Inside the Portland Trailblazers: A conversation with Blazers announcer Travis Demers.

The Portland Blazers are off to a rough 4-8 start and now face a six game, 11 day road trip approaching on Saturday. Portland has lost six of their last seven games and experienced a rash of injuries. But in the last several years they’ve overcome slow starts to make the playoffs. I talked to Travis Demers the Blazers radio play by play announcer to talk about the 4-8 start. “12 games into the season, teams get off to slow starts,” Demers said. “They’ve had slow starts and finished really hot, traditionally they’ve had really good finishes to the season.” The Blazers have lost three games within four points but haven’t lost a game by more than 10 points. Their 1-4 at home but 3-4 on the road which is tied for the most games on the road in the NBA. Injuries have thrown a wrench in the early season lineup as Zach Collins the starting power forward is now out for four months due to shoulder surgery. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic is still out because of a left leg injury he sustained last season. Starting small forward Rodney Hood has also missed a couple games. Pau Gasol also continues to sit out as he recovers from foot surgery. “The injuries to Zach and Pau (Gasol) leave no one at that power forward spot with experience,” Demers said. “Nasir Little started last night and Mario Hezonja & Anthony Tolliver are on veteran minimum deals, were brought into to be role players but are being asked to do more. They had big leads against Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Sacramento. Damian (Lillard) has talked about how bad their fourth quarter defense has been. There rating has been horrible they haven’t been able to stop teams in the fourth quarter.” Damian Lillard is averaging 30.5 points per game while shooting 48.2% from the field and adding 6.9 assists per game. “He’s been unbelievable,” Demers said. “He had 60 points against Brooklyn, breaking the all-time team scoring record. Teams are trapping and doubling him. The way to stop him is to double team him, and the Blazers brought in shooters to help with that.” The role players have to continue to step up when opposing teams focus on slowing down Lillard who had nine points last night against Toronto. It was the first time since 2016 that Lillard scored less than 10 points in a game. The Blazers also signed Carmelo Anthony Thursday to add another veteran power forward who can score but will be expected to play a lesser role. Anthony hasn’t played since being waived by Houston early last season. “Rodney has been good, he had 25 points against Philadelphia but left that game early,” Demers said. “Kent Bazemore’s defense has exceeded expectations. Anfernee Simons can hit shots but he is only 20 years old, so he’s had some rough nights. The thing with him is consistency. There are going to be great nights and others when he doesn’t have it.” Travis Demers announced one preseason game two years ago filling in for another announcer and left an impression. Last year he was called again to fill in for the majority of the season for Brian Wheeler. Demers became only the third radio announcer in Blazers history following Bill Schonely and Wheeler. “The waiting was stressful, I‘m holding my son and my phone rings and I almost blacked out it’s one of those life changing moments because you can’t forget it,” Demers said. “I was doing high school play by play at a variety of high schools and to get this when it was so unexpected makes it that much more special.”