Dec 26, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) celebrates with small forward Deni Avdija (8) after making the game-winning basket against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Dec 26, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) celebrates with small forward Deni Avdija (8) after making the game-winning basket against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images | Soobum Im-Imagn Images
The 2025 NBA Finals are officially set! The Oklahoma City Thunder's historical dominance throughout the season and the Indiana Pacers' dark horse playoff run should have Trail Blazers fans thrilled for Portland's long-term outlook. In addition to being small market teams, these three teams have one thing in common: depth.
This year's Finals show that depth matters more than ever, and top-heavy superstar-led teams aren't nearly as effective in this era.
Blazers are built to succeed in the NBA's new era
Of course, Oklahoma City has plenty of star talent and a trio of their own in MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. But they likely wouldn't be in this position had it not been for their front office's ability to identify under-the-radar talent, whether it's Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace -- the list goes on.
On the other hand, no one except the players' mothers expected the Pacers to represent the East as the fourth seed. But their star duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam rose to the occasion, giving them just enough star power for their depth to put them over the top.
Indiana has one of the most underrated rosters in the league when it comes to depth, and it's great that players like Andrew Nembhard, among several others, are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
The new CBA played a role in this new era. However, one overlooked factor is that, now that LeBron James is 40 years old, the NBA no longer has a generational talent that is so dominant that roster flaws can largely be ignored. For instance, an aging Kevin Durant and Devin Booker couldn't even get the Phoenix Suns to the playoffs because their supporting cast wasn't enough. That landscape may change if someone like Victor Wembanyama steals the crown, but for now, it's an excellent sign for a small-market team like Portland.
The Trail Blazers improved their win total by 15 from last season despite lacking a clear-cut star. General manager Joe Cronin now has playoff aspirations for 2025-26, which seems unlikely but could potentially come to fruition depending on internal development, a healthier roster, and how aggresive they are this offseason.
The strength of Portland's roster lies in its depth. Last season, they had Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Matisse Thybulle coming off the bench, all of whom could make compelling cases to start elsewhere. They could also add another building block with their No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, bolstering this strength.
The lack of star power is still an issue, and the fact that Oklahoma City has a combination of depth and elite talent makes them a heavy favorite against Indiana in what could be a short series. But this trend also suggests that the Trail Blazers are closer to making a deep playoff run than many suspect.
Portland already has the depth and elite role players such as Toumani Camara and Clingan, among others. They need Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, or their incoming draft pick to eventually take that significant leap they are capable of to become that Haliburton/Siakam level of player to give themselves a puncher's chance.