This week, the Portland Trail Blazers are taking the spotlight away from basketball. The team is now focused on winning more games under new interim head coach Tiago Splitter. Thankfully for Blazers fans, the team is progressing well under its new coach.
Most of the recent news about the Portland Trail Blazers has been about Chauncey Billups and his off-court issues. Tiago Splitter took over as interim head coach as the organization ceased working with him for the time being.
In the first game since the Billups controversy came to light, the Blazers defeated the Golden State Warriors 139-119. It was a balanced effort from the entire team, but Deni Avdija stood out with 26 points. The Blazers had eight players reach double figures, demonstrating the Blazers’ continued improvement.
Most people knew that the Blazers were expected to be one of the toughest defensive teams in the league. That was on full display against the Warriors. They made some significant changes in the 2025 offseason, but have been in good shape so far through the first two games of the season.
First and foremost, the Blazers are an NBA team that wants to be successful. Even though they are in big trouble, the team just wants to win the game. Splitter’s appointment was a bit of a surprise, as Nate Bjorkgren is also an experienced head coach. However, Bjorkgren rejected the offer, preferring to work under Splitter on the coaching staff.
During their game against the Warriors, Portland proved why they are a dangerous team in the 2025-26 season. Defensively, the Blazers were relentless. They played in the passing lanes on almost every possession, with Toumani Kamara leading the attack.
Offensively, the Blazers looked a little shaky, but they picked up steam against Golden State. With eight players scoring in double figures, Portland’s offense has a high ceiling. Keep in mind that Scoot Henderson is still out with an injury, as he is expected to return in a few weeks.
The Blazers looked comfortable with Splitter at the helm, which is a good sign that they seem mentally prepared for any obstacles.
“I thought our guys played really hard, which is how we want to play against a great team like the Warriors. Obviously, they’re coming in on a winning streak, but we knew that and tried to exaggerate our pace and play fast even after they had scored,” Splitter said after the win against Golden State.
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on, but I’m so proud of them for coming through all of this and going out and performing. At the end of the day, it’s them running and shooting the ball, not us. I’m impressed.”
“This is our job and we want to play basketball. We want to talk about basketball, layups, three-pointers, step-backs, blocked shots, etc. We love it and we believe we have the best job in the world.”
The Blazers could have one of the toughest defensive systems in the league. They are physical, versatile and play tenaciously with their style. Kamara, Donovan Clingan and Jrue Holiday are the leaders of the defense. But they still have great players off the bench like Matisse Thybulle and Chris Murray.
With Splitter at the helm, the Blazers will likely push more transitions into their offense. If the Blazers can continue to play to their strengths, they could be a dangerous team for any opponent in the league.
It’s going to be challenging, but the Blazers are ready to show off their skills, even if there’s some controversy with their longtime head coach.