The Portland Trail Blazers, who just ended a rough December that saw them go 3-9, start the new year with a hellacious five-game road trip, starting Thursday night at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Yet despite the team’s on-court failings, the Blazers remain focused on getting better and not worrying too much about the standings.
“Our spirit is awesome,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
A positive sign is that the team (11-21) remains engaged at practice, excited to be there, and continues to trash-talk one another. According to Billups, this is a clear sign that the team is having fun, competing, and developing camaraderie and culture.
“It’s how you get through it,” he said. “It’s the morale of the guys. That they’re sticking together. They’re hanging together. And we do that just fine.”
Forward Toumani Camara acknowledged the same dynamic.
“I can see after this practice that everybody still has a good head on their shoulders,” Camara said. “I mean, we still have a lot of basketball to play. So, we’re trying to stay motivated. Stay positive. I think everybody’s in a good place right now.”
While the franchise did not enter the season expecting to contend for a postseason berth, the players and coaches have put their best foot forward most nights, seeking victories.
“I think we’ve had some really quality wins,” Billups said. “And then we’ve had some games where we’ve had some real stinkers, where it’s been really ugly.”
Portland’s Toumani Camara (33) reacts as the Trail Blazers take on the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA game on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Moda Center in Portland. San Antonio won 118-116.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive
The Blazers have lost 11 games by 20 points or more. Five such games came in December, including Monday night’s 125-103 loss at home to the Philadelphia 76ers.
A major problem has been the team’s defense.
“I’m not happy at all with where our defense is at,” Billups said. “The defense was really poor in December.”
The Blazers posted a 124.4 defensive rating in December, up from 113.2 through the first 20 games.
When the defense was better, the offense wasn’t as good as it has been lately.
“And now it’s kind of flip-flopped,” Billups said.
Billups’ goal is to “find some balance.“
Blazers forward Toumani Camara said the team must become more focused defensively as they continue to grow together on and off the court.
“I think it’s something that everybody sees stats-wise and on the court,” Camara said. “We’ve been struggling guarding and being disruptive defensively.”
So, off the Blazers go on the road for five games in nine nights, each presenting a learning experience.
“It’s a tough one,” Billups said. “But for us, I’m kind of excited about it.”
— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
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