Senior writer, The Athletic.

Portland
Joined March 2009
During final stretch of a close game, Micah Nori pulled Damian Lillard and Ja Morant for defensive purposes. “Neither one of us, you know, are probably used to that,” Lillard said. The reaction of the 2 stars told the early story of Portland’s season. nytimes.com/athletic/7719435…
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For a couple hours Wednesday, all was right in Portland. Damian Lillard was back in the court, making 3s. How Lillard’s return highlighted balance, perspective and togetherness. Free to read. nytimes.com/athletic/7713322…
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Deni Avdija says he is a go. He will play and start against the Suns.
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Jason Quick retweeted
Ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers’ season opener, team owner Sheel Tyle reaffirmed his commitment to the city and community. “We didn’t just buy the Trail Blazers, we bought the Portland Trail Blazers” #ripcity
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Wow. This is a first. Great marketing by Nike.
RIP CITY… it’s opening night of the season for the @trailblazers and there’s a cool new addition to the iconic White Stag sign! Appears to be Ja Morant dunking on the deer. For whatever reason the sign was NOT lit up this morning, as it looks cool lit up. Maybe they’re trying to save on the electric bill? At any rate, HAPPY BLAZERS DAY!! #LiveOnK2 #Portland #ripcity
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Meyers Leonard flew to Portland to honor Damian Lillard’s return to the Trail Blazers tonight. But he also wanted to tie up loose ends. “I guess I’ve just always wondered: Did I win Portland over in the very end?” Leonard said. (Article is free) nytimes.com/athletic/7698843…
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Jason Quick retweeted
Relocation hangs over the Blazers' negotiations with Portland. It has gone unsaid in public, but not privately, sources said, though Tom Dundon said it's “not a conversation.” Dundon: “We are working to keep the team in Portland. That is the priority.” nytimes.com/athletic/7696385…
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Jason Quick retweeted
Using Ernest Hemingway as a tool was a concept Portland Trail Blazers Micah Nori borrowed from Chris Finch, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom Nori served as assistant head coach under for the past five seasons. When Nori first finished reading it, something clicked. @jwquick explains: nyti.ms/3VMCImP
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Portland mayor Keith Wilson on Monday sent three nominations to represent city on 7-person Joint Authority for Moda renovations. City council votes on nominees Wednesday The nominees: 1. Raymond Lee 2. Natalie Didion 3. Brian Connell
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Connell is the Deputy Director
for the city Budget Office – He has more than a decade of experience managing complex budgets and fiscal operations across city and state government.
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The Joint Authority will have three representatives from city, three from state and one from Multnomah County.
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The biggest thing that came out of the Trail Blazers’ exhibition Monday happened before tipoff: Blazers owner Tom Dundon walked over and introduced himself to Tee Morant, Ja’s father. nytimes.com/athletic/7685151…
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Reminder: Going to start in 9 minutes …. Drop by if you have the time.
I will be doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) Friday from noon-1 pm. Drop by and ask me a Blazers-related question and I will try to get to it. reddit.com/r/ripcity/s/JrO0u…
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I will be doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) Friday from noon-1 pm. Drop by and ask me a Blazers-related question and I will try to get to it. reddit.com/r/ripcity/s/JrO0u…
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The early returns on Ja Morant in Portland? Attitude wise, he’s been a dream. Basketball wise, there’s some rust. On how Ja Morant and his ever-present teeth are defining his first month in Portland: nytimes.com/athletic/7670890…
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I understand how everybody loves the scoring of the Lillard's, Morant's and Avdija's ... but I tend to gravitate toward the gritty, do-it-all glue players who win games w/o scoring. That's why I love watching the Blazers' Sidy Cissoko play. All over the place with all-out effort.
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