The Portland Trail Blazers are kicking off the regular season at home tonight, and the first test comes against Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns at the Moda Center.
It’s also the first time these teams have seen each other since Portland knocked off Phoenix in the Play-In Tournament in April, so there’s a little bit of fresh history baked into this one even if the season is just getting started.
One of the biggest changes for the Suns came in the way they reshaped their offense. Phoenix moved on from Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale in the deal for Miles Bridges, and then jumped up in the draft to land Koa Peat.
The tradeoff is clear: more size and presence near the rim, less of the three-point shooting that helped define parts of their attack. That kind of shift can work, but replacing two of your better shooters is never simple.
The one thing that should help is continuity, even if this version of the Suns is built to lean more heavily inside.
Booker, meanwhile, has made it known he wants to be more aggressive. That’s the lane that suits him best.
Phoenix has spent time trying to turn him into a point guard, but he’s at his best when he’s attacking downhill and playing more like a shooting guard than a full-time facilitator. Expect him to lean more into that role.
The frontcourt is where the biggest uncertainty lives. Mark Williams’ injury has forced Phoenix into a gamble at center, and the likely starter tonight in Portland is Oso Ighodaro.
Khaman Maluach is also in the mix, but both are still very young. Losing Williams’ steadiness and experience matters, especially to open a season, and the center spot stands out as the Suns’ biggest question in the starting five.
What Phoenix can do is put pressure on teams in more than one way. The paint game should naturally grow, but if Booker and Bridges are knocking down open threes, that gives the Suns a balanced look that could be tough for Portland to match.
Tip-off is set for 7 pm PT. Fans can watch on the Rip City Television Network or stream the game on NBA League Pass.
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