Blazers' Lillard: 'We kind of suck right now'
Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers were the NBA's pleasant surprise, overachieving all the way to the Western Conference semifinals. This year, they're not sneaking up on anyone.
Thursday's 126-109 loss to the Houston Rockets was Portland's second in a row and third defeat in five games. While they still sit over .500 at 7-6, they're in ninth place in the West - and Damian Lillard isn't happy.
"We kind of suck right now," the point guard said after the loss, according to Blazers.com's Casey Holdahl. Lillard's analysis came after another night in which he struggled from the field, shooting 7-for-17. In fact, in the last five games Lillard has shot under 37 percent from the floor - and that number is inflated by a scorching 12-of-19 performance in one game against the Sacramento Kings.
"I've been more frustrated," Lillard added. "I know we're going to be fine."
That remains to be seen. Evan Turner has so far failed at coming close to living up to the four-year, $70-million contract Portland gave him over the summer, struggling on both sides of the ball. He too is shooting under 37 percent on the season, and is currently registering a laughable player efficiency rating of 7.5.
"It can't get no worse," Turner said Thursday when asked about the Blazers' woeful defence in the Houston loss, where the Rockets shot close to 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from deep.
The Blazers are still missing key frontcourt players in Al-Farouq Aminu and Festus Ezeli - the other major offseason addition who has yet to play a game.
Portland continues its road trip Friday in New Orleans, with a swing through New York City to play the Nets and the Knicks to follow.