Damian Lillard appreciates coach Chauncey Billups shares blame for Trail Blazers’ struggles

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Rebounding from a tough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers decimated the San Antonio Spurs on Monday 147-127. It was a night the Trail Blazers needed. With the win, the team snapped a three-game losing streak and got back on track to regain momentum as they look to make some noise in the West.

Before the game, Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged there are things he can do better as a coach who is still learning. When asked about the comments by reporters, star point guard Damian Lillard praised Billups for accepting some blame for the team’s recent struggles.

I think he did it as a player, so I think he knows better than anyone that it’s a collective thing. We all play a part in our success; we all play a role in our failure. And that goes for us individually as players and that goes for our coaches as well. We all make mistakes, we can all do better, but I think it’s important for him to say that. It’s not easy to take blame or hold yourself accountable on this level when you don’t have to. It’s easy to point fingers, especially when things aren’t going well, so for him to place himself among us and our struggles, I think that’s what keeps a team together. You know your coach is with you and ready to take some of the blame as well, and that’s how you keep growing and moving forward through tough times.

The Trail Blazers remain committed to making the playoffs and being a dangerous team this season, but are just 22-25 good for No. 13 in the Western Conference standings. But the race is tight. Any team that has a flurry in the second half of the season has a good chance of making the playoffs.

Portland is, if nothing else, unified. And Coach Billups is a big part of that, for better or worse.

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