Through 15 games the Trail Blazers are 6-9. Not competitive enough to challenge in brutal Western Confernce, but not so far off as to be constant pushovers. If nothing else, this team has a clear identity.
Wednesday night in Oklahoma City the Blazers loss to the top team in the Western Conference. The Thunder built a double-digit lead midway through the fourth quarter and the Blazers could never mount a serious challenging in the final five minutes. But despite the 109-99 loss, the game was a testament to who the Blazers are right now, highlighting both their strengths and areas for improvement.
Toumani Camara gave MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trouble, Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams were solid enough on the back line, and the rest of Portland’s defenders kept the game in mud. This team needs games in the mud. 70-69 after three quarters? An ideal opportunity.
Portland couldn’t buy a basket inside and turned the ball over a season-high 24 times. But they didn’t get cheated or overwhelmed on the other end, so their obvious offensive struggles didn’t catch up with them until the closing minutes of the game.
The Blazers’ identity is becoming clearer with each game. They are a team that relies on three-point shooting to stay competitive and plays solid defense to keep games close. However, their half-court offense and turnover issues need addressing to turn these close contests into victories.
Against the Thunder, the Blazers made 12 of their first 25 three-pointers, but were undone by the turnovers and a dreadful halfcourt offense (a brutal 77 points per 100 possessions in the halfcourt, per Cleaning the Glass)
For better of worse, Wednesday night in Oklahoma City was an identity confirming loss. This is who the 2024-25 Trail Blazer are.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ evolving identity, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- The impact of Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton’s absence on the team’s performance.
- A closer look at Scoot Henderson’s development and injury update.
- Where the Trail Blazers stand after 15 games
