The Portland Trail Blazers hit uncharted lows at the Moda Center with a humiliating 132-87 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, in what was one of the most lopsided games of the NBA season. Adding salt to the wound, the Grizzlies were without key players Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, both sidelined due to injuries, yet still managed to dominate the court.
A One-Sided Affair
Portland's troubles began early. The Blazers found themselves trailing by 19 points at the end of the first quarter, and the gap only worsened as the game progressed, ballooning to 25 points in the second quarter. The Grizzlies capitalized fully, stretching their lead to a staggering 35 points by the third quarter.
One can't overlook the dismal shooting performance from the Blazers, who managed to land only 9.5% of their attempts from beyond the arc, converting a mere 4 out of 42 tries. Such figures are hard to fathom in the modern NBA landscape, where three-point accuracy is often a pivotal part of a team's scoring arsenal.
A Low in Blazers' Offensive History
Portland's offensive output was truly historic, but for all the wrong reasons. With an efficiency of just 80.9 points per 100 possessions, the Blazers registered the worst offensive performance seen in the NBA this season. Their inefficacy seemed a stark contrast to the usual grit and fight associated with the team.
Coach Billups' Honest Assessment
Post-game, head coach Chauncey Billups didn't hold back in his criticism. “It was just f---ing embarrassing, to be honest with you,” he lamented. His frustration was palpable as he continued, “We were soft as hell the whole game. Nobody really fought. It was just embarrassing.”
Billups went further, questioning the mentality of his players in the aftermath. “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.” Such a statement underscores the gravity with which Billups viewed the loss; a lack of fighting spirit was not something he was accustomed to seeing from his charges.
Billups was adamant that neither the blame nor the lethargy rested with just a couple of players: “I'm not just going to pinpoint one or two guys; they all were terrible. But for the most part, everybody, they all sucked.” Despite the harsh words, he took personal accountability, suggesting that the responsibility ultimately lies with him. “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.”
A Tough Season So Far
This defeat marked Portland's third consecutive loss, dropping their season record to 3-8. What makes this particular defeat sting more is not just the margin, but the nature of the performance. Billups reflected on this sentiment cautiously, “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.”
In many ways, this game felt unlike the tenacious style that fans and critics have come to associate with the Blazers. “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,” concluded Billups.
Looking Ahead
As the Blazers look to put this nightmarish game behind them, they face a quick turnaround. Portland is set to square off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Cup on Tuesday, followed by another meeting with the Timberwolves on Wednesday. These games will test the Blazers' resolve and provide a fresh opportunity to regain their form and prove their mettle, away from the shadow of this crushing loss.