Game Thread 2022-23 Game #21 BLAZERS VS CLIPPERS - NOVEMBER 29, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) TNT

[Chris Craig]

Happens to very good offensive players all the time. Dame's been dealing with it even worse than Ant his entire career. If they're blitzing, then turn down the screen, or give it up when Batum and whoever else are in no man's land, then move without the ball to get it back. Heck, attack the switch defender while Batum isn't in position, draw contact.

Ant wasn't in an ideal situation, but the Clippers also seemed pretty aware that he's not in attack mode in that position. He's going to work laterally around the perimeter when he needed to be aggressive.

Dames been dealing with it since the Pelicans playoff series.

 

[twobullz]

What happened to the Blazer team that at the beginning of the season was pushing the ball up the court and running teams out of the building. They stopped running and back to slowly bringing the ball up the court and letting the other team set their defense. They need to get back to running.

 

[B-Roy]

I remember there as a big emphases on him being a primary secondary ball handler at the end of last season and through out the off season but that role seems to have gone to Winslow.

Yep, Hart basically even confirmed it (less creation opportunities) during media day interviews.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

People don't want to admit it because of how much they like the guy, but Josh Hart turning into a complete nonfactor on offense is hurting the team drastically. If we need 80 points from Grant/Ant every night we are not going to win many games. I still don't understand how a guy that has historically been a pretty decent offensive player suddenly becomes a complete negative that is afraid to shoot. Give him some more creation opportunities or something.

He has a game last season where he shot 5/9 from 3. WTF? Two of his made baskets tonight were at the end of the clock when he had to shoot.

 

[MickZagger]

Beginning of the year we were successful with a zone heavy defense and getting out in transition more than any other Blazer teams in years.

Both of those things we’ve gone away from.

a quick way to lose a big lead is to “heat check” bad shot attempts 6 times in a row leading to easy baskets.

 

[Tince]

and the problem with your rebuttal is that it was Grant's 6th foul and would have resulted in two FT's and Grant staying in the game. There was no fucking hindsight to that. It was the reality at the time

Grant staying on the court, getting 2 FTs, etc. would be a great outcome, if it were a realistic one. Which is wasn't.

The reality was it was a clear charge. Even look at the Blazer players reaction when it happened. Usually on a close block/charge, you'll see a lot of teammates freaking out over the call. Not on this one though. They saw it. I'm a Blazer fan, I wanted the block but even with my red/black glasses on, it was an easy call.

 

[B-Roy]

Beginning of the year we were successful with a zone heavy defense and getting out in transition more than any other Blazer teams in years.

Both of those things we’ve gone away from.

a quick way to lose a big lead is to “heat check” bad 3 point attempts 6 times in a row leading to easy baskets.

Tired and injured. Most of the guys playing 30+ MPG (Grant, Ant, Nurk, Hart) are also nursing injuries they're just playing through them.

 

[twobullz]

the first and third quarter the blazers had 0 turnovers and outscored the Clips. The 2nd and 4th the Blazers had 11 turnovers and were outscored. This team needs to value possessions if they are not going to run and gun.

 

[Five Second Violation]

I give it less than a 5% chance of being overturned, probably less. It was a pretty easy call.

Not sure if you saw it but Jackson's feet were moving and he slid into Grant's path. Actually looked like a pretty wretched call.

 

[PCmor7]

People don't want to admit it because of how much they like the guy, but Josh Hart turning into a complete nonfactor on offense is hurting the team drastically. If we need 80 points from Grant/Ant every night we are not going to win many games. I still don't understand how a guy that has historically been a pretty decent offensive player suddenly becomes a complete negative that is afraid to shoot. Give him some more creation opportunities or something.

This. Josh has to understand that when he's involving everyone on the floor that he's one of "everyone." He's a capable offensive player who, right now, doesn't have to be defended in the halfcourt because he refuses to take shots any average NBA player would take, and he's at least an average NBA player. I think he'd make enough of them for it to be worth it -- I certainly trust him hunting shots more than I trust Justise. He makes a couple of it opens things up that much more for the really big scorers.

 

[MickZagger]

Grant staying on the court, getting 2 FTs, etc. would be a great outcome, if it were a realistic one. Which is wasn't.

The reality was it was a clear charge. Even look at the Blazer players reaction when it happened. Usually on a close block/charge, you'll see a lot of teammates freaking out over the call. Not on this one though. They saw it. I'm a Blazer fan, I wanted the block but even with my red/black glasses on, it was an easy call.

Yeah, I didn’t see anything egregious enough to change the call.

It has to be conclusive.

 

[HailBlazers]

Not sure if you saw it but Jackson's feet were moving and he slid into Grant's path. Actually looked like a pretty wretched call.

I was at the game. Wretched calls all night. Luckily left for the fourth.

 

[B-Roy]

This is a funny tweet, because the Blazers started the 4th with Nurk on the floor and Clips going small. Clips switched everything and Batum/Morris were able to guard Nurkic because we are truly awful at getting Nurkic the ball in the post.

Team also wants to post Grant/Nurk a lot to get easy points, but the problem is they are just godawful at getting the ball in the post. Plus they just run direct postups and allow those guys to get doubled immediately on the catch. It's a futile effort.

