Game Thread Blazers vs OKC Tuesday July 28th, 3pm PST NBCSNW

[BonesJones]

That's 3 scrimmages in a row where teams have lit us up from the 3pt line. Scrimmages where we had Nurkic and Collins back...

Our 3pt defense was never going to be solved by getting bigs back. That's part of the reason why I just didn't soak up the "injury" excuse all season.

Our team has not improved our 3pt season at all ALL SEASON. That falls on the coach. I get that we don't have the best perimeter defenders, but we should've seen improvement. The fact that we haven't is frustrating.

For the people saying "it's just a scrimmage", the issues we're seeing in these scrimmages existed all season, and based on these scrimmages, will exist during the restart and won't just be solved by the presence of Nurkic and Collins like a lot of mainstream media guys led everyone to belive.

77 points given up with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Also, Nurk has dealt with foul trouble in multiple games. Having a defensive gameplan of playing Dame, CJ, and Melo together and just letting guys drive at Nurkic probably isn't the best idea.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Hezonja is a Top 5 player in this league.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I don't think the new defense, with bigs guarding wings, can work. Whiteside has neither the quickness of feet or quickness of mind to do it. Also maybe just not the consistent hustle mindset.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

That's 3 scrimmages in a row where teams have lit us up from the 3pt line. Scrimmages where we had Nurkic and Collins back...

Our 3pt defense was never going to be solved by getting bigs back. That's part of the reason why I just didn't soak up the "injury" excuse all season.

Our team has not improved our 3pt season at all ALL SEASON. That falls on the coach. I get that we don't have the best perimeter defenders, but we should've seen improvement. The fact that we haven't is frustrating.

For the people saying "it's just a scrimmage", the issues we're seeing in these scrimmages existed all season, and based on these scrimmages, will exist during the restart and won't just be solved by the presence of Nurkic and Collins like a lot of mainstream media guys led everyone to belive.

77 points given up with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Also, Nurk has dealt with foul trouble in multiple games. Having a defensive gameplan of playing Dame, CJ, and Melo together and just letting guys drive at Nurkic probably isn't the best idea.

How well have our opponents shot from three when both of our lead perimeter defenders (Dame, CJ) are on the floor? They've only played 20 minutes together in all of preseason.

 

[James lamphear]

Trent hitting his 3 today nice to see

 

[BonesJones]

These scrimmages are just more of an example as to why I'm not a Terry Stotts fan. Yes we don't have Dame and CJ, but they don't have CP3... And Dame and CJ wouldn't solve our defensive issues, so it's obvious that we're just going to score 125 points in order to win, even though we have Nurkic and Collins back. Having to score 125 points to win is a recipe for disaster and will result in us missing the playoffs if we can't defend better.

 

[BonesJones]

How well have our opponents shot from three when both of our lead primary defenders (Dame, CJ) are on the floor?

Dame and C.J. played all season. Our 3pt defense struggled all season. Neither Dame and C.J. are good defenders. Our shotty 3pt defense during these scrimmages is not due to missing Dame or C.J.

 

[Chris Craig]

Hezonja is a Top 5 player in this league.

Are you on crack

 

[AldoTrapani]

Luckily, we won't play them again.

That’s the sad part. We play much tougher teams

 

[BonesJones]

Trent hitting his 3 today nice to see

It's so blatantly obvious he should start over Melo. People excuse Melo starting at SF with the quote that "Well he wasn't brought in for his defense" which doesn't make sense because 1.) We need defense at that position next to Dame and C.J. and 2.) Trent is a better offensive player at this point.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Are you on crack

Are you NOT? lol

 

[Chris Craig]

Are you NOT? lol

No. It might help my mood though

 

[KSF-ERIC]

No. It might help my mood though

I always make sure to light up the crack pipe before important games like this one.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Unless we win this game, I think we should trade Dame.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

what happened to 10 minutes quarters?

Games 2 & 3 in the scrimmages are 12 min quarters.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Dame and C.J. played all season. Our 3pt defense struggled all season. Neither Dame and C.J. are good defenders. Our shotty 3pt defense during these scrimmages is not due to missing Dame or C.J.

