We're starting to see what Laurynas Birutis can really do
Portland Trailblazers head coach Dwayne Wade promised an up-tempo, downhill attacking scheme and that's exactly what we saw out of the Blazers in the second frame of the preseason. True, it was a 2-4 record, with an asterisk of one win as a road victory over Sacramento's second team, but the offense that looked awful in the first six games suddenly came alive in the second - just one contest under 40% and two games over the 50% from the floor mark - contrast that to the first six games where there were just two showings at 45% or better. The second set? Four games at 47.7% or better.
Leading the way was Laurynas Birutis, who after a reputation that he was just a secondary scorer came alive in this period - averaging 20.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, shooting 54.8% from the floor and winning Player of the Game in both victories.
"Obviously this is exciting for me," said Birutis. "We'd like to win some more games, but it felt good that we've put in an offense that works with what I do best." For comparison, last season the Lithuanian averaged 13.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, shooting 51.4% from the field.
If the offense was so much improved - and it was - why did the losses continue to pile up? Namely, the defense. The Blazers were constantly blasted by opponents who rained 3 pointers at will - hitting 46% behind the arc, the preseason worst by far - a deficit Portland had too much difficulty in trying to make up.
"There's still a lot of work to do on our perimeter defense," said Wade. "We're getting burnt outside again and again, and we're not going to win too many games with that kind of thing happening. Like before, we've gone in and made some adjustments - we'll see if we can bring that number down to a more manageable level and start turning the corner here."
Some among the Blazers fanbase are starting to openly call for Hamidou Diallo "The Younger" to be traded this season for a shooting guard that better fits the team's need. After winning some votes in last year's Most Improved Player of the Year award, Diallo has struggled mightily in preseason and has been the starting lineup's weak link in every metric.
"I can't explain it... I was doing so good last year and now things have just gone cold," Diallo said after the loss to the Charlotte Hornets, in which he went 3 of 15, 0 of 3 from behind the arc. Nor has he been getting to the line as consistently as he used to and there's a very real possibility he could be dealt sometime this season or allowed to walk in free agency.
One player who won't be walking is Ja Morant, who continues to be as good as advertised. While he has yet to show he'll ever be anything more than a 15-16 PPG scorer - especially in an offense that has newly breathed life into Birutis - he's been one of the most valuable players on the team and the only true consistent 3 point-gunning threat.
Portland revoked its offer to Buddy Hield when he didn't accept the contract a week and a half later. As a team source said, "Until we figure things out there's no sense in wasting the cap space or the roster spot on a 32 year old. Besides, Lo played better in the new offense, so we're going to give him a little longer leash."