For the Trail Blazers, the vibes have suddenly shifted again.
After riding a three-game winning streak into the play-in picture, Portland has dropped back-to-back games at home and slipped to 12-18, now in the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference. What looked like a season built on momentum has instead turned uneven and increasingly frustrating.
As Joe Freeman of The Oregonian writes, the Blazers entered the year hoping to build on last season’s strong second half. Instead, they’ve been forced to navigate constant disruption. Injuries have piled up. Stability has been elusive. And close games continue to slip away.
Portland has now lost 11 clutch-time games — defined as contests within five points in the final five minutes — and are tied for the second-most in the NBA. Tuesday’s loss to the Magic was the latest example of a familiar theme. Effort has been there. Execution late has not.
Help does not appear imminent. Freeman reports there is no indication that Jrue Holiday, sidelined with a calf injury, Matisse Thybulle, out with a thumb issue, or Scoot Henderson, dealing with a hamstring injury, are close to returning.
Still, interim coach Tiago Splitter continues to emphasize unity and belief, a message that is resonating inside the locker room.
“We have a great group of guys,” forward Deni Avdija said. “They’re very strong mentally. Our team camaraderie is really good. Our chemistry is amazing. It’s one of the best chemistry teams that I’ve been on in a while. We just continue to fight. We’re not going to back off. This is our identity. We believe in each other and we believe in ourselves as a team.”
The Blazers remain short-handed and battle-tested. Whether that belief translates back into wins may determine whether this season bends toward progress or continues drifting into frustration.
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