The Portland Trail Blazers are not a very good basketball team. This is not a particularly controversial statement on its face. Nearly every prognosticator had the Blazers in the bottom five of the league heading into the season. The fact that they are 3-8 through 11 games is not a surprise.
And then there’s whatever happened on Sunday night at the Moda Center: A 134-89 drubbing at the hands of the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies that was a complete debacle from start to finish.
It is November. There are 71 more games remaining on the schedule and it’s clear that the team is facing more than just a losing streak.
Head coach Chauncey Billups didn’t hold back in his post-game comments, labeling the performance as a "[bleeping] embarrassment.” His frustration was palpable, and it’s a sentiment shared by anyone who watched the game unfold.
The Blazers’ struggles aren’t just about losing games; it’s about how they’re losing them. The lack of effort and competitiveness on the court on Sunday was troubling. The team quit against the Grizzlies. It was indeed a bleeping embarrassment.
Billups’ candid remarks highlight a deeper issue within the team—a lack of intensity and focus that needs to be addressed. The team is in a rebuilding phase, and while losses were expected, the nature of these defeats suggests a need for change. Billups has acknowledged his role in the team’s struggles, admitting that he needs to have his team better prepared. And let’s face it any change likely starts with firing the head coach. Billups is no doubt aware of that reality.
That’s always the simplest change an NBA team can make and if Billups got a pink slip at any point this season it wouldn’t surprise anyone. He is clearly not the right coach for this team. He hasn’t helped them take steps forward and on Sunday night it felt like he is part of the momentum leading this team backwards.
A new coaching staff could and likely would help. However, the responsibility also lies with the players to show up and compete every night. The problems in Portland certainly include an anemic coaching staff. But they run a lot deeper than that.
This was always going to be a challenging season. But this is a different feeling than a young team struggling to find an identity. This is an organizational wide issue.
It’s November. They’re already a mess.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Trail Blazers’ current challenges, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- The return of Rob Williams and his impact on the team
- Shaedon Sharpe’s move to the starting lineup
- The lack leadership on the Blazers’ roster
- A tribute to Blazers legend Brian Wheeler.
