Billups rips Blazers for 'f-----g embarrassing' effort in 45-point loss
Warning: Story contains coarse language
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups didn't hold back when criticizing his team's effort in Sunday's 134-89 blowout loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It was just fucking embarrassing, to be honest with you," Billups told reporters postgame. "We were soft as hell the whole game. Nobody really fought. It was just embarrassing for everybody. That's just not who we are. It really isn't. There's no excuse for that.
"You have a lot of rough nights in this league, obviously. But I don't even care. It just wasn't even that. It's like our guys just showed up because they had to be here, but didn't want to play. Didn't want to actually work. And that's embarrassing. It's unfortunate that we had to go out there in front of our fans who paid their hard-earned money to come and see their favorite team play. And we show up and do that."
Although the visiting Grizzlies were missing key starters Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart, their high-octane offense continued to roll as they established a new season high in points and shot a sizzling 55.3% from the field. Memphis also outrebounded Portland by eight and scored 29 points off turnovers.
Billups' side provided little interior resistance against Memphis: Nine different Grizzlies players accounted for 58 points in the paint, including 10 from Santi Aldama.
Jerami Grant was the lone Portland starter to reach double digits in scoring.
Billups was brutally honest with his players in the locker room following their lackluster showing.
"I told them that anybody that sleeps well tonight, you're a loser," the coach said. "It's just that simple. ... You sleep well after this one, you're a loser."
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