The Trail Blazers had a decisive 127-102 win against the Kings to open up their preseason schedule. Damien Lillard got things rolling early and finished with 15 points in 22 minutes of action. Once Portland was ahead, they never looked back. Outside of Lillard, Harry Giles went against his former team. Giles played 18-point, 14-rebound double-doubles in just 25 minutes
Basketball .l is back. Before the second game starts on Sunday, here are the three storylines of Friday’s contest.
Set the crime and forget
The offense of blazers started the game firing on all cylinders. Filled with Lillard’s works, the Portland shooters are connected to his first seven attempts ahead of the arc. It is accurate to buy stock in the hot quarters in the bias, but the movements and sets of blazers seemed ready for real competition. Ans Carter, Robert Coving Wington and Derrick Jones Jr., all performed admirably as screeners. Lillard and CJ McCullum both enjoyed increased space on the -f-ball movements.
Inside the arc, the Blazers demonstrated the initial structure of the lobe-friendly approach for Jones in a halfcourt set. They don’t always connect, but there is a blueprint for Jones to impact the game from the rim. Outside of Jones, Carter and Giles displayed their passing throughout the game. Enjoy, Whiteside Black Hole is gone.
Perhaps the most promising result from Friday’s result was the scoring punch provided by the second unit. Carmelo Anthony and Gary Trent Jr. took off where they left in the bubble. The pair combined for 39 points on the bench. If their scoring remains the same, Blazer’s bench should be converted from weak to strong in the 2020-21 season.
New faces bring athleticism
One thing was clear from the start on Friday: Blazers have length and speed in the frontcourt. Cuewington and Jones attacked fast-passing lanes, blocked shots and closed gaps on the defensive end. Aggressively, Quington touched his most. The former Rockets is a crucial passer-by and shooter. Along with Cunnington, Jones put pressure on the Kings with a full-time cut in the rims. Beware, Blazer’s high-powered offense could unlock new levels of efficiency with Quinington and Jones in the frontcourt.
Beneath the bench, CJ Alebi reached his destinations and remained steadfast through a hard start on the offensive end. Washington Washington State’s interest jumped four points and four in 29 minutes of action.
Reserve big battle
Buckle up, the competition for the big man before the bench should be interesting in Portland. Harry Giles, equipped with 18 points and 14 rebounds, seems to be a serious contender for securing meaningful minutes in the rotation of coach Terry Stouts. The former Duke big man was comfortable on offense, fought in loose balls and made positive plays on the defensive end. Carter, who earned four points and 11 rebounds as a starter, endured an aggressive late low-ideal night. The big spread struggled to protect the ball from pass and rebound.
Once Zach Collins returns, the minute fight behind Jusuf Nurik will intensify.
Now the next
B Score X Score
The Kings are circling to face Blazer on Sunday.
