PORTLAND, Ore. — The Trail Blazers season began on a somber note Monday with the death of longtime team owner Paul Allen.
The excitement for the season opener Thursday against LeBron James and the Lakers has not been diminished by the tragic news. But it's certain that fans, players, coaches and everyone in the Blazers organization will be focused on Allen during Thursday's game, and will want to honor the positive impact Allen had on this franchise for the past 30 years.
It's time to check in on the Blazers with another edition of the 3-on-3 Blazers podcast.
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 3-on-3 Blazers podcast: Honor Paul Allen, beat the Lakers
This week's questions focus on the continuing uncertainty surrounding the health of Maurice Harkless' left knee and which Blazers player we expect to surprise us this season (either in a positive or negative way). The 3-on-3 team then gives their predictions for the first three games of the season.
Read our answers below and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! It has even MORE content, including another lively edition of the 3-on-3 Blazers podcast game "Rip It!"
1. Should the Blazers shut down Maurice Harkless (sore left knee) for an extended period of time? What does that mean for the team?
Jared: According to reports, MRIs on Harkless' knee have shown no structural damage, which would seem to indicate that playing won't put him at risk of further injury. If there was a risk, team doctors would be holding him out of practice, but he's reportedly competing in all or most of the team's practices now. With Thursday's season opener (and going forward), the Blazers should trust Harkless to make that decision. There's no point in putting him out there if he's not 100 percent confident he can play at full strength. A tentative Harkless is not an effective Harkless. If Harkless has to miss a few games, I think head coach Terry Stotts will start Jake Layman in his place. Though Layman has done enough in summer league and preseason to earn a chance to contribute this season, it's still a clear step down. Layman is a poor man's version of Harkless. He's long, athletic and (potentially) a good outside shooter. But he's not as long, he’s not as athletic nor is he as good a shooter as Harkless. Harkless is a proven 3-and-D wing. Those kinds of players aren't easily replaced.
Orlando: Yes, shut him down. Clearly he’s not right. What’s the point in having him one night and not the next? It’s gotta be frustrating and I’m sure there’s pressure to be on the floor but the last thing you want is for him to battle through and make things worse. There’s no doubt they need him. Harkless has become the glue guy who fits a role the Blazers really need. It’s going to be by committee. Jake Layman seems like he’ll get some of the early reps, based on what happened in the preseason, but I’m expecting a combination of guys to get their shot.
Nate: I wouldn’t shut him down because it doesn't appear there’s a new medical reason for his pain. He hasn’t been diagnosed with a new injury. And players say he’s been a full go in practice. So, his movement isn’t completely limited. At the same time, I wouldn’t put pressure on him to come back. I would continue the course they did during the preseason. Play it night to night and let Harkless, who knows his body the best, make the decision. Any game he misses is a big deal for the Blazers. Damian Lillard has called Harkless an x-factor for the Blazers’ success. So, if he misses an extended period of time this season, I think it puts the Blazers’ playoff hopes in jeopardy.
2. Which player will be the biggest surprise this season, either in a positive way or negative way?
Orlando: I like Seth Curry to be the biggest surprise this season, in a positive way. Since he’s a new addition to Portland, it’s going to feel like he came out of nowhere for some fans. Before his leg injury sidelined him last season, he was going to be a starter. Fresh off his best year as a pro, averaging 12 points per game and shooting 42 percent from long range, I think he’s going to pick up where he left off. Curry is going to be an important piece to the team.
Nate: Surprise is all about expectations. And with that in mind, I’m going to predict Zach Collins disappoints this season. Many fans seem to have the expectation that he’ll easily replace the production of Ed Davis. I think they undersell what Davis meant to last year’s team. Not only was he an inside force offensively and defensively, but by all accounts, was a leader in the locker room. While I think Zach Collins will show improvement this season, I don’t think it will be as much as many people foresee. We remember energy moments when Collins came off the bench last season. But he wasn’t consistent. He played on the perimeter a lot last season and was a below average 3-point shooter. And he tied for the worst defensive rating on the team among Blazers who regularly played. I think the adjustment of having to be a presence both inside and outside will be a tougher transition than people are predicting.
