TUALATIN – It wasn’t exactly a state secret, but Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts revealed his starters for Wednesday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, the same five who figure to be the first team for the season opener Oct. 31.

As expected, J.J. Hickson will start at center, and rookie Damian Lillard at point guard. They joined holdovers LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum in the first team Monday, the first time Stotts broke his team into units and scrimmaged.

“I thought the starters played very well together,” Stotts said. “They competed in the last two games (of the scrimmage). The advantage that they have – those three guys, really, those four guys – is they’ve spent a lot of time together.”

Stotts said Hickson has performed well in training camp, complementing his returnee status – he played the final 19 games of last season for Portland, including 10 as a starter – to cement his status in the starting lineup ahead of rookie Meyers Leonard.

“As I said from Day 1, he’s the incumbent, he played well last year,” Stotts said. “I think there’s a good feel with him out there. He’s played well at practice. I want to look at him first.”

The 6-foot-9 Hickson will be undersized at center, but it’s a spot he is used to. Many of the 142 starts he made for Cleveland came at center, especially during the 2009-10 season, when he filled in in the middle during Shaquille O’Neal’s frequent injury absences.

“I’m used to it,” Hickson said. “It’s a position I know how to play.”

Hickson said that as the player charged with “holding down the paint,” he will have to show more on defense than he did last season.

“I think I’ve shown it in training camp, just being a lot more active, working on my boxing out, closing out toward shooters, and just being aggressive and talking on defense,” said Hickson, who added that he is in much better shape than he was when

.

Meanwhile, Lillard will get ample opportunity to live up to the expectations created by general manager Neil Olshey and others. After drafting him with the No. 6 pick of June’s draft, Olshey tabbed Lillard as the Blazers’ “franchise” point guard. Stotts said he has no qualms about starting the rookie.

“I wouldn’t say it’s nerve-racking,” Stotts said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in Damian. He’s got a lot of poise, as I’ve said from Day 1. He’s a mature guy, he’s smart, he sees the game, he wants to get better. I’m very comfortable with that.”

Lillard said he believes he has an advantage in playing with experienced teammates who have played together, creating a comfort level he felt during Monday’s practice.

“It was a lot of fun having four extremely talented guys around you in transition – you’ve got Nic sprinting the floor, Wes, J.J.,” Lillard said. “You’ve got Wesley right there beside of me, making plays, making shots. Playing with them made everything a lot easier.”

The Blazers’ biggest rotation questions appear to be in the backcourt, which was left short-handed when

in his left foot during a September open-gym workout. Williams figured to push for big minutes behind Matthews at shooting guard.

Also, rookie Will Barton continues to be bothered by a strained right hamstring.

, then came in Sunday – which the Blazers took off – to take treatment. He then started Monday’s practice on the court but could not finish the session.

“He went the first half, but it’s still kind of bothering him, so he pulled himself out,” Stotts said.

The injuries have left the Blazers without a player beyond Matthews whose natural position is shooting guard, forcing Stotts to use Batum and point guards Ronnie Price and Nolan Smith in the role.

“Nic will play some two, Ronnie Price will play some two,” Stotts said. “We might play Ronnie and Nolan or Ronnie and Damian together.”

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