Week 3: When the Going Gets Tough, the Defense Gets Going

What an underwhelming week. A loss to the undermanned Lakers and to the medium Heat definitely weren’t in the cards after the first two weeks. Yes, the Lakers game was weird. And going to Miami and winning in South Beach is never easy. But the defense we have should set us apart. Losing Blake was tough, and his tenacity will be missed for the next few months. Overall, this week was a good mental test for us, even if it resulted in a losing week. Tiago keeps the team engaged every minute of every game, and we’re playing hard-nosed defense from tip to final buzzer. If we keep doing us, it’ll work itself out, and the tight losses will turn into tight wins.

Game #7 - 11/3 vs LA Lakers (123-115 L)

Incredibly tough seeing this team lose to a downtrodden Lakers squad. No Luka, no Reaves, no LeBron. Yet, we apparently weren’t ready for *checks box score* Nick Smith Jr. The third-year Arkansas grad decided to have his best-ever NBA game tonight, and it really couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Blazers. He scored 25 points in 27 minutes and shot 5/6 from deep. On top of that, Deandre Ayton had a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds on 14/19 shooting. Especially after last week, this was a game that should have continued our defensive success with the supposed lack of offensive firepower from the Lakers. Clearly, that didn’t happen. Deni still did Deni things, but Blake Wesley's absence was very apparent. Anytime he would come into the game, it felt like a different kinda of energy was present — he was a spark to wake up the team from any slump. His 8-12 week absence cannot come soon enough. Overall, this game had a massive bummer vibe. Hopefully, we can bounce back against OKC and put up a fight against the defending champs.

Game #8 - 11/5 vs Oklahoma City (119-121 W)

We beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only is this a great win for the team at home, but it snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Thunder. Honestly, I didn’t know we had that kind of streak going against them. But it doesn’t matter anymore! Outside an abysmal Q1, the Blazers took it to the Thunder. After being outscored by 20 in Q1, we outscored the Thunder in the remaining three quarters. Yes, OKC was down Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Lou Dort, but that doesn’t mean it’s an off night for them. They have the deepest roster in the NBA, and it’s not really that close. Aaron Wiggins was 7/10 from three-point range, Shai scored 35, and Ajay Mitchell added 21. But Deni put the team on his back when it mattered, out-SGA-ing SGA at the free-throw line. Deni was 15/16 from the line and one assist away from a triple-double, posting a 26/10/9 stat line. Jrue continued to contribute, especially from deep, scoring 22 and making six 3’s. Doup Reath stepped up MASSIVELY, going 4/5 from the three-point line, reacting the only way one can, hitting one of his threes over Isaiah Hartenstein. This is the kind of identity the Blazers have: gritty wins over teams that think they can run their regular scheme. Like Anthony Edwards said after Opening Night, the Blazers are going to play tough and be a hard out. Tonight proved once again that you can never count out Portland.

Game #9 - 11/8 vs Miami (131-136 L)

Another tight game late that doesn’t go in favor of Portland. As much as my mental state can’t continue this for 72 more games, it seems like we’re not really going to be blowing teams out if our offense is middling. Miami is the other super-fast-paced team, so the fact that it was 131-136 isn’t all that surprising. The biggest surprise was the number of fouls we committed. 32 is a lot considering our average is 22, but that resulted in 36 free-throw attempts for Miami. You’re not going to win tight games if you’re giving your opponent a lot of chances for free points. As much as we scored a lot against Miami, we need more of it. Hopefully, Scoot’s return in a few weeks can be that remedy. We’re 2nd in FGA, due to our league-leading pace, but 24th in FG%. The most significant part of the team’s shooting game we’re missing is the mid-range. Ironically, we need a CJ McCollum type. Someone who can shoot the outside shot, drive, but lives in the 12-18ft range. Deni, Jrue, Shae, and Jerami are providing the majority of the offense, but outside of them, it’s a crapshoot. Having him consistently score in the 15-18 range nightly will be the boost we need.

Pinwheel of the Week
It’s gotta be Deni, right? He’s far and away the best player on the team. He’s leading the team in basically every way you can think of, and he’s already the heart and soul in Portland after just one full season. His average splits during this week were 30/9/6. How is this man not going to be an All-Star this year? He’s our leader on offense and keeping guys in check on defense.

