(My Sportsbook) - Yes, the Portland Trail Blazers are once again loaded with talent, and yes, they are once again underachieving.

The Blazers opened the season with a big 102-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers -- the team that swept Portland out of last year's postseason. However, the Blazers proceeded to suffer losses to the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets and those same Lakers to fall to 1-3.

The setback to the Nuggets was especially mind-boggling, as Denver's roster consists of players that would have a hard time garnering playing time on Portland's deep squad. Still, the Nuggets rolled to a 96-79 victory for their first win of the season.

"That was as poor a game as any since I've been here," said second-year head coach Maurice Cheeks. "There was just nothing there - nothing there at all. We didn't have any energy. No matter who I put into the game, it was the same story: No energy. They beat us to every ball."

The Blazers held a six-point lead at halftime, but were outscored 53-30 in the second half. For the game, the Nuggets shot 59 percent from the floor and outrebounded Portland, 41-23. Denver also had 60 points in the paint, compared to just 24 for the Blazers.

"Our lack of energy on defense led to a lack of energy on offense," said Cheeks. "We'll just have to try to find the right people. Tonight, it wasn't one guy. Nobody had any energy."

Portland followed that loss with another crushing defeat, this time an overtime setback to the rival Lakers.

The Blazers held an 80-73 lead with 3:25 left in regulation, but the Lakers responded with a 10-1 spurt and took the lead when Kobe Bryant tipped in his own missed layup with 36.1 seconds left in regulation. With the score still knotted, Derek Anderson forced overtime by nailing a jumper as time expired.

But the Lakers scored the first seven points of the extra session and went on to a 98-95 win.

Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis missed the contest with a strained right hamstring, which he suffered in the loss to Denver. The 37-year-old center could be placed on the injured list as early as Wednesday, meaning he'd miss Portland's upcoming four-game road trip, which starts Friday in Phoenix.

Scottie Pippen has also been hampered by an injury, as a sore right knee has limited his minutes in the early stages of the season.

Another reason for Portland's struggles is the play of guard Bonzi Wells. Wells, who was re-signed to a multi-year deal in the offseason, is averaging just 8.5 points in four games while shooting only 30.8 percent from the field (12-of-39).