Trail Blazers Feeling the Pressure During Current Skid

The Portland Trail Blazers are just 3-8 in their last 11 games, notching wins against the Magic, Suns and Timberwolves. It’s clear the team has struggled to find their winning ways, and that struggle is leading to frustration. After letting a game against the Memphis Grizzlies slip away, the team opened up about the losing skid with Jason Quick of The Athletic (subscription required):

Externally, hope for change has once again been relegated to what the newest uniform design will reveal. Internally, Stotts and the players are banking that their closeness and work ethic will once again turn the tide.

“We just have to figure out a way to get through it,” McCollum said. “Coaches can only do so much — we always say it. They are not out there playing. They are not out there turning the ball over. They are not out there missing lay ups. They are not out there getting beat on pick and roll. It’s on us.”

Multiple players have received technical fouls in the past couple of games, voicing their opinions on calls they felt went the wrong way:

Lillard in Memphis was testy and defensive in answering questions whether he and McCollum were playing one-on-one too often, and the team as a whole has become one of the more argumentative and whiny teams with officials.

And everyone on the team is feeling the losses pile up, bringing attention to their weaknesses:

When asked about the psyche of the team after the Memphis game, Nurkic shook his head and paused.

“Whooooo,” he exhaled. “I mean, the frustration is for real.”

You can read more from Quick’s article here (subscription required).