eye, the half-concealed grin — and then he stopped, jersey half-jammed into his shorts. <em>Is this guy really f***ing with me right now?</em></p></blockquote>
<p id="YcRWPb"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F5330024%2F2024%2F03%2F11%2Fget-to-know-bulls-onuralp-bitim%2F%3Fsource%3Duser-shared-article&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blazersedge.com%2F2024%2F3%2F18%2F24104607%2Fportland-trail-blazers-vs-chicago-bulls-nba-preview" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic</a> (subscription required) gives a profile of Bulls rookie Onuralp Bitim:</p>
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<p id="GIyyOh"><strong>You turned pro as a teen, so how old were you?</strong></p>
<p id="0Tputp">I was practicing with the main team when I was 16. But I started to play officially when I was 17.</p>
<p id="0h8Ivv"><strong>What was that experience like?</strong></p>
<p id="Pb9OX0">I mean, it was a little bit hard because in Europe it’s harder to become a player at a young age because most of the European coaches prefer a little bit older and experienced players. I think most of the young, talented players in Europe are having the same problems. Like, some of them are maybe showing themselves. But most of them are trying to go on other teams to show and improve. So it was a little bit hard for me because I was playing with one of the best clubs in Europe. </p>
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<p id="GsVhPB"><a href="https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/03/17/chicago-bulls-vucevic-too/">Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation</a> wrote a junk drawer of anecdotes about the Bulls after their recent win over the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com">Washington Wizards</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="KTQzSf">The Chicago Bulls did what they were supposed to against the league-worst Washington Wizards. Normally, that wouldn’t be worth a round of applause. But the Bulls lost to the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com">Detroit Pistons</a> twice this season, so we know well that taking care of business isn’t necessarily this team’s specialty. Not to mention, the way they dominated this game was particularly encouraging. Fourth-year guard Ayo Dosunmu led the way for most of the game, <a href="https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/03/17/ayo-dosunmu-career-wiz-34/"><strong>dropping a career-high 34 points</strong></a> on an efficient 63.6 percent clip.</p></blockquote>
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https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/3/18/24104607/portland-trail-blazers-vs-chicago-bulls-nba-previewBrandon Goldner