The Trail Blazers overcome an unusual season to earn their first playoff berth in five years

“It wasn’t easy for us. It wasn’t, easy for anybody. We love Chauncey. He was a great coach,” Avdija said. “We just stayed together. Feel like Thiago came in, took over, brought the energy every single night, wanted us to succeed. He believed in each and every single one of us, and paid out, and paid out even when we didn’t feel like we had anything, even nights that we didn’t win or we were in losing streaks. I feel like looking back and seeing where we had right now, I mean, job is not done yet, but it’s definitely progress.”

The Blazers returned from the All-Star break committed to securing a play-in spot.

“We wanted to make that push. We were kind of just hanging on throughout December and January, because we were missing so many guys, and we had a lot of guys step up and do really good things that helped us be in a position that we are now,” forward Kris Murray said. “I feel like after the All-Star break, we started kind of emphasizing a lot of games that we need to win, and we knew that we had to have a good record post All-Star.”

But it wasn't just Billups and injuries, there was also background noise surrounding the sale of the team. Before the start of the season, the estate of late owner Paul Allen agreed to sell the team to a group led by businessman Tom Dundon, who was then majority owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.

There was concern the team might be moved from Portland, but it appears that Dundon and the other owners have no intention of relocating the Blazers. The NBA's Board of Governors approved the sale in late March.

Portland won 10 of its last 14 games down the stretch, including two key games against the Los Angeles Clippers as they battled for the play-in spot.

Avdija has been essential to Portland's success. He averaged 24.2 points and 6.7 assists this season, earned an All-Star nod and went off with 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the playoff-clinching victory over the Suns.

Now the so-called second season begins for Portland. But it will be challenging against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, who went 62-20 in their best season in a decade.

“I feel like we just have to go out there and do it,” Holiday said. “Don’t really have to overthink it. I think the way that we’ve taken care of the business the second half of the season, being able to win games, being able to execute game plans and go out there and do it on the court and get some really good teams has been huge for us.”

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