Blazers' Ja Morant, Damian Lillard Debut Exposes Micah Nori's Backcourt Dilemma

The Portland Trail Blazers spent much of the offseason wondering whether Ja Morant and Damian Lillard could share a starting backcourt.

One game into the new season, they might have stumbled upon an answer … just not the one everyone expected.

Morant and Lillard made their first regular-season start together Wednesday night, helping Portland dismantle the Phoenix Suns 124–83 at Moda Center. The Blazers erupted for 43 first-quarter points, surrendered just 12 and never gave Phoenix much of a chance to recover.

But perhaps the most interesting development from Portland's 41-point victory wasn't what Morant and Lillard accomplished together.

It was how little Micah Nori actually needed them together.

The two guards shared the floor for approximately 11 minutes and 26 seconds, with Nori staggering their minutes throughout the first three quarters. Neither played in the fourth.

For a coach who admitted earlier this month that starting both guards might not make basketball sense, Wednesday offered an intriguing compromise.

Start them together. Let them establish an early rhythm. Then give each opportunities to operate without the other.

And for at least one night, it worked.

Lillard finished with 25 points and six assists, knocking down six 3-pointers in 24 minutes.

Morant added 14 points and eight assists in 23 minutes, giving Portland exactly the kind of complementary production it envisioned when assembling its crowded backcourt.

With 9:21 remaining in the third quarter, Lillard found Morant for a running layup. Less than a minute later, Morant returned the favor, assisting Lillard on a basket of his own.

Morant's downhill explosiveness creates opportunities for Lillard along the perimeter, while Lillard's shooting forces defenses to respect a threat that Morant hasn't consistently provided throughout his career.

That part makes sense.

But two former All-NBA guards sharing offensive responsibilities was never Portland's only concern.

Deni Avdija averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists last season, establishing himself as a legitimate offensive centerpiece.

Now he's sharing the floor with two players whose careers have revolved around controlling the basketball.

Someone was always going to have to sacrifice touches.

Wednesday suggested that sacrifice doesn't necessarily have to come from Avdija. He finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, remaining involved throughout the opening stretch with early baskets assisted by both Morant and Lillard.

And that's where Nori's approach becomes particularly interesting.

Before the opener, Nori explained that he was more concerned with the combinations throughout games than the starting lineup itself.

His rotations against Phoenix reflected that thinking.

Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson both saw opportunities alongside Portland's established stars, giving Nori different looks without forcing Morant and Lillard to spend every meaningful possession together.

But there's a catch … and it's one Wednesday's blowout couldn't answer.

What happens when Portland actually needs a stop?

Neither Morant nor Lillard has built his reputation on high-level perimeter defense. Against stronger opponents, playing two smaller guards together could invite mismatches that even Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan can't consistently cover.

Holiday, meanwhile, offers the defensive versatility to handle those assignments without completely sacrificing offensive production.

And if Portland needs his defense in the closing minutes of a tight game, whose spot does he take?

That's a question Nori didn't have to answer against Phoenix.

It's also one that could become increasingly difficult as the season progresses, particularly with Lillard returning from an Achilles injury and Portland managing a rotation loaded with guards who expect meaningful minutes.

Lillard has already discussed the benefits of playing fewer minutes and spending more time away from the ball, giving Nori some flexibility in how he manages the 36-year-old's workload.

The solution might be staggering Morant and Lillard throughout games, as Nori did Wednesday. But that only works if both are comfortable sacrificing time together — and potentially closing opportunities — for the betterment of the team.

Opening night offered reason for optimism. It also showed just how much flexibility Portland has at its disposal.

Still, beating Phoenix by 41 doesn't establish which five players should be on the floor when the game is decided by one possession.

The Blazers spent Wednesday proving Morant and Lillard can coexist. They didn't prove they're Portland's best combination when a game is on the line.

And for Nori, that distinction could eventually matter a whole lot more than Wednesday's 41-point victory.