Damian Lillard will reportedly be out for 1-2 weeks with a calf strain. Before the Portland Trail Blazers go on their first road trip of the season, they will have one final home game against the Houston Rockets. The injury raises questions on how to fill the minutes within the starting lineup and how to manage the rotation while Lillard misses action.
1. Shadeon Sharpe Gets an Opportunity To Show He Belongs
Shaedon Sharpe has impressed early in the season, earning the trust of Coach Billups. He has seen frequent opportunity through the first five games of the season, and his flashes of elite athleticism have all of Rip City buzzing.
In the turnover-filled loss, Sharpe was a bright spot, finishing the game with 15 points, eight rebounds, and a steal in 18 minutes. Sharpe may be inserted into the sixth-man role if Winslow’s number is called, but Sharpe getting more run with the veteran players may be something that helps him elevate even sooner.
SEE YOU UPSTAIRS#NBASundays pic.twitter.com/8yb8NWZr5U
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) October 23, 2022
Shaedon Sharpe is fun hoops pic.twitter.com/FfQtVbEEzq
— 𝒥ℴ𝓃𝒶𝒽 (@Huncho_Jman) October 27, 2022
2. Move Josh Hart to the Two and Insert Justise Winslow at the Three
Coach Billups has trusted Justise Winslow to come in as a defensive spark and Impromptu lead guard if foul trouble follows Dame or Ant early in a game. Inserting Winslow at the three while Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart fill out the backcourt could bode well for a dynamic defensive duo that hustles hard and can create havoc within the passing lanes, with Winslow and Hart both almost averaging two steals a game early in the season.
Hart, Ant+Nurk have rightfully received most credit for POR's success, but Winslow's versatility has provided major impact on both ends, too #RipCity
— Jack Winter (@ArmstrongWinter) February 15, 2022
Chauncey has talked a lot about value of multiple playmakers in transition. This isn't a play Nas or RoCo makes, for instance. pic.twitter.com/3QtRoCrB9V
3. Nassir Little Is Given An Opportunity
Little is another candidate for the sixth-man role if Winslow is inserted into the starting lineup as well. Little has been struggling early this season and boosting him into the starting lineup may be what he needs to elevate his play. Little was tenth in rebounding for rebounds per game for players under 6’7.”
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Trendon Watford will more than likely see his minutes increased, but he will not be inserted into starting lineup with him just returning from injury. There are options for Coach Billups. Winslow starting seems like the logical thing to do, however, with it being early in the season, you never know how coaches want to shake up their lineups to throw off the schematics of their opposition as well.