The latest five-game road trip has not been kind to the Portland Trail Blazers. They had a decent 5-4 record, including a win against the OKC Thunder. But with this latest loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Portland is now at 6-7. The road trip continued to show the Blazers’ biggest weakness under Tiago Splitter’s system.
Trail Blazers’ Biggest Weakness Exposed In Latest Loss
The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the best stories in the first few games of the 2025-26 NBA season. They had a winning formula, even dealing the OKC Thunder their only loss of the season so far.
Unfortunately, the Blazers’ honeymoon period did not last long, because they are now below .500 on the season. The latest 138-133 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks is just the latest embarrassment for Portland.
The Blazers also lost to an LA Lakers team without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, which was surprising. Now, they lost to a Mavericks team that was 3-10 to start the season. It was a winnable game, but Tiago Splitter’s system struggled to get going.
The Blazers’ Biggest Weakness Continues to Pop Up
Despite scoring 121.5 points per game, the Trail Blazers have one of the worst offensive systems in the league. They do not have a set play style, performing more like a group of individuals rather than a cohesive team.
Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Jerami Grant are all fantastic offensive players. Unfortunately, they are not meeting their superb potential. Avdija has been the most successful, as he has grown into a genuine threat across all areas of the court.
Avdija is fantastic when he gets going, especially when he keeps driving into the paint. He is most effective when he utilizes his speed and strength to outmaneuver his defenders. However, he tends to settle for bad jump shots that lead to the opponents getting transition buckets.
Deni Avdija on end of 4th Q: “I take responsibility about that last shot. I could have done better. It’s on me. I wasted the clock too much and went for that three. I should have either drove a little bit or gotten closer. But I’m learning from it. I should have been smarter.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) November 17, 2025
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Sharpe and Grant are excellent in transition and when moving off the ball. If Splitter implements more off-ball screens, the Blazers could unlock a new dimension to their offense. That could also solve Sharpe’s inefficient offense.
Unfortunately, Sharpe and Grant are playing more isolation basketball. They can break down defenders, but they are at their best when they score through cuts and spot-up shooting. They lacked Jrue Holiday’s floor general skills and valuable leadership against Dallas, but Splitter should set them up better.
Splitter’s System in Portland Lacks Dynamism
The Blazers might be scoring a lot of points, but mostly due to their quick transitions. When they play half-court basketball, the players are often static in their positioning. Sharpe and Toumani Camara do well with their cuts, but they don’t set up much besides the pick-and-roll.
To remedy this issue, Splitter must be more imaginative in his offense. During his stint with Paris Basketball, he showed flashes of solid play-calling. He must showcase his coaching talents with the Blazers. They could be one of the league’s best teams with a strong offense.
It will get overshadowed by the Desmond Bane game-winner, but this is a nasty end of game SLOB play here by Tiago Splitter.
The way that Grant curls around that screen makes it so so hard to properly switch/defend. pic.twitter.com/A9PyDIlsZe
— Mat Issa (@matissa15) November 11, 2025
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During the five-game road trip, Portland won only once. It was a disappointing stretch because they could have beaten every team they played against. However, the Blazers’ biggest weakness was getting the ball into the basket when they needed to.
In the clutch, they relied on Holiday and Avdija too much. Since the opponents knew what Portland would be doing, they forced mistakes from the ball-handlers. It is up to the coaching staff to set the team up well. Scoot Henderson’s return from the untimely injury will also matter for the Blazers.
The Blazers Must Forget This Road Trip
The previous five games were rough for Portland. To start the year, everyone was wary of the Blazers’ defense. That is not the case in recent games because Portland is struggling to get stops.
Camara is not playing at his peak on defense like in the 2024-25 season. The Blazers are struggling on both ends, and they should find motivation soon. If they keep sliding down the standings, the rest of the season will be tough.
Many see this season as a make-or-break year for the Blazers. However, the team has shown good depth and legitimate potential to be a top team. It is up to the coaching staff to improve their tactics and the players to develop. If they can do that, Blazers basketball will be tough to beat.
© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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