Path Blazers appearing head coach Nate Bjorkgren goes 2-0 doing what ‘Billups would do’

Portland Path Blazers Senior assistant Nate Bjorkgren was named interim head coach for 2 video games when coach Chauncey Billups left the group to attend his grandmother’s funeral.

Bjorkgren, employed by Billups within the offseason, responded by guiding the Blazers to house victories over the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. He stated his purpose was to teach the group like he thought Billups would.

“I actually take pleasure in being part of this group,” Bjorkgren stated. “It’s a group that performs onerous and is plenty of enjoyable to teach. And there will likely be ups and downs throughout the season. We had these two video games, and proceed like this.

It wasn’t his first time main an NBA group. Bjorkgren, a particular assistant on the Blazers’ group final season, coached the Indiana Pacers to a 34-38 document throughout the 2020-21 season.

This got here after serving as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors from 2018 to 2020, successful a championship with the group throughout the 2018-19 season.

So it should not have been stunning that Bjorkgren slipped so simply into the function of interim head coach of the Blazers (11-20), who’ve gained back-to-back video games for the primary time since beating Minnesota on November 13 and Atlanta. on November 17.

The Blazers’ latest victories got here at house towards Utah (7-22) on Thursday night time and towards the Dallas Mavericks (20-12), who have been taking part in with out Luka Doncic and have been taking part in their second straight night time after beating Phoenix. Friday.

Nevertheless, the Blazers performed very nicely each nights. They shot 50.3 % from the sector and 40.6 % from past the arc whereas producing 26 assists and 46.5 rebounds per recreation.

The Blazers have shot over 50% simply seven occasions this season.

Moreover, sophomore level guard Scoot Henderson performed nicely in each video games after coming off one of many worst six-game stretches of his younger profession.

Towards Utah and Dallas, Henderson averaged 18.5 factors and eight.0 assists whereas capturing 51.9% from the sector and 41.7% from three-point vary.

Third-year guard Shaedon Sharpe, who labored with Bjorkgren throughout the offseason with Workforce Canada, additionally had two stable performances. He averaged 25.0 factors on 55.6% capturing whereas hitting 50% of his three-point makes an attempt.

“He’s extra optimistic and has a bit of extra power,” Sharpe stated. “However for me, it’s the identical. I will exit and do the whole lot for my group.

Billups is anticipated to return to the bench for Monday’s house recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers. The Blazers are on their second three-game successful streak this season.

“There’s plenty of season forward of us,” Bjorkgren stated. “It was enjoyable tonight, however now we’re preparing for Philly.”