The Portland Trail Blazers are now 7-11 on the season after suffering a deflating blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, 123-98. When healthy, the Grizzlies are a formidable Western Conference team that has a formula that could spell success in the playoffs -- star power between Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., multiple defensive weapons, and seemingly endless complementary role players coming off their bench.
They've had Portland's number so far in the 2024-25 season, with the Blazers losing the prior contest 134-89. In their most recent matchup, Rip City's flaws were on full display as a team that lacks playmaking and shooting, which is an offensive recipe for disaster.
To make matters worse, Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, Deandre Ayton, and Donovan Clingan were all out due to injury, while Jerami Grant (21 minutes played) and Robert Williams III (12 minutes played) exited the game early with a left knee injury and a concussion evaluation, respectively. But there was one silver lining player -- Deni Avdija -- who stepped up as the Blazers suddenly found themselves short-handed.
Deni Avdija is finally figuring out his role with Portland
In Avdija's first six games as a member of the Blazers, he averaged just 8.2 points per game. Portland won just one game during that span. Avdija's becoming a go-to player within Portland's offense, scoring 13.3 points per game despite Shaedon Sharpe returning from injury. The Blazers and Chauncey Billups are also doing a better job of figuring out how to utilize his unique "glue guy" skill set as someone who can be relied on as a playmaker, two-way wing, and even play some minutes at center.
Offensively, a big reason for Avdija's improved play is his shooting has finally positively regressed. He connected on just 11.1 percent of his three-point attempts in October, and that has shot all the way up to 36.8 percent in November, which is much closer to what the Blazers were expecting after acquiring him coming off his career-best shooting year (37.4 percent from beyond the arc) with the Washington Wizards.
Avdija didn't even shoot the ball particularly well against the Grizzlies, just seven for 16 from the field and two for seven from deep, but still found a way to be the Blazers' leading scorer, recording 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. That's the beauty of having someone like Avdija, who has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways with his well-rounded game, which is something the Blazers' roster desperately lacked last season.