Adande: Blazers 14-3 but doubts remain

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
It's understandable why their would be a lack of belief. Some people thought they would only be slightly better than they were last year which was sub .500.

I feel they are for real. I think there will be a time or two they will struggle but I think they are. I also think the more they win, it increases the liklihood of a mid season trade which will bring in another star that many prognosticators think is needed to take the next step.
 
Shooter said:
Why? We're 14-3 and playing on our own court tonight. It's Indiana who should be scared.
Click to expand...

Whether we win or not, it won't have anything to do with Indy being scared. Veteran, playoff tested teams don't get scared. Were they scared when they went toe-to-toe with Miami and took them to 7 games in the Eastern Conference finals?

Hoping for a win, but against Indiana's defense, it will be tough. They are a defensive juggernaut - and it's not just Hibbert shutting down the paint. Their Defensive EFF of 85.6 is ridiculous. There are only two other teams in the league with a Defensive EFF below 100. They are the Spurs (Defensive EFF = 97.3) and the Heat (Defensive EFF = 99.4). They also have a ridiculous Opp FG% of .390. Second best is Houston at .422. They don't just lead the league in these two key defensive stats they lead by ridiculously large margins over some very good defensive teams (Spurs, Heat and Rockets).

Our biggest advantage is 3-point shooting. We are 3rd in the league with 3FG% = .414. The Pacers are 14th in the league with 3FG% = .364. On the defensive end, the Blazers are currently 2nd at defensing the 3 (Opp 3FG% = .323), but the Pacers aren't far behind (4th in Opp 3FG% = .332). So, will we be able to get open 3-pointers against Indiana's defense? And, if we do, will our guys be able to knock them down.

The good news is Indiana doesn't defend the 3 on the road (Opp 3FG% = .353, 10th in the league) as well as they do at home (Opp 3FG% = .314, 2nd in the league).

With Hibbert shutting down the paint, we need Batum and Matthews to REALLY step up tonight. Unfortunately, and maybe it's just the small sample size, but both players are shooting the 3 considerably worse at home than on the road.

Nicolas Batum:
Home: 3FG% = .351
Away: 3FG% = .429

Wesley Matthews:
Home: 3FG% = .439
Away: 3FG% - .561

The good news is Damian Lillard shoots the 3 better at home:

Damian Lillard:
Home: 3FG% = .438
Away: 3FG% - .375

But, we can't just rely on Damian and LaMarcus against a tough team like Indiana, we need other people (Nic and Wes) to step up. The good news is our bench shoots the 3 much better at home:

Mo Williams:
Home: 3FG% = .429
Away: 3FG% - .348

Dorell Wright:
Home: 3FG% = .421
Away: 3FG% - .321

Dorell Wright may be a real wildcard here. Last season, in 4 games against Indiana, he averaged 13.5 ppg and shot .444 from 3-point range against them. I wonder if Stotts will look to go with the big line-up for stretches tonight with Batum at the 2 and Wright at the 3.

All-in-all, as a team, the Blazers shoot the 3 slightly worse at home (.405, 8th in the league) than on the road (.420, 4th in the league). Let's hope the home cooking is working and the shots are falling tonight.

Go Blazers!!!

BNM
 
BTW, I'm REALLY excited about tonight's game. I grew up and played high school and college ball in Indiana - I even watched the movie Hoosiers last night on cable. I've now lived half my life in Indiana and half in Oregon. I'm happy for all my friends and family back home that the Pacers are doing well, but of course I'm absolutely ecstatic about my Blazers and their 14-3 start. I'm hoping for a good, hard fought game with the Blazers winning on a last second shot. I really hope it's a close game and it goes down to the final seconds. An occasional blowout can be fun, but it's the close games against the tough, playoff tested teams that build confidence and character.

BNM
 
Our starters vs. their starters:

It's interesting that in all the key advanced team stats, Indiana is currently dominating the league. As I posted above, their team defense isn't just the best in the league, it's the best by a ridiculous margin over San Antonio, Miami and Houston.

As a team, their Deff (Efficiency differential = Offensive eff - Defensive eff) of 27.8 leads the league. San Antonio at 23.5 and Miami at 22.2 are the only other teams with Deff > 20 (the Blazers are 6th in the league at Deff = 11.4). So, it appears the Pacers have a rather substantial advantage in Deff. However, if you just look at the starters, the gap narrows considerably.

Indiana has the best starting 5 in the league with a Deff = 27.5, but the Blazers have the second best starting 5 in the league with a Deff = 22.6.

And if you look at our starters at home Deff vs. Indiana's starters on road Deff, it's practically a tie:

Portland Home Deff = 17.3
Indiana Road Deff = 17.8

I know every game is a unique event, but I hope it ends up being close and we can pull it out at the end.

BNM
 
Last edited:
Boob-No-More said:
Our starters vs. their starters:

It's interesting that in all the key advanced team stats, Indiana is currently dominating the league. As I posted above, their team defense isn't just the best in the league, it's the best by a ridiculous margin over San Antonio, Miami and Houston.

As a team, their Deff (Efficiency differential = Offensive eff - Defensive eff) of 27.8 leads the league. San Antonio at 23.5 and Miami at 22.2 are the only other teams with Deff > 20 (the Blazers are 6th in the league at Deff = 11.4). So, it appears the Pacers have a rather substantial advantage in Deff. However, if you just look at the starters, the gap narrows considerably.

Indiana has the best starting 5 in the league with a Deff = 27.5, but the Blazers have the second best starting 5 in the league with a Deff = 22.6.

