Portland Trail Blazers: 5 takeaways from their game against the Suns

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 16: Jake Layman #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 16, 2016 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 16: Jake Layman #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 16, 2016 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Caleb Swanigan and the Portland Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 2: Caleb Swanigan

Caleb Swanigan came out swinging

Throughout the first three games, Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan kept within the flow of the game, oftentimes just fighting on the glass and defensive end.

However, with fewer players active tonight, he seemed to play for longer stretches at a time and found a role within the offense.

In fact, towards the middle of the second quarter, he was calling for the ball on post-ups. And this was likely because, for two possessions in a row, Suns guard Troy Daniels got switched onto him. Swanigan attacked this mismatch with zero regard for human-life, scoring four of his 10 points on back-to-back buckets.

To top it off, he also hit a three-pointer later in the contest.

He also grabbed four rebounds and set a nasty screen which sent Shaquille Harrison to the floor. Note to Suns: When a guy nicknamed “Biggie” sets a pick, you gotta call it out.

Be excited about what Stauskas and Curry could do on the floor together

When the Blazers play Nik Stauskas and Curry together, teams will have to pay attention to both guys on the wing. Each has garnered some attention for other lesser known parts of their game this preseason, but they’re both still premier shooters in the league.

The defense is forced to make choices when they’re on the floor.

In this action, Curry passes it to Layman and then curls around the paint to the outside while Stauskas steps up from the corner to the wing on a screen from Meyers Leonard. While the right-side of the defense concerns themselves with Curry, a Stauskas-Leonard two-man game opens up.

Bender commits himself to stop the shot from Stauskas and Leonard cuts to an open basket.

If Stauskas and Curry can continue becoming better passers, their collective gravity could open up these looks for the Blazers all season long.

The Blazers play their final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on October 12 at 7:00 P.S.T.