After a 114-94 street loss by the hands of first-team defensive heart Victor Wembanyama on Saturday night time (their second assembly in as many weeks), the Portland Path Blazers head coach uncovered his membership’s largest weak point within the sport – and, simply, in any respect.
“We clearly struggled to attain within the sport,” Billups stated, in accordance with Aaron J. Fentress of the Oregonian.
With San Antonio solely main 41-39 and 4:10 left within the first half of the sport, Portland beginning heart Deandre Ayton evened issues up by finishing an alley-oop dime from start line guard Anfernee Simons.
“After which increase, they scored 15 factors in that quick span to open the sport up slightly bit,” Billups stated.
After an unyielding collection of turnovers by the Path Blazers, the Spurs went 19-5 to shut the second quarter, heading to interrupt 60-44. The sport was by no means significantly shut once more. San Antonio led by as many as 26 factors within the second half of the competition, earlier than ending with a 20-point margin of victory.
Wembanyama recorded a double-double of 30 factors and 10 blocks, whereas additionally gathering seven rebounds, three assists and a game-high +23 plus-minus. Ayton completed with 14 factors on 7 of 11 taking pictures from the ground and eight rebounds, Simons recorded 18 of seven of twenty-two taking pictures from the ground and 1 of 1 taking pictures from the foul line, and taking pictures guard Shaedon Sharpe scored 25 factors connecting on 11 of 16 pictures from the ground.
As Fentress notes, the 9-20 Path Blazers have already misplaced seven video games this yr by 20 factors or extra.
The workforce is seeking to tank and enter the draft lottery for the fourth straight season. His remaining three picks — heart Donovan Clingan (the No. 7 choose final summer season), level guard Scoot Henderson (the No. 3 choose in 2023) and taking pictures guard Shaedon Sharpe (the No. 7 choose in 2022) — type the selection of the membership. central triumvirate deliberate for its subsequent part. Of the triumvirate, Sharpe seems to be the probably to develop into All-Stardom in some unspecified time in the future.
However Duke freshman ahead Cooper Flagg, Rutgers wings Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, BYU level guard Egor Demin and Texas taking pictures guard Tre Johnson are the most well liked prospects atop the highly-touted crop. subsequent summer season. Any of them might assist solidify Portland’s depth shifting ahead. And most might contribute to worsening the membership’s goal-scoring woes.
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