The NBA Preseason is getting into full swing. Teams are getting their first real look at new players and different lineups. It’s an exciting time for both the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers; both teams have new acquisitions to test out and heightened expectations for the upcoming season. Now the two Western Conference playoff hopefuls will measure up against one another.
The Warriors are set as 7.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -310 on the Moneyline, while the Trail Blazers are +250 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 220 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction, and pick for this Warriors vs. Trail Blazers preseason game.
Warriors vs. Trail Blazers prediction, preview
Golden State got out to an exciting start in the first preseason game. Al Horford was the big signing of the offseason, and he sure looked like a home-run acquisition against the Lakers.
Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, it’s expected that Horford will start tonight as head coach Steve Kerr tests out different lineup combinations. Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are locks for the starting lineup, but two spots are up for grabs. Tonight’s game is a glimpse into their starting group for opening night.
Portland also has some new acquisitions to test out. Last season made it clear that defense is their ethos. Adding Donovan Clingan to a team with Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija broadcasted to the world that they want to set the tone on defense. Now they’ve tripled down on that by adding Jrue Holiday in exchange for suspect defender Anfernee Simons. It’s going to be fun to see the clamps their starting group can put down on other teams.
Oh, and Yang Hansen will be around to create more highlights.
It’s safe to assume that Holliday, Camara, Avdija, and Clingan will all have starting spots. What’s unclear is who will take the fifth starting spot. Will they put Scoot Henderson there as a more traditional point guard when he’s healthy? Shaedon Sharpe for a scoring guard? Could they go big by putting Jerami Grant in the lineup, or go super-big with Hansen? There are numerous possibilities, and tonight’s game will provide a clue as to what head coach Chauncey Billups is considering.
Warriors vs. Trail Blazers pick, best bet
Depth is the name of the game here. Both coaches want to get a look at their top rotation players, but nobody wants to exhaust their main guys before the season can start. The benches will be emptied later in the game, and that gives Golden State a significant advantage. Portland has yet to truly build a deep roster, though they do have some strong pieces at the top.
When the bench gets emptied, Golden State will start to pull away.