 

[MickZagger]

This. Josh has to understand that when he's involving everyone on the floor that he's one of "everyone." He's a capable offensive player who, right now, doesn't have to be defended in the halfcourt because he refuses to take shots any average NBA player would take, and he's at least an average NBA player. I think he'd make enough of them for it to be worth it -- I certainly trust him hunting shots more than I trust Justise. He makes a couple of it opens things up that much more for the really big scorers.

Especially when Lillard’s out.

 

[PCmor7]

Call me crazy, but I think if you put Dame in that same position this game over Ant, he doesn't do much better. Maybe we win because he hits a bunch of 30 footers, but other than that I don't know if he would have done much better with 4 non-options flanking him.

Very much disagree. Dame, even without Ant's athletic ability, strongside drives and gets to the rim or the line constantly.

 

[Tince]

Not sure if you saw it but Jackson's feet were moving and he slid into Grant's path. Actually looked like a pretty wretched call.

A player does not need their feet to be set to take a charge. Ant had one earlier, where his feet weren't set either, and he took the contact on the outside shoulder. Both very similar plays, both called offensive fouls (one for Portland one for the Clippers), both correct calls.

I wish it happened in the last 2 minutes we could the NBA's 2-min report on it.

 

[Tince]

Yeah, I didn’t see anything egregious enough to change the call.

It has to be conclusive.

I'll take it a step further: Had it been called a block, I think there's a high probabilty the Clippers challenge, and win it.

 

[twobullz]

A player does not need their feet to be set to take a charge. Ant had one earlier, where his feet weren't set either, and he took the contact on the outside shoulder. Both very similar plays, both called offensive fouls (one for Portland one for the Clippers), both correct calls.

I wish it happened in the last 2 minutes we could the NBA's 2-min report on it.

Isn't the 2 minute report only produced in games closer then 5 points at the end?

 

[B-Roy]

Very much disagree. Dame, even without Ant's athletic ability, strongside drives and gets to the rim or the line constantly.

I've seem Dame games where he drives to the rim on every possession with 4 guys in the paint and usually in a losing effort. You have to realize you can't just simply "drive" to the rim and get to the line on every possession. Those last two possession Ant actually broke down his defender but there were 3 other players waiting for him there because none of those guys cared about guarding their man. Those are not going to be high quality possessions, even for someone like Giannis, let alone Simons.

 

[Tince]

Very much disagree. Dame, even without Ant's athletic ability, strongside drives and gets to the rim or the line constantly.

I think this is accurate. It's why just trading Dame beacuse we had Ant, never made sense to me. Dame is elite.

I will say, even Dame probably wouldn't have got to the rim tonight with Nurk, Winslow, Hart, and Watford on the court. No space.

 

[OneSport3]

Happens to very good offensive players all the time. Dame's been dealing with it even worse than Ant his entire career. If they're blitzing, then turn down the screen, or give it up when Batum and whoever else are in no man's land, then move without the ball to get it back. Heck, attack the switch defender while Batum isn't in position, draw contact.

Ant wasn't in an ideal situation, but the Clippers also seemed pretty aware that he's not in attack mode in that position. He's going to work laterally around the perimeter when he needed to be aggressive.

There were no screens to turn down. They were blitzing him the moment he crossed half court.

I don’t remember a lineup where Dame had to deal with FOUR non-shooters. Maybe 2 with Harkless and Aminu. But tonight’s lineup had Hart, Nurk, Winslow and Watford. All non-shooters.

 

[Tince]

Isn't the 2 minute report only produced in games closer then 5 points at the end?

Games that were at or within three points during any point in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or OT.

 

[OneSport3]

Dames been dealing with it since the Pelicans playoff series.

And Dame wasn’t successful at it either.

 

[PCmor7]

There were no screens to turn down. They were blitzing him the moment he crossed half court.

I don’t remember a lineup where Dame had to deal with FOUR non-shooters. Maybe 2 with Harkless and Aminu. But tonight’s lineup had Hart, Nurk, Winslow and Watford. All non-shooters.

No, they weren't. Batum was guarding him, they'd rub Batum off on someone and get the switch and Ant would just wait out there for Batum to come back and double.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Man it was nice having hope for better things for one week.

That whole comeback was from the Clippers driving unimpeded to the rim, not them getting hot. And yet we chose to play neither of our post defenders. Nurk had 13 and 10 when he checked out late third.

It was also their defensive rebounding. It was 1 and done for us every time down.

 

[Tince]

 

[PCmor7]

I think this is accurate. It's why just trading Dame beacuse we had Ant, never made sense to me. Dame is elite.

I will say, even Dame probably wouldn't have got to the rim tonight with Nurk, Winslow, Hart, and Watford on the court. No space.

Maybe not, but I've seen him do it with some really challenged lineups. He'd certainly get himself on the line, IMO.

 

[Tince]

And the Clippers started a good chunk of the their bench!

 

[B-Roy]

They spent the first part of the 4th trying to post Nurk. That triggered the Clippers run.

 

[Tince]

Maybe not, but I've seen him do it with some really challenged lineups. He'd certainly get himself on the line, IMO.

I'm in agreement that Dame has done some amazing crap with some marginal players on the court.

The knock shouldn't be the Dame/Ant can or can't do it, but that these guys shouldn't be in that position to have to do it. We should always be able to have 3 shooters on the court!