Thank Jobu for the Oregon Ducks, who week in and week out remind fans what sports excellence should look like. On both coasts over the last two days, a pair of teams in different sports showed how bad bad can be in the world of sports.
On Tuesday night the Portland Trailblazers set a franchise record with the worst opening loss in Blazer history, falling 140-104 at home to Golden State. They trailed by 12 at halftime and were outscored 78-57 in the second half.
It never got better in the Rose Garden. The Failblazers missed 56 shots from the floor and hit an appalling 39%, 8-34 from three-point range. Prized rookie center Donovan Clingan played 13 minutes and had two rebounds and scored two points.
The website Blazer’s Edge called it “a sobering season opener.”
Star guard Shaedon Sharpe is out with a torn labrum. In his absence, head coach Chauncey Billups told the media, “They beat us in every facet, man. Every loose ball, they were the first team to the floor. … They beat us down the floor after makes, after misses. Every single facet of the game — they beat us.”