There are many ways to rationalize the Portland Trail Blazers’ poor showing during Sunday’s 109-101 loss at the Charlotte Hornets.
Coach Terry Stotts pointed out one in particular, noting that on Saturday the Phoenix Suns (40-16), owners of the second-best record in the NBA, lost 111-85 to San Antonio (27-28) when the Spurs rested three key players, DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills and Jakob Poeltl.
That loss certainly was more inexplicable than the Blazers losing at the Hornets despite Charlotte being without LaMelo Ball, Devonte Graham and Gordon Hayward. After all, the Blazers (32-24) were minus Damian Lillard (hamstring).