The month of December has been weird for the NBA schedule with the NBA Cup and the Christmas holiday games. So a two-game week is much needed for all the injuries this team has incurred. It helps a lot when you win both games. Deni is a bona fide stud, and if it wasn’t for him, this team might have 10 wins with all the players we’ve lost the last month. But he’s here, and our team is slowly getting healthier. The thing that will determine our success is not our health, but whether Splitter makes good decisions. He has shown flashes of positivity and competency, but the only way he gets the job for next year is if he can get us into the Play-In and then into the playoffs. We’re a third of the way through this season, and the jury isn’t out yet on Splitter.
Game #27 - 12/18 vs Sacramento (133-134 OT W)
A classic grind-em-out game against a team we should definitely beat. Sacramento has no identity since losing Domantas Sabonis, outside of living and dying by Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. But an 18-point lead with 4:25 left to then only win by one point is an abomination. I’m aware that the state of the NBA promotes players shooting threes, allowing teams to make up larger deficits quicker, but this is so bad for a team that’s spent the last few seasons focusing on defense under Billups. Games like this showcase why Splitter might not be the guy. Toumani fouling out with 3:50 left in the game clearly was the difference. He had four fouls in the fourth quarter. You cannot have your best defensive player making those kinds of decisions that late in the game. It allowed the Kings to end regulation on a 22-6 run, where DeMar made two massive threes, one of which sent the game to overtime. Fortunately, we have Deni Avdija, who can make free throws with the best of them. But if it weren’t for him, we would’ve lost this game, only to see the Kings in Sacramento on Saturday. Hopefully, this is a lesson in how to approach late-game large leads for Splitter because we cannot keep sucking ourselves into these kinds of situations.
Game #28 - 12/20 @ Sacramento (98-93 W)
Three’s a streak! We led 91% of the game and held the Kings to 6/31 from three-point range. You can’t be much happier in a win. Deni led the way with 24 points and 11 assists, with Shaedon adding 23 points. This was a more balanced offensive performance for Portland, with five players scoring in double digits and eight players taking 5+ shots. Our missed free throws are still a problem: we missed 8, going 17/25. I genuinely don’t understand how this has been a storyline this season. Maybe it’s because we don’t have Anfernee Simons anymore to set that stage, but you’d think with Lillard on the team and able to talk to guys about free throws, this team would be better. Outside of the victory, the best moment of the game was Shaedon baptising Westbrook on a nasty dunk. Sheadon has already made a name for himself in his dunking and jumpability, but man, oh man, is he something special when he gets a step on someone.
Pinwheel of the Week
It’s once again Deni. He came in clutch in both games, leading the way in points and pressure free throws at the end of the game. He’s a guaranteed All-Star this year unless he gets hurt. He is the de facto best player and leader of this team. It’s going to take an off week or a superstar performance for someone to take him over.
Record: 2-0 (12-16)
Week 10 Games: Mon 12/22 vs Detroit, Tue 12/23 vs Orlando, Fri 12/26 vs LA Clippers, Sun 12/28 vs Boston