The Golden State Warriors came into Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night shorthanded. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler did not suit up. Jonathan Kuminga got ejected from the game
before halftime. But the Blazers had little pity. Their injury lineup of Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Toumani Camara, and Robert Williams III could have given the Washington Wizards all that they could handle.
Despite the absences, the teams gave a credible–often entertaining–exhibition. Portland got off to an early lead via a turnover-fueled offensive tirade. As happened in the first meeting between these teams last week, Golden State reeled them in as the action progressed.
In the end, the Warriors emerged with a 118-111 victory, their second over Portland this preseason. The Blazers now hold a 1-2 record heading into their final exhibition game.
Here are observations from the action.
Defense
Portland’s defense looks really good until the exact moment it doesn’t. They have great spacing. Athleticism allows each individual defender to cover a comparatively wide area of the floor around them. They’re not leaving many seams or cracks and it doesn’t take long for a Portland defender to find the ball when it comes near. But the Blazers’ rotations aren’t good. You can see it against quick cutters like Gary Payton II, also with the Warriors’ propensity to drive and kick out. If Portland defenders aren’t in a spot already, they’re not getting there soon enough. Getting stuck on opponent screens doesn’t help. I’m not sure if this is a strategic thing, a lack of recognition, or just that more individual effort is needed. Whatever it is, the evolving defensive project is looking decent but definitely needs work.
Rim Attack
By contrast, the motion is great on offense. It starts with ball handlers attacking the rim with consistency. It feels like the Blazers are emphasizing an inside-out attack. If they don’t have a natural advantage with the dribbler getting into the lane solo, they try to create space with off-action picks. If the defense collapses on a driver, the ball goes out for quick, open threes. Multiple Portland players can penetrate. Almost everybody on the team is a willing passer. This makes the offense look exciting and new even with a lack of individual scoring power.
Turnovers
Forcing turnovers is the secret sauce that makes Portland’s game plan work. Obviously an opponent miscue seals the defensive possession. It also generates the quick offense the Blazers crave. When they were successful in forcing TO’s tonight, they looked all but unstoppable. They couldn’t keep it up the whole game, but when they’re rolling, it’s sure pretty.
Threes
Speaking of rolling, Portland did a great job passing into open threes tonight. Unfortunately, they did a lousy job of hitting them. They shot 9-43, 20.9% from the arc. It’s a familiar story, a weakness in recent years that hasn’t seemed to abate. The difference is, Portland HAD to hit threes at a good clip to have a chance of winning last season. This year they appear to have alternatives.
Fast and Furious
Many of those alternatives are created from sheer speed up and down the floor. When they can play fast, the Blazers shine. Fielding a seven-foot center and being quicker than the opponent at the same time is a hell of an edge. The problem is, Portland appears to tire. You can watch their transition defense get slower and slower as the game goes along. You can also see them stand more in the halfcourt as the game winds along.
There’s an asterisk. As we mentioned at the top, the middle part of Portland’s rotation is injured, leaving little backing when the starters get exhausted. Lack of talent is exacerbating the slow-down effect. But it remains to be seen if the Blazers can play as fast and hard as they want to over a full 82-game schedule.
Individual Notes
Shaedon Sharpe’s three-level scoring was on display once again. He has a beautiful drive and pull-up at the free throw line. That’s one heck of a weapon. Defenders play up against the drive. Sharpe pulls up while they’re still retreating, getting a wide open look at the apex. If that move is as bankable in the regular season as it is right now, watch out. Sharpe’s drives are as good as ever. His improved perimeter game has gotten defenders more level with him than they were last season, allowing him to get past them. The only things that wasn’t really working was the three. Sharpe shot 1-5 from distance on his way to 16 points.
Jerami Grant has as much of a nose for the ball as ever. He’s also crafty enough with his initial step to get by defenders. He just doesn’t seem to have much elevation on his finishes. It’s like seeing a beautifully restored car that doesn’t have the engine or horsepower inside to match the shiny chassis. Perhaps he’s just in preseason mode. It’s just hard to watch Jerami and go, “Yes…yes…YESSS? Oh.”
Deni Avdija had a good all-around game. Like Grant, he might be slightly in preseason mode on the defensive end. He had a couple great individual stands, including one memorable one-on-one matchup with Steph Curry in the second period during which he forced a covered three-point miss. But when he’s not driving hard towards the cup on offense, Avdija is moving more like a star player who expects to lead the team in scoring than the deadly, inspirational, do-everything weapon he was last season. The Blazers need a fully operational Deni if they’re to succeed this season. There’s just no substitute.
Donovan Clingan is making rebounding and rotating on defense look so easy. It’s almost like you don’t notice him as much anymore because his play seems natural. Then you focus in and realize he’s 7’3, gobbling up boards, and intimidating drivers in the lane. He’s going to be an asset in the middle of the floor for sure.
As usual, Yang Hansen was out there trying to make things happen. This was true even though his teammates didn’t go to him consistently on offense despite his availability and height advantage over opponents. Hansen set screens, boxed out, and helped gamely on defense.
Hansen needs a hook shot. We’re talking a 500 reps a day, footwork down pat, super-confident hook. I’m guessing if he had that one move, he’d become devastating when catching the ball down low…in motion right away for the pass or an easy look above smaller defenders. I don’t know if the hook is on the docket, but it should be.
Sidy Cissoko played defense hard in the second quarter. He got into passing lanes and manned up on the perimeter. It was kind of a big deal for a player who, to this point, has been mostly fitting in rather than standing out.
Speaking of standing out, Caleb Love shot early, often, and without remorse in this one. Dude has no conscience. He finished 6-16 from the field in 21 minutes, which made those inclinations a mixed blessing. Still, he’s doing something!
Up Next
The Blazers close the preseason on Thursday against the Utah Jazz with a 6:00 PM start time.
