The Portland Trail Blazers are 2-0. Yeah, two wins, no losses, and it is all thanks to the new backcourt dynamic with Ja Morant. This partnership, which had plenty of question marks after the offseason trade, is absolutely humming right out of the gate.
Dame’s Off-Ball Freedom Is Unlocking Everything
Damian Lillard himself is clearly loving this setup. He just talked on an ESPN segment about how much fun it has been getting to know Morant, especially with both of them coming from point guard backgrounds. He said, “It’s been fun to get to know him. You direct traffic as a point guard. And I think the thing about him is he’s seeing the game that way to where like me being off the ball more so far this year… it’s like taking away that responsibility of me having to always be hyper aware.” That is massive for Dame, being able to shed some of that constant burden. Morant, who came over from the Grizzlies in that trade, clearly understands how to run the show and let Lillard operate in different ways.
Early Returns Are Wild
And the numbers back up Lillard’s comments. The Blazers are a perfect 2-0 right now. Lillard is putting up 22 points and four assists per game, while Morant is chipping in with 13 points and 7.5 assists every contest. But here is the kicker: in the 29 minutes those two have shared the court this season, the Blazers boast an insane plus-29.9 net rating. Yeah, it is a small sample size, we know, but that kind of efficiency from a brand new, high-profile duo? That is not just promising, that is straight up making noise across the league.
So, the big questions everyone had about Lillard and Morant sharing the backcourt? Early returns suggest they are not just working, they are thriving. Keep an eye on Portland because this early chemistry is something else to look forward to this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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