Fast Start or False Start? Evaluating the Portland Trail Blazers
[Music] If I told you that a team with its star guards decimated by injuries and even their head coach absent is currently playing the fastest, most intense basketball in the league, would you believe me? I’m talking about the Portland Trailblazers. We are about 20 games into the 202526 season. Their current record sits at nine wins and 13 losses, hovering around 10th place in the Western Conference. On paper, it might look like the same old slump as last season. But look closer and you’ll see a dramatic transformation. When we look at the data charts from NBA SDB, a strange distinct shape emerges, one that is completely different from last year. This isn’t just a rebuilding team. Something is happening here. Welcome to the Daily NBA Talk. On this channel, we use unique data analysis to dive deep into the current state of the NBA. Today’s question is this. Was Portland’s start to the season a success or was it a failure? We will thoroughly compare the before data from the end of last season with the now data from the current campaign. We are going to break down the true nature of this hyperfast basketball born from a depleted roster and analyze the shocking stats of their newly emerging ace. Why is there a contradiction in their stats and what lies ahead for this team in crisis? Let’s start by looking at how the team’s overall style has changed by examining the shifts in their statistical rankings. First, take a look at the stat rankings table at the top. The number that has changed the most dramatically since last season is pace. It skyrocketed from 16th all the way to third in the league. Portland has transformed into a team that simply wants to run. This impact is also clearly seen in their rebounding. Total rebounding is fourth in the league and notably offensive rebounding is second. Their strength on the inside is standing out. However, if you compare this with the radar chart at the bottom, you might notice a puzzling contradiction. On the chart, stealing ability has shown a surprising surge from 21st to 5th. Normally, you would imagine an ironclad defense from this, right? But please look back at the actual numbers at the top. The actual steel’s numbers dropped from 11th to 14th. Furthermore, their defensive rating, which shows defensive efficiency, has actually worsened from 16th to 20th. Why do they have the ability but can’t seem to defend? The answer lies in the increased pace I mentioned earlier. By prioritizing increasing possessions and running the floor, their defensive formation often isn’t set, allowing opponents easy points. Or perhaps the absence of highability defenders like Matias Thyel due to injury is creating this gap between the chart and reality. The ability scores are high but the actual defensive numbers are bad. Do you see this as tactics not meshing or do you think they will become an unstoppable shield once the injured players return? Please let us know your predictions in the comments. In short, the current Portland team can be described as sacrificing their high defensive potential to go allin on offensive speed. The total ability score of the starting five has improved to 16th. So amidst these risky tactics, who exactly is stepping up? Let’s look at the detailed power changes by position in the next part. Moving on to the power analysis by position. Let’s start with the team’s floor general, the point guard. Please pay attention to the background of the chart on the screen. The pink area represents the league’s top 50 and the yellow area indicates an even higher level, the top 10. First up is the new addition, Drew Holiday. His player points stand at 838. He easily clears the starter benchmark of 780, and his quality is obvious at a glance. Take a special look at the assist category. The value is 782. It has reached the yellow league top 10 area. Furthermore, his pi, which indicates player impact, is also within the pink top 50 range. Unlike the guard rotation we saw up until last season, he possesses the ability to reliably control the game. However, reality is cruel. According to the latest reports, in addition to Holiday, Damen Lillard and Scoot Henderson are also out with injuries. The team is in a state of emergency with their main guards completely wiped out. Stepping onto the court in their place is Caleb Love, whose points are at 674. This is significantly below the 720 benchmark we would hope for in a bench player. And we cannot find any standout weapons on his chart either. With all their elite level commanders missing, how will they fill this power gap? Portland is facing its most critical moment right now. Next up is the shooting guard position here. The data clearly reveals both the evolution and the challenges facing their future ace. All eyes are on Shaden Sharp. He has recorded a player score of 797, solidly clearing the starter benchmark of 780. This is proof that his overall game has been elevated rather than just excelling in one specific area. I want you to pay special attention to the growth in his steals. It skyrocketed from a 596 last season to a 787 this season. He is just inches away from the top 50. From steals to rebounding and defense, a dramatic shift in his defensive mindset is clearly etched into the numbers. On the other hand, the challenge is obvious. His three-point rating sits at a zero. This is what’s holding him back. Interim head coach Thiago Splitter has moved him to a bench role. This seems to be a strategic move to use him as a sixth man to save a bench that lacks scoring power while also helping him regain his shooting touch. Backup City Sasoko sits at 646 points. He is far from the bench benchmark of 720. And frankly, it’s hard to call him ready for immediate impact. With defensive anchor Matif Theler, everything rides on whether Sharp can regain his offensive stability. The fate of the team hangs in the balance. Moving on to the small forward position. This is arguably the position that has undergone the most drastic change in role since last season. Since Denny Avdia, who was the offensive and defensive pivot here last