Before his first start of the season on Saturday, Trail Blazers big man Meyers Leonard got a pep talk from veteran center Chris Kaman.

The subject was Leonard's matchup against future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Kaman, a 12-year veteran, warned Leonard about Garnett's tactics, which often center around intimidation and distraction.

"I'll tell you someone who helped me is Kaman,'' Leonard said after he had seven points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the Blazers' 97-87 win. "He has played against him a lot and he said, 'Look, he's going to try to get in your head and everything.'''

The advice was to be prepared for it, and block it out. And sure enough, Garnett tried a few tricks.

"I missed a jump shot and he yelled 'I knew that was coming off!' ... he wasn't even really talking to me,'' Leonard said, while acknowledging that it was meant for him to hear.

Then later in the game, Garnett pulled a vintage veteran move: he stood on the toes of Leonard as the ball was about to be inbounded.

Leonard was staking his claim to the area at the top of the key and Garnett was trying to nudge him off his spot. Leonard held his ground, so Garnett stood on his foot.

The jostling and position created enough of a scene that officials came running in to make sure nothing got out of hand. Meanwhile, Blazers guard Damian Lillard got into Leonard's chest and, according to Leonard, told him to "relax."

In the end, it was another experience for Leonard, who is now 1-9 as a starter, an experience that was eased by his veteran teammate.

"I'm glad to have Kaman around,'' Leonard said.

**

Actually, Leonard isn't always glad to have Kaman around.

Take Saturday postgame for example. As Leonard addressed a horde of media, he began explaining how fans and media look at his 7-foot frame and expect him to be a traditional center, when in fact he is better suited to be a stretch four who can space the floor.

"I think people see a 7-foot, pretty strong, big, wide shoulders ... ,'' Leonard said.

Just then, Kaman emerged from the showers and to his locker. From two lockers away, he chuckled heartily, and shouted.

"Is that how you see yourself? Big and strong?'' Kaman chortled.

As the media laughed, Leonard acted chagrined, but he couldn't hide his smile for long as Kaman kept piling it on.

"Can I continue please?'' Leonard said to the circle of media, trying to block out Kaman.

Saturday was merely a step in Leonard's development, but it was also an indication that if Leonard ever has any ideas of getting a big head, Kaman will be there to knock him down a notch with a laugh.

**

Before the game, Nicolas Batum came out to warm up and test his bruised right knee (he looked on target to return for Monday's game against New Orleans) but first he stopped on the bench and waited for the court to clear of some of the younger players.

As Allen Crabbe came off the court, he was besieged with autograph seekers. As Crabbe signed programs and balls, I noted to Batum that Crabbe was now a superstar.

Batum smiled and said something interesting: "He reminds me of B-Roy'' he said, referring to Brandon Roy.

Batum said Crabbe has the same cool personality and the same pace on the court as his former teammate.

"I don't know how to describe it, but he has it,'' Batum said. "For some reason, when I look at him I think B-Roy.''

**

As Batum was talking about Roy, Damian Lillard perked his ears.

"Man, I watched a lot of B-Roy on YouTube growing up,'' Lillard said. "That guy had moves.''

I told Lillard that he has a lot of B-Roy in him.

"Nah,'' Lillard said. "B-Roy was 6-6 ... and there was a time there for a year or two when he was maybe the best two-guard in the league.''

The similarities, I said, were more in their late-game, killer instincts, and that sparked a memory in Lillard.

"I remember watching that playoff game against Dallas,'' Lillard said. "I was home watching on TV and he brought them back.''

Batum could only smile and before he went to the court, he mimed some of Roy's moves.

"Everything left,'' Batum said. "Everything left.''

**

There's few things Blazers center Robin Lopez hates talking about more than playing against his twin brother, Brook.

So it was with great delight that Saturday came and went.

Brook on Satuday had the better statistical line - 21 points and four rebounds compared to Robin's 10 points and seven rebounds - but Robin's Blazers took the victory.

Since they were first round picks in the 2008 NBA Draft, Robin is 5-3 in head-to-head matchups.

In the days leading up to the game, Robin tried to make light of the matchup, even if it was through clinched teeth. As he approached a crowd of media at the team's practice facility he might as well been sighing in relief.

"Because when I'm done with this, I don't have to talk to so many people anymore,'' Robin said.

He said the two have been going head-to-head since they were kids, although it didn't always end well.

"A lot of damage done to the garden in the front yard,'' Robin said. "The landscaping suffered the most.''

He also said it was hard to declare a real winner because, well, the game's rarely ended.

"We never finished them,'' Robin said. "They were physical. Somebody always ended up getting (angry).''

On Saturday, after the Blazers victory, Robin waited outside the Nets locker room for Brook. When he emerged, the two left the arena together as brothers, not opponents.

**

The Blazers had 26 assists against the Nets and have recorded 20 or more assists in all 10 games this season ... Lillard leads the NBA with 33 three-pointers this season ... Lillard is the first Blazers player since Clyde Drexler in 1993 to have 200 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in the season's first 10 games ... Brooklyn went 0-for-17 from three-point range until Deron Williams made one with 18.3 seconds left ... Portland is tied with Toronto with the most home wins in the NBA (6-1) ... The Blazers are 27-37 in games played without LaMarcus Aldridge.

--Jason Quick | @jwquick