After the Portland Blazers parted ways with head coach Tiago Splitter in favor of Micah Nori, many wondered how it would affect the team’s young players, including fourth-year guard Scoot Henderson. Coach Nori’s unique approach to his first year with the Blazers included instructing his coaching staff to read “The Old Man and the Sea,” by Ernest Hemingway.
For the players, it’s Nori’s attention to detail that stands out most, Henderson said, per The Athletic’s Jason Quick.
“We lacked small details,” Henderson said. “Great teams are big on that, from what I can see, just playing against them. Going back to last year, we lacked some of the small details. Nori is helping us with that.”
Scoot Henderson and the Blazers have the best record (6-1) in the Western Conference standings. Two weeks into the regular season, head coach Micah Nori has his team fully committed to success, led by All-Star Deni Avdija and veterans Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday.
Article Continues Below“I’m getting way too much credit, I really am; I’m not just saying that,” Nori said. “I’m not trying to be overly humble, but I’m getting way too much credit for putting really good players in good positions. It’s playing to their strengths; that’s all.”
Portland is leading the league in scoring (121.9). Last year, the Blazers averaged the most turnovers in the NBA, more than 17 a game. This season, they rank 14th out of 30, averaging nearly two fewer. The vast improvements, along with early returns this season, have them positioned to become one of the better teams in the association.