The Portland Trail Blazers got a clean first look at their new star-heavy starting group on Wednesday, and the early returns were encouraging. But the real question for the rest of the season isn’t whether Damian Lillard and Ja Morant can share the floor. It’s whether Toumani Camara can keep doing the kind of defensive work that gives Portland a chance against tougher opponents.
Camara has already built a reputation as more than just a useful role player. The fourth-year forward first drew real attention for his defense two years ago, and that reputation turned into league-wide recognition when he made the 2025 All-Defensive Second Team.
That made him the first Blazer to earn All-Defensive honors in more than 20 years. He didn’t get voted in last season, but that shouldn’t be read as a step back.
Camara still ranks among the league’s most versatile defenders, and he even led the NBA in drawn offensive fouls.
That matters now more than ever, because Portland’s new starting backcourt will put pressure on the rest of the defense. With Lillard and Morant in the same lineup, the Blazers are asking Camara to help cover some of the ground that can get exposed when teams hunt mismatches.
On Wednesday, the formula worked. Portland opened the night with a 21-0 run and went on to hold the Phoenix Suns to 83 points.
Lillard wasted little time showing he still has plenty left, and Morant looked comfortable in his first night with the Rip City group. But the biggest takeaway was what happened on the other end of the floor.
Camara was a major part of why Phoenix had such a hard time getting clean looks. Donovan Clingan also helped anchor things, and the bench group featuring Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III, Sidy Cissoko, and Scoot Henderson did its part too. Still, the starting unit looks dangerous defensively when it’s all clicking.
With Deni Avdija, Lillard, and Morant seemingly fitting together on offense, and Camara plus Clingan protecting the perimeter and the paint, Portland has the ingredients to be a headache for opponents.
The catch is that Wednesday won’t be the norm. The Suns have Devin Booker, but they do not have a true point guard who can consistently attack Portland’s smaller backcourt, or a dominant interior force who can pull defenders away from the arc.
Other teams do. That’s why Camara’s role looms so large.
He’ll need to bring that same edge most nights to take pressure off Dame and Ja. The encouraging part is that he already showed he can do that while still contributing offensively, scoring 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three, against Phoenix.
If Camara can match - or even top - the standard he set during his breakout, the Blazers should be looking at another All-Defensive selection for him and a real chance to make noise in the Western Conference.
In Other News...
Ja Morants Blazers Debut Just Raised A Bigger Backcourt Question
Ja Morants first run in a Trail Blazers uniform offered an immediate glimpse of what Portland hoped to add when it pulled off the trade with Memphis for Kris Murray and Jerami Grant. Morant got to work right away, scoring six points in his first eight minutes and showing the kind of three-point touch that can change the look of an offense in a hurry. Damian Lillard was sharp too, finishing with 12 points in 12 minutes as Portland jumped out to an early lead.
The early return was encouraging, but it also underlined why the Blazers backcourt now comes with so much intrigue. Morant and Lillard each made a clear imprint in short bursts, and Portlands ability to keep both dynamic guards involved will be one of the more interesting things to watch as the season unfolds. The fit looks promising on paper, but the bigger question is how the Blazers balance two players who both want the ball and can tilt a game in an instant. [Read more 🡒]
Bookers Rough Suns Opener Already Has Fans Fired Up
The Portland Trail Blazers opened the 2026-27 season with a fast start against Phoenix, and the tone of the game turned chippy almost as quickly as the scoreboard did. Portland jumped out to a sizable first-quarter lead behind its new backcourt pairing of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, giving fans an early look at the kind of pace and pressure this roster can bring when it is clicking.
Devin Booker spent much of the night trying to steady the Suns, but the opener also featured a series of heated exchanges with Morant that escalated into double technical fouls for both guards. For a Portland team trying to announce itself as a more serious force in the West, the bigger picture is whether this new group can turn that opening burst into something sustainable once the emotion of opening night fades. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Sent A Loud Opening Night Message To The NBA
The season opener in Phoenix quickly turned into a showcase for Portland, which ran out to a 21-0 burst and never let the Suns find their footing. The Blazers walked away with a 124-83 win, a lopsided result built on pace, physicality and a clear edge on the glass, where they outworked Phoenix 56-39.
Damian Lillard set the tone for Portland with 25 points, while Devin Booker finished with 23 in an evening where the Suns struggled to establish much rhythm on either end. For a team trying to set an early standard, it was about as strong a first impression as Portland could have made, and the bigger question now is whether this kind of start can carry over once the schedule settles in. [Read more 🡒]