How Chauncey Billups Led The Charge For The Exciting Blazers

Billups Motivated The Exciting Blazers

A big part of why Portland has become a potential surprise Play-In team has been players with renewed energy. Henderson finally looks like the player the Blazers selected with the third-overall pick in 2023. Scoot took a leap with his overall game, with three-point shooting being his biggest improvement. He is shooting 36.6% from distance on the season.

“We have that long talk, and then in practice, he came out and destroyed everybody in front of him,'” Billups said to The Athletic’s Jason Quick. “Offense. Defense. Destroyed. He was ferocious. He hasn’t looked back since that day.”

Sharpe is another player who has received solid motivation from Billups. The Blazers’ head coach benched him because he wants to see more effort from him. It was a valid decision, but it did not work well in the first few games. However, Sharpe has reflected and responded well to criticism. He is now arguably the team’s best player with his juggernaut offensive performances for the exciting Blazers.

Portland Could Become A Surprise Play-In Team

Due to Portland’s momentum, it is possible to make the Play-In Tournament. The Trail Blazers are rolling, while the Suns and Mavericks are struggling. Those two teams might miss the Play-In due to Phoenix’s poor recent play and Dallas’ injury crisis.

Billups and his players want to win games, which is why they could be a surprise Play-In team. The Blazers players are confident with their recent momentum, performing well on both ends. Toumani Camara, fresh off a Defensive Player of the Month honor, and Deni Avdija have been excellent. If they continue to play well, the Play-In is a definite possibility.

Away from the younger players, Anfernee Simons is still a stellar go-to guy for Portland. He might not fit the long-term plans, but he is still excellent. Simons can get hot quickly, so coaches always plan to stop him from catching fire. As long as he keeps playing like this, Simons can lead the Blazers to win more games than expected.

This Stretch Is A Preview Of Portland’s Bright Future

Billups’ brand of basketball is apparent when watching a recent Blazers game. He wants lengthy wings to switch on defense, while the smaller guards must work hard to stamp their presence. Henderson has done that off the bench, while Simons and Sharpe are working hard on the defensive end.

Donovan Clingan has been superb in his first year for the Blazers. His defensive presence as a center is second to none on the roster. He will only improve during Portland’s bright future as the definitive starter. The same goes for young role players like Kris Murray and Jabari Walker, who have been excellent.

Most fans expect Billups to not be with the team beyond this season. However, he has done a great job developing the young players in the second half of the season. It is up to general manager Joe Cronin to decide on what to do with Billups beyond this campaign. He has a team option for a fifth season, but Portland could choose to part ways if they want to.