Considering the fact that the two started dating since their college life at the University of Illinois, it is quite magical how the two have come so far.
From Zach Collins dislocating his shoulder in the third game of the season that led to shoulder surgery to Rodney Hood tearing his left Achilles in December-- all while Jusuf Nurkic remained sidelined.Then, there was the Orlando bubble injuries, which included, but wasn't limited to Collins' left ankle injury that will require surgery, CJ McCollum suffering a vertebral fracture and Damian Lillard dislocating his left index finger and spraining his knee. Carmelo returning to the Big Apple would align with the paper reporting "several league sources believed [Melo] preferred to end his career in New York" when the NBA season was suspended on March 11. In 46 minutes of work, McCollum finished with 36 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
The Portland Trail Blazers have officially put a bow on the 2019-2020 season.From the return of Bosnian Beast Jusuf Nurkic to the court, the emergence of Gary Trent Jr., Carmelo Anthony joining the squad, Logo Lillard redefining the three-point line, eight grueling games to claim the Western Conference eight seed in the playoffs, and showing no quit in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, this season was certainly one for the books.But, the wild ride has come to an end in the bubble with a 131-122 Game 5 loss to the Lakers.Now, the Trail Blazers will leave the NBA bubble, rest and recover and begin preparations for the 2020-2021 season-- whenever that may be. Gabriel joined a long list of unavailable along with Lillard, Zach Collins and Nassir Little, leaving the Blazers with just nine available players at the start of the game.Then Whiteside dislocated his left pinky finger in the first quarter, temporarily leaving the Blazers with just eight available players before he returned in the second quarter.Former Blazers forward Clifford Robinson passed away on Saturday at the age of 53. But, the market for the NBA’s leading shot-blocker may be lukewarm at best given his notoriety to be out of position on defense to chase blocks. That plan didn’t come to fruition as Mario struggled to remain a part of the Blazers rotation with Terry Stotts going as far to play Anfernee Simons at the three at times during the restart in Orlando.
Portland – you want to say revive as the word – allowing me to come in and just be myself and be who I am and do what I do best.
The season stretched more than ten months and saw the Blazers navigate a lengthy injury list, the addition of a Hall of Famer, a global pandemic, the reintroduction of their star center and brief strike to protest racial injustice.“It was an interesting season with a lot injuries and a lot of different obstacles that we face,” Blazers guard CJ McCollum said, launching in the long list of challenges that befell the Blazers and the world between last October and Saturday evening.That winding tale had its final chapter Saturday inside the bubble at Disney World where the shorthanded Blazers, who were without All-Star Damian Lillard, didn’t have enough firepower to stay with the Lakers.McCollum was brilliant just as he had been when Lillard missed time early this season. So again, to say the Blazers have earned their much-needed rest and recovery is an understatement. The news of where Melo ends up next season -- will be one of the biggest offseason storylines for the 2020-21 Portland Trail Blazers squad. This becomes more of an option if the team declines Ariza’s option and relinquishes Whiteside and Melo’s cap holds, among others. He was honored with a moment of silence prior to tip off and the Blazers players also honored the man who spent the first eight seasons of his 18 year career in Portland. We ran out of gas. I really hope it can be Portland at the end of the day. After dating for four years, they tied the knot in Oregon on August 2015.
However, after an injury-filled season, the Blazers likely will not offer an extension Collins would accept. -- CJ McCollum“Going forward it will be nice to let my back rest,” McCollum said thinking about the offseason. And, if you happen to want to see the dance from another angle... Lebron is so funny and cool. Given his familiarity with the system and hustle on the boards, the Blazers may look to bring him back on a minimum deal. A season that began with hopes of the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance since 1992 ended before it could get going due to injuries to starters Zach Collins and Rodney Hood early in the season. In fact, she even confessed how she wasn't good at the sport initially but got better after participating in a co-ed basketball camp with her brother and burnt the midnight oil to get better. Heading into the bubble, Melo slimmed down to become 'Skinny Melo' and moved back to the small forward position in the Blazers starting lineup where he excelled as the Blazers third scoring option behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollumSpeaking of the former, Melo called Lillard "the top guy [he's] played with."
Portland head coach Terry Stotts summed up the loss Saturday night stating that his team “ran out of gas.” I was really proud of the way we played tonight. He’s the top guy I’ve played with.