Blazers Fall to Clippers, Rookie Hansen’s Role Sparks Concerns

Portland, OR – The Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 114-107 in a tightly contested game on Wednesday night.

While the defeat was disappointing, the Blazers have shown they can compete against top teams in a challenging Western Conference. However, the performance of rookie Yang Hansen has raised some eyebrows.

In this game, Hansen played only four minutes, scoring four points and grabbing one rebound. This brings his season average to just 6.5 minutes, two points, one rebound, and one block per game. Once a highly regarded second-round prospect going into the draft, Hansen was selected by the Blazers with the No. 16 overall pick after significant scouting efforts.

Despite the expectations of a gradual development, team leaders Chauncey Billups and Joe Cronin indicated during the offseason that they anticipated a quicker integration of Hansen into the league. His strong performances in the summer league and training camp led many to believe he was ready for an immediate role.

However, with three games into the regular season, it appears that coaching staff, including Tiago Splitter, have hesitated to rely on Hansen, opting instead for a small-ball strategy against the Clippers.

Clippers center Ivica Zubac dominated the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. His contribution highlighted Portland’s struggles inside, particularly when Clingan, another big man on the team, was out. Zubac played 11 more minutes than Clingan. Fans have questioned the coaching decision not to give Hansen more playing time, especially in this matchup where a traditional center was present.

Portland’s offense struggled throughout, shooting only 37.0% from the field. There is growing sentiment among fans that utilizing Hansen as an offensive option could provide the team with a fresh perspective. The reluctance of Billups and Splitter to give him a more significant role suggests challenges ahead for Hansen in securing a consistent place in the lineup.

The Blazers are navigating these early-season struggles, and while they are eager to see Hansen thrive, patience will be necessary as he continues to adjust in the NBA.