Record: 1-2 (5-4)

Week 4 Games: Mon 11/10 @ Orlando, Wed 11/12 @ New Orleans, Fri 11/14 @ Houston (NBA Cup), Sun 11/16 @ Dallas

Week 2: A Gritty Week With All Treats and No Tricks

An undefeated week and 1-0 in the NBA Cup? Sure, why not? Currently leading the standings in “the Group of Death” is incredible. Mainly, when it features Golden State, Houston, and San Antonio, this is going to be a gauntlet of a group, which will most likely produce the West half of the finals. Overall, the victory over Denver was an identity game for the Trail Blazers, and they passed the test that the defense will be there when it matters most. Clingan is proving that with rDRTG on/off swing (negative is better), being -16.2 is why he was the correct choice for Portland in the 2024 Draft.. His rookie season was to get his footing. This season, coupled with the defense-first mindset of the team, he’s showing why he won back-to-back NCAA championships with UConn. He’s part of this team’s foundation, and hopefully, he has a really long career.

Game #4 - 10/27 @ LA Lakers (122-108 W)

There really isn’t anything better than beating the Lakers. Does it matter that neither LeBron nor Luka was playing? No. This was a bit of a “get right” game for the Blazers, as the first week of the season was something. Splitting the LA trip felt a bit like the minimum, so seeing this team lead from midway through Q2 to the final buzzer, on the back-end of a back-to-back, was satisfying. Grant continued his dominance off the bench, Deni and Jrue led the starters in scoring, and Clingan is DOMINATING defensively. DeAndre Ayton was primed for a revenge game, and it just never fully came together. Probably because Clingan, ironically, had his number all night. Reaves continued his heater, scoring 41/4/5, but his 8 turnovers didn’t help. The Blazers forced 23 turnovers tonight and have the most by any team so far this season by a lot. They’re averaging 21.0, and the next-best is Cleveland at 17.3. This team is playing with a crazy pace and is rangy and long-armed. Anthony Edwards said it after Opening Night that the Portland Trail Blazers aren’t going to be the cupcake they used to be. The Lakers saw that first hand and are going to want to avoid us come April. We’ll get them again next Monday in Portland, assuming Luka will be on the court. This will be a bigger test, as Luka looks trim and eager to prove he’s the leader of the Lakers.

Game #5 - 10/29 @ Utah (136-134 W)

A 4th Quarter lead was almost squandered. Key word: almost. But fortunately, this team didn’t flinch when times got tough late. But we CANNOT be giving teams 49 free throw attempts… that is absolutely unbelievable. Is this a ref thing or a player thing? Tim Legler breaks it down as a little bit of both, but mostly players defending poorly and lacking discipline. Regardless of what the defense was doing, the offense went ice cold in Q4, which was ultimately why it got close late. We had a 21-point lead heading into the final quarter and were outscored 18-9 in the final 5 minutes. Fortunately, Jrue held it down at the free-throw line, making all four of his free throws in the last 10 seconds. Jrue was the best player, from top to bottom, for the Blazers tonight, and if it weren’t for some of his decision-making, we wouldn’t have come away with the win. Keyonte George had a career night from the line, making all 15 of his free throws with seven of them coming in the fourth quarter. Him and Lauri Markkanen carried the late push, which ultimately fell short. Utah has a ton of quality players, so it’s hard to say if this close game is more an indictment of Utah or Portland, but if this game had happened last season, we would’ve lost, especially with Chauncey at the helm.

Game #6 - 10/31 vs Denver (107-109 W) NBA Cup Game

We can’t keep doing this. These late-game pressure tests are going to be the end of my sanity. But man, oh man, does it feel good to beat Denver in a dog fight on Halloween night. Deni showed why he’s the leader of this team, coming up with big shot after big shot. Jerami is clearly in the 6MOY running, having scored 124 points through his first six games, especially when he’s making clutch late-game shots and free throws. Shaedon only hit three 3s, but they all felt massive, and he even had a crazy block late in the game. A man not known for his defense elevated when it mattered most. Same with Kris Murray. He doesn’t get a ton of minutes, but the minutes he played tonight had to have been the biggest of his young career. And Toumani… this man is unbelievable, and I keep asking myself, “How did we get this guy, again?” Whether it was the jump ball he forced against Jokic (the refs later confirmed this as the correct call) or a block against Cam Johnson, he is EVERYWHERE. Jamal Murray is no stranger to claiming the Mr. Big Shot moniker because he seems to feast on the Blazers whenever the Nuggets need a bucket late in the game. Denver worked Portland with fast-break points, which is interesting to see since Portland is playing so fast and forcing the most turnovers/game. What a win for this team. A statement for what’s to come for the rest of the season.

