This Trail Blazers season has resembled a see-saw in many ways, but it is finally over. With Portland’s 114–95 loss to the No. 2 seed Spurs on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first round Western Conference playoff clash, the Blazers have been eliminated from championship contention. A disappointing end, to be sure, but one many within the organization probably would have been thrilled about six months ago.
The season began with the stunning news that coach Chauncey Billups was being charged by the federal government for his role in a mob-linked gambling investigation, one game into the 2025–26 season. His arrest left Portland without its coach and leader for the past four years; such a turn of events could have (understandably) derailed the entire season.
