Mike Richman here, the host of the daily Locked On Blazers podcast, with your daily Locked On Blazers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Blazers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Anfernee Simons Delivers
Nov 23, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) and the bench react to his three point basket against the Houston Rockets late in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. | Thomas Shea/Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Anfernee Simons, the one you may remember from being a good offensive player in recent seasons, finally arrived on Saturday night in Houston.
Simons returned to the lineup after missing a week with an illness on Friday and looked. Well he looked like someone who hadn’t played basketball in a week continuing a trend of underwhelming production. The Blazers got thrashed and Simons had a quiet, passive night on hardwood. It was another night where Simons place with the franchise squarely came into question. If he isn’t an offense force, a reliable individual scorer on a team desperate for exactly that skillset, what is he?
Luckily, for all parties involced — team, player, anxious fan — Saturday night was a different story. Simons played a pivotal role in the Blazers’ 104-98 bounce back victory, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership. The Rockets’ shooting cooled off from Friday’s buest, and the Blazers’ defense held strong, allowing them to stay competitive. Simons was instrumental in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 25 points, including five crucial points in the final 75 seconds. His quick drive to the basket and a clutch three-pointer were key in securing the win.
Simons also demonstrated leadership by stepping up for teammate Shaedon Sharpe during a scuffle with Dylan Brooks. His performance was a reminder of his level of production, and seeing him play with a smile, which a he flashed after a bucket midway through the fourth quarter, was a welcome sight for fans.
Saturday was a step in the right direction for Simons and the Blazers. It’s hard to know where the path ultimately leads, but everyone needs more of the version of Simons that lead the Blazers to a fourth quarter victory, regardless of where this finally lands.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ weekend games, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- The impact of Scoot Henderson’s absence and his recent car accident.
It was the three second violation heard round the world. Kidding, but it was strange enough that you looked to confirmation of what you were seeing to those around you, and/or rewatched the replay of it several times.
Posted up under the Raptors basket, Rudy Gobert had Scottie Barnes on his back in a mismatch and was calling to Julius Randle for the ball. Beyond the arc. Randle dribbled the ball, unhurried, as the shot clock ticked down. He’s eyeing the lane, would clearly prefer to drive, and even plants a foot to take off from when the whistle finally comes for Gobert, strolling out of the key nonchalantly, with all the urgency you’d approach a dental appointment.
Still frustrated, Gobert then needlessly hip-checked Barnes at the other end, sending him to the line and sending the Raptors up in the match and in momentum. Toronto won 110-105.
You can take your pick for what’s more worrisome, because the perspective shifts depending on the root of a few problems the Wolves face.
That Gobert opted to showboat his frustration is definitely the most obvious, in terms of visibility. It isn’t the first time he’s let his petulant side out on the floor. That Randle saw Gobert — impossible not to with his long arm up and waving — and chose to ignore him, dribbling the ball into oblivion instead, is another concern. The biggest question around the Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade was fit — for playing style and chemistry. A slight detail that nearly gets lost in the sequence is that Jaden McDaniels hustled for a really long rebound, swung it to Randle, and the urgency of that move was immediately sapped by what transpired.
Taken individually, these would be wrinkles for a working team to smooth by the next match. And yes, both Randle and Gobert addressed the sequence, with Randle prompting media to “name a perfect family” and Gobert saying “people think great teams are the teams where the sky is always blue”. Normally, I’d enjoy an athlete beginning with a euphemism, in this case, it feels like aversion.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Portland Trail Blazers face the Memphis Grizzlies. Get ready with this game preview, including predictions, time, and TV channel. (Oregon Live)
Injury Donovan Clingan is confirmed out for Monday’s game against the Grizzlies due to his knee sprain. The latest update impacts the team’s lineup. (Oregon Live)
Legacy Nikola Jokic continues to redefine basketball creativity with his full-court swat attempt against the Lakers, nearly achieving an incredible buzzer-beater despite the constraints of the Trent Tucker rule. (CBS Sports)
Biz NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill discusses his investment in women’s sports and managing Team USA, highlighting his active retirement and commitment to sports development. (The Ringer NBA Show)
Rumor Western Conference coaches and executives are reportedly frustrated with the East’s playoff picture, suggesting a shift to a 1-16 seeding format to enhance fairness and competition. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As we wrap up another thrilling week in the NBA, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances and crucial player updates that could impact your fantasy basketball strategy. With six games on the slate this past Sunday, there was no shortage of action and intrigue.
Player Updates and Injury News
One of the most significant updates this week involves Ja Morant, who has been upgraded to questionable. The Memphis Grizzlies have a consistent pattern of moving players from doubtful to questionable before they return to play, so Morant’s return seems imminent. Marcus Smart is also off the injury report, ready to make his comeback. However, the Grizzlies are still without Vince Williams Jr., who is sidelined for weeks, and Zach Edey.
In New Orleans, the return of key players is on the horizon. While Herb Jones remains out, Jordan Hawkins is back, and CJ McCollum is expected to play soon. Dejounte Murray has been upgraded to doubtful, indicating he might return later this week. These returns will undoubtedly shake up the rotations and fantasy implications for players like BJ Boston and ElfridPayton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been idle since Wednesday, and Alex Caruso, who aggravated a hip injury, is out again. This extended absence is concerning for fantasy managers holding Caruso. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng’s fractured finger will keep him out for three to four weeks, opening up reserve minutes for Dillon Jones until Jaylin Williams returns.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Blazers podcasts.
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