NBA Takes…with Teresa – Portland Trail Blazers injuries, life-saving trade, and this and that
Teresa Powe
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The Portland Trail Blazers hard luck this season. Harden “trade” saves someone else. And more COVID-19 protocol postponements.
This is a very sore spot for me. I am in the high-risk category. I don’t particularly appreciate that some of these players do not respect the league’s coronavirus rules, their teams, and fans. They break the rules and get what they want. First time together on the court, and the Brooklyn Nets Little Three (They’re little cause they’re tired) lost in double overtime to Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Oh, they all scored big. That’s what they do. They are such great role models for our children.
Enough of that and them. Let’s get to it. I have a lot to talk about.
Portland Trail Blazers
What else could go wrong for the Portland Trail Blazers? First, the player and the non-athlete had the coronavirus, and their training camp was pushed back. Unfortunately, the Blazers can’t seem to get it together with the squad many said would take them back to the WCF. January has seen two of their best players with injuries that will keep them out for some time. Jusuf Nurkic took a swipe at Malcolm Brogdon and fractured his wrist. After surgery Tuesday, Nurkic will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Six weeks???
But the icing on the cake is CJ McCollum. A team player, CJ didn’t want Nurkic to be out by himself and decided to fracture his foot on January 16 against the Hawks. A follow-up evaluation on the Portland sharpshooter happens in four weeks. The Blazers are 8-6, which puts them fourth in the West, three games behind the Clippers for third, and three games ahead of 12th place Sacramento. Dame, are you ready now? The New York Knicks would love to have you!
Life-Saving Trade
Finally, James Harden got his wish and was reunited with Mike Di’Antoni when the Nets, in a four-team deal, sent Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince, four first-round draft picks, and four swaps to the Houston Rockets. Houston sent Caris LeVert to the Indiana Pacers for Victor Oladipo. Trust and believe Houston and Indiana won that trade.
Of course, we have to mention the biggest winner. LeVert said the trade might have saved his life. During his Pacers physical, doctors found a small mass on his kidney. His attitude is great and the Columbus, Ohio native will make a big impact on Indy when he returns.
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This and that
- In the lawsuit with Zion Williamson‘s former agent Gina Ford, the judge ruled in favor of Williamson and deemed the agent’s marketing agreement void.
- The Memphis Grizzlies are in the middle of three postponements due to league health and safety protocols.
- In lighter news, the New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics last Sunday by 30 points! Don’t tell me it’s because they didn’t have Jayson Tatum. They had Jaylen Brown, Daniel Theis, Tristan Thompson, and Jeff Teague.
- And the worse news of all, after everything this young man has been through, Karl-Anthony Towns has the coronavirus. We send him our best wishes.
- A big week for Stephen Curry and the Warriors. It started with a win over the defending champion Lakers 115-113. Saturday night Steph passed Reggie Miller for the second-most made three-pointers in NBA history.
- Last week’s column was about the NBA’s new, stricter Covid rules. Please read the rules, then watch the games and see that no team is following them. At least I haven’t seen a “cooling area.”
- 11 of 502 player COVID tests came back positive last week.
Related Story: 5 damage control big man trades the Blazers can make
That’s it for this week’s NBA Takes. See you next week!