A set of stats you won’t here a lot about tonight, but certainly deserves recognition.

Nicholas Batum put up 11 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks, the first five-by-five since Kirilenko did it in 2006. It’s only the 15th five-by-five in history.

And for that, we salute Nic.

Byron Mullens tries to put LaMarcus Aldridge on a poster with an impressive dunk against the Blazers, though Byron probably wants to see if there’s a photo for that poster where he doesn’t look like he’s about to hit the floor face-first.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

nbatrailblazers:

By scoring 23 points and handing out 11 assists, Damian Lillard joined Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history with at least 20 points & 10 assists in an NBA debut. #BEASTMODE

Ammo back! (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Stache may be gone, but Adam Morrison is back in the NBA. The pride of the Pacific Northwest signed a one-year contract with the Portland Trailblazers, which is effectively just an invitation to training camp. However, Portland is a team that started Luke Babbitt four times last year; it’s not like he’s trying to crack the Dream Team.

Morrison is pictured here in a Nets jersey, though he was a longshot to play in Brooklyn once the mustache disappeared. He offered to grow a ridiculous chin beard, start a podcast, and ride a fixed-gear bike to compensate, but Brooklyn held fast to their ironic-mustache residency requirement. So he headed to the next best option, Portland, where he hopes to rebuild his career while racking up DNP-CDs and guest appearances on Portlandia. Worst-case, he starts a diabetes-friendly low-carb food truck and learns to play the bass.

The Stache is dead! Long live The Scraggly Goatee!

gotemcoach:

2011-2012 DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE YEAR

Russell Westbrook’s acrobatic block of Nic Batum, torquing his body to avoid contact.  Oh, and Rusty blocked this layup at the end of the 4th quarter.  Oh, and the game was tied.  Oh, and OKC ended up winning in OT.

#GotEmCoach

GotEmCoach makes the best gifs.

On Monday afternoon, the Portland Trailblazers announced Neil Olshey as their new general manager. Last Friday, it seemed like Olshey would return as the general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers.  As it goes with the Clippers, the deal fell apart and Olshey headed to Portland. 

For all of the changes the Clippers have made on the court this year, Donald Sterling is still the same owner. The same owner does not want to pay for coaches and in this case, a general manager. It’s makes more financial sense for Sterling to pick up Vinny Del Negro’s option for a third season as the Clippers’ head coach instead of spending money to bring in a name that could help take the team to the next level. 

While the Clippers never quite recovered from Chauncey Billups’ injury this season, Olshey built a really strong team. Olshey was able to unload a seemingly toxic Baron Davis contract right before the 2011 trade deadline. He knew what he was doing and he deserved a pay increase for all of his work. Also, there was a rumor that Olshey wasn’t a big Vinny Del Negro fan and maybe he wasn’t too keen on working with a lame duck coach again. 

It’s a great move for the Blazers as they begin to rebuild and start a new era. 

The Portland Trail Blazers also fired head coach Nate McMillan today. Assistant coach Kaleb Canales has been named interim coach of the team. 

With the moves that the Blazers made earlier today, it appears that the team is  going to rebuild. 

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Trade Talk Update: CBS Sports is reporting that the Clippers and Blazers are discussing a deal that would potential send Jamal Crawford to Los Angeles in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes. 

Jamal Crawford could fill the scoring void for the Clippers following Chauncey Billups’ season injury in February. 

There are also rumors floating that Crawford could go to Charlotte. 

The Blazers played the Warriors tonight, and they got Hammered.

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

yourmandevine:

ronartist:

A retirement tribute to Brandon Roy and his battle with knee problems by Chris Edser.
chrisedser.com

That’s fantastic and sad and lovely. For some reason, it makes me think of “Solar System” by The Microphones.

siphotos:

Portland’s Clyde Drexler glides through the air during the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest. Seattle’s Terrance Stansbury looks on from the bench. (AP)