There’s nothing wrong with finishing the preseason 3-1. There’s also nothing particularly comforting about watching a team with playoff ambitions fall behind by 25 points in its final exhibition game. Both things can be true, and that’s probably the best way to describe what we saw from the Portland Trail Blazers over the past couple of weeks.
Portland defeated the Golden State Warriors 123-118, embarrassed the London Lions 119-66, and handled the Sacramento Kings 110-98 before losing Friday’s finale to Golden State 128-118. The wins were encouraging, although the competition wasn’t exactly overwhelming. Golden State was missing most of its established rotation in the first meeting, Sacramento rested several key players, and London isn’t an NBA team.
Still, the Blazers showed enough to make the upcoming season interesting. Damian Lillard looks like he can still contribute, Ja Morant brings a completely different dimension to the offense, and Deni Avdija hasn’t forgotten how to play basketball just because two talented guards joined him. But the preseason also exposed some legitimate concerns, particularly on defense and with a crowded backcourt that Micah Nori needs to manage.
Here’s what we learned before Portland opens the regular season Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns.
1. Damian Lillard Still Has Something Left In The Tank
After missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles, nobody really knew what to expect from Lillard. He turned 36 in July, and returning from that kind of injury is challenging enough without the additional complications that come with getting older.
But Lillard looked pretty good. He scored 15 points in his preseason debut against Golden State and finished with 23 points in Friday’s rematch, including a perfect 13-for-13 performance from the free-throw line. That last number was particularly encouraging because drawing fouls has always been one of the most effective parts of his game.
The biggest difference between this version of Lillard and the one Portland fans remember is that he doesn’t have to do everything anymore. For years, the Blazers depended on him to create offense, make difficult shots, and rescue possessions when nothing else worked. This roster gives him considerably more help.
With Morant attacking the basket and Avdija creating offense from the wing, Lillard should have opportunities to play off the ball and find cleaner looks. That doesn’t mean he won’t take over games when necessary, but he shouldn’t have to carry Portland through every difficult stretch.
Of course, playing 25 minutes in October isn’t the same as handling a full regular-season workload. Keeping Lillard healthy will be just as important as anything he accomplishes on the scoreboard, and Portland needs to be careful about asking too much too soon.
2. Ja Morant Could Be The Player Who Changes Everything
There’s a noticeable difference in how Portland’s offense operates when Morant has the ball. He’s incredibly quick, gets into the paint almost whenever he wants, and forces defenders to make decisions before they’re ready.
His preseason debut was relatively quiet, with eight points, five assists, and four turnovers against Golden State. But he improved as the exhibition schedule progressed, producing 14 points and six assists without a turnover against Sacramento before scoring 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting in Friday’s finale.
Morant also made all three of his three-point attempts against the Warriors, although nobody should suddenly expect him to become Stephen Curry from beyond the arc. That’s not his game, and it doesn’t need to be. His ability to attack the paint and create easy opportunities for teammates is what makes him dangerous.
What interests me most is how Morant and Lillard will eventually work together. Morant excels with the ball in his hands, while Lillard can be effective with or without it. If they find the right balance, Portland could have a backcourt that’s extremely difficult to defend.
The question is whether they can develop that chemistry without becoming predictable. Morant occasionally looked uncomfortable away from the ball, and Portland can’t afford an offense where everyone stands around waiting for their turn to make something happen.
There’s also the matter of defense, which we’ll get to shortly. But offensively, Morant gives Portland something it hasn’t consistently had in recent years: a player who can break down defenses with pure speed and athleticism.
3. Deni Avdija Is Still One Of Portland’s Most Important Players
With so much attention on Lillard and Morant, it would’ve been understandable if Avdija received a little less recognition during the preseason. Instead, he reminded everyone why he became an All-Star last season.
Avdija scored 23 points against Golden State in the opener and followed that performance with 26 points and nine rebounds against Sacramento. He shot 9-for-13 from the field against the Kings, showing how efficient he can be when he’s attacking the defense instead of settling for difficult shots.
This is where Nori has an interesting challenge. Avdija was Portland’s offensive centerpiece last season, but now he has two established stars sharing the court with him. The Blazers need to find a way to keep him involved without asking everyone else to sacrifice what makes them effective.
The good news is that Avdija doesn’t necessarily need to dominate the ball to make a difference. He can rebound, finish around the basket, create opportunities for teammates, and take advantage of defenses that focus too much attention on the guards.
Actually, he could become even more dangerous with better talent around him. The last thing Portland should do is reduce Avdija to someone who simply waits in the corner for an occasional three-pointer.
4. Scoot Henderson Deserves Minutes, But Where Will They Come From?
If there’s one player who could find himself in an awkward situation this season, it’s Scoot Henderson. The former No. 3 overall pick is entering his fourth NBA campaign, and Portland suddenly has several veteran guards competing for playing time.
Between Lillard, Morant, and Jrue Holiday, minutes aren’t exactly sitting around waiting to be claimed. Henderson needs to continue developing, but Nori also has a responsibility to put the best possible lineup on the floor.
Henderson showed some encouraging signs during the preseason, particularly against London, when he scored 14 points and made four of his five three-point attempts. He looked confident, moved the ball effectively, and didn’t appear overwhelmed by the competition for playing time.
