The Portland Trail Blazers’ postseason dreams have come true. After five years, they are finally back on the back of Deni Avdija‘s performance. They have done this under the impressive acting head coach, Tiago Splitter’s system.
The Blazers’ Postseason Return: Ending The Five-Year Drought
After five seasons away from the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers are back. It has been a long time coming for a team that was quite consistent in the past. Now, they are back after beating the Phoenix Suns in the Play-In Tournament.
It was a superb matchup with Avdija’s performance being the standout. He had a phenomenal 42 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists. This was proof that the first-time All-Star can hang even in postseason basketball. Now, they will be playing against the San Antonio Spurs, which will be a tough matchup.
Avdija’s Performance Deserves The Spotlight
While the Blazers played a great game overall, it was Avdija who deserves the spotlight. Scoring 40+ points in his postseason debut proves that he belongs as a go-to guy for Portland. Of course, this was a one-off game, but he can prove that further against the Spurs.
As the Blazers prepare for the series against the San Antonio Spurs, Avdija will be the main man once again. Of course, the Blazers have more players who will have big roles in the playoffs, most notably Jrue Holiday. The veteran guard is a two-time champion, which is key for a young team. It will be a challenging matchup for the Blazers because the Spurs have elite depth.
DENI AVDIJA MAN… AND THIS IS 40 PTS FOR HIM pic.twitter.com/t0krtdPMP4
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 15, 2026
Despite that, Avdija could be in for a superb debut in the playoffs. His play style lends itself to being an outlier in the typical slow postseason style. With how he plays with an extra pep in his step, he could throw the Spurs off their game.
Thankfully for the Blazers, Avdija is not an unselfish player. As seen in the play-in game against Phoenix, he loves to be a playmaker. With players like Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, and Scoot Henderson benefiting, Avdija will keep playing like this.
Splitter’s System Stood Out In The Play-In Game
Acting head coach Tiago Splitter has been stellar in his first season in charge of an NBA team. He came on as an assistant coach, but after Chauncey Billups’ troubles, Splitter got the promotion.
While he has had turnover struggles in his first season, especially with the offense, he has been a bright spark. Splitter’s system was in full force in this game because they played scrappy defense and ran every chance they got.
A big win and a strong speech from Coach Splitter after the Blazers clinched an NBA Playoff spot 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Dqh2J4z5rT
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) April 15, 2026
With players like Camara, Kris Murray, and Matisse Thybulle all playing minutes, there was always a defensive presence. Moving forward, Splitter will be coaching the Blazers against a familiar organization.
The Spurs were the team that Splitter played for during his NBA career, winning a championship there. Now, he returns as an adversary, the head coach of the Trail Blazers.
If he can maintain the Blazers’ pesky defense and effective offense, they could be trouble for the Spurs. Everyone will likely go for San Antonio, but Portland has enough talent to surprise people. It will be tough for both teams, but the Blazers have the benefit of surprise.
Fulfillment From The Blazers’ Postseason Goals
After a rocky start to the season with Billups’ troubles, the Blazers are back in the playoffs. Avdija is the clear-cut star, but the rest of the team deserves credit. Everyone played their hearts out this season, and the reward is a much-deserved playoff berth.
It has been a long five-year drought for the Blazers and their fans. While Damian Lillard is still on the sidelines, this is a team that people can be happy for. Now that Grant and Shaedon Sharpe are back to help the team, this is a deeper team than people realize.
Of course, the upcoming matchup will be a challenging one against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. However, it will be a valuable experience for the Trail Blazers. This is the result of their hard work, so they can feel fulfilled by earning this spot.
However, it will be a much better outcome if they can surprise the Spurs. This will be yet another challenging matchup, but the Blazers are back in the playoffs, and that is what matters.
Featured Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
