The Portland Trail Blazers have a problem.
They have too many talented guards. There aren’t enough shots to go around. Too many egos to keep happy. The Damian Lillard-Ja Morant experiment isn’t going to work.
At least…that’s what we were all told.
Three games into the NBA season, Portland’s “crowded” backcourt looks less like a disaster in the making and more like a defense’s worst nightmare.
The Trail Blazers improved to 3-0 on Tuesday with a 136-129 win over the unbeaten Los Angeles Lakers. Lillard, Morant, and Jrue Holiday combined for 66 points, while Portland’s offense looked like a machine with endless weapons.
Morant scored 23 points against Los Angeles, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, hitting his only three-pointer, and putting his floater on full display.
Lillard added 21 points on 5-of-12 shooting, knocking down four of eight deep shots.
So far, the NBA’s most fascinating experiment is producing fascinating results.
Dame and Ja seem to be developing a of chemistry that usually takes time to establish. Morant has gone viral multiple times celebrating with Lillard in big moments, and their enthusiasm for one another is quickly cancelling out concerns about two stars sharing the spotlight.
On Tuesday, we saw the clearest example yet, when Morant, while Portland clung to a one-point lead, delivered a pair of clutch baskets, earning him the “Call Ja” post-game celly.
Then, in came Dame Time.
Lillard buried a step-back three with 42.8 seconds left, putting Portland up by six, effectively sealing the win.
Morant’s “Dame Time” celebration showed that they’re having fun. But they’re also winning.
On Tuesday, Ja spoke about his chemistry with Dame (while wearing the T-shirt fans received on opening night).
Lost in the excitement is the fact that Portland’s backcourt includes another accomplished guard who could start for plenty of NBA teams.
“Stuck” in a crowded rotation, Holiday brings something different to the backcourt. He’s a two-time NBA champion, an elite defensive presence and someone who doesn’t need to dominate possessions to influence winning.
Need someone to defend a dangerous perimeter scorer? Holiday can handle it. Need another ball-handler to organize the offense? He’s more than capable.
Holiday scored 22 points off the bench against Los Angeles, giving Portland another offensive option in a game where the Lakers had few answers.
Overall, it feels almost unfair that a team can turn to Holiday as its third established guard. But none of this even considers the fact that Deni Avdija, who led Portland with 23 points and nine assists against the Lakers, is the team’s best player.
This is a stacked rotation of playmakers, and to paraphrase Lillard himself, the roster would look nothing like this if he hadn’t been traded in 2023.
Of course, not everyone in Portland’s backcourt is enjoying a spectacular start. Scoot Henderson is struggling to establish himself, and Tuesday reminded everyone there’s still work ahead.
The former No. 3 overall pick finished with just two points against Los Angeles, missing all three field-goal attempts and committing five turnovers in 17 minutes.
Those aren’t encouraging numbers for a young guard entering a pivotal season. But Portland’s unusual roster construction works in their favor.
Truly, though, the Trail Blazers don’t need Henderson to figure everything out immediately. They have Lillard. They have Morant. They have Holiday. They also have proven playmaking and scoring from Avdija, plus a true perimeter threat in Toumani Camara.
They also have a versatile, efficient option in Donovan Clingan, plus a reliable interior presence in Robert Williams III.
Scoot can work through his growing pains without the entire offense suffering, and that’s a luxury few developing players enjoy. But it does create an interesting long-term question, because he still needs meaningful opportunities to grow, and finding those minutes won’t always be easy.
For now, Scoot’s early struggles aren’t translating into losses. Portland can be patient with its young guard while asking its veterans to shoulder the immediate burden.
That early success could have implications beyond the backcourt. Nobody should be making sweeping declarations about the Western Conference standings after three games, but starting 3-0 doesn’t hurt, especially for a team that entered with more skeptics than believers.
Ultimately, Portland doesn’t need a perfect record to prove preseason projections wrong. If the offense, backcourt chemistry, and depth prove sustainable, climbing higher out West than expected is real.
That’s especially true with injuries already complicating the league’s outlook. The West is unforgiving, but the opportunity to outperform expectations is there.
And after an offseason defined by off-court drama and critics questioning how good the Blazers could be, this is an ideal start.
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