https://youtu.be/H8moZ48MAsA
The Blazers’ injury situation is completely out of control. Unlike other teams with reduced rosters, who are simply struggling with COVID protocol, the Blazers are legitimately banged up, and, even worse, the injuries are centered on their starters. Walking into their locker room is like walking into a geriatric ward that was hit with a wrecking ball, except with 100% fewer bedpans and 100% more media presence.
C.J. McCollum is one of the injured players, and since he has been playing 34 minutes per game, there’s a lot of empty space in the rotation that needs to be filled up by somebody. Enter Anfernee Simons, proudly stating with chest puffed out that he is that somebody. His role has fluctuated over the past few years, and, up until two games ago, he was is in a low point of that flux. Obviously, his development isn’t a priority for a Blazers franchise that will probably keep the Lillard/McCollum core intact until one of them retires, but here’s his chance to get some developage in before his minutes are yanked away again.
The best thing for Simon’s career might be to trade him, but NBA teams aren’t required to make decisions that are in the best interests of the players, so that might only happen if they decide that Zach Collins really did die and they need a Zach Collins replacement. Speaking of Zach Collins replacements, if some team doesn’t pick up Skal Labissiere within the next 48 to 72 hours, I am OFFICIALLY going to watch the highlight videos I made for him while crying.
[Editor’s note: sorry for the failed original upload of this video, which was basically dead on arrival. Those glitches were pretty trippy, though.]