Pinwheel of the Week
Jrue Holiday is this week’s POW. This man is so calm and cool under pressure. He more or less got us the win in Utah and has exceeded expectations for his offense, especially given he’s an “older veteran.” Jrue is showcasing why he’s been on championship teams in Milwaukee and Boston, and his defense, lack of mistakes, and leadership are proving why trading for him was worth it.

Record: 3-0 (4-2)

Week 3 Games: Mon 11/3 vs LA Lakers, Wed 11/5 vs Oklahoma City, Sat 11/8 @ Miami

Week 1: A Big Week for Basketball and Bookies

Blazer basketball is back, and there’s nothing better than immediately overreacting. What’s better than reacting to Chauncey Billups’ FBI indictment for gambling? Arguably, the most dramatic thing that has ever happened during the first week of the NBA season in my lifetime. The morning after a tough opening-night loss to the Timberwolves, Chauncey was arrested for alleged illegal gambling and immediately suspended from the team. Tiago Splitter took over as Head Coach, with Nate Bjorkgren maintaining his role as Head Assistant Coach. Tiago started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, alongside HOFer Tim Duncan, in the post, and after five seasons, bounced to Atlanta for a season and then to Philadelphia for another, where he finished his playing career. He then transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant with Brooklyn (2019-23) and Houston (2023-24). He then became the Head Coach for Paris Basketball in the LNB Élite (2024-25), before joining Portland this past offseason. It’s too early to gauge how Tiago will do as an HC, but he is getting these guys to play hard and fast. Putting the pedal to the metal against an exhausted Warriors team, even when they were already up late in the 4th quarter, is an excellent sign of what’s to come. Even in the loss to the Clippers, they didn’t phone it in when the game was more or less out of reach — looking forward to NOT reacting just yet and seeing how he’ll lead this team this season.

Game #1 - 10/22 vs Minnesota (118-114 L)

What a bummer of a way to lose your home opener. A game in which Portland led the majority ends with Anthony Edwards coming alive late to seal off a comeback win. Ant did score 41, so it wasn’t as if he had an off night, but we were able to contain the TWolves’ output until our offense lost its way in the last 5:20 of the game. When you make four total shots in Q4 (not including free throws), you aren’t going to win many games. Shaedon, unfortunately, contributed to this, shooting 5/20 from the floor. The positive was that he’s shooting. The negative was not many of them when through the hoop. There are things to be excited about. Jerami Grant looks like he’s accepted his role as the lead of the second unit, scoring 29 points on 10/14 shooting. Maybe I was wrong about him. Perhaps he should stay in Portland as long as he’s accepting of his role: in the starting five or coming off the bench. Deni and Toumani looked to continue their star-studded selves. Clingan looked solid against Rudy Gobert. And, Matisse Thybulle being available and on the floor was much needed. He can get hot offensively, but his pickpocketing ability is game-changing. 0-1 isn’t the end of the world, but a bounce-back win goes a long way.

Game #2 - 10/24 vs Golden State (119-139 W)

Hard to believe what happened between games 1 and 2 of the NBA season for a single team: a frustrating loss against a beatable team, and then your Head Coach gets arrested for illegal gambling. So, going into your second game, with a new Head Coach who joined the team a few months ago, expectations were mixed to say the least. But man, oh man, we looked like a team that cares a lot about finishing a basketball game. Coach/Master Splitter — maybe what we needed? Outside of the last three months of the 2024-25 season, Chauncey did not do much as a coach with a 117-211 record (0.357 win percentage). Enough about Chauncey. Tiago is an absolute stud. Not only did he push a talented Warriors team to the limit, but he also put the nail in the coffin by running up the score late in Q4. We forced 25 turnovers, and Matisse was +26 in 14 minutes. When you have someone doing stuff like that on the defensive end, it’s going to affect the offense positively. We had eight players score double digits, with Deni and Jerami leading the way once again. Still looking for Shaedon to find his groove, but it's game 2 of 82, so there’s a lot of time left for him to find it. But everyone’s favorite rookie, Yang Hansen, got his first bucket, of many, in his long career.

Game #3 - 10/26 @ LA Clippers (107-114 L)

We just couldn’t keep it going down the stretch. The shooting fell off, and the firepower of the Clippers' offense was just too much. But that’s not to say we didn’t give it our all. According to Steph Noh, the Blazers are pressuring the inbounds after a made basket 24% of the time. After three games, we’re 7th in defense. Now this is what we’ve been waiting for! All the things the team has focused on over the last two seasons are finally starting to pay dividends. We’ve forced the most turnovers/game (22.0) and created the most steals/game (11.7). This is an incredible start to the season! Our defense is playing elite, and if Shaedon can start hitting shots, it’s all over for the rest of the NBA. It’s not that he isn’t taking shots. He’s taken 20, 15, and 24 shots in three games. Most on the team by three FGA/game (19.7). He got his extension, so now he needs to play like it. I have faith it’ll happen, but he needs to get into a flow of the game and bury some guys. Honestly, he might need to posterize someone, and then karmically he’ll be fine. Who knows? But it’s early, and the team as a whole looks good. And you have to feel good when your new Head Coach leaves a press conference saying, “I promise you guys this is what we’re going to do every night. We’re going to compete.”

