Chauncey Billups, Deandre Ayton discuss Trail Blazers Center Corps

The Portland Trail Blazers got one more practice in Wednesday in preparation for Thursday night’s home game against the Denver Nuggets.

The session capped off a stretch in December that this reporter has come to term, “Practicemageddon,” as the Blazers played just two games in the last nine days. The spaced-out stretch — due to NBA Cup scheduling constraints — has almost made mid-December feel like the NBA All-Star Break. Beginning with Thursday’s matchup against Denver, Portland’s season will resume to a more regular and rapid game schedule.

Before the games start rolling once again, reporters caught up with members of the team, including head coach Chauncey Billups and a jovial Deandre Ayton, after Wednesday’s practice. Here are some insights and tidbits from those conversations.

DA’s Health

After missing Portland’s two games over the weekend, Ayton was present at the practice facility Wednesday and Tuesday. Speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon, the big man said he had the flu and had been dealing with fatigue, sweats and chills, but he was feeling healthy again and refreshed.

“I’m ready to hoop,” Ayton said.

“I’m happy to have them all back available,” added Billups, referring to Ayton, Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III.

Despite those responses, the Blazers announced later Wednesday evening that Ayton was still questionable to play against the Nuggets Thursday due to the illness.

The Center Corps

If Ayton is available to suit up Thursday, it’ll mark just the third time this season that Portland centers Ayton, Clingan and Williams will all be available in the same game. The other two times came on Nov. 8 in a 127-102 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Nov. 10 in a 134-89 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“That’s crazy,” said Ayton when he was told about the few games all of Portland’s centers have played together this season, before pausing for a moment. “Oh, wow.”

In the preseason, a lot of media and fan speculation was made about the Blazers’ logjam at the center position and how Billups would find enough playing time for all three players. So far, non-simultaneous health issues between the three have mostly cleared up the space. Billups said balancing enough minutes between all three will be “difficult,” but he’ll enjoy having the extra size when they’re all available. The time crunch may force him to experiment with playing multiple bigs at once.

“We’ve had a rebounding problem a lot of times this year, so that’s one thing that you’d like to hope will help that out,” Billups said. “Whenever we [play multiple bigs at once], it’s a little funky because nobody plays like that.”

Ayton was all for the idea of experimenting with positions, animatedly telling reporters he’s eager to play the four, slide his feet and guard somebody. He seemed to be having fun with the topic, almost switching to a whisper to tell a reporter that he’s just waiting for Billups to slot him in at the four.

“He knows I want that so bad, I think I have to earn it in some way,” Ayton said. “Donovan and Rob definitely play the four and five, and they have fun doing their thing. I’m just waiting for my turn.”

“We’ll see,” a smiling Billups said about the idea of granting Ayton’s wish. “DA will play the point if you ask him. He’s probably eager to play the two, too.”

Ayton has averaged 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds in 17 appearances this season, which included a 14-point, 19-rebound performance in his last outing against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 8. In the game preceding that double-double — a 42-point home loss against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 6 — Ayton likely had his lowest point of the season. He put up six points and four rebounds before Billups pulled him after just two second-half minutes because the coach “didn’t like his spirit.”

Citing that tense moment, a reporter asked Billups Wednesday if he’s been happy with Ayton’s overall play this season. Billups said a coach is going to have ups and downs with every player through the course of the season. Overall, he thinks Ayton’s play and positivity have been “really good” this season.

“I think he’s been pretty aggressive,” Billups said. “He’s rolled a lot more for us this year, and he’s screened a lot better for us this year. To me, there’s obviously higher levels that he can get to, but I’ve been very happy with DA.”

“Coach just wants us to hoop, he wants us to have fun with this,” said Ayton, referring to the times Billups has talked about the team’s effort in losses. “He’s a coach that’s really making us do what we want to do out there.”

Clingan — It Takes a Village

Sticking with the subject of the centers a little longer, Ayton also discussed the development of Clingan. Similar to his answers on the subject dating back to Media Day, Ayton heaped praise on his rookie teammate in a number of categories, including his unselfishness, running of the floor and toughness. Ayton, 26, said he and his teammates are taking their jobs as mentors to the 20-year-old seriously.

“We’re making sure we’re all hands on deck with Donovan,” Ayton said. “We ain’t playing with him. We’re making sure he’s more vocal and he’s checking every box as a big.”