Mike Richman here, the host of the daily Locked On Blazers podcast, with your daily Locked On Blazers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Blazers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Trail Blazers Are A Mess Already
Nov 10, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia (3) blocks Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) in the second half at Moda Center. |Jaime Valdez/Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
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
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Replay The Blazers fell to the Grizzlies in a tight game, with standout performances from Anfernee Simons and Ja Morant. Coach Billups highlighted the need for better defensive execution. (Blazers Edge)
Watch Check out the highlights from Rip City Remix’s game against the San Diego Clippers. Henri Drell’s impressive play was a key highlight. (Blazers Edge)
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Blazers podcasts.
5 Game Road Trip Will Test the Trail Blazers + Rip City Remix Season Preview The road swing stats in OKC on Wednesday. Plus, a look at the Blazers G League affiliate.
Shaedon Sharpe Leads the Trail Blazers to a CLUTCH win over the Atlanta Hawks Sheadon Sharpe’s good. The Trail Blazers have real depth. A winning streak hath risen.
Portland’s Rebuild: Are the Trail Blazers Too Good to Tank? (or Did They Just Win 2 Games?) Justin Verrier of The Ringer joins the program to talk about the Trail Blazers present and future, discuss the necessity of trading veterans, and consider whether the Blazers are too good to tank.
