PORTLAND — After constructing a roster featuring Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, the Trail Blazers have reportedly encountered an unexpected tactical problem.
Nobody is completely sure who is supposed to bring the ball up.
The issue first became apparent during practice when all four guards simultaneously moved toward the inbounder, stopped, pointed at each other and eventually allowed a center to handle it.
Portland insists the crowded backcourt is a strength.
“We have multiple elite decision-makers,” a team official said. “The first decision is figuring out whose possession it is.”
Coaches have experimented with several solutions, including alternating possessions, rock-paper-scissors and allowing whichever guard reaches the ball first to keep it.
The early results have been mixed.
Turnovers remain a concern, though the Blazers noted that having four point guards means at least one of them should theoretically be available to retrieve the mistake.
Lillard and Morant are expected to handle much of the creation, while Holiday provides stability and Scoot continues developing.
Portland’s official depth chart now lists every guard as PG / maybe SG / we’ll figure it out.
