Portland Trail Blazers · 10 notes
Asked if he was limping, the Kings' Emanuel Sharp shrugged off the knocks: "So it ain't nothing new. ... But I'm good." Nor is he fazed by Damian Lillard, Ja Morant or Jrue Holiday: "I'm not looking at these guys intimidated or anything." He credits Doug Christie for that.
Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan started Portland's last preseason game. Coach Micah Nori called that "probably a pretty good indication" for the Oct. 21 opener vs. Phoenix but didn't commit. Scoot Henderson comes off the bench for "downhill scoring."
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."
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.
Ja Morant, in his first Portland preseason game and "my first since January pretty much," gave himself "probably a 6.5" and said he was "a little passive." Coaches and Damian Lillard told him to stay aggressive; with so much talent around him, he'd figured he didn't need 30.
Ja Morant stripped on a 3-on-1 was Micah Nori's example of the Trail Blazers' turnovers: over-passing, poor spacing, rushing. "We can't turn the ball over," he said, but warned against overreacting to Game 1. He wouldn't commit to starters on the back-to-back: "still to be TBD."
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.
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.
Clingan says smaller lineups mean more shot-blocking on him: "I love the challenge." Morant wants returning players aggressive beside him and Lillard, and on the foul emphasis on drivers: "I've looked at every rulebook and I don't think they ever apply to me."
From Portland's media availability: Ja Morant says playing with Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson means he needn't be ball dominant, opening catch-and-shoot 3s and cuts. Donovan Clingan on 3-pointers: "if I'm open and I like the shot, I'm gonna shoot it."