The Portland Trail Blazers found early season success with third-year forward Jake Layman in the starting lineup. The Blazers went 12-7 with Layman in the starting lineup and were competing for the top spot in the Western Conference.
However, Maurice Harkless returned from an injury, and Terry Stotts did not just remove Layman from the starting lineup but the whole rotation. Layman has not logged any minutes in Portland’s last five games. The Blazers have lost four of those five games.
Damian Lillard put the team on his back by setting a new franchise record with 10 three-pointers made in the Blazers lone victory against the Orlando Magic.