Game Thread GAME# 17: BLAZERS @ CAVALIERS - NOVEMBER 23, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 4:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

[Tunchi]

How ya feel about the lottery for this season ?

 

[ripcityboy]

Bring him back. The new guys are awful

"Effin' A Cotton!"

Rice might have been a drunk uncle but at least he was "our" drunk uncle. Calabro and Hurd have about as much personality as Gil Gerard and Twiki in Buck Rogers.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Warriors beat Lakers 149-106.

This makes me a little happier.

 

[riverman]

Warriors beat Lakers 149-106.

This makes me a little happier.

Our 3rd string is better than theirs

 

[Blazer4ever]

Defense isn't that complicated, need to switch on the screens, close the passing lanes etc. Davis isn't a good matchup against a stretch 4, this is obvious. Harkless, Aminu, even Meyers, would have been a better match-up

 

[BonesJones]

Gotta start this home stand with revenge on the Pelicans and Rockets! Gotta find some defensive energy. I also think we need to play more agressive, not leave open 3s, and have our wings stunt more on the dribble drive. We should start having 4 guys crash with 1 of Lillard/CJ leaking out. Whichever guard crashes should be the outlet.

Also, let's try hedging pick n rolls! Nothings working right now so let's try soldering different! That'd go into the phasing more aggressive. I feel like playing conservative defense gets us in a bad mindset leaving us with less defensive energy and focus. We need to be locked in and aggressive!

 

[BonesJones]

Defense isn't that complicated, need to switch on the screens...Davis isn't a good matchup against a stretch 4, this is obvious.

But we should switch Davis onto guards? No more switching screens, we get burnt to much from that.

We need to hedge on ball screens which we result in less switches and less open shots, and we need to make note of an effort and take better angles to get through off-ball screens.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Blazers need to quit being bitter and get on the trump train. build de fence damnit.

 

[Blazer4ever]

But we should switch Davis onto guards? No more switching screens, we get burnt to much from that.

We need to hedge on ball screens which we result in less switches and less open shots, and we need to make note of an effort and take better angles to get through off-ball screens.

I think switching on screens is the best way to defend. Even switch on everything. If the switches are done well it's the best defense. If Davis switches on a guard then our guard needs to switch back or mismatch on Davis' player (the player who set the screen) and do his best to defend against him. It's situational, if you can switch back effectively you switch back, it's important to have good communication and dedication.
Also on this topic, the challenge of defending against screens shows how effective screens are on offense. If I was ever a basketball coach I would have everyone on the team (including even point guards) screening on offense

 

[BonesJones]

I think switching on screens is the best way to defend. Even switch on everything. If the switches are done well it's the best defense. If Davis switches on a guard then our guard needs to switch back or mismatch on Davis' player (the player who set the screen) and do his best to defend against him. It's situational, if you can switch back effectively you switch back, it's important to have good communication and dedication.
Also on this topic, the challenge of defending against screens shows how effective screens are on offense. If I was ever a basketball coach I would have everyone on the team (including even point guards) screening on offense

Switch the screen, then switch back immediately? I'm sorry bout that makes 0 sense. Why switch in the first place then if the goal is to switch back right after we switch?

You're suggesting a matchup zone with extra switches to try and cover mismatches. I'm sorry but that's an awful idea. In the time you try to switch back it leaves openings and just teams will take advantage of the mismatch right away, not allowing you to recover.

When we can't switch back, we get burnt every single time. Nowitzki on Lillard, Curry on Davis, Wade on Vonleh, etc.

 

[BonesJones]

Blazers need to quit being bitter and get on the trump train. build de fence damnit.

We need Donald Trump as head coach. Don't let them in!!

 

[Blazer4ever]

Switch the screen, then switch back immediately? I'm sorry bout that makes 0 sense. Why switch in the first place then if the goal is to switch back right after we switch?

You're suggesting a matchup zone with extra switches to try and cover mismatches. I'm sorry but that's an awful idea. In the time you try to switch back it leaves openings and just teams will take advantage of the mismatch right away, not allowing you to recover.

When we can't switch back, we get burnt every single time. Nowitzki on Lillard, Curry on Davis, Wade on Vonleh, etc.

Yes but if you don't switch you need to get through the screen quickly enough to not allow open look or for the screener to roll. If you switch you may be mismatched but you don't leave the players wide open

 

[Tunchi]

"Effin' A Cotton!"

Rice might have been a drunk uncle but at least he was "our" drunk uncle. Calabro and Hurd have about as much personality as Gil Gerard and Twiki in Buck Rogers.

