The opening two games of the Portland Trail Blazers season were a study in contrasts. In Portland’s first game of the year, they ran the offense through Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, routing the Phoenix Suns with easy drives and conversions (or dishes). In their second game versus the Sacramento Kings, Portland went through Deni Avdija much more, letting their All-Star take the center of the court, drawing hard-earned fouls, scoring through contact, and tossing lobs to fellow interior players.
Both
approaches worked in their way. Neither Phoenix nor Sacramento was a prime opponent, but the Blazers generated points against each, enough to win. But the question remains: Which is the better approach, particularly against more premium teams?
You’ve now seen a couple of games and a variety of sets. Share in the comments section… who do you like running the offense? Are you a Damian Lillard advocate? Would you rather see Morant attacking the hoop? Or are you leaning on Deni Avdija and his runaway-train approach to scoring? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
