The Spurs' hot streak shouldn't distract them from looming Trail Blazers threat

While the San Antonio Spurs are riding high on a five-game winning streak, they should be paying close attention to an emerging Western Conference threat. The Portland Trail Blazers are no joke, boasting an elite offense that could give them problems in future matchups, including their first meeting on Saturday.

En route to the 2026 NBA Finals, the Silver and Black beat the Trail Blazers in the first round, and it only took five games to do it. Deni Avdija's relentless rim pressure and a defense that was solid during the regular season weren't enough to overcome a young, hungry Spurs team.

But the Blazers got busy in the summer, bringing in a new head coach and surrounding Avdija with a strong supporting cast that includes Damian Lillard and Ja Morant. This team will challenge the Spurs much differently than last season, so Mitch Johnson needs to have his guys ready for what could be their next Western Conference rival.

The Trail Blazers' offense will be a different challenge for the Spurs

Coming into that first-round matchup, the Trail Blazers' offense was far from elite, ranking 21st in rating. While Avdija was producing at an All-Star level, the team severely struggled to connect from downtown, sitting near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting. Those issues seeped into that series, where they shot just 40% from the floor and 30% from distance.

Enter this season, where the Blazers have totally flipped the script. They're one of the highest-scoring groups in the league, and they've taken a massive leap from beyond the arc while maintaining a solid interior attack. They're currently 11th in the league in three-point percentage and points in the paint.

The Spurs will have to deal with their improved shooting and wider range of shot creators. Lillard hasn't been efficient to start the season, but he'll put their perimeter defenders to work with his ability to score off the bounce. It's not just the Avdija show anymore; he can defer to an All-Star point guard who's been a premier bucket-getter for over a decade.

Ja Morant won't be available on Saturday, but in future meetings, his quickness and playmaking will also keep the Spurs on their toes defensively. He's been a surprisingly good fit on the Blazers' guard-heavy roster.

The Blazers will test the Spurs' clutch play

While the Spurs have been red-hot as of late, they have yet to win a clutch battle against an elite, healthy Western Conference foe this season. They made things interesting against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, but couldn't seal the deal.

The Blazers will further test their ability to execute late in games. They're fresh off a road victory over the Denver Nuggets, where Avdija and Toumani Camara made big late fourth-quarter plays to pull off a win in Ball Arena. Last week, Lillard drained a huge clutch three to take out Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.

November will be a tough month for Mitch Johnson's squad, and the Trail Blazers are a big reason for that. They have enough weapons to test the Spurs' top-five-ranked defense and push them to the limit during winning time. It's the perfect early-season challenge for the defending Western Conference champions, and could be a preview of a potential playoff matchup.

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