Carlisle's steps back to the locker room were unusually heavy; for the third consecutive game, the team's performance had significant issues.
The pressure on his shoulders was like a mountain. In the past, when the sky fell, the head coach held it up, and now he was the head coach.
So far, the Trail Blazers' number one issue is the team's inability to hit three-point shots.
This problem is more deadly than any other; missing shots is the most damaging.
For more than a dozen seasons, the Trail Blazers have always been the league's best three-point shooting team.
They were among the first to discover the value of the three-point shot, leading the league in attempts, makes, and percentage.
Not only did they shoot a lot, but they also shot accurately, maintaining consistency in most seasons.
This stability gave the Trail Blazers a unique offensive logic and a wider offensive space than other teams.
