Ant's Heroics Wasted: Blazers Still Can't Get Out of Their Own Way
Another night, another L for the Portland Trail Blazers, this time a 119-114 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. You knew it was coming, right? It felt inevitable even with Anfernee Simons going off for 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting. He did everything he could to keep them in it, hitting a wild step-back three with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter to cut Minnesota's lead to two possessions. But here's the thing: individual brilliance can only mask so much.
The Blazers' problems run deeper than any one player's hot hand. They got absolutely shredded inside, allowing 52 points in the paint. Rudy Gobert, the big Frenchman, had a field day with 24 points and 17 rebounds. It wasn't just Gobert either; Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and seven boards, making it a long night for Portland’s frontcourt. Deandre Ayton, for his part, chipped in 16 points and 11 rebounds, but he often looked a step slow trying to contest Minnesota's interior passes and second-chance efforts. The Blazers simply don't have the size or the defensive discipline to consistently stop teams from feasting in the restricted area.
**No Help for Simons**
Simons was electric, especially in the third quarter when he poured in 15 points, hitting four threes and generally looking like the star Portland wants him to be. He hit 7-of-13 from deep for the game. But look around. Who else showed up consistently? Jerami Grant had 17 points but shot just 6-of-16 from the field, and his defensive effort was spotty at best against Anthony Edwards, who finished with 27 points. Scoot Henderson, the rookie, had 15 points and nine assists, which is a good line, but he also turned the ball over four times and struggled with his shot efficiency, going 6-of-17. The kid's learning, no doubt, but the Blazers needed more consistent scoring punch from someone other than Simons.
The bench was almost non-existent for stretches. Duop Reath had a couple of nice moments, grabbing six rebounds in 17 minutes, but the second unit only managed 27 points combined. Minnesota's bench, led by Naz Reid's 16 points, provided a significant boost. That's often the difference in these close games. One team gets contributions up and down the roster, the other relies on one guy to carry the load, and it just isn't sustainable in the NBA. This game, played on March 4th, 2024, at the Moda Center, was a microcosm of Portland's season. They fight, they get a great performance, and then they just run out of gas or get out-executed in the clutch.
**What Now for Portland?**
Real talk: the Blazers are stuck in neutral. They're not good enough to compete for a playoff spot – their 17-44 record tells you all you need to know – and they're not bad enough to guarantee a top-tier draft pick. They traded away Damian Lillard in the offseason, signaling a rebuild, but they haven't fully committed to it. They're still playing veterans heavy minutes, trying to win games, and ending up in this purgatory. Chauncey Billups is trying to make it work, but the talent just isn't there to consistently beat good teams like the Timberwolves, who are now 43-19 and battling for the top seed in the West.
The Blazers need to decide what they are. Are they developing young talent or trying to win now? They can't do both effectively with this roster. My bold prediction? Joe Cronin makes a move this summer, trading one of their established veterans like Grant or even Simons, to fully embrace the rebuild and give Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe the keys to the franchise. Anything less is just delaying the inevitable.