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The two Alphas of the Blazers — Damian Lillard and Ja Morant — essentially handed the reins of the team to Deni Avdija. “Coming in, I told him: ‘I want you to be the horse,’” Lillard said. “Ja said the same thing: ‘You be the horse.’ I think him knowing for sure that we are encouraging that … you be the horse … you be on go … you get downhill … you attack. I think that is good for our team.”
The Portland Trail Blazers relied on scoring from a number of faces in their 112-90 victory against the Utah Jazz, as five players reached double-figures and 12 of the 13 who suited up recorded a point. Portland moves to 4-1 on the season with the win. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 24 points and five rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the field and 3-point range, nailing 10 of 13 free throws. Damian Lillard added 22 points despite a poor shooting performance, while Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday had 14 points apiece.
What excites you most about playing with this group?” Ja Morant: “It’s just so much fun. So much guys that can do a lot. Easier looks, easier coverages for me. It’s a blessing to be able to play around one of the best shooters of all time and then the talent like Deni as well, and the rest of the guys. We just got to continue to gel together, keep the chemistry going, and keep going and doing what we’re doing.”
Damian Lillard: "Deni is is a funny guy to play with because like his behaviors are just like unapologetic. Like he he has no shame. Like he he gets tired and he's the kind of dude that'll be like, you know, we miss a shot and the team go to other way and he'll just be dying and he's tired and he don't make it back and they score. We call timeout and he'll walk in the huddle and be like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry guys. Like that was that was on me. I was I was tired. Like and he'll just flat out say whatever he's feeling, whatever he's thinking."
Before we get into the importance of Toumani Camara, the heroics of Robert Williams III, the unstoppable force that is Deni Avdija and the grit-and-grind of Sidy Cissoko, please consider this scene from the Trail Blazers’ 128-120 victory over Sacramento on Friday night. Over the final two minutes of a close, knock-em-down, drag-it-out game, Blazers coach Micah Nori did what few — if any — coaches have dared to do in the past decade: He substituted Damian Lillard and Ja Morant out of the game in favor of players who were better defenders. “Neither one of us, you know, are probably used to that,” Lillard told The Athletic.
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Israeli forward Deni Avdija is a central piece of this fresh lineup. The 25-year-old standout shined in the Preseason, averaging 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. This year, he aims to become an elite two-way presence. “My plan is to take another step defensively, especially this year,” he mentioned after team practice on Sunday. “I want to be a great two-way player.”
Sean Highkin: Micah Nori didn’t say it outright but he strongly hinted that the starting lineup from the Golden State game on Friday (Ja/Dame/Toumani/Deni/Clingan) is going to be the starting lineup on opening night. Also said Jrue Holiday is fine after missing that game with swelling in his hand
Deni Avdija on why it is impossible to guard Nikola Jokic: "Every time I switch on to Jokic, I’m like, what the hell am I supposed to do? This guy is strong, smart, can pass, and has those touch floaters from every angle."
Draymond Green: "When did you realize in the NBA I can actually reach that level?" Deni Avdija: "I remember Chauncey Billups came up to me, because I was really struggling. Like, you know, I just got traded from Washington, I'm up there having a good year, coming to a new team again, switching the situation, and I struggled in the beginning. I wasn't even, I wasn't myself. And then Chauncey came to me, like, 'Listen, you're a great rebounder. Every time you take the rebound, you push it. I want you to push it.' So, I just started doing that. That was my, that was the only thing I was waiting in the game is to grab the board and just facilitating myself. And then the more I did it, the more everything kind of opened up. I kind of like, it was like kind of snowballing. And towards the end of the year, I was facilitating most of the offense and I felt really good."
"The talk has been about this team and the plethora of point guards you guys have and the extra ball handlers you guys have. It's going to be adjustment for everybody. I want to ask you how did it feel for you out there today and secondly, what is your rapport like with Ja Morant?" Damian Lillard: "Today it felt good. For me, as somebody who's carried a heavy load the majority of my career, I know how the taxing it can be. It's hard to stay healthy that way. It's hard to show up each night and be great when you know it's going to be such a heavy load and your body's not feeling great. Tonight it felt simple. Having Ja, having Deni out there, other guys that can handle the ball and make plays to where I was able to get more catch and shoot opportunities, I was able to find my way off the ball more."
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Micah Nori: “I’m really curious just to see how this group that was a playoff team last year incorporates Ja and Dame, two guys that are dynamic pieces to add to this group. So I’m excited. I’m also looking forward to another year of Deni, coming with the year that he’s had. And Deni, we’re asking him to be more of a two-way guy because we don’t have to rely on him for all the offensive stuff that this team had to, down the stretch of last year because of injuries.”
Deni Avdija: “I definitely had a lot of offensive load last year, especially during the middle of the season. I had all that back injury stuff that kind of held me back, but at the end of the day, I’m trying to be a complete player on both ends of the floor. I’m trying to be a good defensive player and just continue what I do on offense. I’m going to work on my shape, I’m going to compete every possession, and I think this year I’ll try to make the next step on the defensive end as well.”
Jason Quick: Damian Lillard today said “as far as I know, Ja will start, I will start and Deni will start … that’s as far as I know.” However, he added the lineup - and in particular his starting role - hasn’t been a topic of conversation between he and coach Micah Nori. Take that FWIW
