Well Blazer fans, it was everything we hoped it wouldn’t be. After limping into the playoffs with an unprecedented lack of depth available to Head Coach Terry Stotts, the Portland Trail Blazers lost in an embarrassing performance to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night, 100-86. With all the focus going toward the teams still playing, it’s hard to find much else to talk about beside whether your team won or lost their most recent game once the playoffs start. As we wait for the two teams to collide in Game 2 tonight, let’s look back at the past week in Trail Blazers news.
1) Tim Frazier announces his presence: At first when I found out the Trail Blazers had signed the rookie guard out of Penn State, I had to do some research to find out just who he was. During the past week Frazier not only tied a career high and notched his first double-double (13 points, 11 assists) in the regular season finale, but was also named the NBA Developmental League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player. The former first team all-Big 10 performer isn’t likely to see much more time in the playoffs, however, his impressive first professional season warrants at least an invite to the summer league with the Trail Blazers next season.
2) Sign gets Trail Blazers in hot water: After the Game 1 loss to Memphis, a sign was posted in the Portland locker room that stated several different goals and statements designed to give the team a further motivation. One of the points stated was: “we don’t lost to Spanish players,” and has fallen under scrutiny from the media over the past two days. Stotts publicly apologized and said the sign was supposed to be a “light-hearted joke.” Nicolas Batum stated that the jest dates back to former teammate and Spaniard Victor Claver and should not be taken seriously. We will find out if this becomes a public distraction or simply another storyline of the Trail Blazers’ postseason.
3) Wesley Matthews happy to be back: After spending extended time in Los Angeles rehabbing after surgery on his left Achilles tendon, Wesley Matthews has rejoined the Trail Blazers for the playoffs. Matthews appeared in good spirits as he answered questions before Game 1, joking that he figured to return for Game 6 of the series. Trail Blazers’ fans haven’t had the chance to see Matthews at the Moda Center since his injury, and I’m personally looking forward to hearing the crowd the first time Matthews is displayed on the big screen in Portland on Saturday.
4) Pictures of the year: Bruce Ely of The Oregonian wrote an article highlighting the highs and lows of the team’s season and included pictures of some of the more memorable times of the year. From Meyers Leonard‘s mustache to the team traveling throughout Portland for various events, Ely shows another side of the celebrities that we sometimes forget do more than just play basketball. My personal favorites from the collection: Damian Lillard assisting on a marriage proposal and Meyers confirming his four point opportunity with a Lakers fan in the front row of a game in March.