Preseason results only count for so much, and the warning signs for Portland were real. The Blazers fell behind by as many as 25 against the Warriors, gave the ball away 7 times in the first quarter alone, and got outscored 36-7 by Golden State's bench in the first half. If the starters carry the load and the bench gives that much back every night, a home favorite has a short window to build a lead.
The Suns' biggest absence is in the middle. Mark Williams had surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is out for an extended stretch. Oso Ighodaro, the next big man up, is day-to-day with a hip problem and sat the Utah finale. Luke Kennard (knee) also missed that game and is listed day-to-day. Clingan just grabbed 11 rebounds in a loss, so if Phoenix starts the year without its 2 most natural frontcourt pieces, the glass is the obvious place for Portland to attack.
Phoenix's way through this game is Booker, plus Green finally getting a full run. Portland's perimeter group is deep, but it hasn't played many meaningful minutes together yet, and Avdija shot 3-of-9 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3 in the finale. If the Suns can make this a shooting game and keep the Blazers' backcourt off the free-throw line, the price on the visitors starts to look interesting.
Tip is 7:00 PM PT on Wednesday, October 21. It's the first meaningful look at whether Portland's 3-star backcourt is a real plan or just a crowded rotation, and whether Phoenix's thin frontcourt can survive until help comes back.