NEXT GAME
Preseason opener — Clippers at Blazers, 7 p.m. Tuesday
TV: none
Radio: FM 95.5
Online: columbian.com/blazers
There is about 15 minutes left in practice on Saturday afternoon and Wesley Matthews is at it again.
The Portland Trail Blazers are running full court five-on-five drills, and Matthews just outmuscled Dante Cunningham for an offense rebound, landed on his back and slid to a stop with the ball in his hands and a smile on his face.
Check out the new guy.
“From what I’ve seen the last few days, he has a real good feel for the game. His IQ for the game is very high,” said head coach Nate McMillan about the Blazers 6-foot-5, 250-pound shooting guard who played last season for the Utah Jazz.
“This is a new challenge for him. We are going to be looking for more from Wes.”
On Friday night at the Rose Garden, Matthews walked away from the Wells Fargo Fan Fest as the inter-squad scrimmage MVP and easily a new fan favorite in Portland.
It was the first chance for the Blazer faithful to see Matthews in action after he signed a five-year deal at $32.5 million this offseason
Matthews did not disappoint. He went at Brandon Roy on every possession, an elbow here, getting physical there, and showcasing flash and flare on both ends of the court.
And while some around the league may feel Portland overpaid for Matthews’ services, he’s ready to let his play do his talking.
It was like that growing up for the son of Pam Moore and Wesley Matthews Sr. Moore was an All-American runner and basketball player at the University of Wisconsin, while Matthews Sr. spent time playing in the NBA for nine seasons and overseas.
It was like that when Matthews starred at James Madison Memorial High School, only to undrafted out of Marquette University in the 2009 NBA Draft.
It was like that even when he earned the starting shooting guard job for coach Jerry Sloan in Utah last season.
“People don’t know what they can expect from me yet,” said Matthews, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Last year was a surprise to everyone, but not to me. I come to work and I put in the time and put myself in this position. Now when I get a chance, I make the most of it.”
Under Sloan at Utah, Matthews averaged 9.4 points and played in all 82-games for the Jazz. He matured in the postseason against the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant by putting up 13.2 points and 4.4 rebounds, all while making a name for himself as an aggressive defender.
That is the Wesley Matthews Portland will grow to love this season.
“We are talking about a guy who had a good year and has to grow from that,’’ McMillan said. “The potential is there. What we saw last year was Wesley Matthews. I don’t think that was a fluke. I think he’s going to get better and that hard work is what will establish identity in this league.”
“This is a new challenge for him. We are going to be looking for more from him.”
McMillan expects Matthews to come off Portland’s bench and be able to play behind Roy at shooting guard and Nicolas Batum at small forward.
The coach said there even could be times when Matthews could slide over to point guard during parts of a game.
But more than anything, McMillan — a Jerry Sloan disciple in coaching philosophies — is eager to have Matthew’s grittiness on defense anchor the Blazers this season.
That is fine by Matthews.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When it is time for basketball, it is time for basketball,” Matthews asserted.
“People can sleep on me if they want. I’m just going to keep doing my thing.”
