The Portland Trail Blazers: A disappointing level of play in the NBA

The question “Why is this basketball team so bad?” » can often give rise to complex answers. Inadequacy of players, poor coaching, deplorable working environment, outdated tactical approach, “Bad Vibrations”… all these factors may require lengthy explanations, but are still very real reasons for an inexorable collapse.

For an author, as well as a team, it is almost providential that the Portland Trail Blazers, posting a record of 13-25 and a Net Rating of -8.3, the 28th worst in the league this season, are not affected by these more abstract problems. No, the Blazers simply suffer from a lack of good players. This is a rare problem in the history of this team which, in 54 seasons, has often performed well. Previous, underperforming versions of the Blazers were often burdened by long stretches of mediocrity, with late-career All-Stars and charismatic point guards dominating increasingly uncompetitive teams. Simply being “a team of average players surrounded by very young people who cannot yet contribute” is new.

Can the Blazers recruit enough good players to turn things around, reach the playoffs and restore hope to a tired nation? No, they can’t. Halfway through the season, it is obvious that to see the Blazers win games regularly, we will have to be patient. This can be very disappointing, especially for those who are desperate for a pinch of happiness in this reality.

However, if you want to rise above this frustrating reality, looking for a sign of a future where the Blazers crush their opponents, I have something for you. Some elements of this experience are difficult to evaluate: it is clear that Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton, ineffective offensive engines and among the worst defenders in the NBA, will never have a place on a competitive team. But if we take a look at some players under the age of 25, we might be able to see some potential in them. The team managed to sign Deni Avdija this summer, and he has proven to be a professional and capable winger. Toumani Camara is still raw, but offers a defensive intensity the team has lacked for years. Shaedon Sharpe, at age 21, is already the team’s second-best director, a talent that could develop into something exceptional.

However, the only player we can still attach crazy dreams to is Scoot.

Scoot Henderson, selected third in the last draft, had a very difficult rookie season after being considered a top pick. Overall, his second season didn’t turn out to be much better, but… look at that decisive shot, isn’t it impressive? Good foot control, a clever pivot, an inventive attempt… doesn’t that moment make you feel something? Doesn’t that make you HOPE that there’s something in him, waiting to be revealed as “the next great Blazers superstar”?

Is this hope illusory? Maybe ? Probably. Most players barely advance in the NBA, and Henderson hasn’t yet accomplished much to merit serious hype, other than showing athletic skills and some flashes of talent, especially in ball-handling. But the Blazers really need a player who can break out if they want to improve their situation in the next five years, and Scoot is the only one who remains mysterious, like a draft pick would be—a vague quantity that seems be able to become grandiose.

An example of the thinking Scoot generated among Blazers fans: Chauncey Billups, the Blazers coach, who left a TV job to find himself on the bench with no relevant coaching experience, presided over two disastrous seasons. Recently absent for two matches, Scoot shone in these meetings, scoring a decisive shot in one of them. An untrained mind might conclude that Chauncey is bullying Scoot and that he needs to be replaced so that Henderson can realize his full potential. That was the crux of the discussion after Scoot scored that game-winning shot. Of course none of this is rational, Scoot could have played well for other reasons.

However, this line of reasoning highlights a deeper, concerning truth halfway through the season: Nothing the team is doing seems to be working. Scoot’s game is not evolving, veteran players are severely disappointing, impacting their transfer value, and player development is progressing slowly. This year is lost: it was already lost before the October kickoff. The team’s composition was not made to win, and sometimes it feels that way. But the future remains within reach and good work during this period can make the return to competitiveness smoother. Only time will tell if the Blazers go down this path, but for now? It really doesn’t feel like it.

*Net Rating is a measure of a team’s “authentic” performance. It is calculated by taking the offensive rating (total points scored, divided by possessions played) and subtracting the defensive rating (total points conceded, divided by possessions played). This little formula allows us to understand the real offensive and defensive performance of a team by sorting out the noise generated by the pace of play.