One of the big reasons people looked at the Portland Trail Blazers as a sexy pick to pull off an upset against the Los Angeles Lakers was the return of their starting frontcourt. But at least for Game 1 of the series against the Lakers, Portland won’t have their starting lineup from each and every one of their nine games coming into the playoffs.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters that starting power forward Zach Collins is out Game 1 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Collins’ ailment is officially ankle inflammation, which is causing him pain when he runs up and down the floor.
As for who the Blazers will start in Collins’ place, Stotts would not give those details up with more than 24 hours to go until the game, but Blazers star Damian Lillard said the starting job in Game 1 will fall on rookie swingman Wenyen Gabriel, when he was asked his opinion of where the Blazers go after the Collins injury. Gabriel started the second half of Portland’s win in the play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Collins missing the second half due to the ankle injury.