Pinwheel of the Week
The newest section from A Three-Goggled Perspective will feature someone who is being “given their flowers”.

This week’s POW is Blake Wesley. Although he wasn’t Deni or Jerami leading the charge from a scoring perspective, this kid can HUSTLE. Watching him guard Anthony Edwards on Wednesday night, and then online against the Warriors and Clippers, he is giving it 110% anytime he’s on the court. Both Jrue and Coach Splitter commended him after the loss to the Clippers. It’s exciting to see a second-unit player come off the bench with this kind of tenacity, as I haven’t had that in recent memory.

Record: 1-2 (1-2)

Week 2 Games: Mon 10/27 @ LA Lakers, Wed 10/29 @ Utah, Fri 10/31 vs Denver (NBA Cup)

The Blazers Are Back and So Is the 2025-26 NBA Season

Everyone has their favorite day of the year. For some, it’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball. Others are fond of a more traditional day, like Christmas or Memorial Day Weekend. A lot of people even love late August for football. But for us sickos, it’s late October.

The leaves have finally started to fall, but our hopes for our favorite NBA teams are (ideally) at their highest. And for those of us who hold the Portland Trail Blazers near and dear to our hearts, this season is the turning point for our return to competing in the Western Conference. I’ll dive into this team's hopes and dreams for the 2025-26 season and what's realistic for the lone team in the Northwest.

Below is a snapshot of the Trail Blazers’ offseason:
- June 25: Drafted Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick (read my thoughts here)
- July 7: Traded Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday (read my thoughts here)
- July 19: Signed Damian Lillard to a 3-year $42M contract
- October 19: Shaedon Sharpe signs a 4-year $90M contract extension, and Toumani Camara signs a 4-year $82M contract extension
- Players Lost: Deandre Ayton (waived), Dalano Banton (FA), Bryce McGowens (FA), Justin Minaya (FA), Anfernee Simons (traded), Jabari Walker (FA)
- Players Added: Yang Hansen (draft), Caleb Love (undrafted FA), Javonte Cooke (undrafted FA), Jrue Holiday (trade), Damian Lillard (FA), Blake Wesley (FA)

Start of Season Depth Chart:
PG: Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Blake Wesley, Javonte Cooke
SG: Shaedon Sharpe, Rayan Rupert, Caleb Love, Sidy Cissoko
SF: Deni Avdija, Matisse Thybulle
PF: Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
C: Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, Robert Williams III, Doup Reath

The underlying goal of this team is to make the Play-In or better and to continue the defensive mindset that led them to a 23-18 second half of the season. There isn’t a ton of positive perspective from the media, as the consensus is about 35 wins, which is one fewer than last season. Continuity itself should get them closer to 40 wins, and I genuinely believe this team can win 44 games. Yeah, the Western Conference is crowded. Yeah, this team can’t rely on Deni for all its scoring. But I think the defense steps up, and Chauncey finally leaps into the “a coach who can adjust mid-game” category.

Predictions for the season
- Blazers win 44+ games: The defense is there, and if Jrue is viable on offense and other guys can improve their scoring, we’ve got a shot at a top-6 seed.
- Sheadon unlocks his potential: He signed an extension three days ago, and it relieves the pressure of the season, and he elevates above just being a highlight reel. I think he can average 20/4/6 on 45% FG and 36% from deep.
- Toumani is selected to First Team All Defense: Toumani is a literal death trap on defense, and he somehow improves his 1.5 steals/game from last year, as well as his blocks/game from 0.6 to 1. But I think he elevates his scoring to round out both sides of the ball, helping the offense.
- Clingan gets All-Defensive consideration: DC was a monster to start his rookie season, with 16 straight games recording a block, the most in Blazers history (passing Bill Walton). He uses that fuel to shine in year two after being selected to the All-Rookie Second Team last season.
- Jerami Grant gets traded: The contract extension of Jerami in 2023 was used to keep Dame, which didn’t pan out. He isn’t on the team timeline, and some team is going to need some firepower to get them deeper into the playoffs.
- Scoot finally finds his role: The hype for Scoot from the 2023 draft was extremely high, and he has been underwhelming, to say the least. But I think, with Coach Dame and Jrue guiding him offensively and defensively, respectively, he could be a 6th Man of the Year candidate.
- Yang Hansen gets All-Rookie votes: Yang Hansen is a massive question mark, but if he can bring his skills to the NBA and they translate, he is a gonna be the biggest surprise of the season. Stephon Castle won ROY last year, and his season felt lackluster in my opinion. If Hansen can prove to be the non-negative Center in this league, the Portland Trail Blazers will be laughing at everyone.

