Blazers @ Jazz 1/30/2012 Game Thread

[jlprk]

My theory is that playing with a worse point guard in Felton is hurting his shooting numbers. We all know Wes is a rhythm guy, whether he's hitting layups or jumpers, it doesn't matter. Wes got a lot more open looks close to the basket with Miller than with Felton, and that is in turn, making him shoot worse on his jump shots.

Last year 25% of his shots came close to the rim, he converted at at rate of .623 eFG and was assisted on 65% of those baskets. 28% came at the rim, he converted those at .635% eFG and was also assisted on 65% of those.

http://www.82games.com/1011/10POR7.HTM

This year, 22% of his shots came close to the rim, but he's converting those at a rate of .469 eFG, more than 15% lower than he did last year. Plus, he's only being assisted on 39% of these baskets. Likewise, 23% of his shots come at the rim, hes shooting .462 eFG on those, and also being assisted only 42% on those. So we see he's shooting less shots close to the basket, shooting significantly worse at the basket, and also being assisted on less of those baskets.

http://www.82games.com/1112/11POR6.HTM

The "eye" test supports this as well. Miller knew how to get the ball to his teammates, and he would throw passes that put them in a position to score. Matthews has been trying to create more himself because his backcourt partner does a poor job setting him up. I think we all underestimate the importance of a good pass.

Even if a guy catches the ball wide open, if he has to bring the ball up because it was thrown too low, bring it down because it was thrown too high, or too hard that it throws off his rhythm, he's more likely to miss. Miller and guys like Steve Nash deliver passes to teammates in rhythm. Felton throws wild passes that make the target, but force them to adjust.

Convincing evidence that Matthews looked good last year because of Miller.

Please re-post this in a non-game thread, so that a different set of readers will read it. (For example, me. I usually skip the game thread.) Also, you might put the numbers into columns, to highlight the difference between last year and this year.

 

[blue32]

It looks like something w/his meniscus. His leg was pretty much straight out and angled as he ran. When he slipped, it gave and i think he compressed on the meniscus. so i concur with Blazinaway.

 

[TripTango]

At least we are finding creative new ways to lose on the road.

 

[oldmangrouch]

hehe, you're funny. This doesn't serve as shit to the management. They won't do jack about it, and act like everything is fine.

Fear not good citizens...Al Bundy...er, Larry Miller...is on the job!

 

[craigehlo]

After they got Wallace last year they were one of the hottest teams to finish out the season.

When the pace slowed down in the post season, this team was mediocre. Andre needed to go, but getting Felton is clearly a huge step backwards.

 

[RoyToy]

Andre Miller has never won a playoff series

 

[jlprk]

All these personnel changes you guys demand have never made a difference before and they won't now, as long as you don't demand a coaching change.

 

[B-Roy]

When the pace slowed down in the post season, this team was mediocre. Andre needed to go, but getting Felton is clearly a huge step backwards.

Um that's funny, they were slow before they got Wallace (last year), and slow after they got Wallace

So when things got slower....they got worse?

Besides, you fail to mention they were the toughest series the eventual champions played.

 

[TripTango]

Andre Miller has never won a playoff series

Dan Marino never got a ring.

 

[TripTango]

All these personnel changes you guys demand have never made a difference before and they won't now, as long as you don't demand a coaching change.

So, if we demand a coaching change, this forum will finally make a difference?

 

[RoyToy]

Dan Marino never got a ring.

He made it to a SB

 

[RoyToy]

Um that's funny, they were slow before they got Wallace (last year), and slow after they got Wallace

So when things got slower....they got worse?

Besides, you fail to mention they were the toughest series the eventual champions played.

Which is bs

 

[TripTango]

He made it to a SB

And I'm not saying that Dre is as good at his position as Marino was at his. Just pointing out that player quality isn't always reflected in team success.

 

[B-Roy]

Which is bs

The swept the Lakers, crushed OKC in 5 games, and beat Miami in 6. Jason Terry said the Blazers were the toughest series they played. And at the very least, if they weren't the toughest, they were the second.

 

[RoyToy]

The swept the Lakers, crushed OKC in 5 games, and beat Miami in 6. Jason Terry said the Blazers were the toughest series they played. And at the very least, if they weren't the toughest, they were the second.

I know what Jason Terry said and I don't really buy it

The Heat series was competitive every game

There were times against Portland where you could see a real difference in a championship team and a playoff team

 

[B-Roy]

I know what Jason Terry said and I don't really buy it

The Heat series was competitive every game

There were times against Portland where you could see a real difference in a championship team and a playoff team

Okay, second. Better than OKC and the Lakers, the two top dogs in the west last year.

 

[TripTango]

Okay, second. Better than OKC and the Lakers, the two top dogs in the west last year.

The problem is that nobody gives prizes for "second best series vs. eventual champion". That was a pretty good, but flawed team. Much like this one.

 

[RoyToy]

Okay, second. Better than OKC and the Lakers, the two top dogs in the west last year.

I agree with Blazers played the Mavs pretty good

That said, I don't give Miller too much credit for making it a 4-2 series. I think #7 had something to do with that, and he's obviously not here this year.

 

[B-Roy]

The problem is that nobody gives prizes for "second best series vs. eventual champion". That was a pretty good, but flawed team. Much like this one.

They had a chance to win the series. That's all you're asking for as a "contender". No series (or ring) is a sure thing, ask the Lakers vs the Mavs, or the Thunder vs the Mavs, or hell, the Heat vs the Mavs. Everyone thought the Heat would win it eventually.

