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Game Day Hub: Portland vs. Golden State

Monday’s 109-105 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings provided a test for Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts before the regular season officially begins. With his regular rotation guys already hitting their target minutes, Stotts was forced to manage his reserves in a close fourth quarter and overtime.

“I think the game was a good refresher for me, in general,” Stotts said Wednesday. “I thought our team really executed new things out of timeouts well. Especially in the first preseason game, there were a lot of things I wanted to look at. End-of-game situations — we didn’t have the guys who would normally be in at the end of the game — but still, game management, timeouts, (after timeouts), all those things. 

“It was good to get your feet wet again.”

While he’s not spending hours upon hours in the film room dissecting the Golden State Warriors ahead of Thursday’s matchup at Moda Center, Stotts says coaching against the defending NBA champions will prove to be a tough task. The end result of the game won’t matter nearly as much as his team’s progress in executing its offensive and defensive schemes.

“Transition defense is going to be important against Golden State,�� Stotts explained. “It’s going to be a good test because of how they play. The main thing is it’s still about us right now. We don’t necessarily have scouting reports, it’s more about what we’re trying to implement at both ends.”

Unlike Monday’s game, Stotts will have free agent signing Al-Farouq Aminu at his disposal against Golden State. Aminu was absent from Monday's game to welcome his newborn daughter Emanah with his wife. 

“I think (Aminu) is a pretty versatile player,” Stotts said. “At the offensive end, I think you’ll see him drive to the basket, he has a knack for getting into the paint. He’s been working on his pick-and-rolls, as both a screener and a playmaker… Defensively, he’s experienced, he’s got good length. He’s got good toughness. and he’s a good rebounder at both ends of the court.”

Aminu returned to practice with the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, and was complimentary of his team when speaking with media on Wednesday.

"I thought they did a really good job (in the first preseason game),” Aminu told reporters. “For a first preseason game it seemed a lot more polished than a preseason game looks. Usually you see people dribbling off their feet, different stuff like that. The game looked pretty smooth. I think that was a testament to us being in here early, showing signs of a little bit of chemistry. It seemed great to me. 

“I’m just hoping I can come in, fit in where I need to fit in."

Thursday’s game against the Warriors will be broadcast locally on CSNNW and Rip City Radio 620. Tickets are still available

THE RIP CITY REPORT WITH CASEY HOLDAHL AND JOE FREEMAN