Portland Trail Blazers · 8 notes
Portland practice: Deni Avdija, who said a back injury held him back last season, wants as many preseason minutes as he can get but to be smart: "We have an 82-game season." Micah Nori sees Scoot Henderson as "more of a combo type guy than just a true point guard."
Deni Avdija is taking fewer shots this preseason but making them count. Portland coach Micah Nori said adding Ja Morant, a willing passer, lets Avdija play off the ball more: "maybe not as many shots for Deni, but he's been able to be much more efficient."
Deni Avdija's minutes have moved from two stints to three this season to keep him fresh, Portland Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori said after the game: "we've kind of gone to that 3 stints for him." Avdija has also been challenged to play both ends of the floor, Nori said.
Scoot Henderson on who pushes the pace for the Trail Blazers: "Nobody should be trying to sprint the ball up the floor unless... me and Deni get it or Ja." That means Deni Avdija or Ja Morant. Micah Nori wants him to "attack the basket, go to score" first, then hit the open man.
Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III anchor Portland's defensive plan: Jrue Holiday says the perimeter defenders contain and the two centers protect behind. On offense, he expects attention on Damian Lillard, Ja Morant and Deni Avdija to open shots for him and Williams.
Scoot Henderson: "I feel like we can win. And anything other than that, I'm gonna feel a little crushed." Deni Avdija on last season's shooting dip: "I shot a lot off the dribble this year. I had a lot of fatigue towards the end of games." He also cited few open looks.
Micah Nori told Scoot Henderson to simplify: "Just go as fast as you can. Somebody's in front of you, pass it. If they don't, just lay the ball in." Deni Avdija on Ja Morant: "We're not expecting Ja to have the ball 48 minutes." Avdija expects to keep initiating, too.
Splitter sees closing lineups as situational: "super small" or bigger, with Jrue Holiday on the floor and Deni Avdija handling the ball. He'll mix lineups across the four preseason games and sees Branden Carlson and Micah Potter as backups at power forward and center.