Dame & CJ got better at D over the break. Also- I hear we're trying out a new defense during this scrimmage that is built around letting the opposition shoot a lot of open threes. I don't think we'll play this way during the real games.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Games 2 & 3 in the scrimmages are 12 min quarters.

Got it.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I don't think the new defense, with bigs guarding wings, can work. Whiteside has neither the quickness of feet or quickness of mind to do it. Also maybe just not the consistent hustle mindset.

Maybe Nurk and Zach can chase guys around but I think Whiteside is really only comfortable hanging out in the paint. Maybe has to be two different defenses depending on whether he is in or not.

 

[Hoopguru]

It's so blatantly obvious he should start over Melo. People excuse Melo starting at SF with the quote that "Well he wasn't brought in for his defense" which doesn't make sense because 1.) We need defense at that position next to Dame and C.J. and 2.) Trent is a better offensive player at this point.

Best backcourt defender we have...

 

[KSF-ERIC]

These scrimmages are just more of an example as to why I'm not a Terry Stotts fan. Yes we don't have Dame and CJ, but they don't have CP3... And Dame and CJ wouldn't solve our defensive issues, so it's obvious that we're just going to score 125 points in order to win, even though we have Nurkic and Collins back. Having to score 125 points to win is a recipe for disaster and will result in us missing the playoffs if we can't defend better.

You panic too much. Remember when you said we'd lose to OKC in 6 after we lost game 3? That was classic. We lose one game and you blame Stotts and say we have no chance lol.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Man this team is boring to watch I’m out

 

[BonesJones]

Dame & CJ got better at D over the break. Also- I hear we're trying out a new defense during this scrimmage that is built around letting the opposition shoot a lot of open threes. I don't think we'll play this way during the real games.

Where the hell did you hear that and why the hell would we try that? If we're actually doing that, we need to banish Stotts from the bubble.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Man this team is boring to watch I’m out

bye

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Where the hell did you hear that and why the hell would we try that? If we're actually doing that, we need to banish Stotts from the bubble.

I have connections close to the coaching staff. The goal is to force them to shoot wide open threes to see what happens. Sometimes, they're forgetting but for the most part, they're executing the plan brilliantly.

 

[AldoTrapani]

I have connections close to the coaching staff. The goal is to force them to shoot wide open threes to see what happens. Sometimes, they're forgetting but for the most part, they're executing the plan brilliantly.

No u don’t lol

 

[BonesJones]

You panic too much. Remember when you said we'd lose to OKC in 6 after we lost game 3? That was classic. We lose one game and you blame Stotts and say we have no chance lol.

Not panicking bro. And where the fuck did I say we'll lose to OKC in 6 and do you think I was serious if I did? Because I never thought that we would.

@UKRAINEFAN this is why I don't post much. I post my opinion on our struggles and I'm "panicking" apparently, and then I get the "Remember when you said this (made up thing)" with no proof. This childish shit is why I don't post here much anymore.

 

[BonesJones]

I have connections close to the coaching staff. The goal is to force them to shoot wide open threes to see what happens. Sometimes, they're forgetting but for the most part, they're executing the plan brilliantly.

LMAO.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Not panicking bro. And where the fuck did I say we'll lose to OKC in 6 and do you think I was serious if I did? Because I never thought that we would.

@UKRAINEFAN this is why I don't post much. I post my opinion on our struggles and I'm "panicking" apparently, and then I get the "Remember when you said this (made up thing)" with no proof. This childish shit is why I don't post here much anymore.

You did dude. We lost game 3 and you went off on Stotts and said you really believed we'd lose in 6. You were dead serious. It was hilarious.

 

[Hoopguru]

Little is slow and doesn't seem to know where he fits.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Guys I hope don't come back next year - Whiteside, Melo, Mario. Don't care - Ant, most of the bench. Open to trading for the right deal - CJ. Want back - Dame, Nurk, Zach, Trent. Would like to see more to evaluate - Little, Wenyon.