Game Thread GAME# 17: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - JANUARY 28, 2021 - THURSDAY, 4:30, TNT

[KingSpeed]

We always play well when people say the schedule is “brutal.” Dame went nuclear during the “brutal” stretch last year and everyone said our Bubble schedule was “brutal” too. With no fans in the arena, I don’t think it’s like a typical road trip. Only the good elements remain like players bonding with teammates away from their families. No reason we can’t go 4-2 or better. The only team that seems to have legit HCA is Philly so maybe that’s the one we lose, I don’t know.

 

[KingSpeed]

Anfernee more than made up for his lost production. Offense wasnt the issue yesterday.

Yep. Simons and Trent provided more than enough scoring to replace injured players but poor defense prevented it from being a win. We should never lose a game when two bench players score 20+.

 

[BonesJones]

Yep. Simons and Trent provided more than enough scoring to replace injured players but poor defense prevented it from being a win. We should never lose a game when two bench players score 20+.

Yup. We have enough offensive players that can step up and make up for some of the scoring dropoff. It comes down to defense which CJ's absence doesn't hurt at all. We have a lot of issues on that end no matter who plays. Gotta fix em.

 

[stampedehero]

Beginning a brutal 6-game road trip here.
It's been nearly a few weeks since the Blazers have been on national TV.
So it would be nice if we win this.

And is it just me or does it seem like we are always playing teams without some of our best players?

Which in IMHO, we should win 6 games.

 

[stampedehero]

Considering they had all these issues when those guys were healthy, and most of their issues arent personnel driven, no, having players out is not the cause, and shouldnt be used as an excuse.

The constant? Stotts.

Let's all meet in the Fire Stotts thread if the team goes 0-6.

 

[kjironman1]

Yep. Simons and Trent provided more than enough scoring to replace injured players but poor defense prevented it from being a win. We should never lose a game when two bench players score 20+.

In that game Gary Trent started. He was not a bench player.

 

[kjironman1]

What do you think the issues are defensively?

My biggest thing is the communication between players. Help defense and just overall energy. NBA players are good. They are always going to get times when they do things right and the shot falls but it's the times when they are caught way outta position because they simply didn't communicate or even work to get back.
Another issue is that corner three. Every team works to get that shot. Even the Blazers work to get that shot. They are always getting burnt by the drive and kick to the corner. This is sometimes position but also sometimes personnel on the floor. Our Bigs get caught alone and then the help defense collapses always comes from the defender on the corner it seems. If they are in position to defend that shot or defend the player getting the pass to make that shot the Big is left all alone way too deep into the paint. If he cheats out the weak side gets left open for a slashing layup or dunk.
A good offense can score multiple ways from the short corner…

1. Immediate attack to the hoop from the short corner.
2. Pass to a cutter… especially the high post player diving to the basket.
3. Kick out to a wide open shooter.

We see this game after game week after week. The 2-3 Zone is the preferred defense against it. But they can't continue to over commit. the second pass gets them all too many times.

The thing i see is the Blazers end up almost in a 1-3-1 when they don't work together and that spells huge problems and it leaves them in a precarious position over and over again.

It translates to both ends of the court. Blazers give up wide open three.... Blazers look around at who missed their assignment.... The opposing defense gets back and because they were already heading there they beat the Blazers back and set up. The Blazers come down and try the same thing but the defense is already set in their defense and then apply pressure to dame as he crosses the line. The Blazers now are around 14-15 seconds left on the shot clock. (Huge Problem IMO). This happens game after game.

We just watched the Knicks push the ball 4 times in the last 30 seconds of the game. They were shooting withing 3-4 seconds after inbounding the ball. That energy translates on defense as well. I don't like trashing Dame because he is who this team is right now but a bunch of this rests with him. He needs to push the ball and DEMAND energy on defense. Stotts can yell all he wants and he does at times but Dame has to hold these guys accountable as well.
Defense is the TEAM part of the game. The team unit wins or loses on the defensive side of the ball.

Just my take. There are other issues for sure but fixing these issues would help a bunch.

 

[TBpup]

But at least now going into these games from here on, you know we are horrible on defense. With the worst coach in the league AND missing 2-4 of our best players. There should be no expectation for use to win right? Not realistically anyway. So no reason to moan and complain and bitch, EVERY game about the SAME things.
If you rolled up in your '84 Toyota Corolla and wanted to test my A7..... you'd be wasting your time getting all worked up that you actually thought you had a chance to compete with me. It just isn't happening.

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You're comparing that garbage roster that OKC put out on the floor the other night to an A7? And threw a Dame led team into the 84 Corolla category? I'm telling Dame...lol.
Credibility head scratcher....

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I demand a recount of the Blazers vs OKC score!

 

[wizenheimer]

I demand a recount of the Blazers vs OKC score!

and have Russell Westbrook do the counting. Talk about being torn

 

[kjironman1]

I demand a recount of the Blazers vs OKC score!

You obviously don't understand how this is supposed to work. You need to change the rules first then demand the recount.

 

[THE HCP]

You're comparing that garbage roster that OKC put out on the floor the other night to an A7? And threw a Dame led team into the 84 Corolla category? I'm telling Dame...lol.
Credibility head scratcher....

