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12.22.17

LAST NIGHT'S SCORES

Cavaliers 115, Bulls 112Knicks 102, Celtics 93Jazz 100, Spurs 89Raptors 114, 76ers 109Suns 97, Grizzles 95

The Portland Trail Blazers are the strange conundrum in the NBA that nobody really wants to acknowledge

We love Damian Lillard. We all think he’s one of the realest, most genuine leaders in the league. We love C.J. McCullom, a self-made professional scorer, who, much like Lillard, came out of nowhere from a tiny school that plays teams like Boston University in conference games.

Their backcourt, comprised of two top 25 guys in the league, is amongst the tops in the league. But for the third straight year, this lovable crew is headed toward a record teetering around .500, and, likely, a very early playoff exit.

At some point, some soul searching must be done. The overarching theme of this decade is the danger of mediocrity, and really, this team is a glorified version of the Charlotte Hornets. It’s true.

They thought they filled the hole that LaMarcus Aldridge left behind when they traded for Jusef Nurkic last season. It worked for awhile, but the fit this year has been clunky. He’s due for a contract extension, and the Blazers, already capped out from their ridiculous spending spree during the insane 2016 free agency period, will not be able to match what he gets on the open market.

But would they even want to? How many years can they roll back the same backcourt expecting different results?

Their backcourt duo is not as young as you’d think -- Lillard: 27, McCollum: 26 -- and are both maxed out until 2021.

That spells trade. Maybe sooner than later.

In a title-or-bust league, Portland is just OK

Kawhi Leonard’s return will be interesting.For the first 33 games of this season, LaMarcus was the Spurs go-to man. He’s dropping a Spurs-high 22 a game, looking much more like the player we saw in Portland. Gregg Popovich thinks as much, admitting he’s been letting Aldridge just do his thing lately. But that’s all well and good when your supporting cast is devoid of stardom.

Now that Kawhi Leonard is finally back (his first game was Dec. 12), there’s really no reason to think it won’t go right back to the awkward and moody situation it was last year, when reports said Aldridge wanted out.

In most other eras, we’d be considering the Spurs, who have averaged 64 wins a season over the last two years and are 22-10 this season, a real competitor for the finals.

But in the west, it’s the field against the Warriors. That makes every little flaw that much more magnified.

• Bruce Bowen casually dropped an insane anecdote the other day during an apparently very boring Clippers-Suns broadcast. In 2000, Tim Duncan was all but ready to sign with Orlando, but then-Magic coach Doc Rivers declined Duncan’s request to allow family to travel with him on the team’s plane. Absurd. Shaq left in 1996. Orlando could have replaced him with the seventh best player ever only four years later, if not for Doc.  

• Kristaps Porzingis scored one point on 0-of-11 shooting last night and the Knicks still beat the Celtics. Also, Michael Beasley got MVP chants at The Garden.  

• Michael Beasley on when he started feeling the hot hand: "January 9, 1989."

• The Players Tribune had a production team with Isaiah Thomas the day he found out he was traded to the Cavaliers. He’s a millionaire and all-star, sure, but you still feel for him. Take a look.

• TANK WATCH: The Atlanta Hawks (7-23) are looking like a hot contender to be the worst of the worst.

• BULLS WATCH: The Bulls finally lost, but that seven game win streak appears to have ruined their season. What a weird league.

• Adidas just dropped a commercial with an impressive amount of athletic star power including the NBA’s Damian Lillard, Brandon Ingram, Tracy McGrady and Derrick Rose. It’s pretty dope.

• Of course The New York Times paid a reporter to go to the tiny town in Lithuania where the Ball brothers will play. Of course it turned out great. The photography alone is worth a click. [Tap Here]

• The Ringer’s Katie Baker recounts the tumultuous career of Carmelo Anthony from the point of view of a Knicks fan. [Tap Here]

• Speaking of the Knicks, here’s a juicy ESPN piece with a bunch of great details about Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony’s riff. [Tap Here]

A LOOK AHEAD

Porzingis tries to bounce back as the Knicks (17-14) host the Pistons (17-14).7 PM EST

The Lakers (11-18), riding the confidence of beating the Rockets, aim to pull off another upset as they visit Golden State (25-6).10:30 PM EST

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