Game Thread 2023-24 Game #18 - BLAZERS @ CAVS - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - THURSDAY - 4:00 PM PST - ROOT

[Tince]

I had a ton of fun watching that game but when it was over, I had to deal with a bunch of people talking about our team being in the playoffs. Then I had to come to the realization that when we don't come close to the playoffs the same people talking crazy tonight will be melting down and looking to place blame where no blame needs to be placed.

I know I'm guilty of fixating on the extreme takes around here.

Like you, I'm uncomfortable saying this roster is built and ready to compete in an 82 game season plus the playoffs. I'm also uncomfortable saying Grant, Ant, Brodgon, Sharpe, Ayton, Scoot, or Camara suck or are future #1 options on a good team.

Weird game tonight, but fun win!

 

[Natebishop3]

I know I'm guilty of fixating on the extreme takes around here.

Like you, I'm uncomfortable saying this roster is built and ready to compete in an 82 game season plus the playoffs. I'm also uncomfortable saying Grant, Ant, Brodgon, Sharpe, Ayton, Scoot, or Camara suck or are future #1 options on a good team.

Weird game tonight, but fun win!

For consistency, I’m gonna say the opposite of everything you just said.

 

[Tince]

For consistency, I’m gonna say the opposite of everything you just said.

LOL... probably a good default stance!

I get the feeling we've been agreeing too much lately and it was starting to make me feel uncomfortable!

 

[illmatic99]

we're only 2.5 games out of a play-in spot lol

 

[Hoopguru]

The team seems to be improving both on D & O. I guess you could say gelling and establishing an identity of playing hard.

 

[Cugel]

Props to CB.

 

[TBpup]

When Tisse, Toumani, Jabari or and 2 of those 3 are on the court, the energy and effort go up. You can see it being infectious. It is so fun to watch on defense and on the glass where Jabari gobbles up rebounds like Pac-Man.

Then there was Shae who for the first time in a game that wasn't a tank job and against a legit Playoff team, got that 'look' where he realized no one could stop him if he was smart and took good shots.

Scoot passing when he has confidence is legit. Scoot shooting is a bricklayer's dream. His hands seem a bit close together on his shot. Develop a shot and he will be dangerous.

The effort of this group, win or lose on most nights, is a vast departure from years passed and it bodes well for the future.

 

[Whyachi]

Sharpe highlights made the NBA YouTube channel

 

[BankTeller]

When Tisse, Toumani, Jabari or and 2 of those 3 are on the court, the energy and effort go up. You can see it being infectious. It is so fun to watch on defense and on the glass where Jabari gobbles up rebounds like Pac-Man.

Yeah, 3 T’s. Tisse, Toumani, Tabari. You trade one of these guys, you trade your team’s heart.

Lol I only joke about that in reference to someone swearing up and down we could not trade Josh, Jerami, or Justise last season, but I really do see the difference in effort when any two of them are on the court together.

Good to see them start to shoot better too. We don’t need all three to shoot well on the same day, just one of the three to be shooting lights out, or two of the three who be respectable from three on the same night.

 

[THE HCP]

And as a reward we have been sitting in the tarmac here in lovely Cleveland for 2.5 hours. Looks like we’ll get to our hotel rooms tonight about 3 am SLC time! #BAM

 

[KingSpeed]

Sure he is - he's already a millionaire.

Is he? How much money after taxes has he actually been paid a month into the season and how much has he spent?

Cool... if we're great this season you won't find me complaining. I'll gladly eat crow. I'm just saying that from my perspective teams have been taking us lightly and that is about to change so I don't want to see a bunch of you in here expecting unrealistic shit melting down and putting it on Chauncey if/when we are losing a lot of games... with Scoot and with Ant. I also think we'll have a worse record at the trade deadline than we did last season and we can expect Joe to complete the youth rebuild and that point. But hey again I'll be happy to be wrong.

Are you Chauncey’s mom? So protective.

 

[blazerfan11]

And as a reward we have been sitting in the tarmac here in lovely Cleveland for 2.5 hours. Looks like we’ll get to our hotel rooms tonight about 3 am SLC time! #BAM

Good things there's a couple days off.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

The team seems to improving both on D & O. I guess you could say gelling and establishing an identity of playing hard.

yeah those around here that think its a fact this team cant improve as is, is simply crazy.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I had a ton of fun watching that game but when it was over, I had to deal with a bunch of people talking about our team being in the playoffs. Then I had to come to the realization that when we don't come close to the playoffs the same people talking crazy tonight will be melting down and looking to place blame where no blame needs to be placed.

whats just as nauseating is listening to people say we cant improve and will suck this year regardless….

If we dont improve we dont improve, but id rather read posts of people melting down because we arent as good as they want vs reading posters continually insist we suck and cant compete when we are absolutely competing….

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

When Tisse, Toumani, Jabari or and 2 of those 3 are on the court, the energy and effort go up. You can see it being infectious. It is so fun to watch on defense and on the glass where Jabari gobbles up rebounds like Pac-Man.

Then there was Shae who for the first time in a game that wasn't a tank job and against a legit Playoff team, got that 'look' where he realized no one could stop him if he was smart and took good shots.

