Game Thread 2022-23 Game #3 - BLAZERS @ LAKERS - OCTOBER 23, 2022 - SUNDAY - 12:30 PM (PDT) ROOT

[Tince]

Another win where we made a lot of stupid mistakes. That bodes well.

Depends on how you look at it. We're making a lot of the same stupid mistakes we made last year. So the real question is: Are the stupid mistakes more likely to continue or is the winning despite making the stupid mistakes more likely to happen?

 

[Idog1976]

Needs green font with the way people knee jerk sometimes lol

If that comment in this game, post another dagger 3 from Dame requires a green font for clarity, then those people need to be wheeled back to their rooms in the Retirement Home.

 

[Idog1976]

Glad he’s proving me wrong. I wasn’t drinking the kool aid early on

Glad he’s proving me wrong. I wasn’t drinking the kool aid early on

I was a bit worried about Dame's seemingly slow feet that first game too to be fair, but I sure AF wasn't calling him washed. I was attributing it to rust.

 

[Cugel]

What Dame is doing is just plain disgusting (to opponents). Makes me think that injury was really really bothering him and affecting his play.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Father Time: 3
LBJ: 0

LBJ the GM is absolutely killing LBJ the player.

 

[Strenuus]

I'd rather be 3-0 when we are still finding our feet, don't you?

No complaints. Just. Fucking. Win.

 

[PDXFonz]

I like Coaches take on how he wants to use challenges

“I wanna keep it, I wanna keep it, I wanna keep it”

 

[inconceivable]

I have to admit it. I was really worried Hart at the 3 was another Powell at the 3. Not so.
16 effing rebounds tonight, combined with his usual good defense and smart play.

Obviously today is an aberration but over the last 3 years he averaged around 7 a game which is high for his height.

 

[inconceivable]

I have to admit it. I was really worried Hart at the 3 was another Powell at the 3. Not so.
16 effing rebounds tonight, combined with his usual good defense and smart play.

Obviously today is an aberration but over the last 3 years he averaged around 7 a game which is high for his height.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

It’s never been this slow.

 

[blazerkor]

Dame is amazing and he could be the league MVP this season. If we can snag an actual backup big, we'd be really scary. I know they are far between right now but Shaedon makes huge impact plays on both ends.

 

[Cugel]

So if theu are 3-0 playing like "poop" what will they be when playing better? They have played very well in the clutch. Sure blowouts are nice too.

 

[OneSport3]

I’m not at all concerned about Ant’s shots not falling. He’s missing shots that he’ll make over the long haul. However, I’m a little alarmed on the lack of playmaking when Dame is out and he’s running the offense. He had a stretch in the 3rd quarter where he dribbled the clock away and didn’t run offense. He looked hesitant. He’s definitely capable of playmaking and running the offense. He did it well last season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Dame is amazing and he could be the league MVP this season. If we can snag an actual backup big, we'd be really scary. I know they are far between right now but Shaedon makes huge impact plays on both ends.

Yes but as the rookie he is, he makes mistakes. Thus why Chauncey needs to ease him into it.

 

[42N8Bounce]

The last time the Blazers opened up the season 3-0: 2010-11 (they lost their 4th game)
* L Aldridge, G Wallace, W Matthews, A Miller, N Batum, B Roy, M Camby, R Fernandez

The last time the Blazers opened up the season 4-0: 1999-00 (they lost their 5th game, but won 10 of their first 11 games)
* R Wallace, S Pippin, S Smith, D Stoudamire, A Sabonis, D Schremph, B Grant, G Anthony, B Wells

 

[Tince]

 

[B-Roy]

Give Hart a contract.

 

[Tince]

Kuddos for Billups for the following:

• Proper use of a challenge
• Going to Grant when most were thinking Dame/Ant were the only options
• Realizing this is Dame's team

 

[Predator]

So far I've read we have 5, second best players.

Out of curiosity, who?

Most would probably say Simons.
I could see a select…person… saying Nurk. That person might say Nurk is our best actually.

I haven’t seen anyone say that about Grant or Sharpe; but that’s who I’d assume.

 

[wizenheimer]

I’m not at all concerned about Ant’s shots not falling. He’s missing shots that he’ll make over the long haul. However, I’m a little alarmed on the lack of playmaking when Dame is out and he’s running the offense. He had a stretch in the 3rd quarter where he dribbled the clock away and didn’t run offense. He looked hesitant. He’s definitely capable of playmaking and running the offense. He did it well last season.

