Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups tore into his team for failing to be competitive in Sunday’s loss to Memphis, writes Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. Portland lost by 45 points while playing at home against a Grizzlies squad that was missing Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. Billups told reporters that he has no plans to rewatch the game, then criticized his players for their lackluster effort.
“We were soft as hell the whole game,” he said. “Nobody really fought. It was just embarrassing. That’s just not who we are. There’s no excuse for that. You have a lot of rough nights in this league, obviously. But I don’t even care. This wasn’t even that. Guys showed up because they had to be here but they didn’t want to play. They didn’t want to actually work. That’s embarrassing. It’s unfortunate that we had to go out there in front of our fans that paid their hard-earned money to come see their favorite team play. And you show up and do that. It was embarrassing.”
The poor performance and Billups’ reaction raise questions about how much longer he’ll be with the organization, Highkin adds. Billups is already considered likely to be replaced after the season ends, but Highkin suggests that more outings like Sunday’s may force general manager Joe Cronin to make a coaching change before the spring.
In addition to criticizing his players, Billups accepted part of the blame for what happened.
“We’ve lost by more points than this,” he said. “But it’s how. We’re laying down and caving in. At the end of the day, that’s on me. I’m the leader in this. This is our team, but I’m the head of this. I take that very personally. I don’t have one bone of that in my body. That’s on me. I’ve got to be better. I’ll have them a little more prepared next time.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The Trail Blazers are likely to be active on the trade market before the February 6 deadline, Highkin adds in a separate story. He expects Robert Williams III to be in demand if he stays healthy, considering the number of teams that need help at center. Highkin also believes contenders will keep calling about Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle, but he considers Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons less likely to be moved.
- After suffering a right iliac wing fracture on Sunday that will sideline him for at least eight-to-10 weeks, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren shared his thoughts on the injury (Twitter link). “Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this having been through something similar before,” he wrote. “On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind. Most of all I’m hurt I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while. Everyone who sticks with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return. Don’t pity me or feel bad, there’s lots of people out there right now with real problems that don’t heal. Anyways excuse my rambling just wanted to address our OKC fans and family.”
- Daishen Nix, who signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves this summer, had a huge game for the G League Iowa Wolves on Saturday. He posted 45 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and capped off the night with a game-clinching steal and assist (Twitter video link from Charlie Walton).
Thompson has been sidelined since March when doctors discovered he had a 
While the Thunder say Holmgren is expected to return to action later in the 2024/25 season, he’ll be out for an extended period. The plan is to reevaluate him in eight-to-10 weeks, per the club.
Murphy will be officially listed as questionable for Monday’s contest, but the expectation is that he’ll be upgraded tomorrow if all goes to plan, Lopez adds.