Not at all. I'm saying that our roster right now is an 84 Corolla.....the sooner people realize it, the better. You may WANT it to be fast and HOPE it will beat ANY car, right now that is going to be tough.....no matter how much you love it.

 

[Scalma]

Honestly my objectives for the rest of season are to see young guys, specifically Ant and Nas get an opportunity to develop. I have no faith in Stotts’ coaching on the defensive end, or to make in game adjustments, so even if we make the playoffs it doesn’t even matter because we will get smoked again. But I don’t want Stotts to get fired just yet, because he’s the perfect guy I want in charge considering next years draft class

As for this game, it’s the same as any other game. Let’s see if our individual talent is enough to overcome the clown in charge.

 

[stampedehero]

But at least now going into these games from here on, you know we are horrible on defense. With the worst coach in the league AND missing 2-4 of our best players. There should be no expectation for use to win right? Not realistically anyway. So no reason to moan and complain and bitch, EVERY game about the SAME things.
If you rolled up in your '84 Toyota Corolla and wanted to test my A7..... you'd be wasting your time getting all worked up that you actually thought you had a chance to compete with me. It just isn't happening.

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That does it. Now I'm going to showoff my '012 Honda Accord and make all of you jealous.

 

[illmatic99]

Not at all. I'm saying that our roster right now is an 84 Corolla.....the sooner people realize it, the better. You may WANT it to be fast and HOPE it will beat ANY car, right now that is going to be tough.....no matter how much you love it.

Bro what's your problem with corollas? My 02 was so freaking reliable.

 

[kjironman1]

I didn't know this was a show your vehicle thread?
Here's mine the day I bought it. It has a boo boo on the back bumper now though my wife put in it. (Injury... Not season ending)

This is the kind of team we need! Fukn imports can blow.

 

[THE HCP]

Bro what's your problem with corollas? My 02 was so freaking reliable.

Here we go....... I should have said 89 Hyundai

 

[THE HCP]

I didn't know this was a show your vehicle thread?
Here's mine the day I bought it. It has a boo boo on the back bumper now though my wife put in it. (Injury... Not season ending)

This is the kind of team we need! Fukn imports can blow.

I thought you weren’t a Trump supporter!

 

[TBpup]

Not at all. I'm saying that our roster right now is an 84 Corolla.....the sooner people realize it, the better. You may WANT it to be fast and HOPE it will beat ANY car, right now that is going to be tough.....no matter how much you love it.

Any team/roster with Dame on it and playing should never be discredited down to 84 Corolla standards. Then again, maybe you don't think that much of Dame?

 

[riverman]

I voted 6 wins because that fills me up....every loss leaves me hungry for more swish3s

 

[BlazerBeav]

RoCo officially ruled out for tomorrow - Hood and Jones Jr. are now probable.

 

[THE HCP]

Any team/roster with Dame on it and playing should never be discredited down to 84 Corolla standards. Then again, maybe you don't think that much of Dame?

One player....... not enough. Maybe in one moment in one game, but you need a team to compete. You understand this, you're just in the mood to argue. This team is decimated with injuries with what I'm told has the worst defense and coach in the league. So we should get hammered every night. Except it. Don't have to like it, but you do need to acknowledge it.

 

[DDolla]

Tell me why we should still play Dame in this game... cmon now, this is another L. Let Dame rest

 

[TBpup]

One player....... not enough. Maybe in one moment in one game, but you need a team to compete. You understand this, you're just in the mood to argue. This team is decimated with injuries with what I'm told has the worst defense and coach in the league. So we should get hammered every night. Except it. Don't have to like it, but you do need to acknowledge it.

Dame, Kanter, Melo, Trent, DJJ, Ant, etc is better than anything OKC could muster the other night....period. Outside of SGA, they have absolutely nothing. They are the worst offensive team in the league for a reason. Dame dwarfs SGA, so we are better right from the start. Now if with Dame and any other 4 players we had available against the Thunder is NOT better than any combination OKC could come up with the other night, then drastic wholesale changes need to happen immediately..and that includes Dame.
You don't have to like it, but you do need to acknowledge it.

 

[BonesJones]

Bro what's your problem with corollas? My 02 was so freaking reliable.

I love my 2018 Carolla.

 

[kjironman1]

I thought you weren’t a Trump supporter!

That's a Chevy. Not a Toyota.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame, Kanter, Melo, Trent, DJJ, Ant, etc is better than anything OKC could muster the other night....period. Outside of SGA, they have absolutely nothing. They are the worst offensive team in the league for a reason. Dame dwarfs SGA, so we are better right from the start. Now if with Dame and any other 4 players we had available against the Thunder is NOT better than any combination OKC could come up with the other night, then drastic wholesale changes need to happen immediately..and that includes Dame.
You don't have to like it, but you do need to acknowledge it.

God damn! I'm not necessarily talking about last night. I'm talking about going forward. This team ins't going to win a bunch of games. We have the worst coach in the NBA I'm told. In the middle of the game when you guys are freaking out about a number of things remember this please.

 

[KingSpeed]

Tell me why we should still play Dame in this game... cmon now, this is another L. Let Dame rest

So that we have a chance to win.

 

[KingSpeed]

 

[kjironman1]

Early game day! I'm gonna have to sneak out of work a little quicker today.