Game Thread 2022-23 Game #22 BLAZERS @ LAKERS - NOVEMBER 30th, 2022 - 7:30 PM (PDT) ROOT

[KSF-ERIC]

Problem is, it's basically the same 4-6 every year.

But is it? Going into last season, Nets and Lakers were considered contenders. Collectively, they ended up winning a total of 0 playoff games. Clippers are also always a contender and they won 0 playoff games too. I don’t think “contender” is a thing. 1 team wins the title. The other 29 fail.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I live in the East Coast time zone and have to get up early, so I (thankfully) missed the second half. People who stayed to the bitter end: how did Jabari look?

It wasn’t the bitter end. He played in the first half. He was fine but he missed two layups and a wide open 3.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Dynasties do happen but it's usually linked to a great player.
GS was not in the hunt every year until the last 8.
Chicago has not been in the hunt much since Jordan.
Spurs are not in the hunt without Duncan.
Cavs without James? Or the Heat
Bucks have Giannis, Nets have Durant, Boston has Tatum
Who really knows this year?

Chicago was considered a contender in the mid 2010s when they had Rose and Noah.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Isn't it time for you to start saying "Trade Dame so he can get a championship somewhere else"? Or do you wait until after the halfway mark in the season?

I gave up on that. It’s clear he isn’t going anywhere and this is the bed he and the team have made unfortunately

 

[TBpup]

"tied to multiple coaches"?

Related

 

[HailBlazers]

WHO?

Wait I thought you traveled with the team?

 

[blazerfan11]

When we were 9-3, our D was awesome, we won no matter who played, and you felt like we could play better. What. The Fuck. Happened?

The season already took a toll unfortunately.

 

[blazerfan11]

Dame got injured and it did matter who played... the reason why those guys could all play so freely on offense is that Dame stretches opposing defenses maybe more than anyone (including Steph) in the league (not because Dame is the better shooter but because teams have had success in the past blitzing Dame which makes the defense lean towards him). So our guys got to play on spaced out courts giving them a better chance to make shots which allowed them to get their defense set. All of this gave them more energy and momentum in the games where Dame played. This benefits them when Dame is on the floor but also allows bench players to play bench roles and go all out while Dame is sitting.

We are 7-4 when Dame plays. One of those losses we were still in striking distance when Dame went out with his calf injury. For the sake of argument we'll still go with 7-4 which projects out to 52 wins and I think many of us in here would be happy to take that. On the flip side that makes us 4-7 with Dame out... I would say that makes a pretty good argument for it mattering who plays both now and at every other point of every season ever.

The trail Blazers were 3-2 without Lillard when he was out the first time.
When Lillard returned the Blazers were 1-3.

I would say the season took its toll, and the Blazers were heading in a downward direction, no matter if Lillard was there or not.

you have to explain why the trailblazers were 1-3 in Lillard's last four games.

and why 2 of the Blazers' best victories, at Phoenix and at New Orleans were without Dame.

 

[blazerfan11]

But is it? Going into last season, Nets and Lakers were considered contenders. Collectively, they ended up winning a total of 0 playoff games too. Clippers are also always a contender and they won 0 playoff games. I don’t think “contender” is a thing. 1 team wins the title. The other 29 fail.

Dallas definitely does not look like a contender right now.

 

[wizenheimer]

It’s brutal being a blazer fan

how would you know?

 

[Haakzilla]

 

[BBert]

how would you know?

POW! ZING!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

"tied to multiple coaches"?

It's kind of a new thing; you might ask the Mrs. about it........

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It's kind of a new thing; you might ask the Mrs. about it........

That was my first ever Mrs. HCP joke, I'm a little bit ashamed of myself.

 

[THE HCP]

He was fine but he missed two layups and a wide open 3.

Care to share your definition of "fine"?

 

[THE HCP]

Wait I thought you traveled with the team?

Never heard of the guy.

 

[THE HCP]

That was my first ever Mrs. HCP joke, I'm a little bit ashamed of myself.

Completely out of line. That post has been FLAGGED FAMS!

 

[PCmor7]

Wait I thought you traveled with the team?

WHO?

 

[AldoTrapani]

how would you know?

You gotta check out my orgin story

 

[BankTeller]

If we’re not good enough to win a playoff series this season, I’d rather tank. I know it’s a hard sell for Dame but the gain could be huge and he’s locked up with Blazers and his monster extension.

Let’s F’ing go!!

But yeah with the way the Blazers are handling Dame’s injuries, I don’t think it’ll be as hard of a sell as in the past. Hitting on another lotto pick to pair with Sharpe would really set this team up for the future. Even if we’re in the lotto this year, the addition of Grant and Sharpe make for a much more optimistic outlook for the future than last year in the same situation. As long as Sharpe in healthy, I could be fully on board with a tanking season if we’re already out of the picture for a top 6 seed.

On the flip side though, another losing season makes me think we just need to forget about getting rid of the pick protection and wait it out till we’re a playoff lock again unless a star wing or big asks out. There would just be too much uncertainly for me to feel comfortable getting rid of the protection. No idea these days if Dame will ever play a full season to even be an AS again imo, like honestly.