In April, the Portland Trail Blazers extended general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups. At the time of the extension, Billups emphasized Portland's midseason turnaround, which was catalyzed by their newfound defensive identity.
"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 via ESPN's Shams Charania. "I think the telltale 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.