NBA: Five Teams That Are Falling Short Of Expectations

Portland Trail Blazers

Goal: “Contend” In The West 

“We kind of suck right now.”

Those were the words of star point guard Damian Lillard after the Portland Trail Blazers came up on the losing end of a 126-109 point loss to the Houston Rockets earlier this season.

Now, you can understand his frustrations. The team was supposed to be taking the next step forward this season, which is to become title contenders. Whether realistic or not, that was the teams approach. But now they sit 7th in the Western Conference standings with a record of 8-7.

Being just one game over .500 isn’t a good look for this team, especially when taking into consideration how stacked the Western Conference is. Out West, no team is making the postseason with a losing record. So Portland better step things up if they hope to get themselves in the upper echelon of the Western Conference.

They got things back on track in their last game with the Brooklyn Nets, winning 129-109. But that still doesn’t make up for their lackadaisical play in the three games prior that.

Portland gave up 113 points to the New Orleans Pelicans, 126 points to the Houston Rockets, and 113 points to the Chicago Bulls. That’s giving up way too many easy baskets to you’re opponents. I mean, I understand that Chicago and Houston got into triple-digit scoring totals, but New Orleans? Really?

To be fair, Jrue Holiday was back for that game, but they still allowed the Pelicans to shoot 54.9 percent from the field. That’s continued to be the teams Achilles heal, and they need to sure up that end if they’re to get themselves home court advantage come playoff time.