Because we suck what do u want them to do??

 

[Tunchi]

Gotta start this home stand with revenge on the Pelicans and Rockets! Gotta find some defensive energy. I also think we need to play more agressive, not leave open 3s, and have our wings stunt more on the dribble drive. We should start having 4 guys crash with 1 of Lillard/CJ leaking out. Whichever guard crashes should be the outlet.

Also, let's try hedging pick n rolls! Nothings working right now so let's try soldering different! That'd go into the phasing more aggressive. I feel like playing conservative defense gets us in a bad mindset leaving us with less defensive energy and focus. We need to be locked in and aggressive!

Lol

 

[BrunoSOC]

Its gonna be a very hard game agaisnt the pelicans

 

[Mediocre Man]

A few non-negative observations (are those allowed?):

Plumlee is becoming a consistent scoring threat.

Turner is also doing better on scoring the past two games.

Chief is close to returning and it can't come too soon. The Blazers lost this one because of Love's crazy-hot start. That doesn't happen with Aminu on him instead of Ed.

Lillard got his MVP mojo back tonight despite it being a back-to-back. He'd been a little flat lately.

The road trip is over. Time for a little home cooking.

Anybody else have some positives?

Found another. People here bitch and moan about never getting mentioned on ESPN. Well folks, we are getting mentioned A LOT this morning.

 

[e_blazer]

Found another. People here bitch and moan about never getting mentioned on ESPN. Well folks, we are getting mentioned A LOT this morning.

Gee, who would have thought that MM would come rushing in with not one, but two snark posts in response to someone having the audacity to point out anything positive in an otherwise spleen-venting game thread? Oh , yeah. Anyone who's read the board for more than a week.

You're right about the ESPN attention. The lead article is about Oden, a historic draft bust and proof positive that your perennial insistence that the Blazers should tank for a lottery pick is hardly a sure fire recipe for success.

The second ESPN article is about Love's monster first quarter against the Blazers. Two games on this trip the Blazers were killed by agile power forwards who can shoot from deep, Love and Anthony Davis. Do you think, just maybe, that trying to cover those guys with a combination of Ed Davis and Meyers Leonard instead of the injured Aminu was a factor? Nah. The Blazers are permanently broken. Tear it all down.

What a load.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Gee, who would have thought that MM would come rushing in with not one, but two snark posts in response to someone having the audacity to point out anything positive in an otherwise spleen-venting game thread? Oh , yeah. Anyone who's read the board for more than a week.

You're right about the ESPN attention. The lead article is about Oden, a historic draft bust and proof positive that your perennial insistence that the Blazers should tank for a lottery pick is hardly a sure fire recipe for success.

The second ESPN article is about Love's monster first quarter against the Blazers. Two games on this trip the Blazers were killed by agile power forwards who can shoot from deep, Love and Anthony Davis. Do you think, just maybe, that trying to cover those guys with a combination of Ed Davis and Meyers Leonard instead of the injured Aminu was a factor? Nah. The Blazers are permanently broken. Tear it all down.

What a load.

If you think no Aminu is the reason we rank last in defense then more power to you

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The Blazers lost this one because of Love's crazy-hot start. That doesn't happen with Aminu on him instead of Ed.


[/QUOTE] Maybe I am wrong, or maybe the Blazers were also confused, but I thought that Love was Plumlee's responsibility.

 

[e_blazer]

If you think no Aminu is the reason we rank last in defense then more power to you

Because that's exactly what I said, right? I think missing arguably the Blazers' best defender is a factor, but hardly the sole problem. The Blazers are never going to be a great defensive team as they are constructed. The Blazers' backcourt is an issue. They don't have a rim protector. That said, with their offense they don't have to be elite defensively. There's no reason they can't get back to, and improve upon, last year's level of defensive play. Maybe Ezeli will be able to play some this season and will help the interior defense. If not, Olshey has assets he can use in a trade. It's a long season and things can change for the better.

 

[riverman]

Last season Gerald Henderson was the vocal guy on defense...this season it's been Chief....we miss his defensive leadership...Mo plays better with Chief on the floor defensively I think

 

[e_blazer]

Maybe I am wrong, or maybe the Blazers were also confused, but I thought that Love was Plumlee's responsibility.

Yeah, after I posted that I realized that what I said wasn't correct, but the point still stands. Mason isn't quick enough to stick with Love and he's too used to playing close to the basket to commit to perimeter play when James is driving to the hoop. That left Love wide open. A lot.