<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/larry-nance-jr.-greg-brown-iii-blazers.jpeg"></figure><h1>Blazers forward Larry Nance Jr. stunned after Greg Brown III’s insane between-the-legs dunk</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-11-23T23:20:51-08:00">November 23rd, 11:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-11-23T23:21:48-08:00">November 23rd, 11:21pm</time><address><a>Arlos Sara</a>Arlos Sara graduated with a degree in Psychology. He is an NBA writer and editor for ClutchPoints and Cavs Nation. Back in the day, while other kids were consumed by their toys and comic books, young Arlos was already thumbing through the pages of sports magazines.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nba/portland-trail-blazers">Portland Trail Blazers</a> rookie Greg Brown III made Rip City roar with one of the day’s best plays on Tuesday. After snatching the ball away from the Denver Nuggets, Brown saw an open lane to the basket then finished with a between-the-legs dunk to the delight of the crowd inside Moda Center.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">THIS MAN REALLY DID THIS IN A GAME <a href="https://twitter.com/gb3elite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@gb3elite</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#RipCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/laTOnkCy06" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/laTOnkCy06</a></p><p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1463377262774865927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">November 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>It was a helluva impressive play that got his teammate and fellow high-flyer Larry Nance Jr. hyped up even after the game. Nance took to Twitter to <a href="https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1463378023562940426">express his reaction</a> to Brown’s aerial act, saying:</p><blockquote>“I’m still trippin off this.. How many times has this been done in an NBA game before?”</blockquote><p>The Blazers veteran nailed it, and we are all with Larry Nance Jr. on this one. Even the best in-game dunkers in league history did not dare attempt that many between-the-legs slams back in their heydays. Brown is different, though. In fact, we’ve already seen the 6-foot-9 forward pull off the same dunk more than once in an NBA game.</p><p>Despite having his moment, the Blazers youngster still has plenty of work ahead of him. At this point, his game needs a lot of polishing. Brown has an insane level of athleticism, but he’ll need to develop more skills if he wants to carve a niche among the big boys.</p><p>For now, we can abuse the replay button and be mesmerized by this stunning display of hops from Greg Brown III.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers forward Larry Nance Jr. stunned after Greg Brown III’s insane between-the-legs dunk

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Blazers-news-Larry-Nance-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>11/18/21</figcaption></figure><h1>Larry Nance Jr.’s solemn vow to Blazers fans after epic crowd chant</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-11-18T05:36:22-08:00">November 18th, 5:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-11-18T05:36:22-08:00">November 18th, 5:36am</time><address><a>Julian Rhim</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trailblazers overcame all obstacles to rally past the Chicago Bulls 112-107, and Blazers’ fans truly displayed their love for veteran Larry Nance Jr. The forward sank a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left in the game to put away the visiting team. He finished the night with 16 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes, while also scoring very efficiently. <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_McCord/status/1461218760749031428">According to AJ McCord</a>, the Blazers’ arena celebrated Nance Jr. with an epic crowd chant:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked <a href="https://twitter.com/Larrydn22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Larrydn22</a> about this moment after the game: </p><p>"I had my mask on, I was trying not to smile too hard, that was incredible…I promise that they're going to get that [heart &amp; hustle] from me every night" <a href="https://t.co/AjyISxKF03" target="_blank">https://t.co/AjyISxKF03</a></p><p>— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_McCord/status/1461218760749031428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">November 18, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>His first season with Portland, Nance Jr. vowed that he would play his heart out each and every night for the fans, and that he was extremely grateful for them. Especially in the month of November, the big man has been making his presence felt, scoring in double-digits in three of his past five games.</p><p>The Blazers pulled off a much-needed victory, considering how slow they started out the season under new head coach Chauncey Billups. With a two game winning streak, the team is now back at .500 with a record of 8-8. They sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, and look to play better together under a new system.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/frustrated-damian-lillard-blasts-rule-changes-after-blazers-loss-to-clippers/">Point guard Damian Lillard’s struggles have been a major issue</a> for a team that has been quite stagnant with their postseason aspirations. Though they have made the playoffs a myriad of times, they have failed to make it to the later rounds. Lillard is currently averaging 20.4 points per night, which would be the lowest since his rookie season. His success is necessary if the Blazers want to thrive in the postseason. But for now, Portland can celebrate Larry Nance Jr.’s big night.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Larry Nance Jr.’s solemn vow to Blazers fans after epic crowd chant

