{"id":159455,"date":"2025-09-19T07:38:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T11:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=159455"},"modified":"2025-09-19T07:39:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T11:39:01","slug":"portland-trail-blazers-diving-into-the-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/19\/portland-trail-blazers-diving-into-the-depth\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland Trail Blazers: Diving Into The Depth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of 2025-26, the Portland Trail Blazers depth is a big topic and Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups rotation will be key to their success in what could be a make-or-break season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Portland Trail Blazers: Diving Into The Depth And Rotation<\/h2>\n

The Blazers are really quite the case study.<\/p>\n

Despite ending the season with a lowly 36-46 record, they had a promising second half of 2024-25, relying on hard-nosed defense<\/a> to go 12-13 in the last 25 games. Seemingly one of the next great defenders<\/a> to be drafted in the second round, Toumani Camara<\/a> became a full-time starter. Perhaps the most surprising and useful development was Deni Avdija<\/a>‘s post All-Star Break breakout, as he averaged 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per contest over their last 20 games.<\/p>\n

Next season, Camara, Avdija and 2024 No. 7 pick\u00a0Donovan Clingan<\/a> are surefire starters. However, the debate about the rest of the Blazers’ depth and discussion will last through training camp, at least.<\/p>\n

The Guard Depth is Much More Balanced<\/h3>\n

In the past two seasons, the Trail Blazers tried to make 2023 No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson<\/a> and 2018 No. 24 pick Anfernee Simons<\/a> work. However, as two high-usage on-ball guards, Henderson and Simons didn’t complement each other well. Furthermore, due to Henderson’s rawness and inexperience, he was asked to learn while coming off the bench.<\/p>\n

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Scoot Henderson really embraced the defensive side of the ball last season, making positive strides as an on-ball defender & disrupting players at the POA<\/p>\n

Now, with Jrue Holiday in town to mentor him, he can make an even bigger leap towards 2-way stardom pic.twitter.com\/lmeTMLGOYB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) August 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n