Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has backed fans who have decided to boycott the World Cup in Qatar.
After a 12-year wait loaded with controversy, the first World Cup to be played in the Middle East begins on Sunday when Qatar face Ecuador.
There has been scrutiny on the hosts surrounding human rights issues, the treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality, with FIFA having written to all participating nations and urging them to "focus on the football".
That seems unlikely to happen, however, with a number of nations already speaking out, and Van Gaal has issued his support to any fans boycotting the tournament.
"I think that they are right to do that because they believe in that and they have to do that, so no problem with that," he said.
"And I hope that we play so fantastic that at the end of the tournament when we play the final, they shall look for the television how good we are.
"I think that you have to play in football countries, more experience with everything, but also to stimulate that country in another way, in the right way.
"This is also a small country, my family or my friends have a lot of difficulties to find the place, so that's also a remark.
"The organisation and the pitches and everything, the facilities, these are very good."
On the field, Van Gaal admits that he does not have the best players at his disposal in the Netherlands squad but still feels they can be successful.
"I believe that we don't have the best players on earth in our team, but I believe in team building and tactics and I believe that we can come to the end but we need also luck, that is also important," he explained.
"And because of that and because I believe in imagination, I speak about to be the world champion at the end of the tournament because when you can imagine that, you can do it also on the pitch, because we have players who can execute the tactics of the coaches of the Netherlands."
The Netherlands begin their campaign against Senegal on November 22, before facing Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.
The UK and Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028 has been submitted to UEFA, with 14 venues under consideration to host games at the tournament.
Football associations of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland lodged an expression of interest in hosting the event in March, pledging to organise an "unrivalled" tournament.
Turkey, Italy and Russia have all previously professed their willingness to host the European Championships in either 2028 or 2032, with the latter of the trio doing so despite being banned from UEFA and FIFA competitions following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Should the joint United Kingdom and Ireland bid triumph, games could be staged at nine stadiums in England, two in the Republic of Ireland, and one in each of the other three countries involved.
A joint statement from the five nations' football associations read: "The UK and Ireland bid to host UEFA Euro 2028 has today submitted our preliminary bid dossier – a key moment in UEFA's campaign process.
"The bid sets out our clear and compelling vision for UEFA Euro 2028: 'Football for all. Football for good. Football for the future'.
"Key to this vision is a commitment to diversity, social purpose and innovation in delivering an outstanding UEFA Euro 2028 that will create unforgettable memories in sold-out, iconic stadia in famous football cities known throughout the world.
"The UK and Ireland's track record of hosting successful major sporting events over many decades means we have the expertise and experience to take this world-class tournament to new heights.
"Our stadia concept includes a proposed shortlist of 14 venues in famous sporting cities known throughout the world, including destinations that are home to clubs with great European football history and heritage.
"The plan ensures that all our proposed cities and stadia are connected by direct, quick and sustainable travel links and accommodation that will provide an unrivalled experience for teams and fans."
Villa Park, the London Stadium, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wembley Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St James' Park, the Stadium of Light, Old Trafford and Everton's planned new home are the nine English venues proposed by the associations.
They are joined on the shortlist by Croke Park, the AVIVA Stadium, Casement Park, Hampden Park and the Millennium Stadium.
The UK and Ireland initially explored the possibility of bidding to host the 2030 World Cup before switching focus in an effort to secure the UEFA competition.
Jon Rahm described Rory McIlroy taking a stand against the LIV Golf Invitational Series while still performing at the highest level as "remarkable" and discussed how joining the breakaway circuit may impact Sergio Garcia's legacy.
McIlroy claimed his third FedEx Cup in August and is hoping to cap a fine year by winning the DP World Tour Championship this week, but his off-course actions have been equally noteworthy.
The world number one has been a vocal critic of the controversial Saudi Arabia-backed LIV circuit, and called for the series' divisive chief executive Greg Norman to resign this week.
Speaking ahead of the tournament in Dubai, world number five Rahm hailed McIlroy's efforts to defend the PGA Tour this year.
"It's great to see somebody with his platform take a stand as he did, whether you agree with it or not, he's taken a stand on what he believes in and that's it - I think it's great," Rahm said.
"He's had a lot of input. He's been on the board of the PGA Tour and tried to make a change.
"To be honest, with how long those meetings are and how much as players we talk to each other, to play as good as he has is pretty remarkable.
