There was a long stretch of the season when the Portland Trail Blazers had no idea who their best player was, and it was evident on the court. Now, there shouldn't be any question that it's Deni Avdija. Avdija is finally settling in with his new team. The Blazers are also figuring out how to best utilize his unique skillset as a do-it-all wing.
Chauncey Billups has been relying on him to initiate more of the offense, which has given the Blazers another dimension and helped Avdija take his game to yet another level. He's having a fifth-year breakout, averaging 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on 51/43/77 shooting splits since the All-Star break.
1. Three-point shooting
Avdija's improved three-point shot was the biggest question mark surrounding his game and a gamble that has finally paid off for the Blazers. In his final two seasons with Washington, Avdija jumped all the way from 29.7 percent to 37.4 percent, suggesting there's a chance it wasn't going to be sustainable. That even appeared to be the case early on in this season.
He's back to shooting 36.8 percent thanks to a red-hot March, where he connected on an absurd 45.7 percent of his attempts. That has opened up Avdija's entire game. Defenses now have to fear his three-ball, which allows him to do what he does best: attack the paint.
2. Getting to the charity stripe
Avdija's ability to get downhill as a 6-foot-9, 240-pound wing with great ballhandling and crafty finishes is enhanced by his physical play, using his off-arm to shield defenders and never shying away from contact. That rare combination of physical tools and skillset puts him amongst the NBA's elite when it comes to downhill dominance.
Avdija is attempting 5.1 free throws per game, which is tied for 19th in the league and by far the highest of his career. Attacking the paint is the most significant aspect of Avdija's game. It is the one thing that can separate him from the rest of the league and potentially lead to an All-Star appearance.
3. Billups has finally given him the keys
At one point in the season, Billups made the questionable decision to have Avdija come off the bench for 18 games. Now, Billups has figured out that it's in the Blazers' best interest to give Avdija the green light, living with the turnovers that come from growing pains and his aggressive style of play.
Since the All-Star break, his minutes have increased from 28.7 to 33.5 a game. His usage has also gone up to 25.4 percent since the break, which would be the highest on Portland's roster over the course of the season.
Now that Avdija is finally breaking out towards the end of the season, it leaves us wondering if he could have had this level of success earlier if Billups had given him the keys sooner. It could be for the best because it allowed the Blazers to get a better draft pick this summer.
Regardless, the main thing that matters is that the breakout happened. Now, they can add pieces to complement Avdija this summer and carry this momentum over to next season.