Are the Blazers the new Warriors?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

NEVER GIVE IN: Paul Flannery and I wrote about the Blazers, Damian Lillard and refusing to give in to expectations. On the same topic, here’s Jason Quick on how the Blazers became the league’s hottest team.

GIVE UP, MAN: Has anyone told Aaron Gordon the dunk contest is over and he can stop playin’ now?

SCORES GALORE ...

ORL 124, PHI 115
NOP 89, WAS 109
SAC 114, DEN 110
HOU 114, UTA 117 (OT)
BKN 104, POR 112

STANDINGS UPDATE: Portland’s win pulls the Blazers into a tie for No. 6 with Dallas. Utah gets back into the No. 8 spot with a big win over the Rockets, and Sacramento stays 3.5 back of the No. 8 spot with Houston in their way. The Kings just have an absolutely brutal schedule coming up, so chances are this is that team’s last stand to remain in the conversation.

SHHH ... DON’T SCARE HIM: We have finally seen a Smiling James Harden in the wild! He expresses relief toward a cameraman he almost accidentally kicked in the groin.

THIRD WIND: Tony Parker tells Marc Spears how invigorating his new role with the Spurs has been.

HUH: Philadelphia reportedly threw the kitchen sink at Atlanta in an attempt to land Dennis Schroder at the deadline.

HMM: The Heat are finally playing to Goran Dragic’s strengths. Related: Dwyane Wade has been out.

WELP: The Grizzlies announced Marc Gasol navicular fracture in his foot on Tuesday. He’s out for the season. Here’s more on this particular injury.

SUPERDUPERTEAM: Zach Lowe on the prospect of Kevin Durant in Oakland.

YEP: Adi Joseph on how opinions on the Warriors are slowly turning because a) people can’t appreciate things eternally and b) cockiness.

HAIL HIELD: Nice video scouting report looking at Buddy Hield’s evolution at OU.

THE CRAFT OF IBAKA: Always enjoy Rob Mahoney’s The Craft, and the edition on Serge Ibaka is no exception.

JAKOB RICH-LTL: Ricky O’Donnell on how Austrian center Jakob Poeltl is carrying Utah to the top of the Pac-12 and ensuring himself a lottery spot.

FUN: I joined the wonderful Chris Herrington for his Pick-and-Popcast to talk about Kobe, the West playoff picture, free agents and Dinosaur Train.

NOT DEAD YET? Sam Amick on why Dwight Howard and the Rockets may not be ready to part ways just yet.

COUNTERPOINT! This failed alley-oop early in Rockets-Jazz. Via reddit.

INTERESTING: Bobby Marks on what front offices are doing this time of year.

ON THE AIR TONIGHT: Ten games on Wednesday, including an ESPN doubleheader that features Wizards-Bulls at 8 p.m. ET and Spurs-Kings at 10:30. Hornets-Cavaliers and Warriors-Heat are League Pass options.

Happy Wednesday. See you next time.