Gettin' it done

Sharpe goes upstairs for two, assisted by Avdija.

It’s been four long and dismal years, but the Trail Blazers are in the NBA playoffs. They won their “play-in” game in Phoenix last night and will now face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The first game of the series is on Sunday evening.

The Blazers have been led by a 25-year-old small forward named Deni Avdija, from Israel of all places. The guy puts his head down and bangs around, like in the old days. Last night he had 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds, looking like the all-star he is. Avdija is surrounded by a group of ballers that includes Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Both of them are grown men who have a highlight reel moment nearly every game. 

The glue to the whole thing is Jrue Holiday, the point guard whom the Blazers got in the disastrous Damian Lillard trade, then gave away, then got back a couple of years later. Jrue has two NBA championship rings, and from the looks of things, is a model of sportsmanship. He is a steadying force and still playing well at age 35.

Portland has no chance against the Spurs, who are led by the other-worldly French giant Victor Wembanyama. But hey, the Blazers are in the playoffs, which is an achievement. And they are getting it done without their disgraced ex-head coach, Chauncey Billups, who seemed to me to be holding them back. As did their previous owner, the surviving sister of an O.O. (Original Oligarch), the quirky Paul Allen.

The Blazers’ new owners, led by a billionaire predatory car loan dude, must be quite pleased. Every win makes it more likely that the local taxpayers will drop high nine figures to platinum-plate the arena. I’d call the team’s bluff, but that isn’t going to happen.

So it’s go Blazers, I guess. Having given up on the team a couple of years ago, I can’t claim to be anything but a bandwagon fan now. But the last few weeks have been a pleasant surprise, on the court at least. The Portland squad has been playing well with house money.