In a game that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons by Portland fans, the Trail Blazers suffered a crushing 132-87 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies at the Moda Center. It was a night of struggles and soul-searching for the Blazers, who faced a Grizzlies team missing two of their key stars, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, due to injuries.
A Dominant Display
Right from the first whistle, it was evident that the Grizzlies were on a mission. By the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers were already trailing by 19 points. The situation only worsened in the second quarter, with Memphis extending their lead to 25 points. As the game progressed into the third quarter, the Grizzlies continued to dismantle Portland's defense, stretching their advantage to a formidable 35-point margin.
Portland's shooting performance was particularly dismal. They managed a mere 9.5% from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 out of 42 attempts. This ineffectiveness in shooting translated into an offensive production of only 80.9 points per 100 possessions, marking it as the lowest in this NBA season.
Addressing the Defeat
The defeat was Portland's third in a row, dropping their season record to 3-8. Head coach Chauncey Billups did not hold back in his post-game evaluation. "It was just f---ing embarrassing, to be honest with you," he candidly stated. His disappointment was palpable as he continued, "We were soft as hell the whole game. Nobody really fought. It was just embarrassing."
Billups held his players accountable, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection following such a loss. "I told 'em that anybody that sleeps well tonight, you're a loser. It’s just that simple. You sleep well after this one, you’re a loser," he remarked. The coach refused to single out individual players, instead placing the onus on the entire team. "I'm not just going to pinpoint one or two guys; they all were terrible. But for the most part, everybody, they all sucked," Billups asserted.
Despite the sheer margin of the defeat, Billups was more concerned with the manner in which the loss occurred. "We've lost by more points than this, but it's how. It's how. It's just you're laying down and just kind of caving in and giving in," he elaborated. Billups took personal responsibility for the team's performance, acknowledging his role as the leader and expressing his determination to address the issues. "At the end of the day, that's on me. I'm the leader of this. This is our team, but I'm the head of this. So, to me, I take that very personally," he added.
Moving Forward
Reflecting on the team's unexpected capitulation, Billups was left searching for answers. "I really don't know where that came from, to be honest with you. We scrap. That's what we do. We don't win all our games -- not even close -- but we fight. We don't lay down. And today they laid down," he concluded.
As the Trail Blazers look to regroup, they face a daunting challenge ahead. Their next match is an NBA Cup clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, followed by another encounter with the Timberwolves on Wednesday. These upcoming games will provide an opportunity for Portland to demonstrate the resilience and fighting spirit their coach values so highly. The team, and their loyal fanbase, will be hoping for a resurgence that can turn their season around.