Poor Coaching Decision Could Cost Blazers a Chance to Make the Playoffs

The Trail Blazers have been trying to make a late push for the playoffs, but a poor coaching decision could have cost them a chance to make it.

Apr 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) moves the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers have been trying to make an unlikely push for the playoffs since the trade deadline. They didn't make any moves at the deadline to improve the roster, though.

Since that moment in time, the Blazers have been trying to win games with who they have on their roster right now. They clearly believe that they can win with this group.

Heading into a critical game against the Chicago Bulls, the Blazers were just two and a half games behind the Kings for the final play-in spot. They needed a win to pull even closer.

Read more: Celtics, Hornets Games Could Kill Blazers' Postseason Hopes

The Blazers are a team that has to beat the other bad teams. Even though the Bulls will play in the play-in, they qualify as a bad team.

It looked like the Blazers were going to beat the Bulls before a terrible coaching decision by Chauncey Billups ruined their shot. He decided to sub out Deni Avdija during a critical moment of the game.

Blazers trail by 5 points. 3 minutes left. With the ball.

And then Deni Avdija gets subbed out in the middle of a dominant 37/11/5 performance for the remainder of the game.

Tanking at its finest! pic.twitter.com/k2YkEEJv2S

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 5, 2025

Despite having a chance to beat the Bulls and keep their playoff hopes alive, Avdija was taken out of the game. Now, they are all but eliminated from a chance to make the play-in and own that tenth spot in the Western Conference standings.

Because of that loss, the Blazers now sit three and a half games behind the Kings with just four games left. While they aren't mathematically eliminated yet, they will be soon.

Winning that game would have given them a chance to make the playoffs. Now, the shift into trying to figure out who they are going to draft and what offseason moves they will make.

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Portland has some tough decisions to make. They have to figure out who is going to be part of their core moving forward.

It certainly looks like Avidja will remain as one of those players. He has played some of the best basketball of his career this season.

So far this season, Avdija is averaging 16.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He is shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

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For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.