TBP Live from Moda Center
Risking my life to watch Pascal's debut
Folks… I think it’s time for some real on-the-ground sports reporting.
On Friday afternoon we learned that on Friday night Pascal Siakam would make his Pacers debut and Tyrese Haliburton would return to the Pacers lineup after missing some games with a naggy hamstring. The new-look Pacers would be in full effect for the first time against the Blazers. And since Moda Center is about 14 miles from my house, I bought an $8 ticket then bundled up to brave Ice World and watch the debut of Indiana’s new star duo. Let’s chat.
Before I actually entered Moda Center, I stopped by Spirit of 77 which is a Blazer/basketball-themed bar just a few blocks away. I had fish tacos. They were fine. Too much slaw. Overall I do enjoy a hang at S77 because I am a sucker for old hoops memorabilia but I’m gonna be honest… our (Portland’s) obsession with the 1977 NBA Finals-winning Blazers team is a little sad. I understand it obviously because that’s the only Blazers team that ever won it all but Jimmy Carter had barely been sworn in when Portland won that championship. Rumors had just come out. I think we need something new. I’m not sure what. But something.
Anyway I ate my fish tacos while I watched Jamal Murray start to sizzle for Denver (what a win for the Nugs huh?) and then I trudged on over to Moda Center. And I mean trudged.
NOTE: People made fun of DeAndre Ayton for missing Wednesday’s game because his street was too icy but I am empathetic for DA (and I’m usually not) because it’s been a damn mine field on the streets and sidewalks of Portland for the past week and I assume Ayton lives up in the hills where conditions were worst.)
The streets have mostly cleared up but the sidewalks are still an ice rink (RIP Lloyd Center) so I was slippin and slidin and stumblin my way to the stadium like this:
I did finally make it to Moda (please clap) and though my “assigned seat” was in section 314 I was under the impression that basketball games operated on more of a general admission situation so I slunk down to the 100-level and watched the Pacers new star warm up.
A couple things here:
Siakam was the first Pacer on the court getting shots up which I respect
I had no idea Jannero Pargo was an assistant coach with Indiana
You don’t realize how quickly things move in the NBA until you see a player (I think) meeting one of his coaches for the first time literally 10 minutes before a game starts
I’m not sure who picked Over by Drake to be the Blazers walkout song but big respect to whoever it was because when you get on aux and play a song from 2010 in 2024 you’re taking a risk that your audience might not appreciate but their risk paid off because Over is undoubtedly a banger from when Drake tried to make good rap music and not just the most popular song on TikTok. “Who the fuck are y’aaaaaaall???”
Our pregame entertainment was children and teens performing Wushu with swords and staffs and nunchucks and they were pretty damn good. One guy had a staff that he was running up and jumping off and doing tricks on; consider me impressed. I was going to take pictures but then I remembered I have no relation to any of them and that would probably put me on some list so… just take my word for it.
Ok onto the basketball.
Indiana rolled with a starting five of Siakam, Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith which is kind of a funky lineup. I get it because Siakam is obviously comfortable dribbling but I’m curious how a lineup with Siakam + Haliburton and Nembhard would look once Nembhard is healthy, just to maximize how many guys on the court can handle the ball if necessary.
Siakam started nicely— an early three plus two nice moves to create shots for himself—and I saw the vision instantly. Indiana’s offense adding another player who can create for himself will be vicious (even if game one of the experiment was a bit clunky at times).
On the Portland side we witnessed a great Scoot Henderson half (10 PTS, 4/4 FG and one ankle-breaker that did benefit from Ben Sheppard tripping but we’re gonna count it anyway because our son Scoot deserves it.) Scoot then busted his nose and missed the entire second half so that’s mighty unfortunate but I was still encouraged by pretty much everything he did in his short stint. Slowly but surely things are coming along.
Near the end of the first quarter I was very rudely removed from my seat by someone who “paid for it” so I was relegated to section 314 but that’s fine because I feel more comfortable up there with my fellow working man (except for the teens in front of me who were kind of annoying) instead of down there with the Portland bourgeoisie. Workers of the world unite and all that…
At halftime (with the Blazers up 63-54) we were treated to a performance from Anavai O Te Ora who said:
“From the South Pacific islands of Tahiti to the Mid-Pacific islands of Hawai’i, we celebrate our land, our culture, and our people, and tonight we pay tribute to our Ohana, on the island of Maui.”
They were wonderful! Human expression is cool as hell sometimes.
Tyrese Haliburton started to get more comfortable (7 PTS, 6 AST) in the third quarter and Indiana tied the game but never actually took the lead and then a quick Blazers run capped by a Kris Murray floater at the buzzer had our ‘Zers up 88-81 after three.
Then everybody in one specific row in section 304 received a copy of a new Jon Voigt movie called The Painter about an ex-CIA guy who becomes a painter then has to kill his ex-wife or something… I don’t know if that’s really the plot because anytime I hear “CIA” my brain immediately turns to clam chowder but regardless that’s a pretty evil giveaway by the Blazers organization. Why would you subject people to that? What the fuck are those poor people going to do with a copy of your weird propaganda film that has a 4.4 on IMDB? They called it the “Lucky Row” as some kind of sick joke.
Tyrese Haliburton really cooked in the fourth quarter and ended up with a line of 21 points 17 assists and 0 turnovers for the night. What a basketball player. You almost forget that making mistakes is an option when you watch him play because he’s nearly flawless with his decision making every. Damn. Game.
Pascal Siakam has never played with a passer like Tyrese and I weirdly think it’ll take a few games for him to realize that Haliburton is capable of finding him at pretty much any moment. Once he does I think it’ll open up this offense even more.
Unfortunately for Indiana, Haliburton’s passing clinic couldn’t overcome the Blazers’ power of friendship and Portland won 118-115.
Cue the streamers!
I learned recently that not every team releases streamers after a win. Why? Why not be joyous? Why not be silly? I think we should actually drop confetti after every quarter.
Then I went home and watched The Painter. Just kidding.
Parting Notes
Malcolm Brogdon torched Indiana all night (30/7/6) and he’s been fantastic all season for Portland. A true steadying force for its offense. He might have the least aesthetically pleasing game in the NBA but he’ll probably earn Portland a first-round pick at the trade deadline so thank you for your service Mr. Brogdon.
Jabari Walker is a real NBA player. 13 points and 12 rebounds in 41 (!) minutes. He’s not going to blow you away with anything he does but he works his ass off and it’s cool to see him rewarded with big minutes. Keep this guy around for as long as possible.
I don’t think Portland will trade Jerami Grant this year and I think that’s the right decision. Bad teams are allowed to have good players especially when they have four full years left on their contract like Grant does. He scored 37 on Friday.
Ben Mathurin is an extremely talented player who fully disappears like 30% of the time. He was a non-factor in this game and that happens a bit too often. I still believe in his scoring upside and think he can be a valuable piece in Indiana for a long time but he has to contribute at least a bit every night.
And finally, Pascal Siakam played a good not great game. He looked a little tentative in the second half which makes sense. You know the first day of work when you’re trying to figure out if your new coworkers are chill or not? It was kind of like that. He didn’t want to overstep his bounds. Overall, I do love the trade for Indiana. If you can acquire an All-NBA player you do it. Pretty much always.
Portland is now 4-2 this season in games I have attended. Just saying.
I could teach you how to speak my language Rosetta Stone 🤭
No mention of Dark Horse wines. Got it. ✍️