Finish this sentence: "If I were Stotts, for game 5 I would..."

[blue9]

...fire myself.

In all seriousness I wouldn't let Blake or AA off the bench. Frazier would take Blake's minutes - he couldn't possibly play any worse. And he is the best passer on our team, and passing has been SORELY lacking.
There are several options for replacing AA. The obvious choice is to start CJ, but I actually like his change-of-pace off the bench - although our starters could certainly use some help. But I think I'd go with an unconventional move and start Gee in order to keep CJ's energy coming in when some starters go out. Adding Gee to the starting line-up gives us two quality defenders on the perimeter. Stick Lillard on Tony Allen and let Gee or Nic guard their PG while the other guards Lee. Gee's energy will create some turnovers that could result in easy points. But Stotts doesn't like easy points or creating turnovers so we can pretty much guarantee that Gee won't get any PT.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I still wish we had started Gee when Wes went down. Sadly you're right; he won't get off the bench.

 

[illmatic99]

Send Blake packing

 

[Natebishop3]

Send Blake packing

Harsh! lol

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Send Blake packing

You mean, leave him in Portland? Don't let him on the plane!

 

[BlazerWookee]

"...fly to Memphis with the team."

 

[blue9]

"...fly to Memphis with the team."

You think LMA flew down there on his own?

 

[illmatic99]

You think LMA flew down there on his own?

I'm sure there's more to this than what's been reported, but in a vacuum, that was such a bitch move by LA.

 

[blue32]

I think he would be fine 3rd string, but he has shown us nothing in the playoffs; and I love Blakey...

 

[Strenuus]

Start putting in applications to other NBA jobs.

 

[dviss1]

Not start Meyers (who played EXCELLENT FUCKING DEFENSE ON GASOL) or CJ (who was going to THE RACK) because we need their bench production.

 

[MarAzul]

Stotts has done as you wish the past 4 games. The last game, doing as you suggest in the second half, took us from a seven point lead to a 10 deficit. No, put your shooter on the floor, and instruct the team to get Meyers shots, especially Damian, CJ, and Lamarcus. Meyers will prevent the gang from meeting when Lamarcus has the ball, but it will probably take a pass or two from Lamarcus to Meyers when they gang up on Lamarcus. Rolo can not play that role. Perhaps Freeland can from mid range. Damian can play pick n roll and pick n pop all day with Meyers but he doesn't. Hell that alone would get him a ton of clean drives to the hoop.

 

[noknobs]

I'm sure there's more to this than what's been reported, but in a vacuum, that was such a bitch move by LA.

Olshey gave every player the choice to fly back beforehand... I fail to see how taking him up on his offer is a bitch move...

 

[Sedatedfork]

I don't know what it is, but it seems like Memphis make us waste so much time on the clock in our offensive sets. I am not a basketball coach so I don't know what the solution is, but if you can't get into an offensive rhythm early in the game I fear that this team will not have what it takes to win in Memphis. It is demoralizing when you have to work so hard to get off what turns out to be a pretty poor shot and your rebounders are not in position to catch the carom. I guess my answer is to get high low game going with Leonard at the top of the key and Aldridge on the elbow. It's a new twist and maybe it gets our rebounders in better position.

 

[blue32]

Olshey gave every player the choice to fly back beforehand... I fail to see how taking him up on his offer is a bitch move...

What are you guys referring to?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

What are you guys referring to?

After game 2 in MEM Olshey said POR would leave in the morning but if any players wanted to leave that night they could pay their own way. LMA did.

 

[EGame]

Also Stotts needs to figure out how to stop getting us in holes of 10 points or more. In the regular season, especially against lesser teams it may work out, but in the playoffs you will just get embarrassed. We got ran over last year by the Spurs in all but one game. Thus far we have been run over by the Grizzlies in all but one game. If we get down big to Memphis in game 5 it is over. No crowd to feed on to propel us to a comeback. If a playoff team that plays good defense gets a lead they will keep it and our coach needs to figure out how to make it so we stay with them throughout the game.

Hell even Houston had big leads against us in the playoffs last year, but they blew them because they don't play the defense that San Antonio last year did or Memphis has thus far. He. Needs. To. Figure. It. Out.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Also Stotts needs to figure out how to stop getting us in holes of 10 points or more. In the regular season, especially against lesser teams it may work out, but in the playoffs you will just get embarrassed. We got ran over last year by the Spurs in all but one game. Thus far we have been run over by the Grizzlies in all but one game. If we get down big to Memphis in game 5 it is over. No crowd to feed on to propel us to a comeback. If a playoff team that plays good defense gets a lead they will keep it and our coach needs to figure out how to make it so we stay with them throughout the game.

Hell even Houston had big leads against us in the playoffs last year, but they blew them because they don't play the defense that San Antonio last year did or Memphis has thus far. He. Needs. To. Figure. It. Out.

