Trail Blazers’ Biggest Weakness Exposed In Latest Loss

Sharpe and Grant are excellent in transition and when moving off the ball. If Splitter implements more off-ball screens, the Blazers could unlock a new dimension to their offense. That could also solve Sharpe’s inefficient offense.

Unfortunately, Sharpe and Grant are playing more isolation basketball. They can break down defenders, but they are at their best when they score through cuts and spot-up shooting. They lacked Jrue Holiday’s floor general skills and valuable leadership against Dallas, but Splitter should set them up better.

Splitter’s System in Portland Lacks Dynamism

The Blazers might be scoring a lot of points, but mostly due to their quick transitions. When they play half-court basketball, the players are often static in their positioning. Sharpe and Toumani Camara do well with their cuts, but they don’t set up much besides the pick-and-roll.

To remedy this issue, Splitter must be more imaginative in his offense. During his stint with Paris Basketball, he showed flashes of solid play-calling. He must showcase his coaching talents with the Blazers. They could be one of the league’s best teams with a strong offense.

During the five-game road trip, Portland won only once. It was a disappointing stretch because they could have beaten every team they played against. However, the Blazers’ biggest weakness was getting the ball into the basket when they needed to.

In the clutch, they relied on Holiday and Avdija too much. Since the opponents knew what Portland would be doing, they forced mistakes from the ball-handlers. It is up to the coaching staff to set the team up well. Scoot Henderson’s return from the untimely injury will also matter for the Blazers.

The Blazers Must Forget This Road Trip

The previous five games were rough for Portland. To start the year, everyone was wary of the Blazers’ defense. That is not the case in recent games because Portland is struggling to get stops.

Camara is not playing at his peak on defense like in the 2024-25 season. The Blazers are struggling on both ends, and they should find motivation soon. If they keep sliding down the standings, the rest of the season will be tough.

Many see this season as a make-or-break year for the Blazers. However, the team has shown good depth and legitimate potential to be a top team. It is up to the coaching staff to improve their tactics and the players to develop. If they can do that, Blazers basketball will be tough to beat.