Game Thread 2022-23 Game #70 - BLAZERS VS CELTICS - MARCH 17, 2023 - FRIDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

[blazerfan11]

Damian Lillard is scoring a lot of points. Other than that the team is boring as hell to watch right now.

 

[twobullz]

Watford leads the team in Assists and tied for lead in Rebounds. Not bad for a undrafted kid.

 

[wizenheimer]

Trade him!

40 points on 50% shooting is not acceptable.

when I said that he had 16 points on 16 shots with 5 turnovers

 

[Tince]

when I said that he had 16 points on 16 shots with 5 turnovers

Ok... I guess we won't trade him then.

 

[blazerkor]

Watford leads the team in Assists and tied for lead in Rebounds. Not bad for a undrafted kid.

I’ll tell you what is bad. Trendon isn’t close to being either big enough or athletic enough to be a net plus on defense despite his effort and BBIQ.

 

[wizenheimer]

Ok... I guess we won't trade him then.

well after the 16 points on 16 shots first 3Q's, Dame scored 25 points on 7 shots; I think that's pretty good efficiency. 7 turnovers wasn't good though

Watford had a great game, and he's only 22 on a real bargain contract. He's a young player Blazer fans should be excited about, but I see some people here trashing him

 

[DDolla]

Came back to Portland and watch the Blazers after 20 years. Saw Dame for the first time but another lost. Oh well, let’s go get Wemby

 

[AldoTrapani]

Wow I can’t believe I use to be so hard on Dame!

This dude needs to leave this organization he deserves better.. unbelievable talent

 

[blazerkor]

Wow I can’t believe I use to be so hard on Dame!

This dude needs to leave this organization he deserves better.. unbelievable talent

No. You see there are nuanced ideas between trading Dame and the situation is hopeless. Given what Dame says he wants and the fact that we could clear up a bunch of FRPs and matching salaries for a second all star while keeping Dame and even Jerami, I find the lack of imagination in your repetitive posts sad.

 

[Bingo Bango]

Both too young to determine.

Simons is in his fifth year. He’s not getting any better.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Simons is in his fifth year. He’s not getting any better.

Oh god Simons doesn’t contribute shit to winning basketball Atleast with Cj we were always over .500

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yes! Another loss! This is the way folks

I wish we were top 3 worst team

 

[swish3]

People dressed in Celtics gear were in large number, I guess >10% of the crowd, and were quite loud in this game! It was Celtics fans, not Blazer fans, who were chanting for the Celtics.

 

[Whyachi]

some tall dude on Boston named Luke Kornet outplayed the Blazers powerhouse center Jusuf Nurkic tonight. Does anyone have an explanation for this?

 

[Strenuus]

People dressed in Celtics gear were in large number, I guess >10% of the crowd, and were quite loud in this game! It was Celtics fans, not Blazer fans, who were chanting for the Celtics.

Of course Celtics fans would chant for the Celtics....

 

[Mediocre Man]

What, no Leap Year?


I really like The Guard with Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleason

shoutout as well to “The Irishman” great movie, albeit a tad long

 

[Mediocre Man]

Does no one else seriously see the issue with one guy, who controls the offense, dropping 40? We aren’t winning like that

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Slip sliding away ...high light...Knox coming in and getting a 3 to drop, a steal, couple rebounds etc in minutes on the floor....he's staying ready ...training camp lock!

There is something about this guy that makes me want to see him succeed. He's quiet and definitely not an alpha personality and probably confidence is down.
Here is from a scouting report that was co-authored by Mike Schmitz: They talk about inconsistent motor and shooting mechanics,
"While he shows an improved skill set for brief stretches, he's too focused on proving that he can play the three rather than making an impact by using his tools, explosiveness and energy. If he can find a way to buy into defending multiple positions, moving off the ball, crashing the glass, running the floor, and playing as more of a modern four man (which is very much the trend in today's NBA) he's far more interesting as an NBA prospect. He'll have to continue to stick to his strengths while finding a way to make spot-up 3s consistently to validate his current standing as a prospect. Knox's skill-set is undoubtedly best suited at the 4 at the NCAA level (even if he insists on being recruited as a 3), but if he's still concerned with developing into a wing his development and overall intrigue as a prospect will continue to take a hit." - Source: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kevin-Knox-90053/ ©DraftExpress

 

[wizenheimer]

Does no one else seriously see the issue with one guy, who controls the offense, dropping 40? We aren’t winning like that

wut? why are you focusing on Dame as the reason?

Dame is averaging 32 points and 7 assists. In last season's NBA finals Curry averaged 31 points and 5 assists. Curry averaged an assist every 4.57 shots; Dame is averaging an assist every 2.89 shots. Curry's usage rate was 33%; Dame's is 34%. Curry was named the Finals MVP....but Dame is the reason Portland isn't winning? Hopefully I'm misunderstanding what you're implying

Portland isn't a bad team because Dame is 3rd in the NBA in scoring, or leading the team in FGA's. Portland is a bad team because massive mismanagement over a decade has left the Blazers with a giant unworkable gap between the talent of Dame and the talent of the next best player on the team

 

[THE HCP]

What, no Leap Year?


I really like The Guard with Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleason

shoutout as well to “The Irishman” great movie, albeit a tad long

What about The Town….that was fantastic.

