Suns Run Roughshod Over Trail Blazers in Preseason Closer

In their last preseason game of 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers had no chance against the Phoenix Suns. With their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the court, the Suns outmatched the Blazers, who chose to rest all their veterans, including Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, and Malcolm Brogdon. Portland’s starters had very little experience compared to the Suns, making the final score of 117-106 unsurprising.

However, despite the loss, the game provided insights into Portland’s strengths and weaknesses:

Getting Outrun

The Blazers are known for their fast-paced style of play, but they struggled to keep up with the Suns’ tempo. Phoenix dominated the game by constantly pushing the ball up the court, leaving Portland unable to catch up.

Turnovers

Portland’s inexperience and lack of chemistry resulted in a high number of turnovers. They committed a staggering 17 turnovers in the first half alone, leading to a total of 24 turnovers for the game. This will likely be a recurring issue for the Blazers, and opponents will undoubtedly take advantage of it.

No Close-Outs

Despite having quick and agile players, the Blazers struggled to defend against the Suns’ outside shooting. They failed to consistently disrupt Phoenix’s three-point attempts, allowing them to shoot a solid 40% from beyond the arc in the first half.

Threeless

Portland’s shooting from three-point range was abysmal, as they made only 7 of their 37 attempts, resulting in a dismal 18.9% shooting percentage.

Tricky Scoot

Scoot Henderson had a subpar performance as a point guard, with 5 turnovers and questionable defense. However, his ability to change direction quickly and maintain speed was still impressive. With more experience, Henderson has the potential to be a phenomenal player.

Sharpe Shooting

Shaedon Sharpe struggled on defense like his teammates, but he showed promise on the offensive end. He made 9 of his 18 attempts and dished out 4 assists, displaying increased efficiency compared to last year.

A Couple Standouts

Despite the loss, a few players from Portland’s second and third units stood out. Jabari Walker had an efficient scoring performance, shooting 5-7 from the field with 9 rebounds. Toumani Camara showed potential as a defender, despite accumulating 5 fouls in limited playing time. Skylar Mays also contributed on offense, scoring 18 points on 5-7 shooting in just 21 minutes.

Up Next

For more details, check out the boxscore of the game. The Blazers’ preseason has come to an end, and their next game will be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, October 25th at 7:30 PM Pacific time.

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