Game Thread GAME# 11: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 7, 2017 - TUESDAY, 7:00 (PST), NBCSNW

[stampedehero]

A one point loss. Well at least we were in the battle until the last axe chopped off a home win.

 

[Labinot41]

Guys look, i don't want so Sound like a hater. But this Team/Roster is crap. Our Offense is terrible to watch, we make stupid plays and to many stupid turnovers (a lot unforced). With this Schedule we should have a 8:3 record or 9:2, we can beat Teams Who probably will not make to the playoffs, but that's all. I am not High on nurkic, he is a Foul and turnover machine, has no bball Iq and shots under 50% in the paint. That's really bad for a center. He is not that good as everybody think imo. I would be happy if we can trade him and let Collins play at the Center. He is a smart Player, has more bball Iq, he can shot the 3 and is probably in 2 or 3 years the better rim protector than Nurkic is. I don't want Nurkic here anymore. He sucks, yeah we won some games since he is here, but we need a center who is Playing and not after 1! Fucking Minute on the bench. Dame unfortenatly sucks also from 3 this year. I am really looking Forward to make a cut with this roster cause we are pure mediocre

 

[Labinot41]

If we not win the next 5 games in a row (Nets, Nuggets, Magic, 2* Kings) i really hope Olshey makes some trades

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Yeah CJ really choked on that 3 ball to pull us within 1. Sleep on it and come to your senses.

To play devils advocate here, that wasn't a game WINNING shot.

Just saying.

 

[jonnyboy]

If we not win the next 5 games in a row (Nets, Nuggets, Magic, 2* Kings) i really hope Olshey makes some trades

You would demand trades on anything less than an 11-5 record? We're not the Warriors.

 

[Mediocre Man]

 

[Sinobas]

Exactly, you had Ed freakin Davis and Evan Turner going one on one 3 plays in a row to close the game out. The Blazers play like frantic pussies in those situations. Fuck this team.

 

[Mr. Robot]

another close game loss, no surprise there... thats not coincidence at all

 

[Labinot41]

You would demand trades on anything less than an 11-5 record? We're not the Warriors.

I know that, but look at the Schedule after the All Star Break for example. We need this wins NOW if we gonna make it to the Playoffs.

 

[TBpup]

We are not fast break team due to 2 reason either Stotts don't want them to run or both of our guards are more suited in the 1/2 court and not on the break. I think little of both.

So either a coach who doesn't want to run with an athletic, young roster and not be last in easy, fast break points,

OR

Guards who can't/won't run when there are certainly opportunities to to so,

OR both.

That just doesn't sound very good to me.

 

[H.C.]

I don't understand some of you.
Memphis is a tough team that Portland always struggles with and seems to always lose to.
Why some of you think Memphis is a team Portland should beat is beyond me.
The only thing that has held them back since they were up 2-1 on the Warriors in 2015 is health.

I'm high on Portland, but I'm also realistic.
Portland isn't better than Memphis, they're also not worse.
Portland isn't better than OKC, they're also not worse.
Portland isn't better than Milwaukee, they're also not worse.
Portland isn't better than the Raptors, they're also not worse.

The only team I think they should've beat, yet they lost to is the Clippers.
But it took missed free throws(from a guy who lead the league if FT % last year), poor defensive awareness, and a prayer for Portland to lose that game.

The sky is not falling.

 

[illmatic99]

One thing I was really happy to see last night was Terry benching Nurk. Jusuf was trash all night and was clearly out of it on both ends. Gave him a shot for 3-4 minutes in the fourth and pulled the plug after yet another turnover. Dude needs some tough love. Will be interesting to see how he responds.

 

[H.C.]

I know a lot get caught up blaming the refs, but it really does normally even itself out. For example, nobody here has mentioned that after Dame hit the one free throw and then CJ drilled that huge 3.......as Dame drove to the rack and lost the ball......as he regained control before passing it out the CJ, he straight took 4, FOUR with an F steps without dribbling! I had at least 6 solid definite looks of the walk. I was screaming in the truck that I couldn't believe they didn't call it. I know you could find plays both ways all night long that go uncalled, but that was a HUGE play and it went unnoticed. Tough loss, on to the next one.

They weren't calling traveling in the lane all night on either side, so while I see what you're saying. But I don't really think it applies.
I didn't really have an issue with the way the game was called.