Jared: I can't shake the feeling that Nik Stauskas is going to be better than people think. He seems like the kind of player who will thrive in Stotts' offense. I think playing in a stable environment with a supportive coach and teammates will make a big difference for Stauskas, who was a Top 10 draft pick in 2014. Stauskas has talent, but he's never been in a position to succeed in the NBA. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings, the most dysfunctional organization in the NBA, where he was abused by DeMarcus Cousins as a rookie. He was then traded to the 76ers. At that time, Philadelphia was in the middle of "The Process" and was a widely ridiculed franchise for its plan to actively tank for multiple seasons. Again, not a good environment. He was traded next to a rebuilding Brooklyn squad, where he played sparingly last season. Though Stauskas is a limited defender, he can help the Blazers on offense. He's a good outside shooter and he showed more playmaking ability than I expected during the preseason. Stauskas looks like a potential fan favorite to me.
3. Prediction time! The Blazers' first three games of the season are all at home, Thursday against the Lakers, Saturday against the Spurs and Monday against the Wizards. Which games do the Blazers win? Which do they lose?
Nate: It’s going to be a great first week for the Blazers. I think they win opening night against the Lakers. The Blazers are tired of hearing about LeBron and the Lakers, and I think they come out with a message to the country: Don’t forget about us. I also believe the Lakers won’t be as strong at the start of the season, as they work out chemistry issues. The Blazers take care of Aldridge and the Spurs. And I’m going to give Portland the nod over Washington in a matchup of two of the best backcourts in the NBA. 3-0 start to the 2018-19 season.
Jared: I think the Blazers go 3-0 to start the season. I expect the Lakers to be good this season but that team is integrating the best player in the NBA as well as a bunch of new, peculiar pieces into a young roster that struggled to play consistent basketball last season. Expect some growing pains early on. The Blazers will feed off the energy and emotion of the home crowd at the Moda Center and beat the Lakers. The Spurs also have to integrate a new major piece in DeMar DeRozan and are dealing with an unfair number of injuries to point guards on their roster. Seriously, I feel bad for them. A healthy Portland squad gets past San Antonio. I see Washington and Portland as pretty evenly matched, but I'll give the Blazers the edge because of momentum and homecourt.
Orlando: I’m not messing with a good thing. The Blazers have won 17-straight home openers, a streak that started back in 2001, when Blazers first-round draft pick Anfernee Simons was two years old. It’s going to feel like a playoff atmosphere with LeBron making his debut in a Lakers uniform, but Portland gets up for L.A., winning 15 in a row against the Lake Show. Yeah, that’s four straight seasons worth of sweeps. I’ll take the Blazers to beat L.A. Then, LaMarcus Aldridge returns to Rip City. This is a different Spurs roster than years past and I don’t know what to expect. Common sense says they’ll be good. Elite coach and a couple of current all-stars usually works well. Close game, but I’ll take the Spurs to steal one in PDX. Blazers bounce back to beat John Wall and company. Wade Baldwin could get a lot of work that night, Bradley Beal scored 77 points in two games vs. the Blazers last season. This week the Blazers go 2-1.
FINAL PREDICTION RECORDS, LAST SEASON
- Nate: 53-29
- Orlando: 53-29
- Jared: 52-30
You can submit questions for Nate, Orlando and Jared to answer during the 3-on-3 Blazers podcast by clicking here.
MEET THE 3-ON-3 BLAZERS TEAM
Orlando Sanchez is the sports anchor and reporter for KGW News, Sports Sunday and Friday Night Flights. Orlando has covered multiple NBA Finals, NCAA Basketball Tournaments and World Series.
Jared Cowley is a digital media producer who writes about the Blazers and other topics for KGW.com. Jared has written about the Jazz and Warriors as a sports editor at two daily newspapers.
Nate Hanson is a digital producer who contributes to KGW.com’s coverage of the Blazers, Ducks, Beavers and high school sports.
LISTEN TO KGW'S 3-ON-3 BLAZERS PODCAST
Listen to the 3-on-3 Blazers Podcast each week with KGW's Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley and Nate Hanson. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, Google Play, SoundCloud and Stitcher.