The Portland Trail Blazers will begin their 2025-26 NBA Season on Wednesday night with an opening night tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the summer we covered Portland selecting Yang Hansen
in the 2025 NBA Draft, trading Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday, signing Damian Lillard after he was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, and much more.
We’ll have a complete season preview over the next couple of days, but before we get there, let’s tackle one of the more consistent topics from the Blazer’s Edge Mailbag this summer…ironically the same subject we left last season with. Take a look.
Dave,
Just tell me what [Head Coach Chauncey] Billups needs to do in your eyes to have a successful season. I have thoughts about extending him but I’ll save them. It’s too late now. So now that he’s here what does he need to do to succeed?
Jase
It’s all about wins, really. Nothing else is going to substitute. I said it earlier in the offseason and it bears repeating here. The Blazers have signaled everybody that they’re going to step out of rebuilding mode and try to be an objectively successful team now. They did that when they took on Holiday’s very expensive contract for three years. They did it again when they signed Lillard. They’re setting themselves up to be able to use the mid-level exception next year. Best guess is that they want to throw it into third gear, become at least mediocre by 2028, and then use those Milwaukee Bucks draft picks and swaps–acquired in the original Lillard trade–to push themselves over the top.
There’s no real loss in doing so. What good is a pick swap if your original pick is higher than the guys you’re swapping with? It’s like a free swing for the team. They’re taking it.
Evidently they thought Billups was a part of that winning strategy. All he has to do now is prove it. The only way that happens is by winning.
There are micro goals along the way. The development of Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Hansen all matter. Figuring out how to use Deni Avdija best on a fully-stocked team is a thing too. Those are ongoing.
I’m also going to argue that you’ll be able to tell how the season is going by taking a glance during any game, any random quarter.
The Blazers aren’t a complete team yet. They’re not polished. They’re not going to be able to take on the NBA via standard methods. This team is built on pace, energy, and resilience. They’re going to try to win by throwing players at you, never stopping and never flagging. You’ll be able to tell whether the team is succeeding by that exact litmus test.
The Blazers should look like a college team this year. If you’re saying, “Man, they’re playing fast and playing hard,” the plan is working. If you see them slowing down or giving up, they’ve got problems.
This is a bigger test than you think. It’s all well and good to charge into Game 1 full of fire. What about the end of the third quarter in Game 48 with two starters injured? What about when you’re at the wrong end of a 20-point blowout? The minute this team gets used to losing, the minute you see the white flag waving and sneakers sticking to the floor when they’re down, they’re done. Not just for that game, for the season. The league will put plenty of pressure on them. They’ll be on the wrong end of waves and streaks nearly every game. The only way they win is learning not to bow to it under any circumstances.
The Blazers will need to be careful of excuses this year. Explaining losses is fine. Accepting them, let alone expecting them, will be anathema for this roster.
Speed, vibrancy, and never giving up…that’s the style of play this team depends on. That’s the ethos this year from the coaching staff to the players. Turn on your TV, watch for 60 seconds, and ask yourself what you’re seeing. In many ways, it’s going to be just that simple. You won’t need to ask whether Coach Billups and company are succeeding. You’re going to know it instinctively already.
Thanks for the question! You can always send yours to blazersub@gmail.com and we’ll try to answer as many as possible!
