When you lose by 45 point at home 11 games into the season, you’re going to have to talk about it. The Trail Blazers, at Monday’s practice, faced the painful music with an extended film session where players and coaches cleared the air after Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“A lot of addressing each other, addressing the elephants in the room, holding each other accountable,” Blazers big man Robert Williams told the assembled media. “Just resetting and getting the teammate feeling back between us and the coaches and getting the joy back.”
Yes, elephants, The Blazers have enough issues that there are indeed several elephants in the room they had to address.
The session was initiated by head coach Chauncey Billups, who typically leads the film sessions. From the sound of it, this was more of a typical “let’s talk about it moment” than an emergency meeting of the minds. It wasn’t a players-only meeting, but rather a structured discussion during practice. The focus was on understanding why the team collectively quit during the game and how they could prevent such performances in the future. The Blazers have 71 games left in the season, and it’s crucial to figure out how to at least lose with dignity if they’re going to struggle.
Williams highlighted that this type of conversation wouldn’t have happened last year or even earlier this season. It’s a sign that the team is evolving and trying to hold each other accountable. The meeting was about more than just addressing poor play; it was about fostering a culture of honesty and accountability.
This was a necessary and believable clearing the air after a very rough game. A film session in November likely won’t be a flash point in a long season for a young team. But it could be the early foundation of a team in need of a cultural reset. They have to be willing to look in the collective mirror. If this is truly something, that wouldn’t have happened without a 45-point beat down. Maybe getting thrashed by the Grizzlies will end up being a useful embarrassment.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ challenges, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast:
- What’s going on with Anfernee Simons to begin the season
- Deni Avdija’s rough transition to Portland
- The murky path forward
