National Basketball Association

Trail Blazers Player Grades: Preseason Opener

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Player grades and analysis from the Trail Blazers’ 98-89 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz

The Trail Blazers got back in action last night against their divisional foe. Judging by the respect that the Jazz have gotten from the national media in the lead up to the season – they appear to be the team to beat in the Northwest Division. Even though it is preseason, it is nice to see Portland pull out a solid win. Grading a game like this should be taken with a grain of salt, as many players are still trying to carve out their role with the team. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of last night’s performances.

Damian Lillard

PG, Trail Blazers

All in all, it would be nice to see Lillard be a little more efficient from downtown. His 1-4 performance is more likely a case of getting the rust off, so nothing to panic about here.

C.J. McCollum

SG, Trail Blazers

BMuch like Lillard, the start of the game wasn’t pretty for McCollum. His fourteen attempts from the field led the team, but he only connected on five of them. This isn’t a cause for concern, as the second year starter is capable of heating up in an instant. Getting a high volume of shots up in several different lineup combinations is a clear sign that McCollum’s role inside the offense is still growing at a rapid rate.

Maurice Harkless

SF, Trail Blazers

AHarkless got the nod at the starting small forward spot in the first preseason game, which shouldn’t come as a surprise after last season’s final chapter. While his ten points and 2-4 shooting performance from deep was impressive, his work on the defensive end is likely what will secure his spot in the starting rotation. His size to speed ratio is at an elite level (even by NBA terms), and he put it to good use against the Jazz. Harkless was able to record three steals and a block against the visiting side.

Al-Farouq Aminu

PF, Trail Blazers

CIt wasn’t a pretty shooting performance from Aminu to open the preseason. Hopefully his 0-5 mark from beyond the arc was an aberration, and not a sign of things to come. Aminu’s continued growth as a shooter is imperative for Portland’s hopes of maintaining floor spacing on the offensive end. On the plus side, he did look confident with the ball in his hands. That sign of confidence could result in Stotts being able to roll out a lineup that has five capable ball handlers, which would mean that the Trail Blazers could be very dangerous in transition in the coming year.

Mason Plumlee

C, Trail Blazers

B+It certainly appears that Plumlee is on his way to a massive payday, and he showed why with his versatility against the Jazz. Despite playing the fewest amount of minutes of all the starters (17 minutes), he managed to impact nearly every part of the game. His ability to create turnovers on the defensive end could immediately boost the unit’s effectiveness, thus helping Portland take another step to becoming a serious contender. Plumlee didn’t show off his new jump shot against the Jazz though, so everyone will have to wait for Friday’s contest against the Suns to see it.

Allen Crabbe

SG, Trail Blazers

A+Crabbe began his campaign to silence the critics of his massive payday by putting up a solid night on the offensive end. His effectiveness was off the charts, and he showed that he is capable of scoring in multiple ways. One concern surrounding his game was his ability to create looks for his teammates, but his four assist performance is a big step in the right direction. Another big leap in production could be in the cards for Crabbe if this keeps up.

Evan Turner

SF, Trail Blazers

We will take another look at the team after Friday’s game against the Suns. Our focus will continue to revolve around the battle for the starting small forward spot, but Napier is definitely on the radar after a strong showing last night. Regardless of it being preseason, it is always nice to see the year start with a win.