"In this profession, we are all basically CEOs of our own little golf company, and now he has invested in so much more. Again, the role he's had in both [on and off the course] is quite incredible."
Rahm's compatriot Garcia became one of the most high-profile players to resign his PGA Tour membership while switching to LIV Golf this year.
The 2021 U.S. Open champion hopes the legacy of his fellow Spaniard is not tarnished by that decision.
"I hope not, it's very unprecedented, what we've been dealing with in the game of golf and it hasn't even been that long," Rahm added.
"It could have somewhat of an impact. I have a hard time believing a lot of those [LIV] players are going to have a positive impact on their legacy right now.
"We don't know what's going to happen, but if it does [have an impact on Garcia's legacy], I hope it's not a big one, let's say it that way.
"He's done a lot for the game of golf, so it would be sad to see that change.
"There's certainly going to be a before and after at some point, and there's definitely some division going on.
"It still shouldn't change what he's done in the game; what he's done in the Ryder Cup, European Tour, PGA Tour, shouldn't be affected by where he decides to play golf, at least in my mind."
Meanwhile, LIV Golf has continued to push for the ability to award world rankings points, and while Rahm is not against that idea, he says the tour must meet the stated requirements.
"We need to stop giving LIV the publicity. They are not asking for it. That's the first thing I'm going to say," Rahm said.
"A lot of people are against them having World Ranking points. I'm not necessarily against it, but there should be adjustments.
"If your requirement to have World Ranking points is 72 holes and a cut, maybe you don't award them 100 per cent of the points, since they are not fulfilling all the requirements.
"I also believe it's probably a couple-year process, so they need to respect that as every other tour has.
"They do have some incredible players. To say that Dustin [Johnson] wasn't one of the best players this year would be a mistake. So, I think they could be awarded. I don't know if they necessarily deserve 100 per cent."
Ligue 1 referee Johan Hamel has died at the age of 42.
The French Referees' Union confirmed Hamel's passing in a statement on their official website on Wednesday.
Hamel had officiated in the French top flight for more than a decade and made his Champions League debut as fourth official in Real Madrid's win over Celtic earlier this month.
One of the most respected referees in France, Hamel's final match in the middle was Lille's 1-1 draw with Rennes on November 6.
He was also fourth official for PSG's 5-0 win over Auxerre at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which oversees the major leagues in French football, also sent their condolences.
Hamel's death comes two years after the passing of fellow French referee Sebastien Desiage at the age of 46 following a battle with illness.
LFP president Vincent Labrune said: "Johan Hamel was an experienced referee who had worked for many seasons in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. His sudden death is a terrible shock.
"Two years after the loss of Sebastien Desiage, his death again mourns French arbitration.
"In the name of all professional football, I send my condolences to Johan's family and loved ones, as well as to SAFE and the FFF."
Any club looking to snatch Mykhaylo Mudryk will have to splash at least €100million, Shakhtar Donetsk's director of football Dario Srna has said.
The Ukraine international has courted the attention of Europe's elite with spectacular performances in the Champions League, where he scored three goals and contributed two assists in six appearances.
Earlier this week, Mudryk revealed he follows Arsenal closely, amid continued speculation the Premier League leaders are looking to launch a move for his services when the market reopens in the new year.
Mudryk's services will not come cheaply, though, with Srna arguing the transfers of Antony and Jadon Sancho to Manchester United, and Jack Grealish to Manchester City, have set the bar.
"If somebody wants to buy Mudryk, they must pay huge, huge, huge money. Otherwise, the president of the club (Rinat Akhmetov) will not sell him," he told The Athletic.
"All the clubs must respect the president, respect Shakhtar and in the end they must respect Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is one of the best players I have seen. The price is so big.
"The market is deciding the price, not me. Antony, Grealish, they are players of more than €100m and for me, Mudryk does not have less quality than them.
"This is the last two transfers in the past year, in more or less the same positions. Sancho from Borussia Dortmund also. We just want respect. The market is deciding the price, not me – it shows which kind of players cost this kind of money."
Shakhtar's chief executive Sergei Palkin confirmed Mudryk is attracting plenty of interest ahead of the January transfer window, claiming that new suitors emerge on a weekly basis.
"Every week, some club appears and starts to feel [where we are]. They're not coming and saying 'OK, take 50 million and give me Mudryk'. They understand the story behind him, and they understand that he is quite an expensive player," Palkin explained.
