Social media and the comment section here at Blazer’s Edge often seems to come to a consensus on the topics of the day. When the most vocal people in the comments agree, it becomes easy to think everyone thinks that way, and woe to the person who disagrees. Today, I’m that person who sticks their head above the parapet, ready to blindly charge forward. Here are my three opinions that seem to go against zeitgeist of this moment in Blazers history.
Chauncey Billups is an above average coach in the NBA
If you would have told me two years ago that I’d ever be writing the above I’d have laughed in your face. 2023 me would have asked which team 2025 Billups is coaching for, and wondered who hired him as an assistant. I’m stunned that he’s made it this far. I thought Billups was a terrible choice when he was hired, and I thought his inexperience in the job was telling for a very long time. At this point though he’s evolved into a coach that gets more right than he gets wrong. If that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, it’s not. Saying he’s above average doesn’t mean he’s great, it’s just that I’m not that impressed with the average NBA coach.
What impresses me the most about present-day Billups is that his teams play hard for him, and grumbling stays behind closed doors. Let’s face it: it’s not easy to have a bunch of guys with the required NBA ego, all on a team that’s not winning. It’s remarkable that under Billups there has been little drama that makes it to the press. Yes, you can point to some weeks where a player seems disengaged, or even the whole team, but Billups has always found a way to weather the storm and the get them back on track.
While I’ve seem some grumbling from fans about player development, you simply can’t argue that young players under his watch haven’t improved. I do acknowledge some issues with game management still, especially at the end of games. There is also room for disagreement with lineups too, but that’s always going to be the case when you aren’t winning 60+ games. I may not always agree with Billups’ decisions, but I think his decisions lately have usually been defensible. Do I think he’s perfect? Absolutely not. Are there other coaches I think are better? Yup. But at this point, I do think he’s above average, as low as that bar is.
Jerami Grant is good to have on the team
We can acknowledge that Grant’s past season was disappointing without holding him responsible for everything that ails the Blazers. If everything about Jerami Grant stays the same as last season except he shoots 3% better from three and 8% better from the field, he’ll be a very useful player. If he’s lost his shooting forever (doubtful), he’d still be useful in a more limited role, just wildly over-paid. Grant’s contract is unpleasant, but it is what it is. He was in the right place at the right time. Good for him.
The idea though that his presence is holding back other players just doesn’t hold any water for me. If there is another player behind him in the pecking order, it’s up to that other player to force the issue and show that he’s ready for the increased responsibility. While an argument can certainly be made that Billups gave Grant too much benefit of the doubt last season, it’s debatable… and in any event, it’s not up to Grant. All indications point to Grant accepting whatever role he’s given this season. I’m certainly rooting for Grant to come off the bench, but only because that means that the coaching staff thinks that he’s been surpassed. That’s as it should be. Regardless of his role, never underestimate the value of a veteran on a young team that is low maintenance and wants to be here. Sure, I’d love to see a trade that sent out Grant and either cleared a big chunk of his salary or brought back useful assets. Sadly, that ship has clearly sailed if it was ever actually in the harbor. As it is, I’m happy he’s on the team, and I’m looking forward to a bounce-back season.
Yang Hansen is unlikely to have a major impact on the trajectory of this season
Don’t get me wrong: I’ve seen enough to be positively giddy about Hansen’s potential. It’s not hard to convince yourself that he has “it” - that special gene that superstars have. But let’s not kid ourselves here. He’s rough around the edges and sometimes in the middle. I really hope I’m wrong on this one. How cool would it be if he was the undisputed starter by Christmas and he’s firmly in the rookie of the year conversation not long after? Hansen strikes me as the type of guy you just don’t want to bet against. If we are being honest though, what’s more likely: Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Advija, and Toumani Camara set the ceiling for the Blazers, or Hansen goes from being widely touted as being a reach when drafted at #16 to being the difference maker in Portland in less than a year? Let’s enjoy every dunk, spin move, block, and insane pass, but realize that he is the future, not the present.
Ok, now it’s your turn. Tell me why I’m wrong, or give us some of your most unpopular takes in the comments. Let’s have a great season!