Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups comments on ‘very disappointing’ opening night defeat

The Portland Trail Blazers hosted the Golden State Warriors Wednesday with hopes of leaving their season opener with a victory over a long-time foe in the Western Conference. Instead, Portland allowed Golden State to score 77 points while shooting 47.6% from the three-point line in the second half alone, leading to a deflating 139-104 loss.

In a contest where Golden State came out of the gates missing their first nine field goal attempts, Portland let the opposition back into the game, ultimately leading to a 27-point deficit through three quarters. 

For Trail Blazers’ head coach Chauncey Billups, he did not have a problem sharing his discontent with the team’s effort during his post-game press conference.

“It was very disappointing,” Billups told media members late Wednesday night. “I really didn’t think that we were prepared for what they did. It was crazy, it almost felt like we were two steps slow on everything.”

As a 17-year NBA veteran, Billups was a five-time All-Star who won an NBA championship and Finals MVP award in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons. Simply put, it’s easy to see that Billups is not a huge fan of mediocrity.

Entering his fourth season with the franchise, Billups was quick to cite every weakness the team displayed in their season opener while also touching on their clear lack of intensity.

“They beat us in every facet, man. I mean, every loose ball they were the first team to the floor. We can never compete if we’re not the first team down on that floor.”

Though hustle plays were seldom produced for Portland, their horrid 39.1% shooting from the field and 23.5% accuracy from long distance also played a major factor in the culmination of their demise.

Billups’ Trail Blazers thankfully have 81 more regular season contests to make sure their intensity rises to a feasible level. Their next opportunity comes against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland.

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