After finishing this season at 36-46, it appears that the Portland Trailblazers are finally heading in the right direction, so management has awarded head coach Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups with a multi-year contract extension.
Some might find this strange, especially considering that in his four years as head coach, the team has gone 117-211 overall.
But what Billups and the team have accomplished without a superstar is admirable.
“I’m just so happy, with what we’ve done and where I think we can go,” said Billups. “So much promise here. I’m pumped about it.”
Portland increased its scoring after the All-Star break from 109.2 ppg to 114.3 ppg and improved its defense, the latter of which stood out to team management.
“The defensive improvement that we’ve seen, for us to be the third-best defense in the league in the second half of the season. That’s meaningful and substantive,” said general manager Joe Cronin, who received an extension of his own this past week. “And that’s what we’ve been trying to build. And that’s a what we’re going to point to moving forward, this is who we are.”
Anfernee Simons led the team in scoring this season, averaging 19.3 ppg.
If management can add some pieces this offseason between the Draft, free agency and trades, the team could make a big leap next season when the league’s new media deal kicks in.
That’s something Billups, a 5x All-Star, NBA Champion and Basketball Hall of Famer is looking forward to.
“I just feel very good about where we’re at, and now I understand how long it takes to build a culture. I feel like we’ve done that,” Billups said. “I think the tell tale of that, for any coaches, is if at some point when your team kind of takes on your personality and how you believe the game should be played, I think you’ve gotten there.”
