Get ready, Rip City. Real-life basketball is just around the corner, and we’re not talking about the Olympics.
We’re talking about preseason NBA basketball!
The Portland Trail Blazers announced their annual mini slate Monday, and while it’s easy to brush aside the concept of meaningless contests, this year’s agenda has a number of exciting showdowns to look out for.
Oct. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
Portland has lacked a rival for years now, and while there’s no guaranteeing any squad steps up to fill the void in the near future, the Utah Jazz have a chance.
Utah, along with Portland, will be competing for home-court advantage in the 2017 postseason. That’s impressive considering its current playoff drought. The Jazz also have a core group with a similar career arc similar to the core in Rip City.
With Utah playing host to a number of young players who are still improving, look for the Jazz to take preseason basketball seriously.
Oct. 7 vs. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have looked like a mess the last couple of seasons after being considered a favorite to return to the playoffs. Although there’s no promise they turn the corner this year, the team has done enough in terms of compiling a young roster full of potential to get the attention of those out West.
Like Utah, this team should take every second of competitive basketball seriously if the hope is to compete for a spot in the postseason sooner rather than later.
Oct. 11 @ Los Angeles Lakers
It’s tough to look at the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster and picture them being competitive on a high level. But if you’re an L.A. fan looking for a silver lining, it’s downright impossible that this team is as awful as it’s been in recent memory.
Kobe Bryant is gone and a number of young pieces finally have a chance to show what they can do. Where does that opportunity start? You guessed it: the preseason.
Not to copy ourselves here, but this is another team that will use preseason hoops to begin establishing cohesion among new/young players.
Oct. 13 @ Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers won’t consider this contest a revenge game, but it will be a nice reminder that Portland is the one that knocked them out of last year’s playoffs.
This won’t feel anything like a postseason environment, but it will be the Blazers’ first look at a true contender. This team doesn’t have the same untapped potential as the first three on the early-fall showcase, but it is going to be right there beneath the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in terms of Western Conference contention.
Oct. 16 vs. Denver Nuggets
Nobody quite knows what to make of the Denver Nuggets. If there’s one way to describe the franchise, it’s that they’ve been one step away from being one step away the past few seasons.
The incentive to watch this contest comes in the form of Oklahoma product and 2016-17 rookie Buddy Hield. He’s a big-time scorer who will look to prove he can not only put up big points but do it in an efficient manner.
Hield has a long career ahead of him if he can get his shot to fall at a regular rate; the hope if you’re Denver is that the acclimation period is quick and that he can be comfortable if this team is competing in meaningful games late in the regular season.
Oct. 19 @ Utah Jazz
The Trail Blazers’ one and only preseason double-dip comes in the form of the Jazz. This de facto home-and-home comes to an end on Oct. 19 when Portland travels to Salt Lake City. Don’t expect either team to play its go-to players much, as the schedule is coming to a close.
Oct. 21 @ Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors may not be the defending champions this season, but they will clearly be circled on every fan base’s calendars. Stephen Curry always puts on a show worth watching. Klay Thompson might just be the game’s second-best shooter, behind only Curry. Draymond Green has become one of the most polarizing characters in the NBA.
Oh yeah—they also have this new guy named Kevin Durant.
Of course, Portland isn’t going to get Golden State’s best. But anytime you get the Dubs, circle that calendar.
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