The Portland Trail Blazers have a seven-game home stand coming up. Head coach Chauncey Billups believes that is good, considering he does not like the Blazers’ brutal schedule as of late. With Portland’s play-in hopes in the balance, the schedule hurts their chances. Let’s dive into Billups’ comments.
Chauncey Billups Laments The Blazers’ Terrible Schedule
The Portland Trail Blazers have played well over the past few weeks, but the schedule is taking its toll. Coach Chauncey Billups has been superb with his leadership in 2025, as Portland has a 17-16 record since January 1.
They were on a solid hot streak that convinced some people to believe in Portland’s play-in hopes. That is unlikely, but it gave the city some energy with its top professional sports team. Billups’ game plan has been stellar in 2025, but the Blazers’ terrible schedule has become an issue that needs addressing.
Billups Believes The Blazers’ Schedule Is Hurting Them
Even in Portland’s losses in 2o25, they almost always find ways to keep the game close. That shows the team’s resilience and Billups’ game plan has worked well. The Blazers have won multiple games despite the injuries. They have started taking their toll on the depth. The active players are experiencing burnout during their race for Portland’s Play-In hopes.
“It’s always tough, and you know I don’t make excuses. I told one of our coaches, this is like a road game. You’ve come off a seven-game trip, two weeks. You turn around and gotta play tomorrow on the road,” Billups said after a loss to the Pistons. “We should’ve just played the Pistons at Oracle. Then play the Warriors at Chase. This is a long trip to be honest with you. Terrible scheduling, but it is what it is.”
After coming off that seven-game road trip in the Blazers’ terrible schedule, playing a back-to-back in two cities is rough. Considering they just lost to the Detroit Pistons, playing the Golden State Warriors immediately after is taxing. Thankfully, the seven-game home stand after the Warriors game can stabilize the situation. However, Billups and the players would appreciate some stable ground.
15 IN THE THIRD. 8-STRAIGHT FOR YOUR TRAIL BLAZERS
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 10, 2025
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The Schedule Is Messing With Portland’s Play-In Hopes
Portland is firmly in the race for a spot in the play-in tournament. The Blazers have been losing games while the Suns have picked up some big wins here and there. Phoenix is the main competition because the Mavericks are collapsing without their star players. While the Blazers’ terrible schedule is a hindrance, their play-in hopes are still alive.
Jerami Grant has not performed well all season, but the 25-point night against Detroit is encouraging. If he continues playing well, Billups’ game plan could work better. Most players have found their form at the right time, as the Blazers want to compete for that play-in spot.
Of course, Portland will still have it tough because they are not as loaded as other teams. However, they are performing better than expected, which is good for the young players’ development. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe have significantly improved, which is huge for Portland’s future. In the meantime, they are battling for a play-in tournament spot. It will be a tough challenge for the team, but it is a valuable experience for a young team.
“I’m picking the Portland Trail Blazers to actually end up in that 10th spot.”
@DavidDTSS tells @KendrickPerkins that the Suns will miss the play-in this season
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— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 4, 2025
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Portland Will Keep Following Billups
The Blazers are having their most successful year since Damian Lillard still played for Rip City. It has been a rough patch for such a consistent team in the Western Conference. The rebuild has gone well so far with the development of young players. However, Billups wants to be as effective as possible because this might be the final season of his contract.
Thankfully for the 2004 Finals MVP, the players believe in Billups. This includes Sharpe, who has been playing off the bench over the past few weeks. He responded well because he is competing on the defensive end. Despite the Blazers’ schedule, the fans should be excited about how they are playing. Portland’s play-in hopes are still alive, so they will keep playing hard. Almost every player wants to reach their goal, which bodes well for the long term.
Photo credit: © Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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