PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers lost in Miami on Wednesday night, 104-92. CJ McCollum and Anfernee Simons each scored 20 points in the first half but the Heat defense locked up the Blazers down the stretch as Heat center Bam Adebayo put Portland away in the final seven minutes.
Today's episode also breaks down the Western Conference tiers, ranking each of the 15 teams in the West by group. It's a fun exercise to see where the Blazers stack up and how the playoff picture is taking shape. It's a monthly check in with what the rest of the West is doing and what part of the middle of the pack the Blazers belong in.
Finally, the show closes with the latest trade rumors. The Blazers are reportedly still in the market for Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons. Portland also views players like Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant and Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown as the kind of trade targets who would appease Damian Lillard. Plus, an injury to Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner complicates the trade market for Portland and the rest of the NBA.
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About Locked On Blazers
Mike Richman has covered the Portland Trail Blazers in various capacities since 2014 as a beat writer for The Oregonian, a reporter at NBC Sports Northwest and now in the form of the only daily Trail Blazers podcast, Locked On Blazers. The Pass First Point Guard will get you closer to the team with reports from inside the Moda Center and by unpacking the statistics to know and about your favorite team. You will also find regular guests and can get your questions answered with weekly mailbag shows.
If you would like to participate in the weekly mailbag show, submit your questions to @mikegrich on Twitter or email lockedonblazerspod@gmail.com.
Locked On Blazers is the best way to stay up to date on the latest happenings in the Portland basketball world. It’s available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube with new shows every weekday.
