The Portland Trail Blazers have opened the season as one of the league’s early surprises, and a big reason is an offense that has climbed near the top of the NBA. They’re fifth in average points and third in offensive rating, a fast start that has them among just three Western Conference teams without multiple losses so far.
A lot of the attention naturally goes to the names driving that attack. Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, and Ja Morant have all played major roles in getting Portland rolling. But Toumani Camara has been just as important in a different way, stretching the floor and making life easier for everyone else around him.
That’s the twist nobody really saw coming: Camara has been the Blazers’ best 3-point shooter so far. He leads the team with 4.0 made threes per game and tops the rotation in efficiency from deep at 51.3 percent. For a team that expected Lillard’s return to bring the outside shooting boost, Camara has been the bigger surprise.
Lillard has still done his part. The Blazers legend has looked solid in his second stint with the franchise, and he even delivered a vintage Dame Time moment against the Los Angeles Lakers. But on a night-to-night basis, Camara has been the one giving Portland that extra spacing.
His hot start has made him a real weapon in the three-man lineup with Avdija, Lillard, and Morant. There’s even a case to be made that he’s been Rip City’s best two-way player through the opening stretch. And with Ja set to be out for a while and Scoot Henderson stepping into the starting role, Camara’s 3-and-D value matters even more now.
The question is how long this can last. Expecting him to keep hitting at this kind of clip would be asking a lot. Even the greatest shooters in the game don’t stay above 50 percent from three on heavy volume.
At the same time, this isn’t some total out-of-nowhere leap. Camara had already been making 2.2 threes per game at 37.2 percent over the previous two seasons, so the idea that he can shoot from deep isn’t exactly a shock.
Still, a cooling stretch is very much on the table. If that happens, defenses could start cheating off him, and the floor would get tighter for Avdija and Lillard, with Morant once he returns.
That’s why Portland will need more than just the jumper from Camara. The Blazers have to be ready to use him in ways that go beyond the hot hand.
In Other News...
Blazers Rotation Battle Is Already Getting Hard To Ignore
The Trail Blazers kept rolling with a 112-90 win over the Jazz, their fourth victory in five games, and the night offered another snapshot of how crowded this rotation picture has become. Deni Avdija led Portland in scoring for the fourth straight game, Toumani Camara kept spacing the floor with his 3-point touch, and Jrue Holiday gave the second unit a lift in a performance that stood out as the team continues to sort out its best combinations.
Not every piece fit as cleanly. Donovan Clingan ran into foul trouble, while Vit Krejci had a rough shooting night, reminders that the Blazers are still working through the details even as the results improve. With Ja Morant sidelined by a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Portlands recent stretch has only sharpened the competition for minutes, and the way this group balances production, defense and lineup fit is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Scoot Henderson Trade Talk Just Got Real For The Blazers
The Hornets early-season shakeup has already put the trade market on alert, and it could have ripple effects for Portland. Charlottes move to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid and multiple draft picks left the roster in a very different place, and with a 3-4 record, the Hornets may not be done dealing before the February deadline.
For the Trail Blazers, the name to watch is Scoot Henderson. Portland could emerge as a potential trade partner if Charlotte decides to move Reid, with the idea of Henderson heading the other way in a deal that would address needs for both sides. Nothing is imminent, but the possibility alone is enough to make this one worth tracking as the deadline picture starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Defense Faces Its Toughest Early Test In Denver
The Trail Blazers head into Denver for the first of four meetings in the season series, and the matchup arrives with one of the leagues more interesting early contrasts. Portland has leaned on a defense that has been especially sharp at limiting second-chance opportunities, while the Nuggets have built a reputation for punishing teams when possessions extend and the ball stays alive around the rim.
Cleaning The Glass numbers point to a clash of strengths that could shape the tone of the series right away, with Portland trying to keep Denver from turning missed shots into easy extra points. The historical backdrop only adds to the intrigue, since these teams know each other well and both enter this stretch with current-season form that makes every possession feel a little more important than usual. [Read more 🡒]