Trail Blazers Coach Believes Starting Ja Morant And Damian Lillard Together ‘Doesn’t Make Sense’

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori stated that starting guards Ja Morant and Damian Lillard together does not make sense due to defensive limitations. According to The Athletic's Jason Quick, starting Jrue Holiday alongside either Morant or Lillard is considered the more analytically sound option. However, placing an established All-Star on the bench presents a delicate challenge for the first-year head coach.

Despite his concerns, Nori indicated he will probably start Morant and Lillard together in Wednesday's preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors. Nori plans to experiment with different lineup rotations throughout Portland's four preseason contests before settling on a permanent backcourt structure.