The Trail Blazers lost another road game last night, this time to the Suns, 119-109. There are now two ways to frame their situation: Portland is on a six-game road losing streak, or they have yet to win on the road this early season. It’s basically a difference between optimism surrounding new coach Chauncey Billups, and a pessimistic eye for a team that has yet to finish out games.
Either way, it’s evident that frustrations are starting to boil over on the roster.
“I feel like the way the game is being officiated is unacceptable,” Damian Lillard told reporters after the team’s recent loss against the Clippers, this week. ” I don’t want to go too deep into it so they make a big deal out of it, but the explanations, the s*** that’s getting missed, I mean, come on.”
It’s understandable he would be frustrated with officiating but it also seems like there’s more under the surface for Lillard. Portland allowed Phoenix to shoot 52.7% from the field last night. backup center Frank Kaminski, who entered the night averaging 9.4 points per game, had 31 on 12-18 shooting.
This is the same kind of script both fans, and Lillard, witnessed last season… and the season before… and the season before that… The defense can’t help the offense.
How long before this team starts to “gell” and pus together road wins? How long before Chauncey Billups’ influence becomes evident on the defensive end? How long will Damian Lillard put up with lower than mediocrity?
