Tonight, the Portland Trail Blazers play Ratiopharm Ulm in their third preseason game at the Rose Garden. This is the one preseason game I will be attending and I have more than a few things I am interested to see. Of course, the lack of Anfernee Simons and the injury to Shaedon Sharpe’s shoulder (a posterior labral tear) means that the top two items on that list have been struck.

Nevertheless, there’s still five or so questions on the docket.

1. Just how good is Donovan Clingan?

This one we won’t have an answer for until we’re done with the regular season. But during the last game against Sacramento Kings, Donovan Clingan more than proved himself capable of going toe-to-toe with Alex Len. Clingan scored 10 points and nabbed 10 rebounds. A double-double!

The question is can Clingan sustain this positivity going into another game? While he won’t be going up against NBA-level talent tonight, it is still important that Clingan has another good game; consistency is the bug bear of every rookie—good or bad—and it will be telling if Clingan can dominate against the German competition.

Side note: does Clingan start? It’s likely that Deandre Ayton outright sits tonight or receives an extended rest.

2. Has Scoot Henderson got his confidence back?

I mean, really, the major component of Portland’s rebuild (if not the crux of it) is the development of Scoot Henderson. Draft punditry hailed the G-League prospect as an all-star to-be. But last season’s struggles poured cold water on those dreams. Henderson doggedly relied on his right hand to finish at the rim, stalled his own momentum by jumping off one leg, and needed to fine-tune his jumper.

On the plus side, his passing vision was as advertised. The Sacramento game saw Scoot finish with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds. The dogged right-handedness and one-legged leaps were still a bug bear, but man, can that kid pass the damn ball. I want to see continued confidence. I want to see the swagger that made Scoot Henderson such a highly rated prospect and I’m keen to see if this holds up in person.

3. What is Toumani Camara’s offensive potential?

Toumani Camara, otherwise known as your Dad/Granddad/Uncle’s favorite player, is reportedly 10 pounds bigger. To be honest, I have no idea what this dude has been doing in the offseason beyond putting on some muscle. I hope he’s worked on his offensive decision-making and become a viable connective tissue. Considering that’s the reason the Blazers traded for Deni Avdija entirely for this reason, there’s no need for him to become some sort of Jimmy Butler-esque developmental story.

But that can’t stop me from dreaming that it happens. Nevertheless, Camara has easily been the best player in the preseason. The dude is making decisions on offense. That is enough to qualify him for this declaration. I want to see it in person, I wonder if it does spring into something more. Can he be the Deni Avdija counterpart? Can he be a better three-point shooter? Can he string together a dribble-drive on the closeout? The game against Ratiopharm will be a good time as any to see this happen.

4. Has Jabari Walker fixed his three point shot?

One of the key little nuggets from Portland’s preseason win in Sacramento (a 105-82 drubbing) was Jabari Walker knocking down three consecutive three-pointers. This could be a massive development. Almost as massive as Camara evolving into a more complete role-player. Walker is already a tenacious rebounder and heady passer, but his shot has largely been lacking.

In particular, his shooting hand drifts, going from too tight on the load-up and too wide on the release, sending the ball all over the place. While Walker specified that his shot was his number one point of emphasis for last summer, the results largely did not come during last season. Is this the season he breaks through? If it is, the Trail Blazers will have a legitimate four-deep forward rotation on their hands.

5. Kris Murray vs. Rayan Rupert?

Here’s the thing: of all the end-of-bench players, Kris Murray and Rayan Rupert feel like one player split into two. Murray has the better handle and just knows where to be on defense. Rupert has the three-point shot. They both have a similar, wiry frame, but Rupert’s suggests he has more room for muscle. All I want to know from this game is who looks more like an NBA player. Yes, I want to see a better handle from Rupert and more long-distance buckets for Murray, but that’s it. No other notes.

I will report back with my findings after the game.

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Post Game Thoughts

The gap between American and European teams is still one defined by athleticism. That much has been and will continue to be the case. But the gap can be crossed by a good gameplan. Ratiopharm Ulm understood the assignment: beat the Blazers by shooting threes like their lives depended on it.

Not only did they shoot threes, they made threes. A lot of them. Even though there were a fair few airmail deliveries, they found the bottom of the net 45% of the time. Therefore it’s unfair to call Ulm a weak team. The German squad was only founded in 2001 and they made the top flight by 2011. In 2023, they won the top record and have finished runners-up in the playoffs thrice. They were a tough out, no other way to slice it. Just could not miss from range.

But it’s good to see Scoot almost single-handedly win us that game. The man just bullied those guards late. Crushed two amazing dunks and shrugged off all comers when he couldn’t. His defense was also excellent; that last sequence sniffing out the pass and then lobbing it to Clingan was chef’s kiss

Tou also had an encouraging double-double. Unimpeachable energy there. He needs a slightly better touch at the rim still, but he’s getting there. And his 3 point form is solid.

Clingan had a tough offensive game, but I think it was a case of his teammates trying these really dumb/tough hand offs. Just lob it to him. He’s an absolute unit and can out-reach almost anybody in small quarters. Loved his defensive impact, though.

Murray hit threes! And he looks so much more comfortable out there being a Swiss army knife on the boards, disrupting passing lanes. Love to see it. Rupert also looked way more comfortable. His transition finishing was absolutely an improvement from last year’s summer league. That spin in transition was nifty.

Reath looked lost out there, unfortunately. McGowens and Banton struggled mightily with the handle. Nearly gave the game away after building up a 20 point lead. Neither had a great handle.

Thank God for Scoot Henderson playing with some pride. Not much notes beyond that. Excited for the season to start.

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