The only complaint I can really have is the refs were letting them play all night on loose balls on the floor.
Then Portland gets called for a loose ball foul when the ball is on the floor in the 4th quarter.
If you're going to let players dive on top of Vonleh three times and not call a foul, instead you call jump balls.
You can't then change how you're going to call it in the 4th quarter when a Portland player commits a loose ball foul going after a ball on the floor.
As a referee myself, I don't like the inconsistency as my partner(s) and I strive to call it the same way throughout any game we call.

 

[Mr. Robot]

our starters didnt delivered (except CJ), they scored 29 pts combined, but bench delivered 32 pts combined

it all depends how you look at it, we can say Dame & Nurk cost us this game, or we can blame CJ for missing that shot, either way it goes, Im okay with it! but its getting frustrating losing close games, like really frustrating

 

[tlongII]

We lost to a good team by 1 point and CJ had a chance to win it at the end. I don't see the need to panic. These kind of games will even out over the course of the season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree with Mike on this. I alluded to this at the time of the play that I think he is referring to. When Dame gave the ball to Ed Davis in traffic late in the game it was a turnover waiting to happen. The odds of him making the shot even if he did control the ball were low against Gasol. At best he gets fouled, but do you want him at the line?

Now to be fair Dame made a great pass to Harkless at the basket that resulted in a lay up, but in general I prefer Dame or CJ to shoot in crunch time.

 

[TBpup]

One thing I was really happy to see last night was Terry benching Nurk. Jusuf was trash all night and was clearly out of it on both ends. Gave him a shot for 3-4 minutes in the fourth and pulled the plug after yet another turnover. Dude needs some tough love. Will be interesting to see how he responds.

Right. When a player isn't playing well, give him some run and then try something else. Apparently that doesn't apply to Harkless.

Also, many of the descriptions is that CJ 'just missed' that last 17' jumper. It wasn't close. It barely drew iron on the way down. It was over a ball width short and from someone like CJ on a basically uncontested shot from that close is missing by a mile.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

During an out of bounds play in the early 4th the arena Mic picked up a Blazer shouting, "Don't run that play again. We don't know it". Couldn't tell who said it, but that is a bit telling.

Anyone else pick that up?

This reminds me of some looks Turner has been giving the last couple games, often after a turnover. It seems like he is mad cuz guys weren't expecting a pass; not sure if he is mad at the guys or at the coach for not practicing it enough.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Kind of hard when the top three are surrounded by dog shit.

I agree with Barkley when he says great players make their teammates better.

 

[Scalma]

I agree with Barkley when he says great players make their teammates better.

Lillard makes everyone around him better, the problem is he's surrounded by guys whose abilities have been maximized.

 

[Chris Craig]

If we not win the next 5 games in a row (Nets, Nuggets, Magic, 2* Kings) i really hope Olshey makes some trades

If that happens I hope he trades Stotts

 

[rotary111]

I'm just glad that we can play with some of the top teams. We have the rest of the season to figure out how to beat them in the playoffs. Losing a game where we had a legit chance to win on a good open shot after 2 of the top three players struggled, isn't so bad.....yet.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Hmmmm, wonder who on here made that win prediction?

You know, for a famous guy, you sure do care a lot about being right with this group of nerds.

 

[Chris Craig]

It was a bummer to lose that game. Blazers came back. Had it. CJ missed, expected to get a foul call....which he shouldn't have....but it was fun...thanks @Orion Bailey for taking me. We got upgrades too. Were in the club level. The Rose Garden was crazy there at the end. We forced the grizzlies to lose it out of bounds down by 1 with 12 secs...thought we had it...better fucking destroy Brooklyn on Friday. Crabbe better not go off for a career high against us.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Nurk needs to keep his hands to himself on the break; hands going downward = foul called. The refs don't care if you got all ball if you're swiping at the guy like a fucking grizzly bear.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

One more question: how does everyone feel about the way the games play out in crunch time now? It's like an entirely different sport than it used to be with the timeout situation being what it is this year. Very foreign to me, but exciting.

 

[Chris Craig]

Wish we won that...damn. It would have been nice going into today. Have to get three root canals today

 

[riverman]

The team seems to be trying to balance keeping a sharp offensive flow while putting out effort on defense...the defense is good...offense will come...hope it sharp by the allstar break

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I ask only one question:

You have arrived here from a planet populated by basketball experts and you see the Blazers play for the first time. Do they look like a well-coached team?

Also, what's the name of your planet?

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Wait, that's 2 questions.