Yang Hansen was named one of the losers in this game! Rip City Project harshly criticized him: slow and awkward help defense

On October 9th Beijing time, the Trail Blazers lost their preseason opener 123-129 to the Warriors, suffering a 21-point comeback. Polish media Rip City Project reviewed the game and listed three winners and two losers from the team’s debut. Yang Hansen, due to poor performance, was listed as a loser along with Grant. Here is Rip City Project’s analysis—

Winner 1: Shaden Sharp

The main concern around Sharp has always been his defensive ability. Previously, some believed he was a defensive weak link with limited room for improvement. Although Sharp is not yet a defensive “intimidator,” he has raised his defense to a level where he no longer needs to be “hidden,” which is an important breakthrough for his personal development and the team’s tactical fit.

On offense, Sharp showed more aggression and great consistency. In 22 minutes of play, he scored 22 points. His three-point shooting had been inconsistent since entering the league, but this weakness has clearly improved—he made 4 out of 8 three-point attempts in this game. His ball-handling also improved, with several skillful drives that forced Draymond Green into passive defense.

Loser 1: Yang Hansen

In his professional debut, Yang Hansen was matched up against Poeltl. Among NBA centers, Poeltl isn’t top-tier; he moves slowly and his shooting release is sluggish. Even so, Yang basically allowed Poeltl to shoot freely, with his help defense being both slow and stiff.

Poeltl’s outside shooting is his key strength as an interior player, likely highlighted in scouting reports. Yet Yang’s defensive approach throughout the game was puzzlingly passive. Moreover, although he made a few decent screens, he struggled to box out effectively for rebounds. While no one expects Yang to dominate in his rookie season, he barely made an impact here and fouled out after just 21 minutes on the court.

Winner 2: Tumani Kamara

Kamara’s defense has never been questioned; his offensive production—especially his ability to create his own shot—has been the main weakness. Just minutes into the first quarter, he confidently hit a corner three over Brandon Pozimski, signaling progress in his offensive game.

The Trail Blazers should aim to re-sign Kamara early to avoid increased costs as his value rises. In this game, he made 4 of 9 three-pointers, all coming in the first quarter.

Loser 2: Jerami Grant

Grant’s style hasn’t changed much from last season; he still takes many difficult shots. In the team’s new offensive system, he seemed out of place: he shot only 2 of 11 and the offense stagnated whenever he had the ball—contrary to the team’s goal of adjusting the offense during the offseason.

Winner 3: Blake Wesley

New acquisition Blake Wesley proactively requested a buyout from the Wizards, clearly expressing his desire to join the Trail Blazers. In this game, Wesley showed great enthusiasm (sometimes even eagerness) playing for Portland. His speed and disruptive defense perfectly align with the team’s “defense-first” philosophy. With Henderson expected to miss the start of the season, Wesley is almost certain to take the backup point guard role.

The Trail Blazers’ second preseason game will be held at home in Portland against the Sacramento Kings.