Scoot passing when he has confidence is legit. Scoot shooting is a bricklayer's dream. His hands seem a bit close together on his shot. Develop a shot and he will be dangerous.

The effort of this group, win or lose on most nights, is a vast departure from years passed and it bodes well for the future.

fantastic post pup!

 

[Natebishop3]

Sharpe highlights made the NBA YouTube channel

The scoring is great, but the most impressive thing this season (to me) is his passing. I wasn't expecting that. I absolutely love it.

 

[Trailblazers76]

Blazers 10th in the league in opponent's PPG. The last couple games the Blazers controlled the pace and kept the scoring low. Teams could be playing down the Blazers level, but either way that's an encouraging sign from a young team.

 

[blazerfan11]

Cavaliers booed at home during 'worst' loss this season as Trail Blazers beat Cleveland 103-95

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff kept his locker room closed an excessive amount of time before holding a brief postgame news conference during which he seemed in a daze.

What was the message to his players?

“Just trying to get an understanding of where we’re going and how we’re going to get there,” Bickerstaff said.

Sharpe went 11 of 15 from the field and added 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to separate from the Cavs. Cleveland went more than five minutes without a field goal.

Sharpe's biggest bucket came with 1:33 left on a driving layup that put Portland ahead 99-91. After it dropped, he stood on the baseline and flexed for the crowd while shooting a glance at Cleveland's bench.

“Shaedon was special tonight and everyone else chipped in,” said Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. "He made big shots and got some grown man rebounds. I got on him at halftime because he was playing like we was in the summertime, playing pickup basketball.”

Mitchell scored 23 and Evan Mobley 20 for the Cavs. Darius Garland had 15 points, but the All-Star point guard was sloppy with the ball, committing eight turnovers.

It was a poor performance for Cleveland, which is finally healthy and looked ready to start stacking some wins.

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401584893

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Chauncey has really impressed me with how he has them playing. Schemes will be improved but they never work without hard play and hustle. These guys are giving it all for him and it shows.
Players have bought in.
So have i.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

The scoring is great, but the most impressive thing this season (to me) is his passing. I wasn't expecting that. I absolutely love it.

See???? Dont write the kid off as not becoming our consistent star just yet please.
Its gonna happen. Wanna know why?

ive invested in too many of his rookie cards already!!! Lol.

 

[Natebishop3]

See???? Dont write the kid off as not becoming our consistent star just yet please.
Its gonna happen. Wanna know why?

ive invested in too many of his rookie cards already!!! Lol.

Bruh…

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Bruh…

Yeah?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

The game changed when Scoot came through in the second half.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Sharpe’s gonna be a good one.

Sharpe IS a good one.

 

[twobullz]

I didn’t get to watch the games but it looked like in the highlights I saw sharpe wasn’t wearing that brace on his shooting hand. Was I seeing things?

 

[Natebishop3]

I didn’t get to watch the games but it looked like in the highlights I saw sharpe wasn’t wearing that brace on his shooting hand. Was I seeing things?

He probably took it off because he told Marang his thumb wasn’t bothering him anymore like a week ago.

 

[Tince]

we're only 2.5 games out of a play-in spot lol

Stop it!

 

[blazerfan11]

The game changed when Scoot came through in the second half.

You can't look at the box score to know what Scoot and Matisse (and the other guys) do when they come off the bench.

When Scoot came in with about 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Blazers were behind by 8 points.

When Brogdon replaced Scoot with 3:44 remaining in the game, the Blazers were ahead by 8 points.

 

[blazerkor]

whats just as nauseating is listening to people say we cant improve and will suck this year regardless….

If we dont improve we dont improve, but id rather read posts of people melting down because we arent as good as they want vs reading posters continually insist we suck and cant compete when we are absolutely competing….

Our young players should improve pretty much every game. Chauncey has done a great job getting this entire roster to compete regardless of if they win or lose. So I'm not someone saying we can't compete. What I'm saying is that from my perspective nights like this where we beat playoff teams are going to be few and far between.

We will probably end up with a win percentage lower than what we have right now and that's not because our guys won't improve but because Joe will likely do what he has done every trade deadline that he's been GM and trade win now players for assets that will help us win when we'll be the most competitive, from 4-5 years from now through the following eight or so seasons.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

We will probably end up with a win percentage lower than what we have right now and that's not because our guys won't improve but because Joe will likely do what he has done every trade deadline that he's been GM and trade win now players for assets that will help us win when we'll be the most competitive, from 4-5 years from now through the following eight or so seasons.

I don't think Joe will engineer a late season tank this year as was done the last two. Here's some of the reasons:

1. Blazers aren't as good right now at this point of the season as prior years, their current 13th in the West. They are on pace to get a great pick even trying hard to win.

2. There is more long term upside for Scoot/Sharpe/Ant/Ayton/Camara getting wins right now. Prior years it was a Dame/vet group that wouldn't benefit much long term from some wins and meaningful games. This years group would benefit much more.

3. The draft is much weaker, far less incentive to tank

4. A 3rd season of hard tanking risks developing a long term losing culture. Trying to win the whole year can avoid that