Before the 2025-26 NBA season started, basketball fans were excited about the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, the Blazers’ injury crisis has led to a significant dip in Tiago Splitter’s system. The injuries have mainly affected Portland’s guards, as the offense looks lost without them.
The Blazers’ Injury Crisis Has Ruined A Promising Season
The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the best stories of the first few weeks of the NBA season. They were an exciting team that played intense defense and ran almost every possession. Even the Chauncey Billups controversy could not stop the team’s promising development.
Injuries have become an issue for Portland, as their once-promising season has gone up in smoke. After their latest embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Blazers are now 9-16 on the season.
That loss to New Orleans was the win that broke the Pelicans’ seven-game losing streak. A 23-point defeat to one of the league’s worst teams should be an eye-opener.
Splitter’s System is Struggling Without a Lead Guard
At the start of the 2025-26 season, Jrue Holiday played extremely well as the floor general. He was showing why Portland traded Anfernee Simons for him, as he can serve as a true leader.
Amidst the promising start, Holiday sustained an injury in mid-November. Considering the Blazers already had Scoot Henderson sidelined with a torn hamstring, they had no true point guards left.
Two things stood out from Jrue’s presser:
The first is that he really thinks of himself as an adaptable, malleable player, especially on the defensive end, and is willing to mold to whatever this team needs to win
He will not be the thing stopping Shae and Scoot from succeeding pic.twitter.com/dNua7p0KAt
— Blazers Lead (@BlazersLead) July 29, 2025
This left Deni Avdija to take up the main ball-handler and playmaker role. He has done a decent job, as he is averaging a career-best 6.2 assists per game. Despite the promising statistics, the offense looks predictable and downright inefficient.
A fresh head coach like Tiago Splitter needs a point guard to lead his offense. Ahead of the season, Henderson and Holiday would have been competing for the starting spot. Portland also signed Blake Wesley to serve as a backup, but he is also out injured.
Avdija is playing well and getting hefty numbers, but that is not enough to propel the Blazers to wins they should get against weaker teams. Portland should be performing much better, but they can’t do so without a true floor general.
The Blazers’ Injury Crisis Goes Beyond the Guards
Portland’s guards are not the only players who have sustained injuries. In the past few games, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and even Yang Hansen were all sidelined. Portland’s center depth was impressive, but they are lacking options now, like their point guards.
Against the Pelicans, Splitter opted for a unique lineup with Kris Murray as a small-ball five. Murray is certainly a hard-working player, especially with his rebounding. However, he is not a true center like Clingan, Williams, or even Yang.
Duop Reath is active, but he is not the optimal player a team would start at center. Reath is better as a stretch five, and he is, unfortunately, a mediocre defender. He can make a difference with his shooting, but he’s not a reliable choice for heavy minutes.
Apart from the bigs, Matisse Thybulle’s thumb injury was also a big issue. He and Wesley were the lockdown defenders off the bench. Losing them has led to the Blazers losing a bit of their identity. This has left Toumani Camara as the long defensive stopper, which has led to him struggling offensively.
A Silver Lining for Splitter’s System Amid the Losses
The Blazers might be struggling with dealing with their recent losses. However, some players have been developing in the meantime. Caleb Love looks to be an explosive scorer when he gets his rhythm.
Sidy Cissoko has been a fantastic option recently, showing his heart in almost every play. He is a solid defender, which could lead to a bigger role in the long run.
Despite all of Portland’s struggles, there is always potential. Shaedon Sharpe has continued to have some decent performances, and he looks primed to join Avdija as a breakout star. He still has dreadful percentages from three-point range, but he is still improving.
Moving forward, the Blazers must get healthy. It is up to the training staff behind the scenes to set the team up well. The Blazers’ injury crisis has been a nightmare for the team and their fans, but they can still redeem themselves.
© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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