The Portland Trail Blazers' 36-46 record and unexpected midseason turnaround were largely due to their improved defense. Post All-Star break, the Blazers had the second-best defensive rating (112.1) in the league, which was only behind the Golden State Warriors (111.3).
Some of that can be attributed to good fortune, as Portland played several teams that were down key players due to injuries. Still, it's become clear that the Blazers are taking on the defensive-minded identity of their head coach, which played a role in their decision to extend Chauncey Billups.
The Blazers are positioning themselves to become an elite defensive team by the time their young core reaches its prime. However, their ceiling will be determined by how well they play on the other end of the court. Portland finished the season tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the eighth-worst offensive rating at 111.0.
Blazers desperately need more three-point shooting
They finally have a legitimate go-to option to initiate the offense, thanks to Deni Avdija's ascension. Still, in order to become an average offensive team, they must address an issue that has been a problem for multiple seasons now: their lack of three-point shooting.
The Blazers were a top-tier three-point shooting team in the Damian Lillard era and have rapidly declined in that department since his departure. The past two seasons have been especially problematic, ranking dead last in 2023-24 (34.5 percent) and bottom five this season (34.2 percent).
The Blazers shipped their most efficient three-point shooter, Malcolm Brogdon, last offseason. They could also look to trade Anfernee Simons and/or Jerami Grant this summer -- a necessary move, but one that will only make this problem worse.
They must surround their young core with more floor spacing, as Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe all like to utilize their physical tools and athleticism to get downhill.
Beyond player development, it's also essential for a Blazers team with ambitious postseason aspirations as soon as next season, with general manager Joe Cronin calling the playoffs a "reasonable expectation" for the second-youngest team in the league.
Unsurprisingly, the three title favorites, the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cleveland Cavaliers, all finished the season in the top ten in three-point percentage. Analytics support just how valuable the three-point shot is in the modern NBA, and the Blazers will be at a serious offensive disadvantage until they finally address this long-ignored problem.
Whether it's selecting a shooter in the 2025 NBA Draft, such as Kon Knueppel, Jase Richardson, or Liam McNeeley, or targeting one via trade, Portland needs to make shooting a top priority this summer.