The Portland Trail Blazers’ guard issue is still the team’s biggest problem. Jrue Holiday’s injury and the absence of Scoot Henderson’s impact have led to Portland’s disastrous season. To start the 2025-26 season, the Blazers were a dangerous team; now, they are a mediocre one.
The Blazers’ Guard Issues Have Led To An Unmitigated Disaster
Over the past month or so, the Portland Trail Blazers have played without a true point guard. The Blazers have three traditional point guards on the roster. All three point guards are on the sidelines with injuries.
Jrue Holiday is dealing with a calf issue. Henderson is still nursing a torn hamstring, and Damian Lillard is out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury. This is a disaster for Portland, as its offense has largely suffered without a floor general.
Deni Avdija has stepped in and has produced as the de facto ball-handler. The 24-year-old has benefited, as he is getting All-Star buzz. However, the Blazers are largely an inefficient team without Holiday, Henderson, and Lillard.
Holiday’s Injury Started Portland’s Slide
Before he went down with an injury, Holiday was having a resurgence. Across the 12 games he played, Holiday averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. No matter what people said, that is an impressive performance.
Players like Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan benefited from having a true playmaker. All they needed to do was find their spots and benefit from Holiday’s playmaking and leadership.
Nothing beats a Jrue Holiday 💪 pic.twitter.com/0WvZai1AMx
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 15, 2025
Nowadays, the Blazers feel like they have a cap on their potential. They are creating shots for themselves, which is decent development, but they are inefficient.
Acting head coach Tiago Splitter has a lot of work to do with his team. The Blazers are a talented bunch, but they are not as good as expected without a point guard. Any team would struggle without a true point guard, but this is still an unmitigated disaster.
The Blazers Are Missing Henderson’s Impact
Mar 27, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) dribbles against Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
In his first two NBA seasons, Henderson was an intriguing prospect. He didn’t meet expectations as a third overall pick, but he showed promise as the Blazers’ guard of the future.
Across 128 games in two seasons, Henderson averaged 13.3 points and 5.2 assists per game. Of course, he averaged three turnovers per game and was relatively inefficient with his shooting. Despite that, he was still quite promising with his playmaking.
Considering he is only 21, he has a lot of time left to develop. However, the injury issues might be a problem. A torn hamstring has kept him out this season, and that could have long-term implications.
Scoot Henderson 30 PTS on 10/16 FG
(20 in the fourth + OT) pic.twitter.com/I5w4K6W6ts
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) March 13, 2025
Henderson relies on his athleticism to be a difference-maker, so he will likely be more careful. That could also be good because a more controlled Henderson might make for a top-tier playmaker again. Henderson still has sky-high potential, which is why every Blazers fan wants to see him come back.
If he returns soon, the Blazers’ 2025-26 season could be salvageable. Avdija is playing well, but he should not be playing point guard this much. With Henderson and Holiday, Avdija can return to his optimal role as a wing player.
No Solution to the Blazers’ Guard Issue
It is easy to feel bad for Splitter and the Blazers. They went into the season knowing they would have a deep team. Henderson’s impact would have been much better because he was in a prove-it year after two underwhelming seasons.
On December 26, the Blazers lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in a blowout. It was one of the worst results of the season because they could have easily won it. Portland crumbled in the second half, as the Blazers lacked weapons on offense.
Avdija and Sharpe are the top two offensive players, but they cannot do everything. Losing all Blazers’ guard options and Jerami Grant has let the Blazers’ offense plummet.
With their offense dropping, the Blazers’ promising defense has also dropped. That is related to injuries because Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, and Blake Wesley provided them with solid defense.
Moving forward, the Blazers need their health to improve. If they want any shot at postseason basketball, they need a healthier squad to compete at all.
Featured Image: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images