The Portland Trail Blazers are back in action after a rejuvenating All-Star break, and they're carrying a blend of tranquility and determination. Acting coach Tiago Splitter summed it up perfectly: “A little sunshine.
Neighbors. Barbecues.
Now it’s back to work.”
With the regular season winding down, the Blazers are in a promising position. Sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference, they’re just two games shy of the eighth-place Golden State Warriors. The play-in tournament is within reach, a significant step for a team that hasn’t seen the playoffs since their first-round exit in 2021.
All-Star forward Deni Avdija is optimistic about their chances. “The team chemistry is there,” he noted.
“We’re well put together. We just have to stay focused, and the playoffs aren’t far.”
Health is finally on the Blazers' side. After battling injuries that threatened their season, key players like Matisse Thybulle and Kris Murray are back in practice and could return to the lineup soon. Only Shaedon Sharpe remains sidelined for the near future, but overall, the team is healthier than it’s been all season.
Avdija emphasized the importance of this newfound health: “We’re ready to go, our spirits are up, and our confidence is really good right now.”
The Blazers also have the advantage of a favorable schedule. According to Tankathon, they face the easiest remaining schedule in the league. While the upcoming games against teams like the Nuggets and Suns are challenging, the closing stretch features matchups against teams with lower records, offering a clear path to the play-in tournament.
The teams ahead of Portland are not without their own challenges. The Warriors have lost All-Star Jimmy Butler for the season, and Stephen Curry is sidelined with knee issues. The Clippers, despite recent wins, have shaken up their roster at the trade deadline.
The Blazers have been in a similar position before. Last season, they rallied in the second half, finishing just shy of the play-in tournament. Center Donovan Clingan believes in their defensive potential: “We have the guys, we have the pieces, to be a really good defensive team.”
However, the Blazers’ offense has struggled with three-point shooting and turnovers. They rank near the bottom in both categories, and their defense, once a stronghold, has faltered due to injuries.
Splitter highlighted the need for improvement in defensive rebounding: “We’ve got to be better. Everybody. We’ve just got to box out, go get it, bring better effort, better focus.”
Clingan added that the team needs to sharpen their defensive strategies, from navigating screens to individual matchups. But with improved health, there’s hope that their defense will rebound.
“I don’t want to make excuses,” Clingan said. “We all know what we’ve got to do to win. It’s all going to fall into place.”
As the Blazers return from their break, they’re ready to tackle the final stretch with all their pieces in place. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Clingan concluded.