Sidy Cissoko may have picked the right moment to turn himself into something more than a defense-first piece for the Portland Trail Blazers.
For a while, that was the hope, not the reality. Cissoko had the physical tools and the stopping power, but his offense lagged behind.
The shot wasn’t there with any real consistency, especially from deep, and he often looked hesitant with the ball. Even so, he still managed to appear in 75 games last season, making 26 starts as injuries elsewhere opened the door.
Now, early in the 2026-27 regular season, the door looks wider. In Portland’s first two games, Cissoko has averaged 26.0 minutes and checked in as the second reserve both times, with Jrue Holiday the first bench option. That kind of usage says plenty about how much trust coach Micah Nori is putting in him.
The biggest shift is on offense. Cissoko is connecting on 1.5 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Through his first three seasons, he had averaged just 0.6 makes per game at 28.3 percent. That’s not a minor tweak; that’s a real jump.
He’s not just spotting up, either. Cissoko has looked sharper as a ball-handler and has done a better job finding open teammates. He’s also made himself useful in transition, which fits cleanly with what Nori wants to run based on the roster.
The defense, of course, is still the calling card. Cissoko remains a problem for opposing scorers, with the ability to guard four positions and maybe even five. Put that together with the offensive progress, and Portland suddenly has a rotation player who fills a valuable niche.
There’s still the obvious caveat: two games is nothing. The opponents were the rusty Phoenix Suns and a Sacramento Kings team that isn’t known for its defense. That makes it hard to declare the transformation complete.
But the eye test matters, too, and Cissoko has looked noticeably better. He seems more confident, more decisive, and more comfortable in his role.
If this holds, the Blazers may have found something they’ve been waiting on - a young, versatile 3-and-D reserve who can impact the game without needing touches to stay effective.
In Other News...
Luka Doncic Has The Blazers Facing A Brutal Lakers Test
The Trail Blazers get a stiff measuring-stick night on national TV against Luka Doncic and the Lakers, and it comes at a time when Portland can point to some encouraging defensive numbers over a limited sample. Thats the kind of backdrop that can make a young team look sharper than expected, but it also has a way of getting stress-tested fast when one of the leagues most gifted offensive engines is on the other side.
Doncic arrives with the kind of recent scoring burst that demands a detailed plan, and Portland appears set on making him work for everything with a group effort on defense. The Blazers know one defender alone is unlikely to solve the problem, so the focus is on using multiple bodies to disrupt his rhythm and cut down the damage he can do. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Showed Why This Roster Could Be Tougher To Defend
The latest stretch around the league has offered a reminder of how quickly a roster can change the way opponents have to game plan. LaMelo Balls first home game with the Timberwolves still ended with a strong all-around impact despite early foul trouble, while Rudy Gobert has made clear his role has not shifted much even as Minnesotas mix around him has changed. Elsewhere, Luka Doncics 52-point outburst against Utah only underscored how hard it can be for defenses to survive when one star gets rolling.
For Portland, the more interesting takeaway is the way the Blazers are starting to spread that burden around. With multiple players scoring in double figures, they are showing more depth than a one-man attack and giving opponents more than one threat to account for on any given night. That kind of balance does not guarantee results every time, but it does make the Blazers look like a tougher team to take away when the game tightens up. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Added A New Win Tradition Players Will Want To Earn
The Trail Blazers have added a little extra theater to their postgame routine, and it comes with a pair of boxing gloves. Head coach Micah Nori introduced a new victory ritual called The Knockout Punch, a staff-selected award that goes to the player of the game after wins and is meant to recognize impact beyond the usual star turn.
Its a fitting touch for a team trying to build a stronger identity from night to night, because the honor can land on anyone who swings a result in Portlands favor. The first two players to take home the gloves were Damian Lillard and Toumani Camara, giving the tradition an immediate blend of established star power and the kind of all-around contribution coaches love to reward. [Read more 🡒]