Micah Nori is going to have some tough decisions to make this season when it comes to picking the right players to be on the floor. The Portland Trail Blazers have solid depth, but only five guys can be on the court at the same time. That said, it appears as though Nori has decided on the group he’s going to start games with.
In a post on Bluesky, Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report mentioned that Nori “strongly hinted” that the Blazers’ starting lineup heading into the season will be the group that began the preseason game against the Golden State Warriors: Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan.
Not only is that a pretty sweet starting lineup, but it’s the exact type of lineup Morant needs by his side to thrive.
Hinted Blazers starting lineup is great for Ja Morant
Morant is an immensely talented player. He’s dealt with injuries and suspensions over the past few years that have taken away from that talent, but the Blazers are looking to get it out of him once again this year.
He’s a great ball-handler, he has all the tools to be a top-notch passer, and obviously, his ability to drive the ball is incredible. His athleticism is off the charts.
However, Morant isn’t the best three-point shooter. He’s also not a great defender. So, when looking at the type of players the Blazers should want to surround him with, those two skills are very important.
Lillard brings the three-point shooting. He’ll have to prove himself again after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury, but he’s one of the best three-point shooters of all time. He should be okay.
Then, there’s Camara. He’s one of the best defense-first forwards in the league. He’s probably one of the best defenders in the league, period. Putting him next to Morant will definitely help make up for some of the lackluster defense coming out of Portland’s backcourt.
Clingan will help in that regard, too. He’s still very young, but he’s slowly blossoming into one of the better rim protectors in the NBA. So, if and when Morant does get beat on defense, Clingan will be there to help shut things down.
Last is Avdija. He’s the best player on the Blazers. He’s the guy who is going to keep things running. Pairing his talent next to anyone would be a good thing.
Portland is already doing a pretty good job of accounting for some of Morant’s on-court weaknesses.
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