I'm not sure how much you could really glean from what Ant did last year. The games didn't matter...there was no pressure to win. And other than a couple of games, teams really didn't press Ant or double & trap him. He's the starter now so he is going to get attention; yeah, Dame is still the primary focus of opposing defense but Simons won't be getting a pass from the defense like most of last season. Especially if Portland keeps winning games they weren't expected to win

 

[twobullz]

Out of curiosity, who?

Most would probably say Simons.
I could see a select…person… saying Nurk. That person might say Nurk is our best actually.

I haven’t seen anyone say that about Grant or Sharpe; but that’s who I’d assume.

In the first game thread some were saying Sharpe wasn't our second best player but our best player.

 

[Tince]

Out of curiosity, who?

Most would probably say Simons.
I could see a select…person… saying Nurk. That person might say Nurk is our best actually.

I haven’t seen anyone say that about Grant or Sharpe; but that’s who I’d assume.

There's an entire thread about Sharpe. Some even wanted Dame traded to make room for him. Some knocking Dame to our 2nd best player.

I'll try to search for those who said Grant could be our second best player. Personally, I think this is very much possible.

Like you say, there is a case for Hart being the 2nd best player.

Not having a clear #2 wouldn't be the worst thing in the world!

 

[Strenuus]

Kuddos for Billups for the following:

• Proper use of a challenge
• Going to Grant when most were thinking Dame/Ant were the only options
• Realizing this is Dame's team

Play was made for Dame but with no timeouts they had to get it in, so technically the 2nd isn't -100%- true lol. Nitpicky I know.

But we 3-0 that's all that freaking matters.

 

[inconceivable]

Dame is amazing and he could be the league MVP this season. If we can snag an actual backup big, we'd be really scary. I know they are far between right now but Shaedon makes huge impact plays on both ends.

in his limited minutes, i saw sharpe

dunk a lob - once his teammates learn him, this is a scary weapon for us
caused a laker turnover - ball went out of bounds, no statistical credit
steal the ball from lebron - and scored in transition
missed a corner three - not in good position, he was trying to beat the shot clock
missed a layup - that was put back
played good defense

16 min
4 pts
4 reb
1 ast
1 stl
1 blk

 

[Tince]

Play was made for Dame but with no timeouts they had to get it in, so technically the 2nd isn't -100%- true lol. Nitpicky I know.

But we 3-0 that's all that freaking matters.

Copy that. Easy to believe Dame is always the #1 option, but I hadn't heard Billups confirm as much. I'm trying to give Billups credit!

 

[illmatic99]

Managed to listen to the whole game somehow but holy hell the signal for 620 AM is pitiful through the mountains. What would it take to get an FM station?

Also... Man i miss Wheels. This new dude has absolutely nothing on the Legend.

 

[Strenuus]

Copy that. Easy to believe Dame is always the #1 option, but I hadn't heard Billups confirm as much. I'm trying to give Billups credit!

Haha for sure. But Grant did the post game on radio and the first thing he said is the play was for Dame. Hell of an adjustment to take that strong to the rim for Grant. Really damn impressive.

 

[Predator]

There's an entire thread about Sharpe. Some even wanted Dame traded to make room for him. Some knocking Dame to our 2nd best player.

I'll try to search for those who said Grant could be our second best player. Personally, I think this is very much possible.

Like you say, there is a case for Hart being the 2nd best player.

Not having a clear #2 wouldn't be the worst thing in the world!

Don’t need to search for it, I’ll just assume you’re correct.

Grant had a solid game to open the season (along with Sharpe) so I could see some looneys going down that path.

My case for Hart is that he is an elite rebounder for his size, great defender, can actually dribble the ball (unlike some of our previous wings), usually makes good decisions, passes the ball which means he changes the game in so many ways without having to score.

I acknowledge we have more talented players, and some that are better at scoring the ball, but Hart is one of the better all around players we have had in recent memory.

 

[Predator]

King speed or whatever his name is doesn’t count jk

In the first game thread some were saying Sharpe wasn't our second best player but our best player.

 

[Tince]

Haha for sure. But Grant did the post game on radio and the first thing he said is the play was for Dame. Hell of an adjustment to take that strong to the rim for Grant. Really damn impressive.

Appreciate that added info. If I coupld like your post twice, I would!