Portland @ LA preview
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Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2023 ) Portland 125, L.A. Clippers 136
While the Portland Trail Blazers will begin a new era Wednesday, the Los Angeles Clippers will look to get more out of a tenure that has not quite delivered as expected when the teams tip off their seasons in Los Angeles.
For the first time in 12 seasons, Damian Lillard will not be on the Trail Blazers' roster after he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in September.
And while the star power of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George remains in place for the Clippers, better health combined with elite play will be vital. A run to the NBA Finals has eluded Los Angeles in the four seasons the dynamic duo has been together on the West Coast.
Leonard has played just 52 games over the past two seasons because of knee issues -- and never played more than 57 in any season since joining the Clippers in 2019 -- but the club is hopeful that problem can be mitigated. George has not exactly been the picture of health either, playing in 87 of a potential 164 regular-season games over the previous two seasons.
"Last year, it was tough because we felt we had opportunities to do something special and PG goes down and Kawhi goes down after Game 2," Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. "You never want to see anyone get injured, but a lot of people said, 'Oh they're hurt again.'
"... Seeing them come back 100 percent and being healthy, just the vibe of our team is totally different."
Russell Westbrook also is on board for the entire season after he proved to be productive in 21 regular-season games and five playoff contests for the Clippers following a rocky tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ivica Zubac and Terance Mann round out the starting five.
Of concern, though, is that Leonard is now 32, while George is 33 and Westbrook will turn 35 next month. But the trio does not look to be slowing.
"I feel like everything combined is making us play harder or have that energy," Leonard said.
After going 33-49 in 2022-23 and missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the Trail Blazers moved on from Lillard at the star's request. Lillard scored a career-best 32.2 points per game last season.
While young players will get a chance to deliver in Portland this year, it is not a complete youth movement. Big men Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III were added, as was guard Malcolm Brogdon.
Set up to potentially become Lillard's replacement as the team's next big star is Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 overall draft pick from the NBA G League Ignite. Henderson's style of play, with scoring potential from the point guard spot, often has been compared to a young Westbrook.
Another former NBA player who had success as a scoring point guard is Henderson's new coach: Chauncey Billups. In the 1997 NBA Draft, Billups was the No. 3 overall selection.
Billups can relate to his new 19-year-old guard.
"He won't be a great talker yet until he learns," Billups said, according to The Oregonian. "You've got to have the confidence first in what we're doing. So, you don't put too much pressure on him."
Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant will pave the way for Portland. Simmons scored 21.1 points per game last season with 4.1 assists, while Grant was at 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
"I think we need to set the tone for how we want to play and then all of the young guys will follow," Simons said.
--Field Level Media