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><source type="image/webp"></source><img src="https://cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/larry-nance-jr.-cavs-blazers.jpeg"></figure><h1>Blazers forward Larry Nance Jr. receives perfect welcome from Cavs crowd</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-11-03T18:51:06-07:00">November 3rd, 6:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-11-03T18:52:11-07:00">November 3rd, 6:52pm</time><address><a>Arlos Sara</a>Arlos Sara graduated with a degree Psychology. He is an NBA writer and editor for ClutchPoints and Cavs Nation. Back in the day, while other kids were consumed by their toys and comic books, young Arlos was already thumbing through the pages of sports magazines.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers’ prodigal son returned to Northeast Ohio on Wednesday night. It’s not LeBron James, but someone who’s deeply rooted in Cleveland—Larry Nance Jr. The former Cavs forward paid a visit to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse together with the Portland Trail Blazers, hoping to steal a victory.</p><p>As expected, Cavs fans inside the arena gave Nance Jr. the warm welcome he deserves after being a valuable member of the team and community while donning the wine and gold for four years.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Cavs welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/Larrydn22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Larrydn22</a> back to Cleveland ❤️</p><p>(pls watch <a href="https://twitter.com/2ez_nassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@2ez_nassie</a> 😂) <a href="https://t.co/NGMLmkEiYc" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/NGMLmkEiYc</a></p><p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1456039873442369541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">November 3, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>To recall, Nance gave local business owners a <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2020/12/cleveland-cavaliers-larry-nance-jr-announces-initiative-to-help-struggling-local-businesses.html">helping hand</a> with free promotion at each game. The 6-foot-7 forward was a rarity for the Cavs as he genuinely cherished being able to play in Cleveland. It’s a no-brainer, though, since Nance was born and raised in the city.</p><p>His trade to the Blazers was a <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-larry-nance-jr-sends-heartfelt-message-to-cleveland-after-trade-to-blazers/">tough pill to swallow</a> for Cavs fans and Nance, but the latter, as well as the franchise, decided that their timelines are already different. At this stage of his career, Nance should already be helping contenders instead of babysitting a helluva young team. The separation didn’t develop any ill feelings, as evidenced by the reception in the video above.</p><p>As warm and fuzzy as the reunion was for Nance, his former teammates left all of the pleasantries when it came to the court. The Cavs controlled the game for the most part and weathered a late rally by the Blazers to earn the home win, 107-104.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers forward Larry Nance Jr. receives perfect welcome from Cavs crowd

