Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori praised his team’s effort in Wednesday’s 123-118 preseason victory over the Golden State Warriors but stressed that the performance exposed several areas that need immediate improvement.
Portland committed 21 turnovers and allowed 18 offensive rebounds, giving Golden State additional opportunities despite shooting 48% from the field and 56% from three-point range.
“We give them 34 extra possessions,” Nori said. “Twelve offensive rebounds, 22 turnovers, you’re just not going to win or survive in the NBA with that.”
Nori acknowledged that winning is important but said the result did not change his evaluation of the performance.
“It’s good to always good to win. It’s hard to win in the NBA,” Nori said. “But at the end of the day, we’re not going to, like they said, you don’t accept in victory what you wouldn’t accept in defeat. So, a lot to clean up.”
Deni Avdija led Portland with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Nori highlighted several players who made an impact off the bench.
“I thought that Rob Williams was absolutely phenomenal,” Nori said. “I thought Michael Potter came in and changed the game for us, as did Jeremy Sochan.”
Robert Williams III finished with eight points, five rebounds and five blocks in 14 minutes. Potter added 13 points and six rebounds, while Sochan scored 10 points in only nine minutes, going 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point range.
Nori also addressed Ja Morant’s first preseason appearance with Portland. Morant scored eight points and had five assists in 19 minutes but shot 3-of-8 from the field and committed four turnovers.
“I think that he was just sped up,” Nori said. “I think some of it was timing issues.”
Despite the mistakes, Nori did not want Morant to change his aggressive approach.
“He got where he wanted to go. It’s just that he either didn’t wasn’t able to convert and kind of got himself stuck under the rim,” Nori said. “The one thing we don’t want to do is tell him not to go in there.”
Nori pointed to Morant’s ability to attack the paint as a key part of Portland’s offensive plans.
“When he was playing at a very high level not too long ago, he was in the paint like 52% of the time and he got there tonight,” Nori said. “If he stays in that type of attack mode, getting himself downhill, playing with pace, looking to throw ahead and get others involved, that’s going to benefit us.”
Damian Lillard also made his return from Achilles injury, scoring 15 points in 19 minutes. Nori said the reception from the crowd reinforced how important Lillard remains to the franchise and the city.
“When you’re here and you’re on his team and you’re a part of him, you really do see why he’s so important to this fan base,” Nori said. “And it’s not just because he makes baskets.”
Nori specifically praised Lillard’s connection with the community.
“He literally immerses himself in here,” Nori said. “It’s not fake. So, I understand why they love him as they should.”
The coach also explained that Morant will generally be treated as Portland’s primary point guard, with Lillard able to operate both on and off the ball.
“I’m going consider Ja more the point,” Nori said. “You see him pushing pace and then it’s a problem too, because when Ja pushes that and attacks the paint… now you can find some easy ones for Dame.”
Nori said he was encouraged by the effort level across the roster, even as Portland works through its preseason mistakes.
“I’m never going to have to coach effort with these guys,” he said. “The rest of stuff we have to clean up.”