This team has a lot to be excited about, especially with the continuity of the defense. Dame is back (even if he’s only on the bench). We gave likeable, foundational players contract extensions that fit our timeline. And, we’re fun to watch. If someone can explain to me why you wouldn’t want to watch the possibility of Shaedon sending defenders to their graves every game, I’ll be waiting. The season tips off against the Timberwolves tonight, and I’ll get to watch our boys in person.

October is here, and so is Portland Trail Blazers basketball.

And With the 16th Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, The Portland Trail Blazers Select... Yang Hansen?

On a night of “guarantees”, “pretty sures”, and “what ifs”, the Portland Trail Blazers went with a “huh?”. After trading with the Memphis Grizzlies the 11th Pick (Cedric Coward) for the 16th Pick and a 2028 1st Round pick and two 2nd Round picks.

The Blazers were expected to draft anyone from Cedric Cower, Derik Queen, Carter Bryant, Thomas Sorber, or even Kasparas Jakucionis. But Joe Cronin and Mike Schmitz had other plans. They selected Yang Hansen, the 19-year-old Center (who turned 20 on June 26—the day of the 2nd Round), who’s more affectionately known as “Chinese Jokic”, from the grandstands. Not even the floor with the tables filled with players and their families. He had to walk down the steps and figure out a path to get to Adam Silver and the stage. Casey Holdahl recently interviewed Hansen who mentioned he was in the middle of eating fried chicken when his name was called. A hilarious comparison to Jokic who was famously drafted in the 2nd Round during a Taco Bell ad. A surprise is an understatement as Blazers’ twitter was as shocked as anyone when Silver announced Hansen’s name.

Who is this kid who was expected to go in the middle of the 2nd Round? He measured in at 7’1” and 253lbs with a 9’3” standing reach. Yeah, he’s tall but height and basketball quality don’t go hand-in-hand.

*Mike Schmitz has entered the chat*

Back in December 2023, he was seen in China to watch Hansen as he put up a 31-16-4-4 stat line. Rocketing passes around the court like he’s been in The League for over a decade. Clearly this isn’t a fluke if the man who helped create Draft Express is heavily interested in him. And since the Blazers were fielding offers for the 11th pick, they felt if they found a suitor after 16 he might not be available, so here we are. They didn’t want to let the two-time Chinese CBA Rooking of the Year (yes you read that correctly) slip through their fingers. All of this to say, it’s understood the Blazers have had their eyes on Hansen since well before the 2025 NBA Combine, and their proverbial eyes don’t look to be fuller than their basketball bellies.

The most obvious question about Yang Hansen is if he’s going to be another injury flameout like other Blazer bigs, or if he’s going to fall more in line with the stability of Yao Ming and Nikola Jokic. Unfortunately for the Blazers, their history with drafting tall, young dudes hasn’t been the greatest: Sam Bowie and Greg Oden to name a couple. But if the tape we’ve seen on Hansen tells his story more than the previous, it’s that he is (from our limited resources) sturdy. He’s not thin, lanky, and had previous injuries like Sam Bowie. He can move up and down the court and can take some hits under the basket. On top of that, his court vision is why people are comparing him to Jokic. Even Domantas Sabonis had great things to say in an interview on Hansen. And to be honest, the more tape I’m watching the more I’m believing Schmitz and Cronin knew what they were doing.

Summer League will be our first chance to see how he looks, and it might be one of the most anticipated games outside of Cooper Flagg and some of the other top 5ish draftees. There’s a lot of faith in Chauncey and Cronin of the direction of this team. And if they’re going to continue to build a defensive identity, getting a 7’1” big man that can throw the rock around to cutters in his sleep isn’t a bad idea. Maybe there’s something brewing in Portland? If this works, Hansen is gonna be talked about for years. If not, it’ll be another page in the book of swing-and-misses by Portland. It’s time for this to work. Not because I’m begging for it to work as a diehard fan, but at some point, you’re gonna hit the home run you’ve been swinging for after all these years.