Nuggets assistant Popeye Jones won his first game as acting head coach on Saturday against the Rockets, Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes. Jones was coaching in place of head coach Michael Malone and lead assistant David Adelman, both of whom entered health and safety protocols.
“I’m blessed to be a part of this organization,” Jones said after the game. “You come in as the only new guy, and guys are trying to get a feel for you. … To come into this culture, and all these guys are such good guys, man. They don’t complain, they work hard every day. Like I told them, ‘You established this culture. I’m blessed just to be a part of it.’”
Denver won the contest 124-111 behind Facundo Campazzo‘s 22 points, 12 assists and five steals. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic also added 24 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Nuggets secure their third-straight victory.
There’s more from the Northwest Division tonight:
- The Trail Blazers have hired Rodney Billups as an assistant coach, the team announced in a press release. Billups is the younger brother of head coach Chauncey Billups, who joined the franchise last June. Portland owns the third-worst record in the West at 13-22 and has lost four straight games.
- Every championship contender will take a look at Thunder forward Kenrich Williams leading up to the trade deadline, ESPN’s Zach Lowe opines. Williams has averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 20.8 minutes for Oklahoma City this season, shooting 46% from the floor and 41% from three-point range. He also shot 44% from deep last season.
- Nuggets two-way guard Markus Howard has hired new representation, choosing to sign with Octagon, the agency announced on social media (Twitter link). Howard will be represented by agents Josh Beauregard-Bell and Alex Saratsis. He’s averaged 4.3 points and 7.3 minutes in 16 games this season and is currently sidelined due to a knee injury.
Blazers went from hopeful title contenders, to playoff team, to fighting for a playoff spot to one of the worst records in the league. All within like 2/3 seasons.
How do they fix it? sign the rookie head coaches younger brother.
Dame wants out, Nurkic and RoCo will leave come end of season for nothing, there isn’t much young coming through just a bunch of journeymen.
Portland will be rebuilding for a few years after this
I think the biggest question Portland has to ask themselves is whether or not this is just “a down year” for a Dame or a sign of whats to come. For what it’s worth I would lean on the former and Dame will bounce back, especially with his 3 ball. If it’s the latter, Portland needs to sell and sell now
If it was just a down year I think they’d still beat out some of the weaker teams but they currently have the 4th least wins.
Definitely need to sell now
Yes, hiring the dim bulb Billups as a head coach was a scorching error and bringing in his brother throws fuel on the bonfire, but you’re wrong about Lillard wanting out, just as wrong as you can possibly be. ;) Ahem
In baseball they say it’s better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late.
Of course Portland doesn’t know this because they don’t have a baseball team.
Well said lol
Portland January schedule probably makes this season a full tanking one, Dame has to pass Drexler then he will be shutdown. FO will try to move Nurk Rocco Anf @TD but no panic move is on the way till summer… Billups bro may help the team at least Chauncey
Nurk and RoCo are gone, Lillard and McCollum take up all the cap space.
Start of this season Blazers were so hopeful now they are hoping for a good pick.
What went wrong and who needs to be held accountable?
Surely it’s time for a rebuild and trade Dame
why should Blazers go full rebuild when your all time franchise player is not asking to be moved?
This team was poorly managed by Olshey and J.Allen for many years but i cannot see them trade now.
Blazers are playing pretty bad since pre-season with a rookie coach named by a fired GM, 2 UFA in the starting 5, Dame & McCollum are injured…so that’s not gonna be a good season for sure but rebuild is not giving anything either good for many years so wait and see
Dame is never leaving Portland, and because of the first rounder they traded to the Bulls to get Nance they cannot trade another first rounder until they alter the protections with the bulls or the pick conveys, they will trade out every expiring guy but Dame and Simons stay and they will build with those 2 as their starting and bench PGs
What’s to build around? And how would you build?
Dame and CJ have played together for almost a decade and have progressively got worse these last couple years which isn’t uncommon considering they are getting older. You have two key role players in RoCo and Nurkic who will leave for nothing in FA and the only way you get something back for them is to trade them now.
Their isn’t really much young talent coming through, come FA you don’t have any cap space.
There really isn’t much to build with or build around. But you do have Dame who still has tons of value. What you need to do is sell now while he still can get you a good return.
Jody Allen needs to sell and allow someone to come in that has passion and vision for the franchise. Blazers franchise has been ridden into the ground with no vision and leadership from the owner since Pauls passing. There is no way that the best long term decisions with players and staff are made with a owner half way in the door. Seahawks are unfortunately in the exact same position not by coincidence. Make the best decision for both franchises and sell now, to truly passionate owners.