Remember, we started out very strong in game 2 and took an early 10-2 lead, and had a 21-15 lead with about 3 minutes left in the first quarter. Memphis didn't take the lead until the second quarter, during that 6-minute scoreless span. And it's not as if we didn't have our best players in there during that stretch. They just didn't make plays. I don't think you can put that one on Stotts.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Sad but true department: our only hope is for Lillard to go crazy and play the type of hero ball Westbrick gets blasted for.

 

[EGame]

Remember, we started out very strong in game 2 and took an early 10-2 lead, and had a 21-15 lead with about 3 minutes left in the first quarter. Memphis didn't take the lead until the second quarter, during that 6-minute scoreless span. And it's not as if we didn't have our best players in there during that stretch. They just didn't make plays. I don't think you can put that one on Stotts.

Oh I didn't get to watch game 2 so I was unaware. I just assumed as such because we ended up losing by like 15 or something like that I believe. Even still this is an issue since Stotts has been our coach. We need to figure out how to not get down so big and if we happen to get a big lead, figure out how to not blow it which we have also done multiple times this season.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I don't know what it is, but it seems like Memphis make us waste so much time on the clock in our offensive sets. I am not a basketball coach so I don't know what the solution is, but if you can't get into an offensive rhythm early in the game I fear that this team will not have what it takes to win in Memphis. It is demoralizing when you have to work so hard to get off what turns out to be a pretty poor shot and your rebounders are not in position to catch the carom. I guess my answer is to get high low game going with Leonard at the top of the key and Aldridge on the elbow. It's a new twist and maybe it gets our rebounders in better position.

The only way we can combat the shot clock problem is with transition baskets and great ball movement. The big reason they are killing our flow is Gasol and zbo being able to camp in the lane while their fantastic perimeter defenders cover our best shooters.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Tell LaMarcus to get his ass in the post and take it hard to the rim and draw some fouls! Stop settling for jump shots so much.

 

[blue9]

Tell LaMarcus to get his ass in the post and take it hard to the rim and draw some fouls! Stop settling for jump shots so much.

Tell LMA to fucking pass the ball out of the post once the defense commits. Ball movement has been all but nonexistent - kicking out of the post is one of the only ways in which we can create ball movement against MEM because their perimeter defense is so tenacious.

 

[BBert]

LaMarcus made a meaningless layup with 0.9 after a missed free throw to get his shooting percentage over 25%. Yeah.

I was down on his crappy shooting and decision making on offense, but he deserves credit for his defense. He was busting his ass on defense (for the most part) so I think that was taking away from his offense.

Still, count me as one who thinks the entire team offense would benefit from LaMarcus passing out more often for better shots.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Tell LMA to fucking pass the ball out of the post once the defense commits. Ball movement has been all but nonexistent - kicking out of the post is one of the only ways in which we can create ball movement against MEM because their perimeter defense is so tenacious.

He has tunnel vision. With the doubles he gets from the baseline, if he would just kick it out he'd average like 4-5 assists.

 

[riverman]

I think it's started sinking in to LA that he doesn't have to always carry the team and that took somebody else making some buckets for a change. He was a beast on defense last night and commited to doing it all game

 

[Sedatedfork]

Or they can try to repost. I really think the main problem is getting the ball to him early so that he can pass out and possibly repost instead of taking a shot with defenders pushing him out and not getting the foul call and having like 3 Memphis players in position for the rebound.

 

[blue9]

He has tunnel vision. With the doubles he gets from the baseline, if he would just kick it out he'd average like 4-5 assists.

Actually, I don't think he'd get any assists because the idea would be to continue swinging the ball. But it would certainly give us much better looks than we've gotten thus far. LMA shooting contested jumpers, or driving into double/triple teams in the paint, doesn't do us any good. Use your ability to draw defenders to set up your teammates - all of whom are shooting better than you! But you are right about the tunnel vision - once the ball is in his hands he can only focus on the ball or his defender - everything else is outside his field of vision.

 

[dviss1]

Stotts has done as you wish the past 4 games. The last game, doing as you suggest in the second half, took us from a seven point lead to a 10 deficit. No, put your shooter on the floor, and instruct the team to get Meyers shots, especially Damian, CJ, and Lamarcus. Meyers will prevent the gang from meeting when Lamarcus has the ball, but it will probably take a pass or two from Lamarcus to Meyers when they gang up on Lamarcus. Rolo can not play that role. Perhaps Freeland can from mid range. Damian can play pick n roll and pick n pop all day with Meyers but he doesn't. Hell that alone would get him a ton of clean drives to the hoop.

Last I checked (watched the game) they came off the bench and did exactly as I suggested. Starting them IMO would be a bad idea. What are they gonna do? Play more than the 35 mins they played last game?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Last I checked (watched the game) they came off the bench and did exactly as I suggested. Starting them IMO would be a bad idea.

As long as they play more minutes than their starting counterparts I'll be happy. Rolo's play is giving me an aneurysm and AAA, God bless that tough SOB but he is playing with a broken wing.