Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. The Warriors won 125-97. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a long NBA season, a 2-4 road trip is certainly no disaster in November, especially when the final two losses come against one of the league’s hottest teams and the two-time defending champions.
But for the Portland Trail Blazers, who ended a six-game trip Friday with a 125-97 loss to Golden State, the four defeats should get their attention. The trip started with losses to the Lakers and Minnesota, and ended with losses to Milwaukee and Golden State. Those game sandwiched wins over Washington and New York, during which Portland briefly rose to first place in the Western Conference.
But it’s the nature of the losses that should be of concern. The losses to Minnesota (112-96), Milwaukee (143-100) and Golden State were only competitive early, with the outcome really never in doubt from the second quarter on. And while the Blazers had a 13-point lead in the second quarter against the Lakers, they entered halftime trailing and never led in the second half and lost 126-117.
In the 16 quarters of the four losses, Portland only outscored the opponent in two of those periods, in the first quarters against the Lakers and Warriors.
Here are a few things for the Blazers, who ended the trip at 12-7, to clean up as they prepare for a three-game homestand that starts Sunday against the Clippers:
Reverse the second: The quarter in which the Blazers lost control in the four losses was the second, when Portland was outscored 135-91. In those games, the Blazers shot 37.9 percent from the field and averaged 5.3 turnovers in the second quarter.
Defend the 3: After the Golden State game, Blazers coach Terry Stotts was asked about the Warriors shooting 53.1 percent on 3-pointers. He said he wasn’t as much concerned about contested 3’s that stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson made, but rather the open shots that other players took and made.
“When the ball is moving around or in transition, the clean looks, those are the ones I’m concerned about,” Stotts said.
In the four losses, the Blazers gave up 43.1 percent 3-point shooting, with the opponent making 59 on 137 attempts.
Regain the 3: While the Blazers were struggling to defend the 3, they also were struggling to make their own shots behind the arc. In the four losses, the Blazers shot 31.3 percent on 3’s, making 40 of 128.
By giving up 19 more 3-pointers than they made, the Blazers spotted their four opponents 57 points, or 14.3 per game.
Get the bench going: The rise of the Blazers bench had been one of the season’s main story lines in Portland. But in the four losses, the reserves of the opponent had a definitive edge, scoring 154 points to Portland’s 111.
Deal with the big bads: The trip forced Portland to deal with three of the most physically gifted players in the NBA, and they had huge games. The Lakers’ LeBron James had 44 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against Portland. The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. And the Warriors’ Kevin Durant had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Stopping, or at least slowing, such gifted athletes is the eternal quandary of the NBA, but the Blazers would certainly like to find a way to make them work harder to get their points. All three players shot over 60 percent from the field against Portland.
Find better shots for Lillard: Damian Lillard averaged 23 points and 7.3 assists in the four losses, certainly respectable numbers. But he was simply not efficient, shooting 35 percent from the field (27 for 77) and 27.6 percent on 3-pointers (8 for 29) in those games.
The Blazers need to find more ways to get Lillard, who has been battling a knee issue, cleaner looks at the basket.