Trail Blazers' Preseason Opener Offers Sneak Peek At Starting Lineup

Portland Trail Blazers fans got their first real glimpse at what the team's new-look roster could look like on Wednesday night, and Head Coach Micah Nori wasted little time giving them something intriguing to watch.

When the Trail Blazers took the floor against the Golden State Warriors for their preseason opener, the starting lineup featured Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara. It was a group that immediately grabbed attention because of the two star guards sharing the backcourt. That combination was far from a guarantee entering training camp.

Nori previously suggested that starting both Morant and Lillard might not make much sense because of their defensive limitations and the fact that both are undersized guards. The first-year head coach also acknowledged that he planned to experiment with different combinations throughout the preseason before settling on what works best.

Still, Nori indicated before Wednesday's game that he was leaning toward giving the pairing a look, and he followed through against Golden State. The preseason opener ultimately served as a valuable first test of what Morant and Lillard can look like together.

The rest of the starting five also makes plenty of sense around them. Avdija provides size, versatility and another capable ball-handler on the wing, while Camara gives Portland a defensive-minded forward who can take on difficult assignments. Clingan provides the size and interior presence that can help balance out a backcourt featuring two smaller guards.

It is important not to view Wednesday's starting lineup as a prediction for Portland's regular-season rotation. Nori has made it clear that the preseason is about experimentation, and the team is more concerned with finding the right combinations than simply determining who gets introduced with the starters.

That makes this lineup more of a sneak peek than a final answer. Nori is probably going to be experimenting with a ton of different lineup combinations throughout the rest of the preseason and even into the regular season.

Even so, seeing Morant and Lillard officially share the court as teammates for the first time is significant. The two guards bring completely different experiences and styles to Portland, and figuring out how to maximize both could be one of the biggest storylines of the season.

The Blazers ultimately came away with a 123-118 victory, with Lillard scoring 15 points in his Portland return.  There will be plenty of changes throughout the preseason, but Wednesday provided an early look at one lineup that could become especially important for Portland.