Trail Blazers fan fest brings optimism, competitors and enjoyable

They began lining up as early as 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, 90 minutes earlier than the doorways opened, and cruised into the Moda Center sporting pink Damian Lillard No. 0s, black Scoot Henderson No. 00s and white Deni Avdija No. 8s.

One girl even wore an previous LaMarcus Aldridge No. 12.

When the clock lastly struck 1 p.m. and Portland Trail Blazers followers made it by means of safety, they bolted down the concourse towards a uncommon sight: A sea of empty seats.

“No running!” an usher shouted. “Walk! No running!”

But the warning didn’t deter the followers as they scurried away, chasing a uncommon alternative to attain courtside seats for the Blazers’ annual Fan Fest scrimmage.

“This is the most optimistic I have been about the team in a while,” Charlene Brandt, a long-time season-ticket holder from Hillsboro, mentioned. “We were really down last year. Way down. But things are looking better. So we’ll see.”

That gave the impression to be the overwhelming sentiment Saturday for the 7,000 followers who attended.

“I like the fact that there’s a lot of young players that they’re developing and we’re sticking with them,” mentioned Brian Esparza, standing subsequent to his 4- and 6-year-old sons. “It’s still a rebuilding season, but it’s going to be fun nevertheless.”

There was definitely loads of enjoyable on Saturday.

In addition to an entertaining scrimmage crammed with highlights and competitors, there have been halftime taking pictures contests between followers and gamers, event-level video games for teenagers and, in fact, a little bit rookie initiation.

Coach Chauncey Billups mentioned earlier within the week that his gamers wouldn’t deal with the occasion like an All-Star recreation and, certain sufficient, they introduced some competitors. The scrimmage included full-court defensive stress, transition buckets, pull-up three-pointers, highlight-reel drives to the ring, a glimpse of the brand new offensive system and even a game-winning bucket within the closing seconds.

The highlights began early when Avdija tossed an alley-oop lob to Donovan Clingan within the lane and the second-year middle accomplished the play with a one-handed tip-in whereas drawing a foul. He made the free throw to provide the “Gray” workforce an early 5-2 edge.

Two possessions later, Clingan discovered himself out on the perimeter with the ball. A defender charged, Clingan feigned a move left — pushing the defender away — after which swished a 3.

And backwards and forwards the groups went, with Jrue Holiday swishing jumpers and finishing three-point performs, Blake Wesley making use of full-court stress, Shaedon Sharpe doing a little bit little bit of every part and Yang Hansen scoring his first factors at Moda. Toumani Camara — who led the NBA in expenses final season — even drew a kind of.

In the tip, Black beat Gray 43-42 when Holiday wiggled away from the relentless protection of Wesley, unleashed a Euro Step and accomplished a nifty left-handed floater within the lane with two seconds left.

Throughout all of it, Sharpe impressed probably the most — not less than in accordance with the followers within the stands. They voted him the Fan Fest Most Valuable Player, the second time in 4 tries he’s earned the glory.

Sharpe swished two three-pointers — together with one in transition that got here a couple of ft past the arc — hit a floater within the lane and nailed a midrange jumper, ending with 10 factors. When requested what he deliberate to do with the MVP trophy, Sharpe mentioned he would put it on a shelf at dwelling subsequent to his different Fan Fest {hardware} and a ball he was given after competing within the Rising Stars Challenge.

“It was really good,” Sharpe mentioned of the Fan Fest ambiance. “These fans come out every day and really support us and bring energy. I think it’s cool.”

But although Sharpe walked away with one other trophy, there was a tiny a part of him that left the Moda Center aggravated.

One of probably the most anticipated parts of Fan Fest is the annual rookie initiation, wherein Blazers rookies stand at middle court docket and carry out one thing — usually a dance or a music — in entrance of a guffawing crowd. This 12 months’s present included Hansen and Caleb Love, and the duo carried out a dance — Chris Brown’s “It depends” — together with a trio of Blazer Dancers.

Only this 12 months, the singing was overlooked of the script.

“When I did it, we had to sing,” Sharpe mentioned. “They didn’t have to sing. But, you know, they danced, so it was cool.”