And if you look at our starters at home Deff vs. Indiana's starters on road Deff, it's practically a tie:

Portland Home Deff = 17.3
Indiana Road Deff = 17.6

I know every game is a unique event, but I hope it ends up being close and we can pull it out at the end.

BNM
Click to expand...

And lets be real here. Most of the games were played against the Leastern Conference teams for Indy.
 
magnifier661 said:
And lets be real here. Most of the games were played against the Leastern Conference teams for Indy.
Click to expand...

Yes, Indiana has played 13 of their 17 game against Eastern Conference opponents. But, to be fair, they actually have a better efficiency differential, in their 4 games against the West, than in the 13 games against the East (Deff = 26.6).

But, the sample size is small and hopefully their Deff against the West will take a hit tonight.

BNM
 
Boob-No-More said:
Yes, Indiana has played 13 of their 17 game against Eastern Conference opponents. But, to be fair, they actually have a better efficiency differential, in their 4 games against the West, than in the 13 games against the East (Deff = 26.6).

But, the sample size is small and hopefully their Deff against the West will take a hit tonight.

BNM
Click to expand...

Opps sorry, those numbers are for their starters only. If you look at their total team Deff, it's basically the same vs. the West (Deff = 27.5) as vs. the East (Deff = 27.8).

BNM
 
OneLifeToLive said:
It's understandable why their would be a lack of belief. Some people thought they would only be slightly better than they were last year which was sub .500.

I feel they are for real. I think there will be a time or two they will struggle but I think they are. I also think the more they win, it increases the liklihood of a mid season trade which will bring in another star that many prognosticators think is needed to take the next step.
Click to expand...

I disagree with this. I think there is little chance of making a trade without having to give up something of value. If we continue to play well I don't see us moving a valuable piece.
 
Outside of Miami, Indiana, San Antonio, and OKC, every other team has "doubts".
 
I know it makes me look dumb to even say it, but I kind of doubt OKC.
 
Shooter said:
Seems that people can't quite believe yet . . .

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10066847/portland-gaudy-win-loss-record-puts-elite-right

A win tonight against Indiana would go a long way towards establishing our legitimacy.
Click to expand...

He's a Laker fan at heart. When I went to espn to check on happening around the NBA, I scrolled down the twitter feed they have on the front page. All of his tweets were Faker-centric. Stein is on board. Portland still has a lot to prove. Although JA did imply this Pacer game was the one that mattered.
 
tlongII said:
I disagree with this. I think there is little chance of making a trade without having to give up something of value. If we continue to play well I don't see us moving a valuable piece.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't think it increases the likelihood of a trade either. Why would Portland want to break something mid-season if it's working so well.
 
PapaG said:
Outside of Miami, Indiana, San Antonio, and OKC, every other team has "doubts".
Click to expand...

Very true.

Personally, I'd be happier if the media was ignoring the Blazers, no Blazer was getting any all-star votes and every team in the league had them penciled in as a guarranteed win. Sneak up on people and foster a nice "us against the world" attitude in the locker-room.
 
oldmangrouch said:
Very true.

Personally, I'd be happier if the media was ignoring the Blazers, no Blazer was getting any all-star votes and every team in the league had them penciled in as a guarranteed win. Sneak up on people and foster a nice "us against the world" attitude in the locker-room.
Click to expand...

That would be epic!!! I'm curious to see Matthews's attitude after the all star break
 
I'd have to say the Suns are a good defensive team and Golden State as well. Credit where credit is due! In my opinion we've beaten 4-5 decent defending teams. This is in response to ponderguy saying we've only beaten 2 defensively talented teams.
 
Last edited:
Rhal said:
Its Indy as well so the story of the day will be in small print at the bottom of the page reading "Blazers beat some team from the east called indy. Havent heard of them before I'd guess they were an explansion team added last year".
Click to expand...

Can you imagine the front page headline if we had lost that game to the Lakers? "Lakers come back from a 20 point deficit!!! Blazers are fakes!"
 
HCP said:
What impresses me about the Pacers is their defense. They kill it in all the stats. We need to be moving the ball....swinging it and not playing 1on1. Gonna' be a tough one tonight.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. Tonight we need balanced scoring and good shot selection.
 
Blazer Fanatic said:
Yeah, I don't think it increases the likelihood of a trade either. Why would Portland want to break something mid-season if it's working so well.
Click to expand...

I think the bench could use a remodel.
 
BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 said:
Couldn't agree more. Tonight we need balanced scoring and good shot selection.
Click to expand...

And 48 minutes of effort. There will be no 20 point lead to blow, the Blazers just have to stay close and gut out the win. The Pacers are contenders and know how to win this way... the Blazers look like they may become that kind of team and this is going to be a great test for them.

Sad to say but I'm just hoping they don't get completely embarrassed... I absolutely want a win but would be okay if they lost by single digits.
 
Eastoff said:
I think the bench could use a remodel.
Click to expand...

images


... Oh, you meant the team?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B-Roy
Power Rankings: Blazers jump to #1
Replies
5
Views
848
Draco
Draco
Fez Hammersticks
Blazers (and 9 other teams) got what they wanted?
Replies
24
Views
2K
PapaG
PapaG
SlyPokerDog
ESPN NBA Team Rankings, Blazers #15!
Replies
6
Views
627
Wizard Mentor
Wizard Mentor
Draco
'Blazers making history' ESPN insider by Kevin Pelton
Replies
19
Views
2K
John Law
John Law
TBpup
The Next 7: Getting a gauge after a very good start
2 3
Replies
74
Views
2K
Strenuus
Strenuus

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top