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.
The Injury Bug Truly Bites
Nov 22, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) handles the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr (10) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. | Erik Williams/Erik Williams-Imagn Images
It was a tough day for old email inbox where the dreaded “triple name PDF” struck, and if you’re a longtime follower, you know that means bad news on the injury front.
Rookie big man Donovan Clingan is facing a tough setback with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee. After an MRI, it’s clear he’ll be out for a while, with reevaluation set for two weeks. But let’s be real, reevaluation doesn’t mean he’s back on the court. Historically, according to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, players with this injury miss about 41 days or roughly 22 games. It’s a bummer because Clingan was showing real promise to begin his NBA career, and now that might be on hold until January.
Next, Matisse Thybulle is dealing with a right ankle sprain. After a knee procedure before the season, he was ramping up to return when he sustained an ankle injury during a workout. The timeline for his return is three to six weeks, which means he could miss nearly half the season before making his debut.
Robert Williams was also on the PDF, the official press release is sent to media members emails and includes a daunting physical attachment. Williams has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol. He didn’t return after halftime in the game against Memphis on Monday, and he has alreayd been ruled out for Wednesday’s game against Indiana.
The Blazers injury updates didn’t stop there. Jereami Grant, who left the game against Memphis with a left knee injury, is doubtful for the Pacers game on Wednesday, but there’s a silver lining—no PDF for him yet, which is a good sign. DeAndre Ayton, who has been out with a finger injury, is now questionable. He had been listed as doubtful for the last three games, which suggests he’s trending in the right direction.
The absence of Clingan and Williams means players like Duop Reath and Jabari Walker will likely get some more opportunities to play center and the Blazers will likely experiment with more small-ball looks with Deni Avdija as the de facto five man.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Portland Trail Blazers’ current challenges, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- Listener questions about the long-term futures of veteran players
- Strategies for dealing with an offense struggling to find its rhythm
- Why no two players fit well together when they’re struggling
Nov 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots the basketball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, Scary Terry has hops. At 30-years-old and with a decade of play under his belt, Terry Rozier can cut like a knife, shake loose defenders, deflect, drive, and kick the ball out to the wing on a layup with the court vision still 20/20. He shoots, too. Tidy jumpers, deep and swooning corner threes, tricky little one-handed layups, fastbreak two-handed deliveries, Rozier runs through them like a personal rolodex.
Perhaps it’s a good reminder, for you as much as me, that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it. For one, despite what we’re led to believe by watching NBA basketball and listening to people talk about it, 30 isn’t old. Besides age, there’s a more important personal factor: whether an athlete keeps up. NBA basketball gets pushed in new directions every season as competitive teams break the mold and not yet competitive teams try to keep up.
Optimization is an unfortunate word in our modern and decidedly capitalist lexicon, but it’s what good athletes do. If there’s a skill to develop, they figure out what it is. Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mid-range this season is a perfect and very successful example. The bigger thing these smaller improvements add up to are teams with a depth of different weapons to pull out against the seemingly unbeatable juggernauts at the top. Occasionally, front offices identify what their unique skillset or style of play can be — think the decidedly big Cleveland Cavaliers, or the micro, play-every-position, Thunder — and build toward it.
For an athlete like Rozier, who many were quick to call a Kyle Lowry 2.0 when he arrived in Miami, the improvisation he’s shown with the Heat was born out of necessity but also an aptitude for reading the room. The Heat are a workaholic organization with a next-man-up mentality they don’t just talk about as an inspirational soundbite, but is twined through the fibre of all that they do.
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
Injury Matisse Thybulle is dealing with a right ankle and knee injury. The defensive specialist’s timeline for return remains uncertain as the team evaluates his condition. Thybulle’s status will be closely monitored. (Blazer’s Edge)
Preview The Portland Trail Blazers face the Indiana Pacers in an upcoming game. Get all the details including the prediction, time, and TV channel to watch. Game preview provides critical insights for fans. (Oregon Live)
Analysis Despite numerous injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers are performing reasonably well. Listen to the latest episode of the Blazer Focused Podcast for an in-depth analysis of the team’s resilience. Blazer Focused Podcast offers expert insights. (Oregon Live)
Analysis The point guard position is in good hands. Shaun Powell takes stock of the position and what the future looks like. (NBA)
Opinion The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game format all it wants, but there’s only one fix. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Feel Good What happens with the money collected from fines? How the league turns bad moments into good deeds. (SB Nation)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest
Nov 26, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) on the floor after a collision with San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Injury Concerns and Player Updates
Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues are another significant concern. With a history of multiple meniscus surgeries, Embiid’s situation remains precarious. His recent absences highlight the risks associated with drafting him early in fantasy leagues. The high failure rate of such surgeries suggests that Embiid’s availability might be limited, making him a risky trade target.
Donovan Clingan’s grade 2 MCL sprain is also noteworthy. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reevaluate him in two weeks, but this type of injury typically requires a longer recovery period. With Clingan sidelined, players like Ayton and Rob Williams are expected to see increased playing time, making Williams a valuable addition to fantasy rosters.
Lauri Markkanen’s Injury Impact
Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury adds another layer of complexity to fantasy basketball strategies. Markkanen, who has been dealing with back and knee issues, was helped off the court after a knee knock. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a severe ACL or MCL tear, it could sideline him for at least a week, if not longer. This development opens up opportunities for players like John Collins to step up and fill the void, potentially increasing their fantasy value.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Blazers podcasts.
Trail Blazers Losing Streak Runs to 6 with Losses to Suns and Spurs Ah yes, losing, welcome back my old friend. I cannot wait to discuss you in detail.
Donovan Clingan (and Robert Williams?) Set to Return for Trail Blazers | Benefits of a Soft Schedule Donovan Clingan will very likely make his return against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Robert Williams could join him.
Robert Williams Trade Market: Useful Trade Chip or Part of the Trail Blazers Future? Talking trade value and market for Rob Williams III. Plus, executive rankings across the NBA.
