Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trali blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers had been enjoying a strong run, but their momentum came to a halt against the Boston Celtics. Boston put on a clinic in ball movement, highlighting a gap the Blazers have yet to bridge. Their sharp shooting from deep powered them to a 129-116 win, reminding Portland of the challenge ahead.

Things don’t get any easier for the Blazers, as they now face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who currently hold the best record in the Eastern Conference. After a few recent setbacks, the Cavs are eager to get back on track. Portland can find some confidence in their last matchup against Cleveland on March 2nd, where they pushed the game to overtime before falling 133-129. However, with both the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns securing wins on Monday, the Blazers need more than just a moral victory to keep their play-in hopes alive.

If you're attending the game or tuning in from home, expect to hear an extra lively crowd. Tonight marks Blazer’s Edge Night, an annual event where generous readers contribute tickets for kids who might not otherwise have the chance to experience an NBA game. Around 1,800 seats will be filled with excited children, youth, and their chaperones. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this special night possible!

However, the most significant issue—and the one that he is probably not going to be able to fully "fix"—is the foot speed issue. Although there is room for improvement, it is likely that certain games will be so awful for Clingan that it would be foolish to give him a lot of playing time if the Blazers have a speedier option. if he starts will depend on if there is a better alternative, barring an unexpected progress in that area. I wouldn't be shocked if he emerged as the clear-cut starter sooner rather than later, but I would also be surprised if he played very little when the opposing center was speedy and preferred playing outside the paint.

I would declare without a doubt that Clingan is a rotation player on a very excellent squad if the question were rephrased to ask that question. The question is a strong "maybe" as written. I adore Clingan. As long as he is healthy, he will continue to play in the NBA because of his skill at blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and setting screens. Any advancements he makes simply increase his worth. However, as you correctly note, he is lacking in a few areas at this stage in his career. In order to compensate for his lack of foot speed, I believe he will improve offensively and learn how to use his body more skillfully.