"But they start to feel our club, what our strategy is, what we should do. In any case, the time will arrive. Definitely, it will arrive and a big club will give us €100m.
"Mudryk is a talent in a process. What he is showing today, it’s just 60 per cent of what he can do in the future. And when you multiply this, you realise he costs much, much more. Therefore, we believe that in the future he can cost definitely around €100m."
Son Heung-min says he is willing to risk his health to bring joy to South Korea's fans at the World Cup after being pictured training in a protective mask.
Son's participation in Qatar was in doubt when he suffered a fracture around his left eye in Tottenham's Champions League win at Marseille earlier this month, causing him to miss Spurs' last three pre-World Cup fixtures.
However, Son was named in Paulo Bento's 26-man World Cup squad and subsequently declared he would not miss the tournament "for the world".
On Wednesday, Son participated in South Korea's training session in Doha while donning a protective mask, and the forward is prepared to take risks in order to feature.
"I am not a doctor, it's difficult for me to say when I can play. I will do the best I can under the circumstances," Son said.
"From the fans' perspective, I may be pushing this too far, but football players always compete under such risks.
"I just want to give our fans joy and hope. I am more than willing to bear those risks.
"Everyone who comes to the World Cup wants to play well, but it takes more than that. Speaking realistically, it's more important to be prepared for matches than to just have the desire to play well.
"I can't predict the future, but I want to make this a special World Cup, using every last ounce of energy that I have."
While Son's participation in his team's Group H opener against Uruguay on November 24 remains uncertain, the Spurs star already feels at ease wearing his mask.
"I was surprised at first how comfortable the mask was," Son added. "It feels a little different here than in England, because it's hotter here and I sweated a lot today.
"These carbon masks are really light, and they likely won't break. If a mask breaks, it means something has happened to my face, so I hope it doesn't come to that!"
Cafu is confident Brazil can end a 20-year wait for World Cup glory, backing Neymar to help "break Europe's dominance".
The former defender lifted the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, a triumph that marked the culmination of a prosperous period for the national side who won the tournament in 1994 and lost in the final to France four years later.
Since then, however, Brazil have fallen short of expectations and have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in three of the past four tournaments – with the exception seeing them hammered 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals on home soil in 2014.
Brazil head to Qatar in excellent form, though, having stood undefeated across their 17 matches in qualifying, winning 14, and Cafu believes this is the ideal opportunity for the national side.
"It's a great opportunity to break Europe's dominance. It's the perfect time for Brazil to break the curse and win the title," he told AFP.
"Argentina and the Selecao are the two favourites. On the one hand, Brazil is coming off a very good season with great performances, on the other hand, Argentina also has a very good team. These two countries have great potential to win the World Cup.
"The fact that Brazil has not won the title for twenty years, it affects the fans a little bit and takes away a little credibility from the national team. But this year I think Brazil is back.
"With Neymar fit, we have a very good chance of winning the World Cup, because he is a player who really makes the difference on the pitch. We pin our hopes on his talent, but he doesn't play alone.
"By playing well, by being motivated, I'm sure he will motivate the other players and make them feel that they are important so that they can win."
Cafu is aware that a threat is posed by some European nations, however, identifying defending champions France and Brazil's Group G opponents Serbia as hurdles to overcome.
"Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Serbia, as incredible as it may seem. Serbia qualified in first place in its group. They played very well in the World Cup qualifiers," he added.
"They have a strong team and are not afraid to play football against any opponent.
"France, too, will be very strong, as it was at the last World Cup. They will arrive with the label of reigning world champions and fight for the double. They will be one of the great teams to beat."
Brazil commence their World Cup campaign on November 24 against Serbia, before facing Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.
Ecuador have left Byron Castillo out of their World Cup squad to avoid "unfair sanctions", despite the defender being cleared to play by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Castillo was the subject of a long-running dispute after Chile and Peru complained to FIFA that he was ineligible to play for Ecuador in their successful qualifying campaign.
The Federacion de Futbol de Chile provided proof that Castillo was born in Colombia and not Ecuador, as stated on his official documents.
FIFA dismissed all charges in June and again in September when the fresh evidence came to light, but Chile and Peru took the case to CAS with a further appeal.
However, this month's hearing adjudged "no violation of the rules on eligibility has occurred", leaving Ecuador and Castillo free to compete in Qatar.
