3 Reasons Blazers Can Upset Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

While Victor Wembanyama looms large, the Portland Trail Blazers have the defensive length and bench depth to pull off a first-round upset.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama speaks to the crowd after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

While the San Antonio Spurs often command the spotlight thanks to Victor Wembanyama, the Portland Trail Blazers possess a unique brand of chaotic energy and youthful athleticism that makes them a dangerous matchup.

If Portland wants to play spoiler and pull off an improbable upset, the team needs to lean into its specific roster advantages.

Here are three reasons why the Trail Blazers can take down the Spurs:

Disruptive Perimeter Length vs. Young Playmakers

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Spurs’ offense is still evolving, often relying on young guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to navigate complex passing lanes to find Wembanyama. The Blazers' defensive identity is built on length and disruption.

• By deploying high-motor defenders like Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday, the Blazers can smother the Spurs' primary initiators.
• If the Blazers can force live ball turnovers, they negate the Spurs' half-court defensive set-up. Turning the game into a track meet prevents the Spurs from establishing a rhythm and limits the number of times Wembanyama can be utilized as a stationary hub.

Winning the Bench Battle

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson against the Phoenix Suns. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

One of the Blazers' biggest X-factors is their explosiveness off the bench. While the Spurs' starting lineup is formidable, their depth can be inconsistent.

• The Blazers have multiple players off the bench capable of scoring 15+ points on any given night, like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Whether it's a hot shooting night from the perimeter or aggressive rim-running, Portland's second unit can create a scoring swing during the transition from the first to the second quarter.
• If the Blazers bench can outscore the Spurs' second unit by a significant margin, they put immense pressure on the San Antonio starters to play perfect basketball in the closing minutes.

Crashing The Glass as a Team

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan against the Phoenix Suns | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Despite Wembanyama’s height, the Spurs have occasionally struggled with team rebounding, particularly against physical, high-jumping rosters.

• The Blazers have shown a knack for crashing the offensive boards. Players like Donovan Clingan and the Blazers' scrappy wings can create extra possessions.
• In games where shooting percentages are low, the team that takes more shots usually wins. By securing offensive rebounds and limiting the Spurs to one shot per possession, Portland can frustrate San Antonio and wear them down physically over the course of the game.

The Bottom Line

The Blazers are a massive underdog in this series, and winning one game should be considered a massive accomplishment. Their goal is to win four, and to do that they have to win the effort battles. They have to match the Spurs and beat them in terms of physicality and speed.

Even if all of that works in their favor, the Blazers may still lose. They need to do all of this just to have a chance against a superior Spurs opponent. That's what you have to do when you face a championship-caliber team in the first round of the playoffs.