Hansen might also get a chance to start? Lillard reveals preseason plans, emphasizing player evaluation details over stats

On October 8th Beijing time, the Trail Blazers conducted training in preparation for the preseason opener against the Warriors on the 9th. Head coach Lillard talked about the preseason plans, the rotation for the new season, and how players will be assessed.Lillard stated that different starting lineups will be employed during the preseason, suggesting that Hansen could potentially start as well.

“During the preseason, I will rotate players, for example, starting one player tonight and having another come off the bench, allowing several players to try different roles. So I haven’t finalized anything yet, but I will complete today’s practice first before making further decisions. The main point is full rotation — no need to overinterpret it. I’m simply experimenting with various rotation combinations to see how they work,” Lillard explained.

Lillard also mentioned that the team’s playing style this year will differ somewhat from before, so he plans to put more players on the court based on tactical needs. “In the past, I usually stuck to a 9-man rotation, but this year there will be changes — sometimes it will be 10, even 11 players rotating.Therefore, I will try many different lineup combinations,” he said, adding that he is likely to use different starting lineups across the four preseason games.

Regarding starters and veterans’ playing time in the preseason, Lillard said, “There isn’t a very specific plan. But I definitely won’t let these players play too many minutes.What I can confirm is that at least in the first game, Holiday will not play the entire second half.However, I won’t let any player sit out the whole game; I will manage their minutes during the match. After all, there are only four preseason games, and these live-game practices are valuable opportunities that we can learn a lot from.”

Lillard emphasized that preseason games differ from internal scrimmages. “Opposing teams have different tactical concepts and styles; they will use specific defensive schemes, possibly zone defenses, and various strategies. I’m happy to gather game footage from the preseason to identify areas we need to refine and practice more.”

Talking about the first preseason opponent, the Warriors, Lillard said, “We plan to play harder, with more physicality and aggression, doing what we always need to do. The Warriors are a great opponent at this stage but also one of the toughest to face. Their road performance is excellent, they have a strong team culture, and in off-ball screens and cuts, they are among the league’s best — arguably world-class. This style has been consistent for over a decade. Facing such a tactically mature team is challenging but also a great learning experience. So I’m glad we get to play them twice in the preseason.”

When discussing the criteria for evaluating players on the court, Lillard stressed the importance of “details.”“I evaluate every detail, and the things I focus on differ from what the public usually sees. Fans typically look at points, rebounds, and stats like ‘he made 3 out of 3 three-pointers.’ But there are many details only coaches pay attention to, such as whether a player executes tactics correctly and understands their role and responsibilities — things fans often overlook. So I assess many details that most people don’t notice.”

The Trail Blazers’ preseason opener against the Warriors will tip off at 10 AM Beijing time on October 9th. How will Hansen perform? Let’s wait and see.