The Blazers are down to one last preseason test before the games start counting, and the final tune-up comes against the Warriors on the road.
Portland already handled Golden State once in exhibition play, winning 123-118 at home on Oct. 7. That game came with the Warriors resting a long list of familiar names - Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford all stayed in San Francisco while the visitors leaned on bench pieces and lesser-known players.
This time around, the question is whether Golden State shows more of its real group. That’s still unclear, and with it being the last preseason game, neither team has much reason to tempt fate. Even so, there should be enough competitive basketball to get a meaningful stretch of evaluation in - maybe about two and a half quarters’ worth.
For Portland, the reps matter most for Jrue Holiday and Donovan Clingan. Both have held up well overall, especially on defense. Clingan has done the heavy lifting at the rim, while Holiday keeps the Blazers moving with the kind of backcourt push that matches the breakneck pace Nori wants.
The concern has come from outside. Holiday is 3-for-12 from deep, a number that looks even flatter next to the strong shooting stretches from Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson.
Clingan, meanwhile, is 0-for-4 and still hasn’t shown much progress as a stretch-five. Even more than the misses, the limited number of attempts stands out.
None of that guarantees much once the regular season begins. Preseason shooting lines have a way of smoothing out. But Portland needs perimeter help wherever it can find it - last season, the Blazers finished third in the league in 3-point attempts per game at 42.2, but 28th in 3-point percentage at 34.3.
Eventually, Holiday and Clingan should start seeing some of those shots go down. At the very least, the Blazers will keep encouraging them to keep firing.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
In Other News...
What NBA GMs Really Expect From The Blazers This Season
NBA.coms annual general manager survey offered an early snapshot of how the league views Portland this season, and the picture is a mixed one. The Trail Blazers were pegged to finish seventh in the Western Conference, while also landing in the group of teams considered most unpredictable in terms of success, a label that fits a roster still trying to define its ceiling.
The survey also put a few Portland-connected names in the conversation across individual categories. Damian Lillard drew votes for leadership and clutch shooting, Toumani Camara was recognized for defensive versatility, and Jrue Holiday was mentioned as a possible future coach. Even as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder were tabbed as the favorites to win the NBA Finals, Portlands showing suggests the league sees enough talent and intrigue here to keep watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Jrue Holiday Is Already Solving A Blazers Problem Fans Feared
The Trail Blazers preseason has offered an early look at how they plan to navigate one of the rosters biggest concerns, and Jrue Holiday has been central to that answer. Portlands backcourt is crowded enough to create lineup questions, but Holidays ability to fit in multiple roles has helped the team manage those minutes without turning it into a problem. For a roster still sorting itself out, that kind of flexibility has real value.
It matters even more because the concerns do not stop at guard. Portland is thinner on the wing and at forward after offseason departures and injuries, including Shaedon Sharpes knee surgery, which has made depth a more pressing issue across the lineup. General manager Joe Cronin has pointed to Holidays versatility as part of the solution, and for now the Blazers appear to be leaning on that kind of adaptability as they try to stabilize a roster with a few moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Scoot Henderson Is Forcing A Blazers Decision Faster Than Expected
Scoot Henderson has spent the early part of the preseason making the Trail Blazers think a little sooner than they probably wanted to. His work in games and practices has stood out for a sharper skill set and a clearer sense of confidence, enough to put him firmly in the mix as Portland sorts out its backcourt plans.
The timing matters because Henderson is headed toward restricted free agency after this season unless the Blazers lock in a rookie contract extension before October 19. With Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday in the guard room, Portland is already balancing present-day rotation decisions with a longer-term call on Henderson, and his strong start is making that choice harder to push down the road. [Read more 🡒]