Jazz at Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard has set a lofty goal for the 2016-17 season and will
start chasing his public declaration when the Portland Trail Blazers
open the season against the visiting Utah Jazz on Tuesday. The star
guard vows his intention is to win MVP honors this season, a feat that
would require the Trail Blazers to significantly improve on last
season's 44-38 record.
Lillard was superb last season when he ranked sixth in the NBA with a 25.1 scoring average and tied for eighth in assists at 6.8 and he expects to take another step upward. "I want to win MVP," Lillard told reporters. "If we come out and do the things we're capable of doing and we win games, then that means my performance will be at a level of MVP." Utah fell one victory short of a Western Conference postseason spot last season and will be without small forward Gordon Hayward (broken finger) and backup guard Alec Burks (knee) at the outset of the season, while power forward Derrick Favors (knee) is questionable for the opener. "It's tough because we don't have a full roster right now," new point guard George Hill told reporters. "And without a full roster, it's kind of hard to see exactly where we're at. Our focus right now is to get everyone healthy, but with the guys we have in there, I think we're moving in the right direction."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Utah), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (2015-16: 40-42): Utah acquired Hill from the Indiana Pacers to strengthen a lackluster point guard situation, added veteran swingman Joe Johnson as a free agent and acquired veteran forward Boris Diaw from the San Antonio Spurs. Shot-blocking force Rudy Gobert (averages of 11 rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season) is back at center and shooting guard Rodney Hood (14.5 points) is expected to take another step forward but the team badly needs Hayward (19.7 points) and Favors (16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds) in the lineup. "You lose two of your best players -- obviously you want to have them on the court ready to go and everybody healthy," Hood told reporters. "We've got guys that are going to compete. We've got to see what happens. Hopefully we get those guys back quicker than we expect."
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (2015-16: 44-38): Lillard and backcourt mate C.J. McCollum (20.8 points, 4.3 assists) fuel a team that revamped quickly last season after losing longtime mainstay LaMarcus Aldridge as a free agent. Offseason additions such as swingman Evan Turner and center Festus Ezeli were pinpointed to fortify a bench that includes swingman Allen Crabbe and forward/center Meyers Leonard. Al-Farouq Aminu (10.2 points) and Maurice Harkless (6.4 points) will open the season as the starting forwards with Mason Plumlee (9.1 points, 7.7 rebounds) back as the center.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers were 3-1 against the Jazz last season - the loss coming with Lillard sitting out - and have won eight of the past 11 meetings.
2. Diaw (leg contusion) is probable for the opener.
3. Lillard (fourth in the NBA with 229) and McCollum (ninth with 197) combined for 426 3-pointers last season.