The Portland Trail Blazers have won four in a row since trading away CJ McCollum and two other starters prior to the NBA trade deadline. The expectation was that the Blazers were positioning themselves to lose as many games as possible to increase their chance of a Top 4 pick in this summer’s NBA draft. But the strong play of Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic and newcomers Josh Hart and Justise Winslow is turning that plan on its head. The Blazers are suddenly winning again while playing an up-tempo, exciting brand of basketball.
The Blazers now have a week off as the NBA heads into its All-Star break. Portland’s remaining schedule is road-heavy (14 of its remaining 23 games are away from the Moda Center) but it's not full of winning teams. The Blazers’ remaining strength of schedule ranks 29th out of 30 teams, according to tankathon.com, which means it may not be as easy for the Blazers to tank (lose games in hopes of increasing their chances of a high lottery draft pick) as many fans would hope.
The Blazers' recent stretch of good play and how that impacts the upcoming offseason is the main topic of this week’s 3-on-3 Blazers podcast with KGW's Orlando Sanchez and Jared Cowley.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Worried or not worried? Blazers' draft position and the surging Pelicans, plus Dame's supermax
NBA trade deadline has passed. Now can Cronin build a winner around Dame?
Blazers interim GM Joe Cronin on the trade deadline, direction of the team
Emergency pod! Blazers trade Norman Powell, Robert Covington to Clippers
What will the Portland Trail Blazers do at the NBA trade deadline?
Why we like Joe Cronin, plus recapping the Dame drama
Neil Olshey • Larry Nance Jr. • Lineup changes?
When will Dame be Dame again?
Blazers & NBA season preview!
The latest on Ben Simmons plus where to watch the Blazers
Is it Ben Simmons time in Portland?
With Norman Powell re-signed, is a big trade on the horizon?
To keep Dame, the Blazers need major improvements. Can Neil Olshey get it done?
'What a mess': Olshey, Blazers bungle hiring process, angering Dame and the fan base
Blazers search for a new coach, Olshey spars with the media, and should the Blazers trade CJ McCollum?
Dame made history and the Blazers lost. Can Portland bounce back?
Blazers-Nuggets: Game 2 concerns, Game 3 adjustments
Lillard, Nurkic lead Blazers to Game 1 win against Nuggets
Blazers-Nuggets series preview: 4 keys, 3 predictions
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Coach Carvalho Podcast
Club Shay Shay
The Big Podcast with Shaq
Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick
Roommates Show with Jalen Brunson & Josh Hart