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Portland Trail Blazers: Game-for-game picks and analysis of the eight-game schedule

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 18: Jusuf Nurkic #27 (L) and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers have a conversation on the bench in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors during their game at Moda Center on December 18, 2019 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 (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 18: Jusuf Nurkic #27 (L) and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers have a conversation on the bench in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors during their game at Moda Center on December 18, 2019 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 (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

 Game 1 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Previous Matchups:
— Feb. 12 — Grizzlies, 111; Blazers, 104

Final Score Prediction: Trail Blazers, 113; Grizzlies, 103
Record Prediction: 30-37

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of just six teams that the Blazers have only played once this season. The two were scheduled to lock horns two more times over the final month of the season. Yet, even despite the lack of familiarity, their first meeting told quite the story of what the Blazers were lacking.

It feels like somewhat of an accomplishment that the Blazers scored 104 points in that pre-All-Star break meeting, given that the starters not named Hassan Whiteside combined to shoot 21-of-70 (30.0 percent).

But perhaps even more of a cause for alarm: the Blazers’ bench looked a lot like how those seats in the crowd will look when the NBA returns — empty and nonexistent.

Anfernee Simons poured on 22 points off the bench, but the Blazers as a unit combined for just 28 bench points. For reference, Brandon Clarke scored 27 points for the second unit by himself, as the Grizzlies backups nearly doubled their output, 54-28.

During this next go-round, the Blazers’ reinforcements look a ton more promising. Terry Stotts has given us little indication of who steps into a bench role, and rightfully so. But in whichever case, he’ll have much more to toggle with in the next salvo.

And back to that point: if you took a drink of any kind for every time you heard the name “Brandon Clarke,” that night, you’d have been immobilized by the pregame shootaround.

Far too often, the Grizzlies stymied the Blazers with pick-and-roll situations attacking Carmelo Anthony, or Harlem Globetrotter-esque passes on the fast break, which got Clarke mismatches against the likes of Gary Trent Jr. Not that this is anything new; Clarke ranks No. 3 among bench forwards in fast break points.

In that first game, we’ll see their Clarke, and raise them a Zach Collins. Throw in a healthy Damian Lillard, and that sounds like fun.