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The biggest question surrounding the new-look Blazers heading the NBA season is: how are they going fit the surplus of backcourt talent together?<\/p>\n
The team is completely flushed with guards \u2013 having Lillard and Ja Morant as starters and and their backups Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.<\/p>\n
Lillard was asked how the team is going to deploy them all.<\/p>\n
His answer, \u201cIf we are just doing the right thing, playing the right way \u2026 I think the balance will work itself out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf our mentality is right and we handle it right, I think we could be a tough time for everybody,\u201d Lillard added. \u201cIf I get the ball and I\u2019m advancing the ball ahead to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it. If I\u2019m advancing the ball to [All-Star forward] Deni [Avdija] out there, I feel good about it. And for both of those guys, if they are attacking the rim, attacking the paint and they\u2019re kicking the ball out to me for a 3-pointer, I think they should feel great about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as trying to fit all the new and old backcourt talent together, the Blazers have a new head coach in Micah Nori.<\/p>\n
Nori is looking at the surplus as a good thing, telling ESPN it will take some of the load off of a 36-year-old Lillard.<\/p>\n
Dame agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m capable of doing whatever I need to do, but at this stage, I don\u2019t think I need to kill myself in a regular season trying to play 37, 36, 35 minutes if it\u2019s unnecessary,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cWe got a lot of guards, we got a lot of ability at the guard position, and I don\u2019t think it should be necessary for me to have to play 35 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lillard missed the entire 2026 season recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in his final game with the Bucks.<\/p>\n
He confirmed he\u2019s been fully recovered from his injury for several months and only thinks about it when someone else brings it up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any restrictions,\u201d he said. \u201cI talk about the injury when I\u2019m asked about it, but when I\u2019m playing, it\u2019s not a thought anymore. I\u2019m at that stage. I\u2019m able to play free.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Kyrie Irving Gets Honest About Finishing Career With Mavericks<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n