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><source type="image/webp"></source><img src="https://cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cavs-news-larry-nance-jr-trashes-anonymous-scout-who-called-collin-sexton-a-backup-and-an-ahole.jpg"></figure><h1>Larry Nance Jr. trashes anonymous scout who called Cavs star Collin Sexton ‘a backup and an a**hole’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-10-15T11:33:55-07:00">October 15th, 11:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-10-15T11:39:05-07:00">October 15th, 11:39am</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Larry Nance Jr. is no longer a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers after he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason, but he’s still defending one of his former teammates. That would be Cavs guard Collin Sexton, who was just viciously trashed by an anonymous scout in a <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/10/15/nba-preview-anonymous-scout-takes-lakers-nets-warriors-bucks" rel="noopener">Sports Illustrated article.</a></p><p>The criticism:</p><blockquote>I think Collin Sexton is a backup and an a–hole. None of his teammates like him. I like Garland. I actually like Garland. I think he plays hard. He puts pressure on you because he can shoot, he can pass, and he’s a much more willing passer. He’s not out there trying to f—–g get his stats and go home in the same way that Sexton is.</blockquote><p>That is pretty dang harsh, and Nance took to Twitter to stick up for his former Cavs teammate:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Whoever said this is a moron with zero knowledge of anything going on in Cleveland. I’d hide behind anonymity too if I was this bad at my job <a href="https://t.co/0QoeHnqrah" target="_blank">https://t.co/0QoeHnqrah</a></p><p>— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) <a href="https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1449063563490836480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">October 15, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Now, <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-rumors-collin-sextons-on-court-behavior-irking-teammates-fueling-opponents-taunts/" rel="noopener">there were some rumors last season</a> about Sexton not being liked by some of his teammates. There have also been a number of trade rumors involving the guard. So even though Nance is speaking out about this, there could be at least a nugget of truth in this scouting report.</p><p>It’s still extremely harsh, and the point about anonymity is a good one. Hiding behind anonymity to completely trash a player’s reputation like this isn’t a great look.</p><p>As it stands, it seems things are going better between Sexton and the Cavs. The possibility of Sexton getting an extension has increased after a bit of doubt, so we’ll see if they can agree on something before the start of the season.</p><p>Sexton had a career season in 2020-21, averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 47.5% overall and 37.1% from 3-point land. Cleveland struggled to a 22-50 record, but there’s promise about the young core in place.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Larry Nance Jr. trashes anonymous scout who called Cavs star Collin Sexton ‘a backup and an a**hole’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Larry-Nance-Jr.-is-exactly-what-the-rebuilt-revitalized-Trail-Blazers-need.jpg"></figure><h1>Larry Nance Jr. is exactly what the rebuilt, revitalized Trail Blazers need</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-09-28T14:58:15-07:00">September 28th, 2:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-09-28T14:58:15-07:00">September 28th, 2:58pm</time><address><a>Jack Winter</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Damian Lillard did his best this summer to recruit free agents to the Portland Trail Blazers. He didn’t even have dreams of somehow luring another superstar to Rip City. Lillard instead sought out potential additions that could help his team on the margins, like former Blazer Nicolas Batum and athletic wing Kelly Oubre Jr.</p><p>But even the voice of a highly respected player like Lillard only carried so far given the Blazers’ cap constraints and perceived place in the league’s championship hierarchy. By the time free agency was finished in earnest after the first few days of August, Portland had seemingly missed out on all of its top targets for the mini mid-level exception, not to mention Lillard’s handpicked favorites.</p><p>It turned out that Neil Olshey, though, had plans to fortify the Blazers’ incumbent core other than the minimum-contract additions of Cody Zeller, Tony Snell and Ben McLemore. Portland’s subsequent trade for Larry Nance Jr. wasn’t made against his will, either. Unlike Batum, Oubre and so many more players across the league who were pitched by Olshey and Lillard this summer, Nance actually <i>wanted</i> to be in Rip City.</p><blockquote>“Portland is the type of place that I feel like I fit in more,” Nance, an Akron native who spent the last three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said at Media Day. “Ohio is a little bit…behind in the times? Whereas Portland is progressive and very forward-thinking, and I love that. I love that.”</blockquote><p>Politics of his new team’s hometown isn’t the only factor that drove Nance to the Blazers, though.</p><p>Nance got his first taste of playoff basketball during LeBron James’ swan song with the wine and gold after being traded to Cleveland at the 2018 trade deadline. He didn’t play a major role for the Cavaliers en route to James’ eighth straight trip to the NBA Finals, underwhelming compared to expectations.</p><p>But Nance has nevertheless been chasing the unique thrills of basketball at its highest level ever since, another reason he sought out the team with the NBA’s longest active playoff streak when <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/08/larry-nance-jr-cleveland-will-always-be-home-for-the-nances-its-in-our-blood.html">discussing potential trade destinations</a> with Cleveland GM Koby Altman.</p><blockquote>“I’m a guy that’s been dying to get to that stage again,” Nance said. “The playoffs is what basketball’s all about, what we dream about as kids. I know for a fact I’m ready for that stage again, and that was a big factor in my decision to come out here, in wanting to come out here.”</blockquote><p>Making the playoffs for a whopping ninth straight season wouldn’t be enough for Portland, of course. To a man, the Blazers were careful not to predict true championship contention in 2021-22, perhaps learning from mistakes of prior Media Days while setting more realistic expectations for a team clearly a rung below basketball’s cream of the crop.</p><p>Make no mistake, though. Portland has lofty aspirations this season, and Nance is the type of role player perfectly suited to help Chauncey Billups’ team reach them.</p><blockquote>“I feel like Larry Nance is a good pickup for our team,” Lillard said on Monday, unprompted. “Athleticism, if it’s a team playing small-ball [he can play] small-ball five, can make a three, get us extra opportunities offensively. Defensively, make us more versatile.”</blockquote><p>That proven sense of two-way versatility is what separates Nance not just from the Blazers’ other offseason additions, but each of their returnees, too.</p><p>He’s just as disruptive a help defender as Robert Covington, but stouter checking all types of players one-on-one in switches or traditional matchups. Nance is a far more viable small-ball option up front next to Covington than Nassir Little, and boasts natural playmaking chops that will allow him to thrive in Billups’ movement-based offensive attack. Nance is much more comfortable attacking close-outs off the bounce than Covington, too.</p><p>None of that means Nance will force his way into Portland’s ironclad starting lineup. Norman Powell made clear that the confidence instilled in him by Billups and Olshey was a major factor in him re-signing with the Blazers, and Covington’s superior volume from three makes him a cleaner fit opening games next to Jusuf Nurkic. Mixing and matching lineups will be easier for Billups with a stylistic and positional chameleon like Nance coming off the bench anyway.</p><p>Still, don’t be surprised if Nance quickly establishes himself as Portland’s nominal sixth starter, closing games against certain opponents and changing them with extra-extended stints when Billups feels his team needs a jolt. Players capable of affecting the game on a nightly basis without needing the ball, taking a shot or guarding the other team’s best player will never get the due they deserve from casual fans. But every great team has at least one of those offense-defense connectors, and Nance is ready to be the Blazers’.</p><blockquote>“I’m excited to play whatever role, how big or how small, these guys deem necessary for me to do to get back to the playoffs, and hopefully deepen their run,” Nance said. “Whatever they need me to do is what I’m gonna do…I’m here to do whatever it takes.”</blockquote><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Larry Nance Jr. is exactly what the rebuilt, revitalized Trail Blazers need

Fred VanVleet

Marcus Smart

Patty Mills

Eric Bledsoe

Larry Nance Jr.

Willie Cauley-Stein

J.R. Smith

Tyson Chandler

Chandler Parsons

Jamal Murray

Los Angeles Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers

Portland Trail Blazers

1 season

Career

3 seasons

https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1477690659100246017/

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Glad @ChelseaFC took care of business this morning, cause I for sure wasn’t waking up at 4:30 to watch us whoop up on Leicester

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https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1459974093088849924/

https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1452314562540228620/

Clearly the best player in the world right now.. unreal

https://twitter.com/Larrydn22/status/1451665666587566080/

Gotta check out that new #FM22beta 👀 excited to see what kinda transfer budget they give Newcastle lol @FootballManager

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2021-22 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.9	5.6	2.0	0.4	1.0

2021-22 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.9	5.6	2.0	0.4	1.0

Larry
Nance

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