Anfernee Simons Articles - Page 5

Anfernee Simons didn’t quite see the gravity of his breakout season coming. Entering his fourth NBA season firmly behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in the Portland Trail Blazers’ backcourt, he expected to play a supporting role for a contender instead of cementing himself as a budding star with Lillard watching from the sidelines and […]

When it comes to the 2018 Draft Class, the obvious guys to get in the hobby are Luka Doncic and Trae Young cards. To an extent, one could score great deals on Collin Sexton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stocks in the market. But among these players, there’s one option that’s slowly making noise out there – […]

CJ McCollum may no longer be with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he remains supportive of the team and his former teammates as they try to navigate the season without their stars. In fact, he recently showed love to rising star Anfernee Simons, who has taken over for Portland amid Damian Lillard’s injury and McCollum’s […]

The Portland Trail Blazers finally tore it down at the trade deadline, sending out C.J. McCollum and three other impact veterans in a series of moves that placed the organization’s focus firmly on next season. Don’t tell that to Chauncey Billups and his team’s new-look locker room, though. Rejuvenated by the additive presence of Josh […]

Mere moments after the most transformational trade deadline in franchise history, interim general manager Joe Cronin all but confirmed what the Portland Trail Blazers’ series of cost-cutting, win-later moves meant for Damian Lillard over the season’s remainder. Portland’s superstar point guard would “most likely” sit out until 2022-23, Cronin said at a post-deadline press conference, […]

Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons and the new-look Portland Trail Blazers have definitely earned a week-long vacation. Portland will embark on the All-Star break as perhaps the hottest team in basketball, winners of four straight games after taking down the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard-fought, highly entertaining 123-119 victory on Wednesday at FedEx Forum. Memphis entered […]

Anfernee Simons dropped 30-plus points for the third straight game on Monday, the longest streak of his burgeoning career, leading the new-look Portland Trail Blazers to a blowout road victory over the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks. He made NBA history, too, hitting seven triples against Milwaukee to set a new record for the most made threes […]

Winning isn’t exactly the top organizational priority in Rip City after a truly transformational trade deadline. Nobody seems to have told Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jusuf Nurkic and the re-invigorated Portland Trail Blazers, though. Portland routed the Milwaukee Bucks 122-107 on Monday at Fiserv Forum, winning its third straight game since overhauling the roster last […]

Josh Hart had barely been in Portland for more than 24 hours when he took the floor at Moda Center on Saturday noon. Just after his standout debut with the Portland Trail Blazers, though, it’s more than safe to say Rip City is just as excited about Hart’s new future as he is. Invigorated by […]

It’s barely been more than 48 hours since the Portland Trail Blazers broke up the most successful, productive backcourt in franchise history. After his sorely depleted team’s stirring win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, though, Chauncey Billups implored fans in Rip City to dream of new possibilities awaiting the Blazers with a […]

LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn’t exactly bring it, and several players who were pivotal for the Portland Trail Blazers almost certainly won’t be on the roster when this team is really trying to win. Don’t dismiss the long-term significance of Portland’s stirring 107-105 win over the sinking Los Angeles Lakers despite the unique circumstances […]

Already the league’s most active trade partner, the Portland Trail Blazers still may not be done dealing leading up to Thursday afternoon’s deadline. Indeed, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported in the immediate wake of Portland sending C.J. McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday that interim general manager Joe Cronin and the front office are […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ primary goal in Friday’s shocking trade with the LA Clippers was saving money. They not only ducked below the luxury tax this season, making the franchise and billionaire owner Jody Allen subject to the most lucrative distribution of tax penalties in league history, but also shaved considerable money off their books […]

The Portland Trail Blazers traded two key pieces on Friday in Norman Powell and Robert Covington. That could just be the start, though. CJ McCollum has seen his name being involved in trade talks over the last week and there is reportedly a firm belief amongst league executives that Portland will move him either by […]

The move the Portland Trail Blazers are more likely to make than any other at the trade deadline won’t address their most obvious, big-picture need. But shedding just over $3 million worth of salary by February 10th to duck the luxury tax and receive part of the most lucrative distribution from taxpaying teams in league […]

The Portland Trail Blazers used isolation basketball to pull away from the worst team in the Western Conference on Friday night. After the Houston Rockets suddenly pulled within six as the game clocked ticked below five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, C.J. McCollum and Anfernee Simons mercilessly matchup-hunted for Garrison Mathews in pick-and-roll, clearing […]

Chauncey Billups called timeout with 5:29 remaining in Friday’s game, his team at real risk of squandering what seemed like an insurmountable lead after Jalen Green’s step-back three pulled the Houston Rockets within six. The Portland Trail Blazers hadn’t encountered much trouble running roughshod over the Western Conference’s worst team, but some ugly turnovers and […]

When Damian Lillard was announced to be out for a significant portion of the season, Portland Trail Blazers fans looked to Anfernee Simons. The young guard would need to step up big time for the team without their lead guard. He had some big shoes to fill, but they needed to be filled for them […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ surprising recent surge sans Damian Lillard, thankfully, may not prevent them from making a major deal at the trade deadline after all. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the New Orleans Pelicans have shown interest in acquiring C.J. McCollum leading up to February 10th. Portland would reportedly receive a package […]

The Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-107 on Tuesday night, their crunch-time rally spoiled by D’Angelo Russell’s tie-breaking layup past Anfernee Simons with 2.9 seconds remaining. Simons had the chance to send his team to a walk-off win on the game’s next possession, but his tough chance from three caromed off the […]

The trade deadline is less than three weeks away, and the Portland Trail Blazers’ stunning recent turnaround doesn’t change what’s been obvious since Neil Olshey was dismissed in early December. Even with Damian Lillard fully re-committed to Rip City, interim general manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers are poised to be among the most active […]

The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Toronto Raptors 114-105 at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, closing out a long, arduous road trip by building a 30-point lead and almost squandering it before the final buzzer. The victory moves the Blazers 20-26 on the season, including a stunning 4-2 since they last took the floor in Rip […]

The Portland Trail Blazers earned one of their most impressive wins of the regular season on Friday, beating the Boston Celtics 109-105 at TD Garden. The win is Portland’s fourth in six games, all of which have come without Damian Lillard. Anfernee Simons continued staking his claim as one of basketball’s most intriguing young guards, […]

C.J. McCollum poured in 20 first-half points against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, knocking down tough jumpers from all over the floor en route to 8-of-11 shooting and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. His performance was a ringing endorsement of not just McCollum’s conditioning after spending six weeks on the sideline, but just how dangerous […]

The Portland Trail Blazers squandered an otherwise admirable and competitive effort with a dismal fourth quarter on Wednesday night, falling to the Miami Heat 104-92 at FTX Arena. Chauncey Billups’ team scored just 12 points in the final period, shooting 5-of-23 from the field as Miami amped up its defensive intensity even further. The Blazers […]

The Portland Trail Blazers moved to 2-1 during a crucial six-game road trip on Monday, beating the bottom-dwelling Orlando Magic 98-88 in a convincing win not nearly as close as the final score suggests. C.J. McCollum played for the first time since December 4th, back on the floor after recovering from a collapsed right lung […]

Anfernee Simons continued staking his claim as a cog of the Portland Trail Blazers’ present and future on Saturday night, playing the half of basketball of his life. He cooled off after a scintillating first two quarters that included 26 points and seven triples, but made his impact keenly felt regardless as the Washington Wizards […]

The still-depleted Portland Trail Blazers used one of their most well-balanced performances of the season to earn a rare road win Saturday, beating the Washington Wizards 115-110 in the nation’s capital. The Blazers’ victory was just their third away from home all season and moves them to 17-25 overall, still tenth in the Western Conference. […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ season just keeps on taking hit after hit this season. Injuries, COVID-19 woes, and ownership drama has plagued this team all year long. After a disappointing first-round exit against the Denver Nuggets, fans wanted this team to bounce back. Instead, they seem to have regressed further. The latest blow to their […]

Anfernee Simons needed 24 shots to score 23 points in his depleted team’s stunning 114-108 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night at Moda Center. Don’t fret about that inefficiency, though. For yet another game while moonlighting as the Portland Trail Blazers undisputed lead ball-handler, Simons lived up to the sky-high potential that’s made […]

The Brooklyn Nets seem like they need a break. At least most of them. Ten dudes at once in health and safety protocols about a month ago, bringing back Kyrie Irving part-time and whatever distraction that sparked, and now James Harden dinging up his knee a little bit are just some of the issues this […]

The depleted Portland Trail Blazers pulled off one of the most stunning wins of the regular season on Monday, beating Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets 114-108 at Moda Center for a second straight victory. Playing without starting guards Damian Lillard (abdominal tendinopathy-injury management), C.J. McCollum (right lung pneuomthorax) and Norman Powell (health-and-safety […]

There’s a possibility Damian Lillard returns to the court in a few days after seeking further consultation for abdominal tendinopathy. It seems only a matter of time until C.J. McCollum suits up again, now fully healed from a collapsed right lung that’s caused him to miss a full month of the regular season. Even if […]

Anfernee Simons played the game of his life with a heavy heart. The Portland Trail Blazers guard poured in a career-high 43 points and doled out seven assists in his team’s thrilling 136-131 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, going toe to toe with Trae Young as an injured Damian Lillard watched from […]

Anfernee Simons had a night to remember Monday, as he stepped up and led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 136-131 home win against the visiting Atlanta Hawks. Simons was a man possessed in that game, finishing the contest with a career-high 43 points, powered by a red-hot 9/16 shooting from behind the arc. Following […]

The Portland Trail Blazers are poised to get a much-needed boost ahead of this week’s crucial four-game homestand at Moda Center. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has cleared health-and-safety protocols and is set to be on the sidelines on Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey […]

Chauncey Billups touched on the pitfalls of Damian Lillard’s abdominal tendinopathy well before it was officially announced the Portland Trail Blazers superstar would be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. Lillard was clearly more affected by his nagging core injury than normal during Portland’s blowout loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday. He […]

If Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors was a test of their ability to compete with basketball’s best teams, most every indication suggests that the Portland Trail Blazers failed. The league-leading Warriors beat the Blazers 118-103 at Chase Center, using a balanced scoring attack and dogged team-wide defense to send Portland to another […]

All offseason long, rumors were running rampant about the Portland Trail Blazers and the future of franchise star Damian Lillard. Many thought he would end up being traded, but the Blazers were able to keep him in town. Since then, Lillard has made it very clear that he is still loyal to Portland, but that […]