Friday’s game against Golden State provided a more complicated picture. Henderson struggled early before scoring 17 points in the second half, although he finished just 1-for-8 from beyond the arc. His ability to bounce back was encouraging, but that shooting inconsistency continues to follow him.
And that’s really where Portland finds itself with Henderson. There are moments when he looks capable of becoming a legitimate NBA starting guard, followed by stretches when his decision-making or shooting makes you wonder how much progress he’s actually made.
I don’t think the Blazers should give up on him, especially considering Lillard’s age and Morant’s injury history. But Henderson is no longer in a situation where development automatically takes priority over winning. He’s going to have to earn his minutes, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
5. Portland’s Frontcourt Could Be Better Than People Expect
While the guards will dominate most of the conversations this season, Portland has some interesting pieces around the basket. Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Yang Hansen give Nori different options depending on the opponent and what the team needs.
Clingan continues to look like a player Portland can build around defensively. He recorded five blocks against Sacramento and grabbed 11 rebounds in Friday’s loss to Golden State. His size and rim protection make him valuable, especially considering the defensive concerns surrounding the backcourt.
Williams provides another experienced interior defender when healthy, while Hansen remains an intriguing young player with offensive potential. Hansen had some encouraging moments against London, although it’s difficult to draw major conclusions when Portland had such an overwhelming talent and size advantage.
Toumani Camara also deserves attention because his development could have a significant impact on this team. He’s already an excellent perimeter defender, but his offensive contributions will become increasingly important with so many players looking to attack the basket.
Camara scored 11 points against both Sacramento and Golden State, making three three-pointers in Friday’s finale. If he can consistently knock down open shots while continuing to defend the opposition’s best perimeter players, he’ll become one of the most valuable pieces on the roster.
And with Lillard and Morant potentially creating defensive problems of their own, Portland might need Camara more than ever.
6. The Defense Could Be The Difference Between A Good Team And A Great One
Now for the part that should concern Blazers fans.
Portland surrendered 118 points against a depleted Golden State team in its preseason opener, then allowed 128 points in Friday’s rematch. The Warriors shot 18-for-44 from three-point range in the finale, good for 40.9 percent, and repeatedly found opportunities when Portland failed to rotate or communicate defensively.
That isn’t particularly encouraging for a team hoping to improve on last season’s 42-40 record.
The biggest concern is what happens when Lillard and Morant share the floor. Neither guard is known for consistently strong perimeter defense, and opposing teams will undoubtedly look for opportunities to attack that combination.
Portland has players who can help compensate for those weaknesses. Camara is an outstanding defender, Holiday brings experience, and Clingan provides protection around the basket. But even great individual defenders can’t cover for every breakdown.
And Friday’s game showed how quickly those mistakes can become a problem. Golden State repeatedly found open shooters, controlled long stretches of the game, and built a 25-point advantage before Portland made the final score respectable.
The offense wasn’t perfect, either. Portland committed too many turnovers in its first preseason game and shot just 11-for-44 from three-point range against Sacramento. The Blazers also struggled with shot selection at times, particularly when possessions turned into individual players trying to create something without much movement from their teammates.
These aren’t necessarily reasons to panic in October. But they are reminders that assembling talented players and building a winning basketball team aren’t the same thing.
7. Micah Nori Has Some Difficult Decisions Ahead
Perhaps the biggest thing we learned from the preseason is that Portland has plenty of talent but hasn’t figured out exactly how everyone fits together.
Nori needs to determine how much responsibility to give Lillard and Morant, how to keep Avdija involved, and how to distribute minutes among Henderson and Holiday. He’ll also need to experiment with different lineup combinations to find a balance between scoring and defense.
The extended absence of Shaedon Sharpe makes those decisions even more complicated. Sharpe underwent surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and was given a six-month reevaluation timeline. Portland can’t build its early-season rotation around the assumption that he’ll be available anytime soon.
Still, there are reasons to be excited about the possibilities. The Blazers have more offensive versatility than they’ve had in years, along with a combination of veterans and young players who should be motivated to prove themselves.
What concerns me is how quickly expectations have changed. Portland won 42 games last season and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years, ultimately losing to San Antonio in the opening round. That was a successful step forward, but now the conversation has shifted toward becoming a legitimate Western Conference contender.
That’s a considerably bigger challenge.
So, What Should Blazers Fans Expect?
I came away from the preseason more optimistic about Portland’s offense than its defense. The combination of Lillard, Morant, and Avdija gives the Blazers several ways to create scoring opportunities, and there are enough supporting players to make things interesting.
But I also wonder whether this roster is better on paper than it will be on the court. Portland has multiple players who are most comfortable with the ball in their hands, and not everyone can be the primary option. Someone will have to sacrifice touches, minutes, or both.
That’s where Nori will earn his paycheck.
The Blazers don’t need to be perfect in October, and nobody should judge an entire season based on four exhibition games. But they’ll need to establish an identity quickly, particularly in a Western Conference where there aren’t many easy nights.
The encouraging part is that Portland no longer looks like a team simply waiting for its young players to develop. There are legitimate expectations now, and that’s a welcome change after several frustrating seasons.
Whether the Blazers can meet those expectations is another question entirely. The preseason gave us plenty of reasons to be interested, but it didn’t give us enough reasons to be convinced.
And frankly, that’s what makes the upcoming season so intriguing.
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