Blazers’ Preseason Tips Off in Utah

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Andrew R Tonry

Steve Blake. Photo credit: Keith Allison on Flickr. Creative Commons License. Image cropped.

With dizzying regularity, NBA preseason often pits fevered expectation against lackluster product.

As such, fans who've been chomping at the bit to cheer on their team in earnest will have to wait a few more weeks.

Such is particularly the case with the Trail Blazers, who enter the 2014-15 NBA season with a starting lineup and offensive system set in stone.

"We aren't going to change a lot," said coach Terry Stotts at Media Day last week.

In other words: when the Blazers travel to Utah to play the Jazz Tuesday, expect to get a good look at the bench.

And therein rests the bit of consequence for Portland's preseason: What subs will stand out?

Now, surely we know that once the regular season begins the Blazers will lean heavily on their offseason acquisitions, veterans Steve Blake and Chris Kaman. But we already know what those guys can do, and there's no need to put any excess miles on their aging frames.

So the 2014 preseason figures to be in the hands of the youngsters.

Can C.J. McCollum start hitting from distance? Can Meyers Leonard keeps his wits about him for five whole minutes? Can Will Barton play within the team's offense?

Indeed, Barton may be the Blazer with the preseason most worth watching.

As Barton told GoLocalPDX on Media Day, his goal this season is to secure a "permanent spot" in the rotation--IE: to play meaningful minutes in every game.

To do so, Barton, a prolific scorer, will have to reign in his offensive gifts. He must take the shots designated by the offense, rather than freelance. He must pass when circumstances dictate, rather than just dribble, drive and shoot. He must take that extra energy and expend it on defense.

The Jazz, meanwhile, will be in the grips of a slightly more consequential--or at least tumultuous--preseason; they've got a rookie head coach, Quinn Synder, the first coach in Utah in a quarter century to come from outside Jerry Sloan's umbrella

After Tuesday's game both teams head back to Portland, where they meet again Thursday at the Moda Center.