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.
Was This Scoot’s Best Game?
Nov 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. | Trevor Ruszkowski/Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Trail Blazers lost in Indianapolis on Wednesday night, falling 121-114 to the Indiana Pacers. Despite the outomce, this ranked pretty high on the Things To Be Happy About During a Loss Scale. A scale I just made up and will likely never mention again but still.
Anfernee Simons went nuts in the third quarter (16 of his 30 points on 5-7 shooting), Deandre Ayton returned to the lineup and looked competent for a team desperate for some stability at center.
And Scoot Henderson, after missing three and a half games, played one of his best games as a pro. Maybe even his best? He was great.
He demonstrated improved pace and decision-making, finishing with 17 points, nine assists, and just one turnover. His ability to control the tempo and make smart plays was a huge step in the right direction. So much of Scoot’s game has been at one speed: Fast As Heck. He’d mash the turbo button and hope for the best.
Agaisnt Indiana he maintained his aggressive, but played a varying speeds and set up his teammates with controlled and considered passes. Scoot has so many physical gifts but his decision making, and lack there of, holds him back at times. Wednesday he was a more mature version of himself. If there is more of that on the horizon for Scoot, it’s excellent sign for the Blazers’ young point guard.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ performance, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- The impact of Simons’ scoring on the Blazers’ offense
Giving thanks for a better-than-expected rookie class
Happy Thanksgiving! To give you something to talk about with your undoubtedly NBA-fluent families and friends, here are some rookie rankings to chew over.
1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
Over his last ten games, McCain has averaged 23 points per game (top 25 in the league in that span) on solid efficiency, including 39% from deep on crazy volume. Philly hasn’t had much to cheer about this season, but McCain’s surprising on-ball creation and superb off-ball movement have Philly fans seeing a future star (wait, maybe that’s just their court). I’m obsessed with this little moonwalk he uses to shake OG Anunoby juuuust enough to bury a shuriken in his eye:
McCain moonwalks into a three over OG Anunoby
McCain likely won’t score like this when the team’s fully healthy (and he’s cooled off the last two games), but the fact that he can is a great sign for the team’s present and future.
2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle has risen to second place thanks to an excellent recent stretch. Since becoming a starter, Castle’s averaged 15 points, three boards, and five assists while playing ferocious defense.
Castle is incredibly versatile. At nearly 6’6” pre-shoes and pre-hair, he has the size and speed to fill any number of roles. As I wrote about at length here, he’s quickly becoming the perfect amorphous fit next to Victor Wembanyama.
Although his three-point accuracy is still developing, Castle’s confidence in his shot is the skeleton key that unlocks the rest of his offensive game. And the more effective he is on offense, the more opportunity he’s given to create absolute havoc on defense.
I’m particularly intrigued by his ability to be a faux-big man in the screen and roll:
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Milestone 10,000. Thank you for being one of the first 10,000 readers across our Locked On newsletters. And, we’d be extra thankful if you forwarded this newsletter to a friend to help us reach more fans who cannot get enough of their favorite team.
Fans In the latest Rip City Roundtable, the discussion centers around what the Trail Blazers have to be thankful for this season, fostering community spirit among the fans. (Blazer’s Edge)
Watch Check out the postgame videos as the Portland Trail Blazers dissect their loss to the Indiana Pacers, offering visual insights into the game’s key moments. (Blazer’s Edge)
Analysis The Trail Blazers’ poor defensive rebounding proved costly in their loss to the Pacers, highlighting a critical area for improvement. (Oregon Live)
Must Read LaMelo’s proclivity for fouls, how many wins Philadelphia needs for the play-in, examining OKC’s defense, and more. (ESPN+)
Feel Good The Pistons’ willingness to spend, the Nets’ and Lakers’ new coach, and more things for each NBA team to be thankful for. (CBS Sports)
Analysis A roundtable of experts discusses the league’s biggest storylines after the first month of the season. (Fansided)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
In case you missed it...
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
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest | Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury could sideline him for at least a week, impacting fantasy basketball strategies. This opens opportunities for players like John Collins, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh to increase their roles and fantasy value.
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues | Monday’s NBA action saw significant fantasy basketball impacts, with Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs suffering hamstring injuries, potentially increasing roles for Cole Anthony and Anthony Black.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Blazers podcasts.
Deni Avdija Is Finding His Rhythm But Trail Blazers Lose in Memphis The good news: Deni Avdija is finding his footing. The bad news: Pretty much everything else.
Anfernee Simons Delivers in the Clutch as Trail Blazers Get Bounce Back Win in Houston Anfernee Simons scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Trail Blazers avenged an ugly loss on Friday night with a clutch win over the same Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Can the Trail Blazers Follow The Houston Rockets Rebuild Path? | Game Preview with Locked On Rockets A crossover edition of the show with Jackson Gatlin of Locked On Rockets, previewing the Trail Blazers two games against the Rockets on Friday and Saturday.