 

[B-Roy]

I agree with Blazers played the Mavs pretty good

That said, I don't give Miller too much credit for making it a 4-2 series. I think #7 had something to do with that, and he's obviously not here this year.

All your asking for is a chance to win. I don't think Dre was some sort of hero in that series, but he put up a 18.9 PER and played his counterpart to a draw. If we had Felton, you can bet your ass we'd sink in 4 games.

 

[TripTango]

They had a chance to win the series. That's all you're asking for as a "contender". No series (or ring) is a sure thing, ask the Lakers vs the Mavs, or the Thunder vs the Mavs, or hell, the Heat vs the Mavs. Everyone thought the Heat would win it eventually.

Agreed. Just don't make the leap to arguing that we would have clearly gone to the Finals if we'd just been able to beat the Mavs. I don't even think Dallas was the best overall team in the playoffs last year -- they just caught fire at exactly the right time.

 

[TripTango]

All your asking for is a chance to win. I don't think Dre was some sort of hero in that series, but he put up a 18.9 PER and played his counterpart to a draw. If we had Felton, you can bet you're ass we'd sink in 4 games.

Yeah, I think it's fair to say that this Felton experiment has been an utter disaster. I thought he showed potential to do some good things at the beginning of the year, but he's actually regressed since then. I can't help but think that something is very wrong behind the scenes with that guy...

 

[B-Roy]

Agreed. Just don't make the leap to arguing that we would have clearly gone to the Finals if we'd just been able to beat the Mavs. I don't even think Dallas was the best overall team in the playoffs last year -- they just caught fire at exactly the right time.

I don't think so, but we would have had a chance. If we won that series, I'd say there's maybe a 20% chance we'd go to the finals, since we play the Lakers and OKC pretty well.

Woulda lost pretty handily to the Heat though I think.

 

[maxiep]

Any word on Nico's knee?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Any word on Nico's knee?

MRI tomorrow.

 

[THE HCP]

Just got home. Quiet flight. Talked to Nic as we got off the plane and he said his knee "twisted" as he planted. Wished him luck tomorrow. Tough loss. I can understand being pissed, but damn, how quick some of you bail on your favorite team. We will win the next 2 games. Doesn't matter how good we are over the years, we just don't play well in Utah. Not making excuses, just don't know how you can turn so fast on your squad.

 

[Nate Dogg]

HCP ask the team how they blew a 8-10 pt lead most of the game.

Oh, wait. I know that answer. The team lacks on defense and takes jump shots in frantic situation to catchup in offense, especially 3 point attempts.

I watched the game. Blazers had no offensive rebounds when their teammates shot the ball. Sad.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

My theory is that playing with a worse point guard in Felton is hurting his shooting numbers. We all know Wes is a rhythm guy, whether he's hitting layups or jumpers, it doesn't matter. Wes got a lot more open looks close to the basket with Miller than with Felton, and that is in turn, making him shoot worse on his jump shots.

Last year 25% of his shots came close to the rim, he converted at at rate of .623 eFG and was assisted on 65% of those baskets. 28% came at the rim, he converted those at .635% eFG and was also assisted on 65% of those.

http://www.82games.com/1011/10POR7.HTM

This year, 22% of his shots came close to the rim, but he's converting those at a rate of .469 eFG, more than 15% lower than he did last year. Plus, he's only being assisted on 39% of these baskets. Likewise, 23% of his shots come at the rim, hes shooting .462 eFG on those, and also being assisted only 42% on those. So we see he's shooting less shots close to the basket, shooting significantly worse at the basket, and also being assisted on less of those baskets.

http://www.82games.com/1112/11POR6.HTM

The "eye" test supports this as well. Miller knew how to get the ball to his teammates, and he would throw passes that put them in a position to score. Matthews has been trying to create more himself because his backcourt partner does a poor job setting him up. I think we all underestimate the importance of a good pass.

Even if a guy catches the ball wide open, if he has to bring the ball up because it was thrown too low, bring it down because it was thrown too high, or too hard that it throws off his rhythm, he's more likely to miss. Miller and guys like Steve Nash deliver passes to teammates in rhythm. Felton throws wild passes that make the target, but force them to adjust.

I think maybe you are on to something here. Seems in particular that Mathews got a lot of back door baskets with Miller. It seems like Miller made a lot of players better; it seems a shame that with Aldridge and Batum on the team Felton simply cannot make a decent lob pass.

 

[jlprk]

Just got home. Quiet flight. Talked to Nic as we got off the plane and he said his knee "twisted" as he planted. Wished him luck tomorrow. Tough loss. I can understand being pissed, but damn, how quick some of you bail on your favorite team. We will win the next 2 games. Doesn't matter how good we are over the years, we just don't play well in Utah. Not making excuses, just don't know how you can turn so fast on your squad.

We will beat Charlotte at home and Sacramento on the road? I don't know, that's going out on a limb, daring prediction there... Hmm, how'd you pick the number two. Which teams do we play after those two. In order, they are Denver, Oklahoma, Houston, New Orleans, Dallas....Owww!! Uncle!!!!

 

[Rhal]

We will beat Charlotte at home and Sacramento on the road? I don't know, that's going out on a limb, daring prediction there... Hmm, how'd you pick the number two. Which teams do we play after those two. In order, they are Denver, Oklahoma, Houston, New Orleans, Dallas....Owww!! Uncle!!!!

We beat Denver/OKC/Houston at home, will beat NO at there place then lose to Dal 4-1