It's only preseason, but early indications suggest this crowded backcourt might be crazy enough to work in Portland. Regardless of who starts, this unit can work effectively together, largely thanks to each player's unselfishness.
Blazers' backcourt fits better than expected
Ja Morant has already said he doesn't care whether he starts or comes off the bench as long as this team is winning games. He's already buying into his lessened role compared to previously being the go-to guy in Memphis. Meanwhile, his playmaking is giving his offense a huge boost.
It remains to be seen what level of playmaker or shot creator Damian Lillard will be coming back from his Achilles tear. Scoot Henderson still has ways to go in that department as well, though he has carved out a nice off-ball role thanks to an emerging 3-and-D game.
Jrue Holiday is perhaps the key that unlocks this wonky roster, thanks to his rare combination of unselfishness, versatility, a two-way game, and championship experience. Come to think of it, those traits are exactly why Holiday has that championship experience. It's no surprise that Portland made the playoffs for the first time in its rebuild after bringing in Holiday, the floor-and-ceiling raiser wherever he goes, even at age 36.
There are still some red flags with this guard combination, particularly their defensive limitations and positional size. However, preseason has already shown that's not as much of a concern as initially made out to be.
That's largely thanks to the Blazers' building blocks in the frontcourt. Donovan Clingan just had five blocks in 20 minutes against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. And it's not like the defense takes a step back when Robert Williams III spells him.
While the Blazers are likely too thin for comfort when it comes to wing depth, at least the pieces they do have are two-way wings like Toumani Camara and Sidy Cissoko. Deni Avdija should also be better defensively -- an area Micah Nori has already publicly called out, saying he wants to get him back to playing defensively like he was with the Washington Wizards.
Shaedon Sharpe’s injury gave Blazers the right backcourt answer
The Blazers' roster may look wonky on the surface, but when you break down the individual pieces like this, you get a better sense of how each one serves a purpose. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Shaedon Sharpe, as it's hard to see where he fits into this picture even when fully healthy.
The injury could be a silver lining for Portland's season, as it may have forced them into the right answer. Should this backcourt prove to be the right combination in Sharpe's absence, it's going to make him the odd man out -- despite the four-year extension before the start of last season.
Sharpe has tantalizing potential, but his skillset as a score-first guard who struggles to defend or space the floor raises questions about the scalability of his role. The Blazers are even better off playing the undersized Henderson in that off-ball role.
We're seeing that play out in the preseason, and if it carries into the regular season, one has to wonder whether that puts Sharpe on the trade market. Portland would have to at least see what it can get for its high-upside misfit guard.
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