Better Game 4 Goal: Win or Develop?

[BBert]

For the sake of argument, and because I've sensed some of this mind set in other threads, what should be the Blazers goal for Game 4: Win one for the home crowd; or play the role players, including Meyers, maximum minutes for developmental and evaluation purposes?

I say go for the win. Chances are the Warriors relax a bit and subconsciously (or consciously) would rather close out the series in front of their own fans; the old "gentleman's sweep". And importantly, I think the paying customers deserve a good effort out of the home team.

OTOH: Going back to Oakland down 3-1, if things go south early it wouldn't bother me to throw in the towel and make it a developmental game.

What say you?

 

[riverman]

Fans deserve to see the best Blazers playing at home in the playoffs...you always play to win...if it's a blowout...you give the bench an experience and check their development against the best like CJ got when Wes went down.

 

[Dubsfan]

No pro team should throw in the towel. That's what's makes them pros. They may get overwhelmed and play the bench earlier, but in that case it's just talent versus talent.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The decision has been made for us:

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Honestly, the future involves our starting five, and pretty much nobody else. So why not both? I say play Dame and CJ as many minutes as they want, and let one or the other go for the Blazers playoff single game points record (currently 46 points).

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The decision has been made for us:

I'm glad.

 

[Sinobas]

Injure Draymond Green.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Injure Draymond Green.

Low key I'd be happy if he spontaneously combusted like a Spinal Tap drummer.

 

[H.C.]

The goal for the series was to not get swept.
I believe that's still the goal is it not?

 

[Hobbesarable]

Win or lose, at least give the home crowd a good showing and play with some grit.

 

[Haakzilla]

...I voted for "development", but only for the simple fact that some of the guys in the normal rotation don't seem to be locked in and ready to give that 110% playoff hustle. So if that is called developing then so be it. Terry should go down the entire bench and challenge everyone. Go balls out or sit!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Win or lose, at least give the home crowd a good showing and play with some grit.

Troll everyone by forcefeeding Meyers until he gets 30 shots.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

...I voted for "development", but only for the simple fact that some of the guys in the normal rotation don't seem to be locked in and ready to give that 110% playoff hustle. So if that is called developing then so be it. Terry should go down the entire bench and challenge everyone. Go balls out or sit!

"If I see a loose ball and you're not diving after it, you won't play again. If I see a rebound and you're not over someone's back to get it, you won't play again. If you foul and they get up without wincing, you won't play again."

 

[Hobbesarable]

Troll everyone by forcefeeding Meyers until he gets 30 shots.

I wonder how many fans would leave the Rose Garden early if that happened.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Misleading poll. Instead of developing for the future, it should read for the fans also.

What does winning accomplish towards our ultimate goal of a championship run in 2-3 years?

Which is all you can ask for

 

[Mediocre Man]

I wonder how many fans would leave the Rose Garden early if that happened.

I'd pass on every bathroom break if Stotts made him run wind sprints during tge game for every shot outside 4 feet.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I had hoped beginning about halfway through the season that the rest of the season would be devoted to developing. I would have actually let Aminu handle the ball even more; hopefully enable him to realize what he is and is not capable of doing. I would have let Harkless try to do a lot more. I would have encouraged Lillard and McCollum to see what they could do to involve other players more and make them more successful. I would have spent a lot of practice on what to do when our guards get trapped. I would have encouraged the coaches to try some new things on defense that might only be used occasionally but could be useful. I would have brought in an explayer who was a defensive specialist who could teach the little nuances of good defensive play, It's really too late to do any of that tomorrow night.

 

[swish3]

Troll everyone by forcefeeding Meyers until he gets 30 shots.

What a good idea! If you did, Meyers might make between 45 and 54 points on swish3s! This will be enough to get the win over GS.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

RKO Kevin Durant.

 

[ripcityboy]

"Yeah.... Develop. That's what I'm going to do, develop some players. The best players in professional basketball.
Because I'm the best coach in the world. Yeah. Yeah. That's the ticket!"

 

[BlazerCaravan]

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My mom and I used to joke that this particular Jon Lovitz character was exactly David Stern.