Conor Bergin

A former 2nd-round pick now on a 2-way contract, Sidy Cissoko has seized the opportunity to keep his NBA dream alive, impact wins and become one of the Trail Blazers' best feel-good stories. “If I can die on the court, I will die on the court.” A special edition of 'From Press Row' all about Sidy:

After Micah Nori spent the preseason talking about his vision to elevate the Trail Blazers, his players walked the talk in Game 1. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that we were gonna have the start that we did, and play as well as we did, and win by as many as we did."

A visibly emotional Micah Nori said his first game as an NBA head coach exceeded his wildest dreams. He talked about how much it meant that his 84-year-old dad and his 82-year-old mom flew out from Middletown, Ohio, to be here tonight.

Micah Nori reveals tonight's starting lineup against Phoenix: Ja Morant Damian Lillard Deni Avdija (if he can play) Toumani Camara Donovan Clingan If Deni can't go, Sidy Cissoko will start.

Micah Nori says Blazers forward Deni Avdija (R ankle soreness) is a game-time decision tonight against the Suns. He’ll warm up and see how the ankle feels.

Duop Reath back in Rip City on a 2-way deal with the Phoenix Suns. One of the Suns trainers shouted “Home Gym!” as he got the friendly roll on a 3-pointer.

The day has finally arrived.

What a beautiful day in Portland for the Trail Blazers’ home opener.

The big guys are struggling lol

Not many better things in life than a good water fountain after a workout. #ThoughtsOfTheConaissance

Don't get it twisted: Damian Lillard is ready to play this season. "I want to be responsible and take care of myself because of how many years I’ve played ... But I have prepared, and I’m strong, and I’m willing and able to do whatever is needed.” Read more in today's Blazers Practice Report:

Said this on the pod with @highkin.bsky.social last night but all this “trial basis” stuff does is extend the shelf life of a story that highlights their incompetence. Aside from Travis deserving better, if I were them, I’d just want to wash my hands of it and have the story cease being a story.

I just can’t wrap my head around people justifying the trial basis of Travis Demers’ contract right now. The Blazers already got burned in extraordinary fashion by their “wait em out” negotiation tactic. Just hire Travis to a standard deal and end this mess. It’s a win-win for all.

Regardless of the competition level, Monday’s matinee gave Ja Morant another live-speed run to settle in with the Blazers and shake off the rust that comes from not playing games since January. It also gave him another chance to display some razzle-dazzle for the home crowd.

I drove up to my parents’ place today. Watched college football. Played with their dog. And watched the Mines of Moria sequence from Fellowship of the Ring on TNT. 🎶Life could be a dream, sh-boom do do do do sh-boom🎶

I like the idea of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, being one of the challenges Odysseus had to overcome in The Odyssey.

Sidy Cissoko is still a menace lol

Dame has 15 points on 5-11 shooting, 2 STLs, 1 REB and 2 ASTs in 19 min. It's been a pretty sloppy debut for Ja: 8 points on 3-8 shooting, 5 ASTs, 4 TOs, 2 REBs, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 19 min.

Ja Morant and Damian Lillard have both checked out at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter. If Micah Nori stays true to his expectation of one shift in the second half for main rotation players, their nights are done.

Scoot Henderson flies in for the block, leading to a Vit Krejci 3 in transition.

After the first quarter: Deni Avdija has 14 points on 5-7 shooting from field, 2-3 on 3s. Damian Lillard has 11 points on 3-5 shooting from the field, 3-5 on 3s.

Damian Lillard already has three 3-pointers for 9 points in just 6 minutes of playing time in the first quarter.

Sidy Cissoko and Jrue Holiday are the first Blazers off the bench tonight.

The first bucket of the Trail Blazers’ preseason goes to Deni Avdija

The crowd pops for Ja Morant and Damian Lillard during tonight’s starting lineup intros.

the combinations

Nori says he has a pretty good idea of who will start tomorrow, but the preseason will likely feature some different starting lineups, partly because the team plays a back-to-back. "I know we have that flexibility to do so. We'll start with whatever we do tomorrow and then see how that one looks."

The latest Trail Blazers Practice Report is hot off the press, read it and tell your friends.

Jrue Holiday was asked who has been the MVP of Blazers training camp so far. His answer: “Scoot’s been playing really well. He’s doing a lot of everything, knocking down 3s, getting into the paint, putting pressure on the rim and then picking up full court.”

Blazers coach Micah Nori says Robert Williams III didn’t participate in Sunday’s Fan Fest due to a personal matter and he’s all good health-wise.

Hello, it's me, Conor, back covering the Blazers this season. It's Year 3 of me reporting on the team up close as the official Blazer's Edge media correspondent. It's also a year some are dubbing The Conaissance. What that entails for my coverage, it's not quite clear. But follow along to find out!

Ja Morant was feeling the love after scoring the game-winning half court shot and MVP honors at Trail Blazers Fan Fest. "Everything about today has been perfect." If you missed it, this recap has you covered with the day's biggest scenes and highlights.

The Trail Blazers Fan Fest scrimmage ended in a 96-96 tie, so both teams shot alternating halfcourt shots to decide the winner. Ja Morant won it for the Blazers Black Team with a splash. He also has been named Fan Fest MVP.

In an interview with Brooke Olzendam after the first period at Trail Blazers Fan Fest, Ja Morant tells Portland fans "I'm back dunking again."

I was debating counting every stat from Fan Fest as the action happened, but it's been so sloppy so far I don't think that'd be a worthwhile exercise. Definitely All-Star game style with lots of TOs, jacked up 3s and ill-fated alley oops.

Ja Morant scores his first Fan Fest bucket on an acrobatic, 360-reverse layup that excites the crowd. Dame follows with back-to-back 3s for his first buckets. “From Klamath Falls!” Mark Mason says after the second splash.

Starters for Trail Blazers Fan Fest: Grey Team: -Deni Avdija -Sidy Cissoko -Donovan Clingan -Scoot Henderson -Damian Lillard Black Team: -Jrue Holiday -Ja Morant -Micah Potter -Yang Hansen -Toumani Camara

Trail Blazers Fan Fest greets Damian Lillard with a shrieking welcome

Trail Blazers fans officially greet Ja Morant for the first time at Fan Fest.

The Portland Trail Blazers cannot stay out of scandal

Toumani Camara says the Blazers opened practice with a session where they went over their goals and ground rules for the season. Two of those goals: 50-plus wins and home court advantage in the playoffs.

Damian Lillard says as far as he knows, he, Ja Morant and Deni Avdija will all start