Damian Lillard initiates players-only meething

[Strenuus]

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What do you think? I like seeing Lillard do this at such a young age... hopefully it pays dividends.

AN ANTONIO – It took Head Coach Terry Stotts a while before he showed up for his post-game presser. We later found out why.

After the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 103-90 on Wednesday night -- losing their fourth straight game, which happens to be their longest losing streak of the season -- the players had a post-game hash-out session that was initiated by Damian Lillard, CSNNW.com was told.

Earl Watson, Mo Williams and Dorell Wright were amongst some of the players to vocally address what was going on and what needed to change from here on out, we’re told.

“I just felt like it was something that needed to be said,” Lillard responded when ask why he initiated the dialogue. “At some point, it’s up to the players.”

The players maintain that there’s no desperation in the locker room. The session was solely meant as a means to eliminating issues from reoccurring.

“It’s time for a players-meeting when we see a little slippage,” Wright said. “Every team has two or three a year. I love the fact that this was the only one this season where guys really had to step up and be vocal leaders.

“And the best thing about it, we got vets in here that have been through things and young guys that have been through things as well and understand when it’s time to speak up. That’s what guys did tonight.”

The foundation of their post-game session was similar to Terry Stotts’ reminder from last night – staying together and staying the course.

All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is out with a back contusion, Mo Williams, we suppose, could come back any minute with a right hip strain. There’s no mistaken, the Trail Blazers are at a place they’ve never been this season.

“It’s the most adversity we’ve gone through, obviously,” Lillard said “but it’s not even a low feel to our team. We just want to make sure we’re addressing issues and finding ways to correct it before the playoffs begin. But there’s no panic at all.”

Portland (42-23) is off to New Orleans for their final game of this five-game road trip against the Pelicans on Friday. Going back home 1-4 will have to do.

Chris Haynes, Trail Blazers & NBA Insider

 

[1honestfan]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

 

[Rhal]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

Its an act of desperation to hold a players only meeting after a losing stretch? Seems to happen quiet a bit in this league and isn't an "act of desperation" and more trying to figure out what was wrong.

Olshey had very few trade chips this deadline the big one being CJ so please tell me what REALISTIC trades Olshey could have made that not only would have made the team better this year and next year.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[1honestfan]

Its an act of desperation to hold a players only meeting after a losing stretch? Seems to happen quiet a bit in this league and isn't an "act of desperation" and more trying to figure out what was wrong.

Olshey had very few trade chips this deadline the big one being CJ so please tell me what REALISTIC trades Olshey could have made that not only would have made the team better this year and next year.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

We could h ave made A LOT of trades and free agent signings, not only before the season but during the season as well. Portland made it perfectly clear that "THEY CHOOSE" to stand pat at the trade deadline as well as pick someone up on waivers.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Did he call the meeting to try and convince the other players that he's had some good defensive games this season? Because it didn't work when he told his Facebook fans that.

 

[illmatic99]

ugh

 

[jlprk]

Olshey had very few trade chips this deadline the big one being CJ so please tell me what REALISTIC trades Olshey could have made

Many of the names who were traded, and publicized names who teams failed to trade, were available for the likes of Leonard, Dorell Wright, Freeman, or Claver, and were better players, at least for the next couple of years.

But in Stotts' no-defense system, I don't think it would have made much difference.

 

[craigehlo]

But in Stotts' no-defense system, I don't think it would have made much difference.

Our D is atrocious, but I will always maintain that this squad is too easy to defend with Batum and Matthews in the same starting 5. They put no pressure on the opposition with their lack of a first step, and only are only "threats" to shoot the 3. We are going nowhere without upgrading either spot.

 

[e_blazer]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

Man, are you on the wrong page. Olshey has a plan to move the Blazers into true contention next season and he's sticking with it. Desperation would have been doing some of the wild-assed trades that get thrown around here in the hopes that things might work out to go just a little farther this year.

