Senior writer, The Athletic.

Portland
Joined March 2009
For a couple hours Wednesday, all was right in Portland. Damian Lillard was back in the court, making 3s. How Lillard’s return highlighted balance, perspective and togetherness. Free to read. nytimes.com/athletic/7713322…
15
37
8
317
32,369
Deni Avdija says he is a go. He will play and start against the Suns.
5
24
7
252
12,507
Jason Quick retweeted
Ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers’ season opener, team owner Sheel Tyle reaffirmed his commitment to the city and community. “We didn’t just buy the Trail Blazers, we bought the Portland Trail Blazers” #ripcity
17
41
6
367
27,315
Wow. This is a first. Great marketing by Nike.
RIP CITY… it’s opening night of the season for the @trailblazers and there’s a cool new addition to the iconic White Stag sign! Appears to be Ja Morant dunking on the deer. For whatever reason the sign was NOT lit up this morning, as it looks cool lit up. Maybe they’re trying to save on the electric bill? At any rate, HAPPY BLAZERS DAY!! #LiveOnK2 #Portland #ripcity
15
28
1
711
27,914
Meyers Leonard flew to Portland to honor Damian Lillard’s return to the Trail Blazers tonight. But he also wanted to tie up loose ends. “I guess I’ve just always wondered: Did I win Portland over in the very end?” Leonard said. (Article is free) nytimes.com/athletic/7698843…
77
33
25
655
93,325
Jason Quick retweeted
Relocation hangs over the Blazers' negotiations with Portland. It has gone unsaid in public, but not privately, sources said, though Tom Dundon said it's “not a conversation.” Dundon: “We are working to keep the team in Portland. That is the priority.” nytimes.com/athletic/7696385…
5
21
9
60
65,166
Jason Quick retweeted
Using Ernest Hemingway as a tool was a concept Portland Trail Blazers Micah Nori borrowed from Chris Finch, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom Nori served as assistant head coach under for the past five seasons. When Nori first finished reading it, something clicked. @jwquick explains: nyti.ms/3VMCImP
6
5
1
78
23,313
Portland mayor Keith Wilson on Monday sent three nominations to represent city on 7-person Joint Authority for Moda renovations. City council votes on nominees Wednesday The nominees: 1. Raymond Lee 2. Natalie Didion 3. Brian Connell
3
3
24
9,625
Connell is the Deputy Director
for the city Budget Office – He has more than a decade of experience managing complex budgets and fiscal operations across city and state government.
1
1
3
2,084
The Joint Authority will have three representatives from city, three from state and one from Multnomah County.
1
5
1,955
The biggest thing that came out of the Trail Blazers’ exhibition Monday happened before tipoff: Blazers owner Tom Dundon walked over and introduced himself to Tee Morant, Ja’s father. nytimes.com/athletic/7685151…
7
12
2
175
17,148
Reminder: Going to start in 9 minutes …. Drop by if you have the time.
I will be doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) Friday from noon-1 pm. Drop by and ask me a Blazers-related question and I will try to get to it. reddit.com/r/ripcity/s/JrO0u…
1
3
15
8,258
I will be doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) Friday from noon-1 pm. Drop by and ask me a Blazers-related question and I will try to get to it. reddit.com/r/ripcity/s/JrO0u…
3
4
1
50
23,749
The early returns on Ja Morant in Portland? Attitude wise, he’s been a dream. Basketball wise, there’s some rust. On how Ja Morant and his ever-present teeth are defining his first month in Portland: nytimes.com/athletic/7670890…
7
14
4
128
26,397
I understand how everybody loves the scoring of the Lillard's, Morant's and Avdija's ... but I tend to gravitate toward the gritty, do-it-all glue players who win games w/o scoring. That's why I love watching the Blazers' Sidy Cissoko play. All over the place with all-out effort.
14
8
2
349
14,243
Halftime observations as Blazers lead GSW. 57-50 *Dame's shot looks smooth as ever ... started 3-of-4 ... he has 15 points *Even with all of the guards, Deni Avdija still getting touches/initiating offense. Still hard to stop going downhill. He has 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
2
2
194
11,766
*Scoot Henderson had an impressive block at rim *Ja Morant looked rusty. Air-balled a 3, been pinballed around and knocked down on inside drives, but love his push-the-pace approach. *Nori used some intriguing defensive lineups. my fav: Scoot, Jrue, Camara, Sidy, Rob Williams
1
49
3,312