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 Best Half of the Season
Jan 8, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
The Portland Trail Blazers put together their most dominant half of the season in the opening two quarters against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
The final score, 119-100, doesn’t do justice to Portland’s magnificient first half.
The Blazers delivered a masterclass in offensive efficiency and defensive tenacity. The game was essentially over by halftime, with the Blazers cruising to a 75-42 lead.
Portland shot an abusrd 31 of 45 from the floor, including a sizzling 11 of 21 from beyond the arc. The ball movement was crisp, with 17 assists on those 31 made shots. It was a team effort, but Shaedon Sharpe led the charge with 21 points, followed by Deni Avdija with 15 and Anfernee Simons with 10. The Pelicans simply had no answer for the offensive onslaught.
The Blazers’ Yin and Yang
If there was a perfect embodiment of our dominance, it came in the form of Sharpe and Avdija. Sharpe was the epitome of smooth, making the game look effortless. His jumper was pure silk, and he flirted with a perfect half, going 8 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 6 from three. His two misses bounced around the rim before softly dropping out. Dude had the touch.
On the flip side, Avdija was a force. Where Sharpe was butter, Avdija was the knife, cutting through the Pelicans’ defense with relentless energy. He finished the half 6 of 11, including 3 of 6 from downtown. His passes were a thing of beauty, showcasing both his basketball IQ and hustle.
Wednesday was easy. The Pelicans, to be sure, are awful. But the Blazers have had their share of hiccups against bad opponents this season (Helo, 42-point home loss to the Utah Jazz). There were no hiccups to found on Wednesday. Just a full throated beatdown, and their best half of the season.
For more insights and a deeper dive into this dominant Blazers performance, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
• Jerami Grant’s continued absence and its implications
• Rob Williams’ return to action and Donovan Clingan’s rest day
• The ongoing saga of Blazers games availability on YouTube TV
The Cavs, the Thunder, and the joy of a job well done
Jan 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. | Ken Blaze/Imagn Images
The ESPN broadcast had its usual coach interview at the start of the fourth quarter, but the dialogue was far from typical. Instead of anodyne coach-speak, a smiling Kenny Atkinson marveled at the basketball being played before him.
“What a great basketball game,” the Cavaliers coach gushed. “I wish I could just sit back and watch it.”
As someone who did precisely that, I can say that Atkinson sure wasn’t wrong.
Cleveland/OKC had something for everyone. There were loud dunks, post moves, occasional but far from overwhelming flurries of three-pointers, high-level shotmaking, ping-pong ball movement, and great all-around defense (despite what the final score might indicate).
The major players exerted maximum effort on both sides and played more than their usual share of minutes. Coaches unveiled tactical adjustments at a lightning pace, counters to counters at a rate you usually only see in the playoffs. There was even a lot of zone defense (which, if you read Basketball Poetry, you would’ve been prepared for!). The refs were largely inobtrusive and inconsequential.
Frankly, if you didn’t like this game, there’s not much hope for you.
Something that struck me halfway through an exquisite third quarter: everyone on the court was simply doing their job. I don’t love how that sentence reads on paper; it makes it sound like a dull affair, people clocking in and clocking out before going to a chain bar with flashing neon signs instead of character for their preferred domestic light pilsner of choice.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. What is an NBA player’s job if not to entertain?
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
Preview The Portland Trail Blazers face off against the Dallas Mavericks. Key details include game time, schedule, and injury updates. (BlazersEdge)
Replay Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans: The final score and boxscore highlight Shaedon Sharpe and CJ McCollum’s performances. (BlazersEdge)
Preview The Trail Blazers will clash with the Mavericks at American Airlines Center at 8:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Analysis A look at the state of zone defense in the NBA. Who’s running it, and who isn’t? (Basketball Poetry)
Must Read NBA greats think this D-II coach is a basketball genius. So why don’t you know who Jim Crutchfield is? (The Athletic)
Analysis Is this the worst rookie class in modern NBA history? Jared Dubin examines box-score production to compare this year’s rookies to the past. (Last Night in Basketball)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Must-Add Players and Surprising Drops
Jan 7, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) is defended by Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti/John Hefti-Imagn Images
As we approach the NBA trade deadline, it’s crucial to stay on top of the fantasy basketball waiver wire. Let’s dive into the most added and dropped players over the last 48 hours, and discuss some must-roster options for your fantasy teams.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. tops the list of most added players on Basketball Monster. While he’s had two solid games recently, I’m cautious about his long-term value, especially if Jimmy Butler is traded. Remember, any incoming player in a Butler trade could easily take over his role and minutes.
Ryan Dunn is another popular add, likely due to the Suns’ five-game week. However, he’s not a long-term hold for 12-team leagues. Use him for the extra games this week, but be prepared to move on quickly.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is seeing increased opportunities with Paul George out, making him a solid short-term add. Naji Marshall has also been playing well and is worth considering, despite a recent poor shooting night.
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.
