Portland's Unforeseen Surge: Jrue Holiday Anchors Blazers' Resurgent Start

When the Portland Trail Blazers completed the trade for veteran guard Jrue Holiday, committing to the remaining $104 million on his contract through what would be his age-37 season, the move was largely met with skepticism. Analysts and fans alike frequently dismissed the acquisition as little more than an expensive mentorship opportunity for the team’s developing young talents, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, rather than a genuine attempt at immediate contention. The prevailing narrative suggested a franchise focused on a long-term rebuild, with Holiday’s presence serving primarily to guide the next generation.

However, the Blazers’ front office, led by General Manager Joe Cronin, harbored a different vision. Cronin publicly declared the current year as "winning time," positioning the Holiday acquisition as a cornerstone for achieving that ambitious goal. Cronin’s confidence stemmed from Holiday’s proven track record of elevating championship contenders, having previously played pivotal roles in guiding both the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks to elite status. Now, in a surprising turn of events, Holiday appears to be replicating that impact in Portland.

While few are projecting the Blazers to contend for a championship in the immediate future, the team has emerged as a significant surprise story in the nascent NBA season. Alongside the Chicago Bulls, Portland boasts an impressive 5-3 record, securing notable victories over established contenders such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, reigning champions Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. This strong start has garnered significant recognition, with the Blazers recently climbing to No. 5 in several prominent power rankings.

Holiday’s influence on this early success is undeniable, though he is not operating in isolation. Portland had already established a formidable defensive identity during the latter third of the previous season, ranking among the league’s top five units. The addition of Holiday, despite some analysts suggesting a decline in his performance following a less impactful campaign with Boston last year, has provided the crucial catalyst needed to elevate the team. He is currently posting his highest scoring output (17.6 points per game) since his final season with the Milwaukee Bucks and is distributing the ball effectively, averaging 7.6 assists, his best mark in over half a decade.

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The question of who stands as Portland’s single best player this season remains open for debate, with Deni Avdija currently performing at an All-Star caliber level. However, the prevailing sentiment within the organization and among observers is that this is unequivocally Holiday’s team. The palpable winning culture and renewed confidence permeating the Trail Blazers’ locker room are directly attributable to Holiday’s arrival. His legendary defensive prowess, which remains elite, travels with him, but it is his newfound scoring aggression and elevated role as the primary offensive initiator that have distinguished his play in Portland from his more peripheral contributions in Boston.

With the Celtics, Holiday often functioned as a support player for stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. His responsibilities primarily involved floor spacing, defensive assignments, and opportunistic playmaking or scoring. Over time, even these contributions became somewhat secondary to the emergence of Derrick White. In Portland, Holiday has re-assumed the role of orchestrator, piloting an offense that operates at the league’s second-fastest pace.

A direct comparison of Holiday’s statistical engagement highlights this significant shift:

Statistic	Last Season w/ Celtics	Current Season w/ Blazers
Usage%	16.8	24.3
Touches/GM	46.5	77.8
Drives/GM	4.8	11.6
FGA/GM	9.2	14
3PT/GM	4.9	7.1

Notably, Holiday’s 11.6 drives per game with the Blazers surpass even the prolific Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a collective unit, Portland is averaging 60 drives per game, a figure tied with Charlotte for the highest in the league. Avdija further contributes significantly to this aggressive attacking style, ranking fourth league-wide with 17.8 drives per contest.

This relentless offensive approach is seamlessly integrated with Portland’s defensive philosophy, which is characterized by intense pressure. The Blazers are forcing a league-high 20.8 turnovers per game, which translates into 24.6 points per game off turnovers, second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 24.7. This emphasis on applying constant pressure is a cornerstone of their identity. "I feel like the way we play, the energy that we come with every game, it’s not going to be an easy night for anyone who plays against us," Holiday stated after the Blazers overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat the Thunder. "That’s part of our identity, to make it tough on teams."

Indeed, the Blazers are a team that relentlessly attacks on both ends of the floor. They employ a swarming defense, led by Holiday and Toumani Camara, to pressure ball handlers and create turnovers. This defensive aggression fuels their transition offense, where they spend 23.5% of their possessions (ranking in the 90th percentile league-wide, per Synergy Sports) and generate 18.9 fast break points per game, the fourth-highest mark in the NBA. The presence of Donovan Clingan as a robust backend protector further enables Portland’s perimeter defenders to apply this high-pressure scheme effectively.

The team’s passing flow is another critical component of their offensive strategy. The Blazers have transformed from a bottom-10 team in passes per game last season to a top-10 unit this year. These are not merely passive passes; they are decisive actions designed to steadily increase pressure on the opposing defense. Portland leads the league by passing out of drives 27.1 times per game. This indicates a commitment to inclusive, chain-reaction sequences rather than relying on isolated, one-man attacks. Drives lead to cuts, which lead to passes, collectively stressing the defense until an opening is created.

This systematic approach to offense and defense ensures that over 75% of Portland’s total shots originate from either within the restricted area or beyond the three-point line. They take 33.1% of their shots at the rim, ranking second only to the Bulls’ 36.5%, and launch 42.1 three-pointers per game, the fifth-highest mark league-wide. According to Cleaning the Glass, which evaluates shot quality based on location-specific league averages, only the Bulls currently exhibit a healthier shot diet than the Blazers. While the team’s 52.0 effective field-goal percentage ranks 24th, indicating room for improvement in shooting efficiency, and offensive turnovers remain a minor concern, these are currently the primary identifiable flaws.

Despite these inconsistencies, the Blazers’ robust defense and ability to generate extra possessions through turnovers and offensive rebounds (Clingan ranks second league-wide with 35 offensive boards) allow them to score more points per game than all but six teams. This combination of a high-scoring offense and a top-eight defense has forged a formidable team, one far closer to competing with the league’s established powers than the many critics of the Holiday trade initially predicted.

Credit is due to General Manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers’ organization for their conviction in acquiring Holiday. While players like Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant are performing exceptionally, and Shaedon Sharpe holds significant future potential, Holiday’s leadership and on-court impact make him arguably the team’s most crucial component at present. He has successfully transformed a talented but unproven group into a genuinely good team that has commenced the season 5-3 against what has been, by far, the league’s toughest schedule. This achievement, even in the early stages of the season, is far from insignificant.

It is important to manage expectations; this early success does not automatically elevate the Blazers to a playoffs-or-bust standard. The Western Conference remains intensely competitive, and securing a top-six seed would still qualify as a significant overachievement. However, Portland has demonstrated its capacity to compete with and defeat any opponent on any given night. As Holiday articulated, teams facing the Blazers will undoubtedly have their hands full. Furthermore, the team’s potential for growth remains substantial, with Scoot Henderson yet to return to action. Looking beyond the current season, the prospect of Damian Lillard rejoining the fold alongside Holiday creates an intriguing and potentially potent backcourt tandem for the future.