But Ecuador, who face host nation Qatar in the opening game of the tournament on Sunday, did not include Castillo in their 26-man squad on Tuesday.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a statement: "The process we've had to endure has not been easy to navigate, much less for the player, who is part of our family.
"In order to avoid further unfair sanctions, the Ecuadorian Football Federation feels obligated to not include Byron Castillo Segura in the final list that was submitted to FIFA."
Castillo appeared eight times in qualifying for Ecuador, who finished in the fourth and final automatic qualification spot.
Peru finished fifth and were beaten 5-4 on penalties by Australia following a goalless draw in the intercontinental play-offs, while seventh-placed Chile missed out entirely.
Ecuador follow up their curtain-raising showdown against Qatar with games against the Netherlands and Senegal in Group A.
Former Chelsea and England defender Gary Cahill has announced his retirement from football.
Cahill made 22 Championship appearances for Bournemouth last season, but the last of those came in January and he was released following their promotion to the Premier League in May.
Having made his name during spells with Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, Cahill enjoyed a successful seven-year stint with Chelsea, making 191 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
Cahill won eight major trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League – starting in Chelsea's final win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 2012.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Cahill wrote: "Football is a game that has given me so much enjoyment and success and as I make the decision to hang up my boots, I can honestly say I gave it everything I had.
"I've achieved things I once dreamt of, creating some incredible memories. From amazing highs like winning the Champions League and Premier League, to the privilege of captaining my country and Chelsea in an FA Cup-winning team.
"I've had time to consider my options and after much deliberation and reflection, I feel now is the time to move on to the next stage of my career.
"Football will always be part of who I am and what I love, so this is just the end of this chapter. For me, it's important to look forwards, not backwards, as a new chapter in my life begins."
Cahill won a total of 61 senior caps for England during his career, and appeared for the Three Lions at World Cups in 2014 and 2018, as well as at Euro 2016.
Speaking to Sky Sports after announcing his retirement, the 36-year-old revealed he received several offers to continue playing this campaign, but had opted to prioritise family matters.
"Obviously, it's been a tough decision in some aspects but I think I just knew the journey had to come to an end at some stage - I just got the feeling that now is the right time," Cahill said.
"I did have options. I could have played in the Premier League with one side, and I had a couple of options in the Championship which is flattering, to still get the offers.
"But at the moment, as well as my career, my kids are settled at school and it would've meant moving again."
Patrick Cover of the USA shot a final-round 70 to win the 55th Jamaica Open Jamaica Open Golf Championship at the Tryall Golf Club in Sandy Bay, Hanover on Tuesday.
Cover, the 2019 champion, won by four strokes ahead of Josh Anderson (USA) and 2021 champion Michael Maguire (USA) placing third, a further one stroke back. He led on all three days with scores of 64, 69 and 70 for an overall score of 13 under par 203.
"It’s great. I love coming down to Jamaica. I love this golf course and I plan to come back for as long as I can,” he said. “It’s a great tournament."
Cover said despite being the leader on all three days, winning the tournament proved to be challenging. "MJ (Michael Maguire) played extremely well. He made it really hard on me,” Cover said.
“I think he was eight under through 11 holes and I wasn't playing as good as I was the last two days but I was playing okay, but he erased that lead really quickly even through the first five holes that lead was almost already gone so it got more interesting. I am just glad I finished it out. (I) played pretty well coming in."
Anderson, meanwhile, had scores of 72, 70 and 65 for an overall total of 207. Maguire shot 69, 71 and 68 (208) and was pleased with his play on the final day.
"I played great today. Starting seven shots back, you never really expected…you want to play to win but in the back of your mind you’re thinking like maybe I'll play for second but once I turned at seven under I knew I had a chance coming down the back nine. I had fun out there. It was good to be in contention so it was a good day."
Wesley Brown, who finished tied for 15th was the best placed Jamaican in the field after scores of 69, 77 and 73.
“Hugely disappointed. Knowing that I had it going, plus 13 on the back nine alone and that's not good playing professional golf. I gave away a lot,” he lamented.
Jamaica's Justin Burrowes topped the amateurs with scores of 76, 70 and 73 for 219. He ended the tournament with a birdie putt. "That was a really good putt. That was all my caddy honestly. He just gave me a really good line and he has been giving me really good lines all week and I just hit a really good putt with really good speed and it went in so I give all the credit to my caddy for that one,” he said. "Overall, I am pleased with my game. I feel like there is something to build on and its always an honour to win so happy about that too."
