Portland Trail Blazers · 8 notes
Portland practice: Deni Avdija, who said a back injury held him back last season, wants as many preseason minutes as he can get but to be smart: "We have an 82-game season." Micah Nori sees Scoot Henderson as "more of a combo type guy than just a true point guard."
Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan started Portland's last preseason game. Coach Micah Nori called that "probably a pretty good indication" for the Oct. 21 opener vs. Phoenix but didn't commit. Scoot Henderson comes off the bench for "downhill scoring."
Scoot Henderson on who pushes the pace for the Trail Blazers: "Nobody should be trying to sprint the ball up the floor unless... me and Deni get it or Ja." That means Deni Avdija or Ja Morant. Micah Nori wants him to "attack the basket, go to score" first, then hit the open man.
"There isn't much to teach Scoot. Just gotta give him some playing time." Jrue Holiday says his media-day take on Scoot Henderson's defense was no joke: he can guard four positions. Portland will press full court at times with Henderson, Holiday and Toumani Camara.
Scoot Henderson: "I feel like we can win. And anything other than that, I'm gonna feel a little crushed." Deni Avdija on last season's shooting dip: "I shot a lot off the dribble this year. I had a lot of fatigue towards the end of games." He also cited few open looks.
Nori's staff split: Quentin Crawford runs the defense, Jay the offense, and his No. 2 Mike Williams handles late-game and special situations. Scoot Henderson on an extension: "I would love to keep playing in Portland." Nori likens him to Russell Westbrook.
Micah Nori told Scoot Henderson to simplify: "Just go as fast as you can. Somebody's in front of you, pass it. If they don't, just lay the ball in." Deni Avdija on Ja Morant: "We're not expecting Ja to have the ball 48 minutes." Avdija expects to keep initiating, too.
From Portland's media availability: Ja Morant says playing with Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson means he needn't be ball dominant, opening catch-and-shoot 3s and cuts. Donovan Clingan on 3-pointers: "if I'm open and I like the shot, I'm gonna shoot it."