This season has been a strange one for the Portland Trailblazers. It started with the unexpected departure of head coach Chauncey Billups due to off-court reasons.
They had one stretch where they went 3-11 this season, and at another point, they flipped that same time frame into an 11-3 run. Deni Avdija’s season followed a similar arc.
Clearly improved in the offseason, Deni entered the season on fire, averaging career highs in points, assists, and minutes. He evolved into a clear number one option and was voted to his first all-star team.
Deni Avdija is carrying the Portland Trail Blazers
But around the turn of the new year, it seemed like Deni’s fast-paced, drive-heavy style of play was starting to wear him down. His numbers started to dip, and the momentum he had built as a most improved favorite started to fade.
Some outlets labeled him overhyped and began to question whether or not he could actually lead a team to success. Avdija made it known that he can not only lead his team when it matters but also dominate.
Against the Suns, Deni put up an astonishing 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds, with a ridiculous game score of 35. The Blazers were a plus 13.5 with him on the floor and a minus 34.5 with him on the bench, the difference of 48 points per 100 possessions.
In the biggest game of his young career, Deni looked like he’d been there countless times before, making each one of the Sun’s defenders look helpless. With more playoff experience and the return of Damian Lillard, the rest of the NBA might have a serious problem on their hands, and they have Deni Avdija to blame.
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