Jamaican's Zandre Roye and William Knibbs were second and third respectively with scores of 222 (76, 74,72) and 226 (78, 76, 72), respectively.
Dwayne Pearman (220), David Morland (226) and Danny King (230) were the top three among the Senior Professionals.
Owen Samuda - 237 (76, 84, 77), and Dr. Mark Newnhan - 242 (80, 81, 81) while Robert Sterling of Canada was third - 253 (84, 85, 84) were the top three amateurs.
Kane Williamson will continue to represent New Zealand in all three formats despite his T20I future being questioned following the Black Caps' World Cup exit earlier this month.
Williamson captained his country on their run to the last four at the tournament in Australia, where they suffered a seven-wicket loss to eventual runners-up Pakistan.
That defeat represented the latest tournament shortfall for New Zealand, who also lost last year's T20 World Cup final to Australia and finished as runners-up to England in 2019's 50-over World Cup.
At the age of 32, Williamson accepts he must manage his workload, but he will not follow the lead of international team-mate Trent Boult by being selective regarding which formats he plays.
"I love all the formats, for different reasons. In fact, playing the three and changing between them is a challenge that is enjoyable," Williamson told ESPNcricinfo.
"But having said that, there is a balance to strike in terms of just general volume [of cricket], and that's important.
"Everybody is a little bit challenged by that, certainly some of the players that may have done it for a long time, and you're always looking to be clear with that direction – to stay fresh and focused on what is most important with your involvement in any team."
World Test champions New Zealand have finished as runners-up at three World Cups across the two shortened formats since 2015, but Williamson is not thinking about the prospect of a transitional period as the country's golden generation comes to an end.
"You sort of hope that whilst you're here, and trying to do as well as you can as a team with all the other individuals involved, that there's a real effort to try and grow the game," he added.
"To try and play your role to the best of your ability, to try and improve as much as you can as a player, hopefully that sort of adds to the depth of cricket that we have.
"Focusing on what's in front of you is what's really important, and in years to come there'll be transition, or there's perhaps transition a little bit earlier – that's always there.
"That's always happening in professional sport, and whoever the next group or crop are, I'm sure they'll have a lot of motivation to want to get better as a team and go even further as a side."
New Zealand will look to bounce back from their World Cup exit when they host the first of three T20Is against India on Friday, with that series being swiftly followed by three ODI meetings.
Pedri believes last year's near misses in the European Championship and the Nations League will benefit Spain in their quest to win a second World Cup this year.
The Barcelona midfielder was named Young Player of the Tournament as Spain were beaten by Italy in the semi-finals of the delayed Euro 2020, before La Roja suffered a Nations League final defeat to France last October.
While Spain have only reached the World Cup's final four once in their past 13 participations – when they won the tournament in 2010 – Pedri is optimistic about their chances of competing in Qatar.
Asked by Mundo Deportivo whether Luis Enrique's side could win the tournament, the 19-year-old responded: "Why not?
"You have to focus first on the group stage and then on the following rounds, but we have a team to be able to compete.
"We come from a European Championship and a Nations League where we did very well. In the Euros we reached the semi-finals, and I was sure that if we went to the final, we would win it.
"In the Nations League I could hardly play, but the team was very good. We are a very good group and it shows on the pitch.
"We don't have a megastar, the group is our best star. When you all run together and everyone knows what they want and what you're playing for, I think you have a lot done and a good chance of winning.
"We are going to the World Cup with everything, with a lot of desire to give the fans happiness, whether they support us from home or from Qatar. Let's give it our all."
Pedri believes two South American sides could represent Spain's main competitors in Qatar, with the form of Paris Saint-Germain star and Barca legend Lionel Messi likely to be crucial to any challenge from Argentina.
"I think that Brazil and Argentina have two great teams," Pedri said. "Brazil because they have incredible quality in their players and Argentina because they have the best player, and I think they are going to really want to win this World Cup."
Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica next Wednesday before facing fellow Group E foes Germany and Japan.
Karim Benzema is "doing so much better" as he battles to be 100 per cent fit for France's World Cup campaign, according to his Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga.
Benzema won his first Ballon d'Or last month after leading Real Madrid to glory in LaLiga and the Champions League in the 2021-22 season, but has endured an injury-hit campaign to date.
