The Portland Trail Blazers have a lot of doubters, especially for a team sitting atop the Western Conference standings. A weak schedule and injuries to opposing teams’ important players have been the most common reasons why most outside of Portland have viewed the Trail Blazers’ start as little more than a fluke. But with a 106-102 victory against the Indiana Pacers, owners of the best record in the NBA, those naysayers can no longer argue that the Trail Blazers don’t have a signature win against a quality opponent playing at full strength. RECAP: http://forwardcenter.net/trail-blazers-get-their-first-signature-win-at-home-against-the-pacers/ TWEETS OF THE NIGHT: http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/tweets-night-december-2nd-2013 LILLARD POSTGAME: http://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2013/12/02/dropboxnba8vidprod01Lillardpostg-3062387 STOTTS POSTGAME: http://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2013/12/02/dropboxnba8vidprod01StottsPostGa-3062409
Doing all this without their 13 Lotto pick. How much better does CJ make this team? Is he the third scorer the prognosticators think this team needs?
I'd say our 1st signature win was against the Spurs. Then our next one was against the Bulls then Warriors on a back to back. That would make this our 3rd Signature win.
CJ McCollum. What a curious case here. At one end of the spectrum you have a guy who is very young, our first round draft pick and showed potential as well as nice shooting (not really a PG, though). Would love to see what he could bring. On the other end of the spectrum you have a good thing going, you may not want to allow chemistry issues to fit him as this team is gelling very well. What say you Blazers fan. Do we play him much when he gets back or do we let him sit and learn since we are doing so well this season?
I do hope so to, but we have to imagine he will have his rookie growing pains and can we afford that with how we are doing this year? I hope so, but it is Stott's decision not mine.
has there been any recent reports about CJ's progress? I know about 2-3 weeks ago he had a follow up xray and things looked good, but haven't heard anything else yet.
The National Media discounted both, because Rose missed the last quarter, and Iggy dnp. I would argue every road win was a signature win too, but that's just me.
Fun fact: Lance Stevenson @ Portland Last year 2 pts 3 reb 3 ast 2 to 40 min This year 2 pts 4 reb 2 ast 3 to 29 min The Rose Garden just isn't his place.
The 13th pick almost always needs a learning year or two or three, especially when he's behind Wesley Matthews and Mo Williams. He would have gotten few minutes this season.
I think a lot of you guys are over emphasizing the boost McCollum will us. Rookie with basically a summer league of NBA experience. No real training camp because of the injury, and will basically play as a 4th guard.
What really impressed me is that Indiana brought their A game last night. George had a career night and we made only 5 "3's", yet managed to take it from them. Portland is playing fabulous ball so far this season.
I can agree with that; with the team playing as they are, CJ's not going to take Mo's minutes unless we're way up or way down. Not till next season anyway.
