There has been significant improvement from the Portland Trail Blazers. After missing the playoffs in each of the last four seasons with a number of brutal results – including a 21-61 mark in 2023-24 – the Blazers have played quite well this season. They are on track to return to the playoffs, even if they currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.
That's good enough to put them in the play-in portion of the NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, their record is 33-36 and that is enough to give them a 9 game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies. It seems pretty safe that their position inside the playoff structure is secure.
The question is whether the Blazers can improve their position, because their chances of finishing in the top eight once the Western Conference playoffs start are quite good.
The play-in portion of the tournament begins with the No. 7 seed hosting the No. 8 seed. The winner of that game is in the playoff structure as the seventh seed. That would mean a potential showdown with the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs.
The No. 9 and 10 teams will play on the home court of the No. 9 seed and the team that loses that game will be eliminated. The winner goes on the road to face the loser of 7-8 games. The winner of that game earns the No. 8 spot. That team will play against the top-seeded and defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although this seems like an impossible matchup, it's certainly better than missing the playoffs or getting swept in the play-in games.
The No. 8 spot would be an ideal spot for the Blazers
The Blazers are a half-game behind the No. 9 seed Golden State Warriors and 2.0 games behind the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. He can improve his position to reach number 8 and this seems to be the best position for him. The Phoenix Suns are in 7th place with a 39-29 record, and they appear to be out of reach.
The Blazers have played the first two games of a five-game road trip. Before beating the Nets, they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers and will play at Indiana on Wednesday night. This should be a winnable game as the Pacers are in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-53 record.
However, the final two games of the trip are against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. Both of those experienced teams are tied for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with 41-27 records. The Trail Blazers are 1-1 against the Nuggets and 0-2 against the Timberwolves.
If they can survive the end of the road trip, the Blazers will return home for four games against the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks and Washington Wizards. All of those games are winnable, but a 3-1 homestand could be enough to help head coach Tiago Splitter's team climb into the playoff structure.
Tiago Splitter has kept the team together as interim coach
Splitter has been the interim coach of the Blazers since the early part of the season, when Chauncey Billups was relieved of his duties after federal charges related to the illegal gambling investigation were filed against him.
The team could have fallen apart when their head coach left the team in such an unceremonious manner, but the splitter has kept the Trail Blazers together.
The Blazers have relied on forward Denny Avdija, guard Shaddon Sharp, forward Jerami Grant and veteran guard Jrue Holiday.
Avdija is their best scorer, averaging 24.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The native of Tel Aviv, Israel clearly has good offensive skills and plays consistently hard on defense. Sharp is averaging 21.4 points per game, but he is out with a calf strain and the Blazers will have to compete without him for the foreseeable future.
Grant is averaging 18.8 points per game and is connecting on 50.9 percent of his shots from the field. Holiday is averaging 16.4 points and 6.2 assists per game, but it is his leadership and ability to stay calm in key moments that has helped the Blazers improve this season.
Holiday is a true professional who is one of the most underrated players in the league. He is a two-time All-Star and a six-time member of the NBA's All-Defensive Team. He was a key member of the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA Championship in 2021 and he reprized his role when he helped the Boston Celtics win their 19th title in 2024.
His ability to play his best game in the most important situations can help the Blazers rise in the standings and then compete effectively in the postseason.
