The Portland Trail Blazers are preparing for a potentially unusual defensive approach when they face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The focus is on how to contain Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. He missed all three regular season games between the two teams.
Wembanyama led the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game and is expected to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award. He is also averaging 25.0 points per game and has scored 30+ points 18 times in 65 appearances. His presence is expected to disrupt the Blazers’ offense.
Holiday as a Defensive Option on Jokic
A proposal has emerged to utilise one of the Blazers’ smallest players, Jrue Holiday, to guard Wembanyama. Holiday will turn 36 during June’s NBA Finals and is listed at 6’4”.
During the Blazers’ 137-132 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on April 6th, Holiday was assigned to guard Nikola Jokic at times. This was observed at the beginning of each half. Despite Jokic achieving a triple-double, Holiday’s defensive assignment was a deliberate strategy when the Blazers could set their defense.
When the Blazers set their defense, Holiday picked Jokic up at the top of the key. The Blazers had counters when Jokic tried to take the smaller defender under the basket. Clingan would sag back to help when Jokic cut. Clingan would also lurk to take away the pass when Jokic tried to get deeper post position on Holiday.
Defensive Strategy Against Wembanyama
The Blazers anticipate Wembanyama will pose challenges for Deni Avdija and the rest of the team when they enter the lane.
The suggestion to use Holiday is based on his ability to defend Jokic. The idea is that it’s hard for Jokic to beat a player like Holiday off the dribble. Jokic can theoretically shoot over the top of a player seven or eight inches shorter, but Holiday didn’t give him any space.
Fans of the Portland Trail Blazers should expect to see some crazy things when their team battles the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.