The striker has started 11 games in all competitions this season, scoring six goals, but he spent time on the sidelines with a knee injury before missing further fixtures after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps.
However, with less than a week remaining until France begin their Group D campaign against Australia, Camavinga is enthused by his team-mate's recovery.
"He's getting better. He's doing so much better," Camavinga told RMC Sport. "I have a very good relationship with him, he helps me a lot at Real Madrid.
"He is a very great player who deserves what is happening to him. I hope he will be ready for the World Cup.
"Sometimes in a match he comes to see me and tells me, 'If I have the ball you are going to do this run or this run', so he gives me advice at the right moment.
"He also tells me when to stay in position. He is very good at communicating, he is a leader."
France are looking to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, but Didier Deschamps' team have been beset by bad luck on the injury front, with N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba missing the tournament.
With those two veterans of the 2018 World Cup win absent, Camavinga could partner Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni in a new-look France midfield, but he has no reservations over their lack of experience.
"Critics are part of life. We don't have the same experience, but we are keen to show what we are worth," Camavinga added.
"With our enthusiasm and the experience of the elders, it can make a good mix."
Meanwhile, Deschamps has called up Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani after Christopher Nkunku suffered an injury on Tuesday.
Nkunku was ruled out of the World Cup after limping out of training with a leg injury, but his absence has given Muani – the scorer of eight goals for Eintracht this term – the opportunity to feature at his first major tournament.
The Portland Trail Blazers pulled out a 117-110 home win against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday to bring their record to 9-4, having finally constructed a winning formula around centrepiece Damian Lillard.
While their defense was nothing special against the Spurs – winning despite allowing the visitors to shoot 51.8 per cent from the field – they are currently rated as the seventh-best defense in the league.
Having ranked 29th out of 30 teams in defensive rating last season, giving up an average of 116.3 points per 100 possessions, it was the continuation of a three-year stretch as one of the league's worst defenses. They were also 29th in the 2020-21 season (115.3) and 27th in the 2019-20 campaign (114.3).
Across those three seasons, the Trail Blazers put together a combined record of 104-124 and were floundering, despite the presence of arguably the franchise's greatest ever player, Lillard, still in his prime.
Lillard has career averages of 24.7 points and 6.6 assists per game, and at that pace he will pass Clyde Drexler as the franchise's all-time leading scorer in 12 games, as he trails by 279 points.
This season, with the addition of big wing Jerami Grant – who has averaged at least 19.2 in each of his past two seasons with the Detroit Pistons – as well as last season's arrival of jack-of-all-trades Josh Hart from the New Orleans Pelicans, and all of a sudden the Blazers may have surrounded Lillard with the best defensive cast of his career.
They now boast a 109.9 defensive rating in a year when scoring is up league-wide.
The last time they managed a defensive rating below 110 was the 2018-19 season, where their mark of 109.5 had them 16th, but they were solid enough to give Lillard and his brilliance a chance to win them games.
That 2018-19 season was Lillard's deepest playoff run, making it to the Western Conference Finals. They had C.J. McCollum as their second scorer back then, but now have a two-pronged punch behind Lillard with Grant and 23-year-old Anfernee Simons.
Simons was the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after choosing a non-traditional route to the league, opting against playing any college or professional basketball, instead training at the famed IMG Academy.
After only playing sparingly in his first three seasons, Simons raised his average from 7.8 points per game in the 2020-21 season to 17.3 last campaign, starting 30 games as Lillard missed extended time through injuries.
He has again taken a leap this year, posting career-highs in points (22.3), assists (4.1) and made three-pointers (3.8).
As much as anything, this is a Trail Blazers team that finally makes sense when building around a star player and second-scorer who are both small guards. They have flanked them with two strong wing defenders in the starting line-up, and have committed to using a physically imposing bench brigade.
Against the Spurs, the four players to come off the bench were Nassir Little, who is a stocky six-foot-five, as well as long-armed six-foot-six rookie Shaedon Sharpe, six-foot-eight Trendon Watford and six-foot-nine Drew Eubanks.
They all have one thing in common – they know their job is to defend, and make Lillard's life as easy as possible on that end of the floor.
Lillard is still undoubtedly at a level required to lead a team deep into the playoffs, and now, in his 11th season, after years of calls for him to leave Portland and head to a powerhouse where he could be more widely seen and appreciated, he may finally have a team capable of coming along for the ride.
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