 

[Strenuus]

We could h ave made A LOT of trades and free agent signings, not only before the season but during the season as well. Portland made it perfectly clear that "THEY CHOOSE" to stand pat at the trade deadline as well as pick someone up on waivers.

Then name them. He said what trades (realistically) could have been made. Name some.

It's what people have a hard time with. They -think- these trades should happen. But then reality happens and realize that fantasy trades are just that, fantasy.

 

[Hobbesarable]

One question.

Is meething similar to seething?

 

[maxiep]

And Lillard just continues to impress me. It's one thing to be a terrific player. It's another to be a terrific leader. LA may be our leading scorer, but Damian is our leader. It's better for LA that way, and it's better for a team if the PG (who is the floor general) is the off court leader.

 

[Hobbesarable]

And Lillard just continues to impress me. It's one thing to be a terrific player. It's another to be a terrific leader. LA may be our leading scorer, but Damian is our leader. It's better for LA that way, and it's better for a team if the PG (who is the floor general) is the off court leader.

I like Dame stepping up as a leader. However, I think Matthews is the heart and soul of the team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm usually pretty skeptical of the "player's only meeting" but at this juncture I guess it couldn't hurt?

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I knew lillard was destined to be the leader. I guess next game we will learn if guys are willing to follow him.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He just keeps getting worser and worser...

There’s no mistaken, the Trail Blazers are at a place they’ve never been this season.

 

[BBert]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

So then, I guess it would have been an act of confidence to not have a meeting? Overconfidence, considering recent events, which is usually not a good thing. Either that or apathy: even worse. Having the meeting was the smart play.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

"honest," lol...

 

[BBert]

"honest," lol...

Dude, it's the 'bald-faced honesty', doncha know.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Dude, it's the 'bald-faced honesty', doncha know.

And the road to immortality as a urinal mat.

 

[Hobbesarable]

And the road to immortality as a urinal mat.

Courtesy of pottieshot.com!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

Watch . . . . . . Fuck that!!!!!

You don't have to mask swearing here.

Welcome to the board!!!!

 

[Strenuus]

One question.

Is meething similar to seething?

I saw that after I posted it. IT was 3:00 am... I said Phuck that!

 

[riverman]

Phuck that!!!!!

It's an act of desperation for that crap to happen when Allen and Olshey stood pat at the trading deadline.

That right there told you that the Blazers were serious only about being better than last year but not serious about going deep in the playoffs.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

nothing personal because that's not my style but your post is a serious act of desperation! Trust in Olshey and thank Allen for a Blazer team in Portland!

 

[Sinobas]

I think Damian's defense is unfairly maligned, while Batum, Matthews, and LA are over-rated in that regard. Most of the problem comes how the Blazers defense responds after Damian gets picked off. It's not about his 1 on 1 defense.

 

[blue32]

I think Damian's defense is unfairly maligned, while Batum, Matthews, and LA are over-rated in that regard. Most of the problem comes how the Blazers defense responds after Damian gets picked off. It's not about his 1 on 1 defense.

I gotta tell ya; in that Spurs game I watched Damian on D specifically. He did a fine job on Parker. And honestly, the Spurs were setting FAR superior picks than us. It's almost comical. The pick's they perform just totally dominated Lillard (and he was sprinting all over trying to get through or around).

On the reverse, our picks just don't do us justice. I can't tell if its because we do them to far up top, or what, but they just don't have the same effect...

 

[Eastoff]

I gotta tell ya; in that Spurs game I watched Damian on D specifically. He did a fine job on Parker. And honestly, the Spurs were setting FAR superior picks than us. It's almost comical. The pick's they perform just totally dominated Lillard (and he was sprinting all over trying to get through or around).

On the reverse, our picks just don't do us justice. I can't tell if its because we do them to far up top, or what, but they just don't have the same effect...

Maybe they do a better job vocalizing about watching for a screen?

 

[Strenuus]

Apparently it was a WHOLE team meeting... still orchestrated by Lillard..

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Apparently it was a WHOLE team meeting... still orchestrated by Lillard..

Maybe he taught Meyers how to swag like a boss.