Blazers will keep it simple in preseason debut

McMillan plans to use only those with guaranteed contracts Tuesday vs. Sacramento; the others could play Wednesday vs. Warriors

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Oct 6, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Sergio Rodriguez will start at point guard for injured Steve Blake when the Trail Blazers open their preseason at home Tuesday night against Sacramento.

NOAH GRAHAM / GETTY IMAGES

The week-long training camp is over, and the Trail Blazers begin the second phase of the 2008-09 NBA season Tuesday with their 7 p.m. preseason opener against Sacramento at the Rose Garden.

Portland coach Nate McMillan said he intends to use 10 or 11 players in the exhibition against the Kings, the first of seven for the Blazers as they prepare for their Oct. 28 regular-season opener against the L.A. Lakers at Staples Center.

“We just want to see where we are,” said McMillan, beginning his fourth season at the Blazer helm. “We’ve had a good training camp. Now we’ll get our first opportunity to see ourselves against someone else. We’ll look at that game and go from there as far as what we need to work on.”

• McMillan has installed only three or four offensive sets, so he’ll keep it simple against the Kings.

“We didn’t want to overload the guys just yet,” he said. “There are going to be some things that are missing. They’ve only been together a week. It’s just a chance for to go out there and play and measure yourself, to see some things you need to work on. That’s what the preseason is about.”

• Since the Blazers play again Wednesday night against Golden State at the Garden, McMillan said he will likely use just players under guaranteed contracts against Sacramento.

“I don’t think the free agents will play (Tuesday),” McMillan said. “The guys who don’t play, I’m going to try to get them into Wednesday’s game.”

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