season, has been converted to power forward, we are looking at a completely new setup. Now, starting in this spot is third-year player Tumani Kamar. His player score is 749. He is just one step short of the 780 benchmark required for a starter. Compared to Avdia last season, his scoring power has dropped significantly. Even comparing him to his own chart from last year, his growth feels a bit stagnant. Currently, no category reaches the pink top 50 area. And data- wise, he has not shown a breakout weapon yet. However, he is establishing himself as a defensive specialist, contributing to the team with gritty defense that doesn’t always show up in the stats and by relentlessly marking opposing aces. Backup Chris Murray sits at 711 points. He slightly misses the bench benchmark of 720, but pay attention to his steals. He records a 778, closing in on the top 50 standard. Overall, current Portland small forwards have shed the role of scoring sources and shifted into a framework of role players specialized in defense and hard work. Next up is the power forward position. Let me be clear, this is without a doubt Portland’s strongest position this season. Denny Avdia, who played small forward until last season, has completely awakened after converting to this spot. His player score is a team leading 862. This is an elite number far exceeding the starter benchmark of 780. Take a look at the chart. Two categories, PIE, player impact estimate and scoring power pierce deep into the pink league top 50 area. His PIE is especially impressive at 855. It shows overwhelming dominance, closing in on the very doorstep of the yellow League top 10 zone. He even recorded a triple double in a recent game. Reports say his stats since the opener make him only the third player in franchise history to achieve such a feat. Joining legends Clyde Drexler and Damen Lillard. Furthermore, his partner Gerami Grant is still going strong. His player score sits at 774. He maintains numbers right on the heels of the 780 benchmark and his three-point percentage has hit 40%. The fact that he is the second option speaks volumes about the depth of this position. In a team plagued by injuries, this forward combo is the one thing we can count on. It is no exaggeration to say that almost all of Portland’s offense right now is being created by them. Finally, let’s look at the team’s Guardians, the Centers. Gone is the DeAndre Aton era. This position has transformed into one of the league’s premier fortresses. Reigning as the new ace is second-year player Donovan Klingan. His player score is 820. Despite his youth, he comfortably clears the starter benchmark of 780, showing a level of maturity that is already veteran-like. One look at the chart explains exactly why Portland is fourth in the league in rebounding. His rebounding score is a 914. It sits proudly in the yellow area, signifying the league top 10. Furthermore, his defense clocks in at 894, securing a spot in the pink top 50 zone. In just one year, he has grown into a ruler of the paint. And coming off the bench is the time lord himself, Robert Williams III. His player score of 685 may not reach the benchmark, but one specific category shows an absolute outlier value. That category is blocks. The number is a staggering 869. It ranks in the top 10, proving that when he is on the floor, he is one of the league’s elite rim protectors, guaranteed to swat away opponent shots. Both players carry risks of foot injuries, and Williams III in particular has availability issues. However, when these two are on the court, Portland’s paint becomes a nogo zone with the guard rotation in shambles. This interior defense is the solitary hope holding the team together. Let’s wrap up our power analysis of the Portland Trailblazers. Here is the verdict. Portland’s start to the season can be called a huge success in terms of transformation, but an emergency in terms of sustaining firepower. As the data shows, under interim head coach Thiago Splitter, the team has acquired clear weapons, one of the league’s fastest paces and elite class rebounding. They have completely succeeded in breaking away from the identity crisis of last season. In particular, discovering Denny Avidia and Donovan Clenion as the new offensive and defensive cores is a harvest that outweighs the win total in the long run. However, the future outlook is extremely unclear. The reality of having their main guard rotation, Lillard, Henderson, and Holiday completely wiped out is simply too harsh. If Avidia, Jeremiah Grant, and the newly benchbound Shaden Sharp can hold the fort and keep the team near a 0.500 record until the injured players return, once the full roster is assembled, Portland could become a real storm in the Western Conference. Conversely, if this war of attrition continues and the defensive collapse isn’t stopped, there is a real danger of sliding right back into the lottery race. A battle against injury or the dawn of a new era. Portland stands at that crossroads right now. That wraps up today’s broadcast. If you enjoyed this video, please hit that like button and subscribe to the channel. See you next time.
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🏀 IN THIS VIDEO: The Portland Trail Blazers are in a state of emergency. With Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday all sidelined, and Head Coach Chauncey Billups absent, many expected a collapse. Instead, under interim HC Tiago Splitter, they’ve transformed into one of the FASTEST and best rebounding teams in the NBA.
In this deep dive, we use our “”Before vs. Now”” data charts to analyze:
The Paradox: Why are their defensive stats dropping despite high potential?
Deni Avdija: Is he the franchise’s new cornerstone?
Donovan Clingan: The rise of a defensive fortress.
Shaedon Sharpe: The reasoning behind his bench role.
Is this “”Start Dash”” a success for the new era, or just chaos caused by injuries? Let’s break down the data.
#PortlandTrailBlazers #RipCity #DeniAvdija #DonovanClingan #ShaedonSharpe #NBA2026 #NBAStats #BasketballAnalysis #TiagoSplitter #TheDailyNBATalk”
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