Danny Avdija did not take his foot off the gas

20, 26, 23, then 25 points. It’s like a metronome Danny Avdia started the season for the Blazers. The Israeli winger remained on the momentum of his start until 2025, either with the Blazers or in the selection during the EurBbasket. And Portland can rub their hands that they’ve recovered a player inching closer to franchise player status, as he showed again Monday in success against the Lakers.

Against Los Angeles, Portland had to fight, sometimes gritting its teeth, during the second game in two days. Despite the circumstances, the Oregon franchise stayed true to its new game plan, laid out in the second half of last season and further refined since the start of the season.

The Blazers want to increase the tempo and take the opponent by the throat on both ends of the court. This philosophy is not without risk, but it finds an essential catalyst in Dena Avdia.

“Danny (Avdia) and Jerami (Grant) shoot well and drive well” analyzed Thiago Splitter“temporary” coach. “They’re doing the two things we want to see, setting up, catching and shooting. And of course Danny’s taking some shots off the dribble as well, he’s got that in his game. His confidence is high right now. And you’ve got to keep showing them we love that, give them that confidence and let the game come to them.”

All-star beat

I Jerami Grant playing the role of a flamethrower off the bench, Danny Avdia provides a balance between full attack and selection accuracy when shifting gears is not possible.

Against the Lakers, Portland set a season high with 103 attempts without overtime. Splitter leg, follower of this modern style in attack (kicks near the circle or behind the arc and a lot of rhythm), is showing the first results.

And when the defense holds, it’s Danny Avdia who rebounds and shows his talent, as well as his five first five three-point attempts last night. The last one at 6:36 minutes from the end of the third quarter allowed the Blazers to take a fifteen-point lead, which was then the biggest deficit in the match.

“That’s how it is in some matches, in others we will throw in our shots” warned the Israeli after his team’s loss on Sunday against the Clippers with 37% Portland shooting. “We all have to move the ball a little more and find the open shot. But we’re still learning.”

This offers Portland a balanced record for now, against four straight Western playoff opponents (wins against the Warriors and Lakers, losses against the Wolves and Clippers). And four quality outings from Danny Avdia, who starts the season as a real candidate for his first All-Star game in his career, averaging 23.5 points (47.8% shooting, 44.4% 3-point shooting), 5.8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block.

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