The Portland Trail Blazers have won nine out of their past 10 games. Portland’s incredible run includes an ongoing five-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the NBA. While some people want a Blazers trade, Scoot Henderson’s potential shines through as a promising star.
The Blazers Are Good Now: Diving Into Portland’s Incredible Run
Over the past 10 games, the Trail Blazers have been the most impressive team in the league. That is not hyperbolic because their only loss was to the OKC Thunder during that 10-game stretch. Portland’s incredible run has been fun, considering they have the longest active winning streak with five wins.
Before this impressive run, most people would only talk about Portland for a Blazers trade. From January 11 to 18, the Blazers lost four straight games by 15+ points, but they responded with this run. Henderson’s potential has been the biggest bright spot, considering many saw him as a draft bust.
From January 11-18, the @trailblazers lost 4 straight games by 15+ points each.
No other team in NBA history has responded to such a stretch by winning 9 of their next 10 games (as Portland has). pic.twitter.com/Y0YCCleCbo
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 5, 2025
Billups Deserves His Flowers for Portland’s Incredible Run
Chauncey Billups has endured a tough time as the Blazers’ head coach. Over the past four seasons, he has not reached the NBA Playoffs with this team. Portland’s fans disliked his coaching style, especially since it did not lead to positive results. That is not the case during this run because the Blazers have been fantastic on both ends of the floor.
Since he took over as the Blazers’ head coach, Billups has always wanted the team to play strong defense. During this 10-game run, the Blazers are #1 in defensive rating with 104.7. That is impressive from Billups because he empowered Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija to become the primary stoppers. Avdija, in particular, has stepped up as one of the Blazers’ building blocks.
Billups assigned Shaedon Sharpe to the bench for defensive purposes, which was unpopular. Thankfully, Sharpe has proven himself by playing with more energy and motivation since that decision. Henderson’s potential with Shaedon is fun, even if they both start games on the bench behind Anfernee Simons.
“Nobody on the team wavered on Chauncey’s message. It can be frustrating at times when you don’t see the results. But we stuck with it; We’ve been sticking with how we want to play. It took some time to get adjusted to playing faster now, getting to know each other. But he’s been preaching the same thing all year. We’re seeing the results of the things he’s been preaching.” Simons said after a win over the Suns.
"We're together like white on rice."
Scoot had the perfect response to Portland's 5th straight win 🤣 pic.twitter.com/egW2NpY4v6
— NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2025
Scoot Henderson’s Potential is Apparent
After an underwhelming rookie season, Scoot has been superb for the Trail Blazers. During this stretch, he has averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His efficiency has also been superb, shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.7% from three. His turnovers are also down to 2.1 a game during this stretch, which means he is making smarter decisions.
Scoot just turned 21, so it is understandable why he’s making rash decisions. Point guard is one of the toughest positions to adjust to when reaching the NBA. Henderson got harsh criticism for his erratic play but deserved an opportunity to shine. He has shown a playmaking leap, including his natural chemistry with Deandre Ayton in the pick-and-roll.
Simons might be starting over him at point guard, but it is clear that Henderson is the long-term guard. Anfernee is still on the roster but is a valuable asset for a Blazers trade. This could also happen to Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III, as they are likely trade targets.
Pretty clear at this point that Scoot Henderson has taken a real leap for the folks staying up late and checking out the red hot Trail Blazers right now. https://t.co/UsErXvRZm1
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 5, 2025
A Blazers Trade Could Still Be In The Works
While Portland’s incredible run has been fun, it is still important to recognize the bigger picture. Portland wants to keep improving and become a contender in the long run. Development matters for the team, so trading players like Simons and Williams could open pathways. Players like Shaedon, Scoot, and Donovan Clingan will benefit because they will have more opportunities to play. Future transactions can improve if they make trades because they get useful assets in return. A Blazers trade is likely in the works, as general manager Joe Cronin knows what he must do.
The likelihood of Portland getting a high pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is low. Fans should enjoy Portland’s incredible run because they have shown why they are a high-potential squad. Whether the Blazers sell high on players to bottom out or keep this fun core together at the deadline remains to be seen. Dreams of Cooper Flagg might be unlikely now, but Scoot and Shaedon deserve the fans’ belief. They have proven they are ready, which could consistently happen in the long-term future.
Image credit: © Soobum Im-Imagn Images
