Blazer Beef
You know what? It’s hard to have beef with a team that went 4-0 on the week.
But we’re here to get a little nit-picky. The Blazers free-throw creation has been pretty slow to start the season. Yes, they’ve had a top-five offense but they were at least above average in free throw’s per game and in the ratio of free throws compared to field goal attempts.
They’re currently 22nd in free throws per game according to NBA.com. Their offense has been dynamite to start but seeing slippage in this area may be a bigger concern if Portland’s outside shots stop falling.
Blazer Bravo
The Trail Blazers: When they go 3-0 in games without Nicolas Batum, one of which also came without All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
In the last three games the Blazers offense has come back to life and their defense has been good enough, especially at home.
Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard both helped the Blazers get wins as starters this week. Although coach Terry Stotts pledges to return Aldridge and Batum to “starters minutes,” Batum is intrigued by the possibility of the Blazers starters getting more rest and referenced that nobody on the San Antonio Spurs averaged more than 30 minutes per game last year.
“That’s good because we play a lot the last two seasons, so it can be good long term,” Batum said. “And guys like CJ, Will, Joel, our second unit is good so far. We have one of the best second units in the NBA now so you can’t say anything about our bench this year.”
By The Numbers
7 — The Blazers have the seventh-best defensive efficiency rating according to NBA.com through 10 games.
3 — The Blazers have had three different starting lineups in the first 10 games of this season after having only two starting lineups all of last year.
The Week Ahead
Monday vs. New Orleans (7 p.m., CSN): Anthony Davis is averaging a monstrous 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks per game helping the Pelicans get off to a 5-3 start.
Friday vs. Chicago (7:30 p.m., CSN, ESPN): Derrick Rose missed the Bulls game on Sunday but he and the Bulls come back to the Moda Center 364 days after Rose suffered a season-ending knee injury in Portland last year.
Sunday at Boston (3 p.m., CSN): The Blazers start their first extended East Coast road trip in Boston. This should be the first matchup between Damian Lillard and Rajon Rondo.
