The Portland Trail Blazers are on a wonderful streak, having won 8 of their last 9 games on their way to an 18-10 record. Despite that, their defense still languishes in the lower third of the NBA. Today Jason Quick of The Athletic interviewed Seth Partnow—a former Milwaukee Bucks staffer, also of The Athletic—about Portland’s defensive woes. [subscription required] The extensive interview covers personnel, coaching, and schemes, illuminating the gears grinding behind the far end of the court.
Partnow spares no words answering the eternal question: is Portland’s bad defense a coaching or roster issue?