SACRAMENTO -- Of all the things that could have gone wrong for the Trail Blazers this season, few -- if any -- thought it would be what ails the team today: a sputtering, below-average offense.

The Blazers’ disappointing 8-7 start has been largely defined by an offense that can’t run, can’t shoot, and is having the damndest time taking care of the ball.

“Still a little slow,’’ point guard Damian Lillard acknowledged while trying to come up with a reason why. “I’m not sure … I’m really not sure. This is new. We haven’t had a good rhythm or flow to our offense.’’

Once the hallmark of a Terry Stotts team, where the combination of movement, unselfishness and freedom formed a beautiful, flowing brand of basketball, the Blazers’ offense this season has for large stretches been hard to watch.

If it’s not late game turnovers, it has been botched close-range shots, and if it hasn’t been questionable shot selection, it’s been too much 1-on-1.

And the Blazers’ fast break? Ha! … Let’s just say they have earned the distinction of the NBA’s worst – which was further cemented Friday in Sacramento, when the Blazers had zero fast break points for the second time this season.

“I guess that’s part of our identity: we are not a fast-break team,’’ coach Terry Stotts lamented. “As much as we try and push it, for whatever reason, those fast break points are not there.’’

Coming into the season, the Blazers’ top concern was with their defense, which spent much of last season as the NBA’s worst. The offense, a Top 10 fixture in Stotts’ first five seasons, would be there the players and coaches assured, as reliable as Oregon’s November rain.

But the opposite has happened. The defense has been solid, if not impressive, whole the problems on offense have been widespread. Jusuf Nurkic has been off, Maurice Harkless has been anonymous and Evan Turner erratic. And while Lillard is scoring, he is shooting just 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.

“It’s different things on different nights,’’ Stotts said after the 82-point game in Sacramento. “We didn’t execute when we needed to … we didn’t set screens – too many turnovers, misreads or whatever … again, a combination. Missed some easy ones at the rim …”

It has left the Blazers in the most unexpected territory – ranked last in the NBA in assists, last in fast break points, 26th out of 30 in shooting and in the bottom half in turnovers and points. Overall, that almost certain Top 10 offense has slipped to 19th … all against what is considered a favorable schedule.

Whether the offense is broken, or just in a slump will likely be revealed over the next two weeks, when the Blazers hit the road and start to face tougher competition.

The captain, for one, is confident.

“It might sound crazy, but I’m not concerned,’’ Lillard said. “Because we’ve always beee a good offensive team. I just have faith the offense is going to come around.’’