Deni Avdija Sparkles, Trail Blazers Implode vs. Warriors

The Portland Trail Blazers welcomed Deni Avdija to their starting lineup on opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season. The new forward did well and almost single-handedly revolutionized Portland's approach on both ends of the pitch. However, the end result of the game seemed all too familiar. The Golden State Warriors enjoyed three-pointers and rebounds, defeating the Blazers 139-104 overall.

Denis Grand Slam Breakfast

Deni Avdija gave Portland a glimpse into the skills that made the franchise so desirable this summer. His defense was the most notable feature of the entire game. He was so good at staying in front of his man that his four teammates were able to focus on staying home instead of looking over their shoulders and helping him. With less ground to cover, every Portland defender immediately looked 50% better.

Avdija also showed impressive defense off the ball, slipping on steals and blocks. Not only is he fast, his timing is also impeccable. This combination makes defending seem effortless for him, even though it certainly isn't.

Finally, Avdija also helped the Blazers pick up the tempo on offense. When trying to run out, he took the ball and the middle of the field with him. He penetrated the halffield almost immediately and found outside throwers with efficient passing.

Avdija had a little less chance of getting his own chance, but that's not why he was hired. He gave the Blazers pancakes, sausage, bacon and eggs. They didn't need the French toast either. That would just be greedy.

Avdija finished the game with 15 points on 4-10 shooting with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 4 turnovers.

Tempo salsa

Portland's commitment to running and quick shooting was evident from the first tip and remained consistent for much of the game. They outran every missed shot from the opponent. They wasted no time in the halfcourt either, pushing the ball to the middle of the court, making layups when they were individually covered, and dishing out three-pointers when help came. Let's not lie. It wasn't always successful and it wasn't always pretty. But the passion was there and the game plan was clear.

However, there were no results. Portland had 5 fast break points and 48 in the lane tonight. That's not spectacular.

Unfortunately, Golden State picked up Portland's momentum and ran even harder. They scored 31 fast break points themselves. This is something the Blazers need to pay attention to as they continue to play fast.

defense

As with the pace of the game, Portland's defensive intentions were clear, even if their execution lagged a bit. There's definitely a new wrinkle in their plan this year. They rely on individual players to stay in front of their opponent and switch when necessary to keep them under control. Help came when it came, late in the action, at the shot, and served to prime the pump for the rebound.

The result was a much Better style of interior defense than we're used to from Portland. Their size and speed served them well on the trail. The price for this was a slight loss of integrity to the scope. The Blazers looked golden on a few plays as three points were contested. This was generally true for the first unit. In other cases, Golden State was wide open with only mediocre passes. The Warriors did equalize by missing open looks, but it was a dangerous game for Portland. After all, they paid for it.

three

The three-pointer played a crucial role in today's game, especially in the second period as Golden State increased its lead. Simply put, the Warriors shot 20-48, 41.7% from distance. Meanwhile, the Blazers didn't. They shot 8-34, 23.5% from distance. Portland looked good. They rarely shot a bad three-pointer. They just didn't want to fall.

The lack of deep conversions could hurt the team the most this season. You definitely need to hit these shots in practice.

Scoot

Scoot Henderson may be many things this season, but if the first game is any indication, rest is not one of them. He aggressively went to the hole and launched several layup attempts after pushing his body against defenders like a pinball. He didn't manage to follow through on most of those looks, but he refused to be held back. It was a significant improvement over last year.

Scoot finished the game with 22 points on 7-18 shooting with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and only 2 turnovers. He shot 0-5 from the three-point arc, but made 9 free throws and hit 8.

Anfernee Simon's Catch and Clank

While Deni Avdija led the offense in the first session and Scoot Henderson tried to do the same off the bench, Anfernee Simons spent most of the evening playing without the ball and attempting to hit catch-and-shoot threes transform. He didn't have a good night, going 2-7 from distance and scoring 15 points overall. Let's see if his percentage increases naturally as the season progresses. The Blazers also need to evaluate whether this is the best role for their leading scorer.

Rebounding

Whatever hopes the Blazers may have had of a comeback were dashed by their inability to put the ball back in the second half. Head coach Chauncey Billups relied on substitutes in the third period. The further Portland got into the pines, the further they got into the weeds on the boards. Golden State posted a 57-42 rebounding advantage on the night, including 15 offensive boards. That has generally killed Portland's ability to run and score.

Next

Box score

The Blazers face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Pacific.