Chapter 28 Big Brother

As February arrived, just as people expected, the Trail Blazers' performance slipped.

They lost several games they shouldn't have, such as those against the dismal Clippers and the underdog Kings.

In those losses, the Trail Blazers had a very long rotation, with Jack Ramsey cycling through every player on the bench.

The team's tactics were somewhat aggressive, with a lot of long-range shooting from the perimeter and shots taken after screens at the arc top.

The transfer of the ball from the strong side to the weak side in the offense became more frequent, while the half-court combinations Ramsey once took pride in became less common.

In the past, Ramsey's half-court offense emphasized stacking one side and clearing out the other.

For example, a straight line-up at the free-throw line, leaving the area under the basket and the baseline completely empty.