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Deni Avdija Is Still the Trail Blazers’ Best Player Despite New-Look Roster
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- Deni Avdija Is Still the Trail Blazers’ Best Player Despite New-Look Roster
(Dennis Lee-Imagn Images)
The Portland Trail Blazers have been great to start the season, and much of the conversation has been around Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, and rightfully so in a lot of ways. Those two veterans have been key pieces in both of Portland's wins thus far. But it's also important to remember who's still the best player on this team.
The player who took the Trail Blazers to new heights last year and helped get them into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed is Deni Avdija. Only this year, he has a better supporting cast around him, and Portland has a chance to be even better than last season.
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After averaging 24.2 points per game last season and emerging as a star in the Western Conference with the ability to do nearly everything on the floor with positional size, Avdija has adjusted his game and production to fit what the team needs through its first two contests.
And that's been a theme for the Blazers thus far. Everybody on the team seems to be bought into doing exactly what they need to do on any given night. Avdija has been a great example of that.
He finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in Portland's dominant season-opening victory over the Phoenix Suns. Then, against the Sacramento Kings in their second game, he sensed the team needed more of a scoring punch and produced 26 points, six rebounds and six assists. He was the team's leading scorer in that contest and helped Portland overcome a halftime deficit to earn the win.
What's encouraging is that this extends beyond Avdija. He's a clear example of this willingness to do whatever is needed based on the situation of the game, but it's happening everywhere else, too.
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Lillard and Morant are both capable of taking over games offensively, and Portland has other veterans, high-scoring pieces and supporting cast players who have shown that same willingness to adjust their roles depending on what the team needs.
That's an important development for a team with as much talent as Portland has. There are only so many shots and opportunities to go around, and not every player is going to have a big scoring night every time out. Finding ways to contribute without forcing things will be critical.
It's still very early, and two games aren't nearly enough of a sample size to believe this will continue. There are rough stretches in every season, and when things go south and teams go through cold spells, that's when players' willingness to make these types of sacrifices is really tested.
But ultimately, Avdija is still the Blazers' best player and will be the primary reason they ascend once again this season if they do.
