Game Thread GAME# 16: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 25, 2021 - MONDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[KingSpeed]

You guys really think Nas will start? Over GT or Melo?

That tends to be what Stotts does to keep rotations otherwise the same.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Paul George and Kawhi just went into covid protocols. They played the Thunder last night.

Oh boy.

 

[PCmor7]

Sidebar, I legitimately would take Batum ahead of Roco right now.

Ya Covington's defense is good, but I can only handle the brutal shooting so much.

We spent 2 first round picks on this guy.

And he can't even take a punch from a teammate using an opponent's hand.

 

[PCmor7]

You guys really think Nas will start? Over GT or Melo?

I wouldn't be shocked. I'd expect Melo, but starting Nas would be a Stotts thing and it would keep the second group balanced with having at least one scorer out there.

Here's the other part of it: What is RoCo giving this team currently? Defense. Hustle. Not scoring. What can Nas be counted on to do? Play defense. Hustle. Literally, he is a clone for what Covington is giving this team right now. About the same body type, build, size and playing style. If you don't want to throw the rotation into a complete shift, starting Nas probably is the best thing to do.

 

[Scalma]

I wouldn't be shocked. I'd expect Melo, but starting Nas would be a Stotts thing and it would keep the second group balanced with having at least one scorer out there.

Here's the other part of it: What is RoCo giving this team currently? Defense. Hustle. Not scoring. What can Nas be counted on to do? Play defense. Hustle. Literally, he is a clone for what Covington is giving this team right now. About the same body type, build, size and playing style. If you don't want to throw the rotation into a complete shift, starting Nas probably is the best thing to do.

Would be hilarious if we ended up finding out we already had a Robert covington in house. I mean, we’ve already played this game before and lost (Afflalo/Barton) but at least this time it would happen before we dumped the kid.

I think there’s a decent chance that Nas eventually turns out to be a better player than both Jones and Covington, but then again it seems I’m higher on him than most.

 

[BlazerBeav]

I believe it was in the first few minutes of the game when he ran into DJ's shoulder on a hustle play. I haven't heard anything.....are they saying it was that last play of the game?

Oh hadn't seen anything specifically say that was the play - but Randle is built like a tank and he hit RoCo square in the jaw so I sure assumed that was the play that did it.

 

[Chris Craig]

Oh hadn't seen anything specifically say that was the play - but Randle is built like a tank and he hit RoCo square in the jaw so I sure assumed that was the play that did it.

Kanter punched RoCo with Randle's fist...at the end of the game

 

[Pinwheel1]

Would be hilarious if we ended up finding out we already had a Robert Covington in house. .

I assumed we already knew this, but that Little was just not ready or healthy yet.

As for Covington, what is more, hilarious/annoying is he seems to be another one of the players that posters on this board begged Neil to get for years, only to find out he isn't quite as good as they thought.

Having said that, I like him, just not as a starter. More of an energy guy off the bench.

 

[Tince]

 

[Scalma]

Dame
Trent
Jones
Melo
Kanter

Simons
Hood
Little
Melo
Giles

Is that the rotation tonight? Melo and Kanter together against a team playing small is gonna be great btw!

 

[THE HCP]

Kanter punched RoCo with Randle's fist...at the end of the game

He collided with DJ 2 minutes into the game and it messed him up. He was wincing grabbing his head and neck for a few minutes after. I threw together a package showing it, you can see it right at the top of the pregame show.

 

[riverman]

He collided with DJ 2 minutes into the game and it messed him up. He was wincing grabbing his head and neck for a few minutes after. I threw together a package showing it, you can see it right at the top of the pregame show.

bringin' the heat!

 

[THE HCP]

bringin' the heat!

My multiple league sources tell me.......

 

[SheedSoNasty]

If Dame scores at least 28 tonight, he’ll pass former Sonics Sam Perkins and then Shawn Kemp for 139th on the All-Time scoring list. Seems like he’s passing someone every other game.

 

[PCmor7]

Would be hilarious if we ended up finding out we already had a Robert covington in house. I mean, we’ve already played this game before and lost (Afflalo/Barton) but at least this time it would happen before we dumped the kid.

I think there’s a decent chance that Nas eventually turns out to be a better player than both Jones and Covington, but then again it seems I’m higher on him than most.

Statistically, at least, it'd be hard for Nas to give us worse than RoCo has so far. I'll give RoCo the advantage in the area of intangibles.

 

[PCmor7]

I assumed we already knew this, but that Little was just not ready or healthy yet.

As for Covington, what is more, hilarious/annoying is he seems to be another one of the players that posters on this board begged Neil to get for years, only to find out he isn't quite as good as they thought.

Having said that, I like him, just not as a starter. More of an energy guy off the bench.

I like him, too, just not two-first-round picks like him like him.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Let's get it!

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Haven't heard of most of the OKC lineup..so we'll probably struggle

 

[illmatic99]

melo kanter defense looks as expected

 

[B-Roy]

Put Melo and Kanter in a pick and roll, and the game becomes easy.

 

[illmatic99]

id be much happier with kanter post isos than melo

 

[PHXBlazer1]

No one knows their defensive rotations

 

[riverman]

Kanter single handedly keeping us in this early

 

[Chris Craig]

Calling fouls for nobodies like they are allstars

 

[illmatic99]

jesus, i wonder if terry will even raise his voice at melo for missing that defensive rotation

 

[James lamphear]

Well Melo still missing and the defense is not very desirable.

 

[BlazerBeav]

I jus don’t understand how Dame gets so few three throws on drives that rookies and g-leaguers manage to get consistently.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Looks like Trent, for one, should have been back on D there.

 

[Tince]

jesus, i wonder if terry will even raise his voice at melo for missing that defensive rotation

Hopefully we have a team full of professionals and he doesn't have to.

 

[riverman]

Enes was 6/5 in 4 minutes...whew