"Whew.

That's all up front.

Just whew.

If you've spent any length of time around the Trail Blazers you knew that Nicolas Batum's MRI result on Tuesday was certain to end in bad news. Surgery, probably. Torn ligaments, likely. This, followed by hand wringing and talk about curses. Also, cries for the heads of the trainers, doctors and coaches in Portland.

Around here, MRI is a three-letter nightmare.

Batum out for the season, you were thinking. And I was already pretty much there myself. "