 

[Chris Craig]

What, no Leap Year?


I really like The Guard with Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleason

shoutout as well to “The Irishman” great movie, albeit a tad long

Other.

Yes, all good movies.

 

[Chris Craig]

some tall dude on Boston named Luke Kornet outplayed the Blazers powerhouse center Jusuf Nurkic tonight. Does anyone have an explanation for this?

Probably a future Blazer.

The explanation is Nurk is terrible.

 

[Mediocre Man]

wut? why are you focusing on Dame as the reason?

Dame is averaging 32 points and 7 assists. In last season's NBA finals Curry averaged 31 points and 5 assists. Curry averaged an assist every 4.57 shots; Dame is averaging an assist every 2.89 shots. Curry's usage rate was 33%; Dame's is 34%. Curry was named the Finals MVP....but Dame is the reason Portland isn't winning? Hopefully I'm misunderstanding what you're implying

Portland isn't a bad team because Dame is 3rd in the NBA in scoring, or leading the team in FGA's. Portland is a bad team because massive mismanagement over a decade has left the Blazers with a giant unworkable gap between the talent of Dame and the talent of the next best player on the team

It’s not the he’s the problem, it’s him being so good and being a ball dominant pg. Dame is 6th league wide in touches and time of possession. Both ahead of Curry. It’s not a “Dame is the problem” thing. It’s an offense thing. He does need to learn to play off the ball better, like Curry does

 

[BassPlaya]

He does need to learn to play off the ball better, like Curry does

What? He does and has done that. Most of the time, players just take it from him and pass to someone else until someone puts up a desparate shot.

Dame, Simons, and Grant. That is the short list of guys who can create off the dribble. It has little to do with Dame being a ball dominant PG. JMO.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What? He does and has done that. Most of the time, players just take it from him and pass to someone else until someone puts up a desparate shot.

Dame, Simons, and Grant. That is the short list of guys who can create off the dribble. It has little to do with Dame being a ball dominant PG. JMO.

I’m certainly in the minority here.

Dame is 4th in the league in shot attempts per game. Dame gets his shots

 

[wizenheimer]

It’s not the he’s the problem, it’s him being so good and being a ball dominant pg. Dame is 6th league wide in touches and time of possession. Both ahead of Curry. It’s not a “Dame is the problem” thing. It’s an offense thing. He does need to learn to play off the ball better, like Curry does

I wonder how good Curry would have been playing off the ball if he would have had passers like Aminu, MeJ, and Aldridge instead of Draymond, Iggy, Durant, and Livingston

 

[Mediocre Man]

I wonder how good Curry would have been playing off the ball if he would have had passers like Aminu, MeJ, and Aldridge instead of Draymond, Iggy, Durant, and Livingston

Or on a different offense. Would Dame give up the ball more in Kerrs offense?

 

[wizenheimer]

I’m certainly in the minority here.

Dame is 4th in the league in shot attempts per game. Dame gets his shots

ok...sure. But why is it that other players can get approximately the same number of shots as Dame and be on winning teams?



now, let's go thru that list and calculate Shots per assist:

Lebron - 3.28 shots/assist
Doncic - 2.76 shots/assist
Tatum - 4.55 shots/assist
Dame - 2.89 shots/assist
Morant - 2.51 shots/assist
Giannis - 3.75 shots/assist
Booker - 3.68 shots/assist
Embiid - 5.00 shots/assist
Brown - 6.21 shots/assist
SGA - 3.69 shots/assist
Mitchell - 4.41 shots/assist
Kyrie - 3.63 shots/assist
Curry - 3.26 shots/assist

so then, of the 13 players that average over 20 shots a game, Dame has the 3rd lowest rate of shots compared to assists. Even though he's 4th in the league in shots, he's still distributing the ball to teammates better than 10 of the 13 players averaging over 20 shots a game

I think you're looking thru a poor prism on this. Dame's "ball dominance" isn't as dominant as a lot of the top scorers in the game. To me, it sure doesn't look like the amount of shots Dame takes has anything, at all, with the reasons why Portland is winning, or losing, at the rate they are. The problem is the same one Portland has had for 8 or 9 years: that being that Dame is a top-10 talent that hasn't even played with a top-30 talent. More than any other top player, Dame has been saddled with shitty rosters

 

[wizenheimer]

Or on a different offense. Would Dame give up the ball more in Kerrs offense?

sure...but again, you're looking at it wrong, IMO. It isn't about the offensive scheme, it's about the roster talent.

sure looks like you're trying to suggest that Portland's problem is Dame's selfishness.

 

[tykendo]

Probably a future Blazer.

The explanation is Nurk is terrible.

I don't think Nurk is terrible, but he certainly is underachieving IMO. He got paid, so he shouldn't be crying about that. He gets touches, but has not improved at the finishing end. His FT making has gone south. I just don't get it. He still is the best screen setter on the team, and it's not close. But he's not just letting himself down, but his buddy Dame, and his team. He MUST do better next year. I don't think he's tradable because i doubt the Blazers would get anything back of substance. Nurk needs to man up, look in the mirror, and get back to playing the way he's capable of. More like the guy who gives it his all for his native country's team.