The Blazers are approaching crisis status

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

FAULT LINES: The Kings have repeatedly failed DeMarcus Cousins. I look at the decisions that have left Sacramento moribund for Cousins’ entire career, and the GMs responsible for the mess.

IN OTHER NEWS ... We have a three-way tie for the No. 8 seed in the West: the crisis-level Blazers, the rallying Kings, and the putting-it-together Nuggets. Portland lost to Dallas a night after losing to Sacramento. Soul-searching is imminent. Perhaps also trades.

PODCAST TIME: Paul Flannery and John Gonzalez talked about the Sixers’ big man conundrum and more in this week’s Drive & Kick.

DEVIN BOOKER DUNK ALERT.

BOSH PANELS: Howard Beck on the new medical panels the NBA will create as a result of the Chris Bosh situation to adjudicate “life-or-death” disputes about whether players can suit up.

SCORES GALORE ...

Bucks 102, Cavaliers 113
Wolves 92, Hawks 84
Grizzlies 98, Pistons 86
Wizards 107, Bulls 97
Thunder 121, Pelicans 110
Kings 94, Jazz 93
Rockets 125, Suns 111
Mavericks 96, Blazers 95

NOTED: Joel Embiid is Team Nerlens. Am I the only one who feels a little bad for Jahlil Okafor? He just turned 21 and he’s being turned into the third wheel here.

WELPVILLE: J.R. Smith hurt his thumb and will miss some time.

HUH: The league rescinds two additional DeMarcus Cousins technical fouls, reducing his season total to eight. I posit that no player has ever had as many techs rescinded by the league as Cousins had.

MORE BOOGIE: Cousins finds a little fan to share the love.

THE ANOMALY: Very good and insight-offering Players Tribune piece by Myles Turner.

AND ANOTHER: Here’s one on Pascal Siakam’s journey to the NBA.

HOW COOL: Rachel Nichols gets to tell Tracy McGrady on camera that he’s a Hall of Fame nominee.

ALRIGHT, GEORGE: The New York Post has some lines from George Karl’s forthcoming tell-all. Among the hits: Karl blames Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin’s attitudes on the fact that their fathers were not around, he calls Carmelo “a user of people” and refers to J.R. Smith’s “posse.” Karl’s going to sell some books for sure, but he’s seriously degrading his legacy and actively hurting his own reputation. It’s sad, really.

NEXT UP: The TNT doubleheader is Lakers-Heat (8 p.m. ET, pffft) and Spurs-Clippers (10:30, smiley emoji). Celtics-Pacers at 7 should tide you over on League Pass.

AND FINALLY: Gods bless Uncle Dirk and all the players who make the holidays special for children who most need cheer.

Be excellent to each other.