Game Thread GAME# 25: ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 9, 2017 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Mediocre Man]

Just finished the game.

Zach looked like he belonged and Myle had his best game in a long time. I'll take it.

In my opinion this is our best loss ... if there is such a thing.

Meyers was a sieve on defense

 

[stampedehero]

After this predicted loss, we could prepare for another predicted loss. Five in a row isn't that bad but 10 would merit the Fire Stotts poll.

 

[theprunetang]

After this predicted loss, we could prepare for another predicted loss. Five in a row isn't that bad but 10 would merit the Fire Stotts poll.

Strangely, I see us beating the warriors. We may have lost this game, but the offense showed something for the first time in weeks. The defense was swarming up until the final 9 minutes of the game. I love Stotts, but I think he fucked up by not putting some lengthy defenders in at the end. I hope he realizes that. Guys like Noah and Collins are "bigs" that have length and theoretically can hit a jump shot (so the offensive spacing isn't off). I think finishing the game with those two guys could have made a difference, especially after the Lillard ankle sprain. If they aren't ready to hit an outside jumper during clutch time, we would find out pretty quick. But, I would have felt great about having their length on defense out there.

I hate moral victories, but, we played pretty damned great against a top 4 team in the league. We could have won it, but didn't. Shit happens.

 

[TBpup]

After this predicted loss, we could prepare for another predicted loss. Five in a row isn't that bad but 10 would merit the Fire Stotts poll.

It's the 4 losses in a row at home where two of those team were without their best player. Oh yeah, and the abject refusal to double-team a one man wrecking crew.

 

[e_blazer]

Strangely, I see us beating the warriors. We may have lost this game, but the offense showed something for the first time in weeks. The defense was swarming up until the final 9 minutes of the game. I love Stotts, but I think he fucked up by not putting some lengthy defenders in at the end. I hope he realizes that. Guys like Noah and Collins are "bigs" that have length and theoretically can hit a jump shot (so the offensive spacing isn't off). I think finishing the game with those two guys could have made a difference, especially after the Lillard ankle sprain. If they aren't ready to hit an outside jumper during clutch time, we would find out pretty quick. But, I would have felt great about having their length on defense out there.

I hate moral victories, but, we played pretty damned great against a top 4 team in the league. We could have won it, but didn't. Shit happens.

I agree with you on playing Noah and Collins in the 4th quarter. Their length bothered Harden earlier in the game. If I have one gripe against Stotts it’s that he always adjusts by trying to match what the opposing coach is doing. Guess what: when Houston goes small, their small lineup is better than our small lineup. Stick with our strengths and punish them for playing small.

The best defense against Harden is pretty simple: don’t foul him. 14 free throws last night for 12 points vs. Dame’s 4 for 4 is the difference in the game. When Harden goes to the hoop and beats you, keep your fricking hands straight up. He’s going to make the basket anyway, so don’t give him the and 1. And, if you’re going to foul him, make it a hard one instead of a touch foul. Lay that sucker out a few times and make him a little wary of driving to the hoop.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Zach with 3 blocks in 18 minutes off the bench and a +6.

Three big mistakes by Stotts: playing Layman, not playing Collins in fourth quarter and not putting Napier in when Lillard went down.

 

[HailBlazers]

I agree with you on playing Noah and Collins in the 4th quarter. Their length bothered Harden earlier in the game. If I have one gripe against Stotts it’s that he always adjusts by trying to match what the opposing coach is doing. Guess what: when Houston goes small, their small lineup is better than our small lineup. Stick with our strengths and punish them for playing small.

The best defense against Harden is pretty simple: don’t foul him. 14 free throws last night for 12 points vs. Dame’s 4 for 4 is the difference in the game. When Harden goes to the hoop and beats you, keep your fricking hands straight up. He’s going to make the basket anyway, so don’t give him the and 1. And, if you’re going to foul him, make it a hard one instead of a touch foul. Lay that sucker out a few times and make him a little wary of driving to the hoop.

This. All of this. If you're going to foul Harden at the hoop, FOUL him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I thought some of the calls were a little ticky-tack in favor of the Rockets, but there's a reason they got more than the Blazers; Paul and Harden get in the lane repeatedly and force the officials to make a call. Only Damian does that, and last night it was bombs away from deep. It's tough to get foul calls when you pull up 20+ feet from the hoop.

This game was lost when Damian had to sit out with the ankle and the offense died, and then Stott's let Harden isolate Dame and Vonleh repeatedly to ice the game with gimme layups.

 

[riverman]

I thought some of the calls were a little ticky-tack in favor of the Rockets,

Rockets 42 free throws
Blazers 12 free throws......that's the game...

 

[Blazinaway]

Strangely, I see us beating the warriors. We may have lost this game, but the offense showed something for the first time in weeks. The defense was swarming up until the final 9 minutes of the game. I love Stotts, but I think he fucked up by not putting some lengthy defenders in at the end. I hope he realizes that. Guys like Noah and Collins are "bigs" that have length and theoretically can hit a jump shot (so the offensive spacing isn't off). I think finishing the game with those two guys could have made a difference, especially after the Lillard ankle sprain. If they aren't ready to hit an outside jumper during clutch time, we would find out pretty quick. But, I would have felt great about having their length on defense out there.

I hate moral victories, but, we played pretty damned great against a top 4 team in the league. We could have won it, but didn't. Shit happens.

well Dame better be ready and h have a game like this one where he was hot as hell from 3 land, because if he doesn't and his ankle is bad then we have little to no chance IMO

 

[riverman]

I'm back to forgetting about the win loss record and celebrating winning quarters of games....small victories, but victories non the less

 

[Labinot41]

Relax guys, i allways hate the flopper rockets, but there is nothing you can do when they have the refs on their side, Blazers played good, you can not ask for more. I am really looking forward when the rockets play against the Spurs in the playoffs, hopefully they play against each other. Pop and the Spurs will beat their flopper Asses. MDA never won a series against pop. Spurs are to smart and know how to play against these bitch ass floppers. Kawhi will kill harden just like last playoffs

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm back to forgetting about the win loss record and celebrating winning quarters of games....small victories, but victories non the less

 

[A$AP Meyers]

Haven't read through the thread (I was watching game with friends last night, yes I have a few friends) but here's my problem with the game.

WHY DOES STOTTS CONTINUE TO GIVE STARS THE SAME LOOK FOR ENTIRE BASKETBALL GAMES?

Harden saw the same P&R coverage almost the entire game. Beal saw the same P&R coverage almost the entire game. Double, blitz, hard hedge, soft hedge, DO SOMETHING NEW. I'm not saying do it every time, I understand that Stotts has his own philosophies, and that's fine, but at least throw different looks at a guy going for 50.

Oh yeah, one more thing, Damian Lillard is fucking good. I was hard on him all last season. I maintain that my criticism was warranted last year; he was bad defensively and i felt his timing/shot selection killed us in close games. Not the case this year. His defense has been excellent for a combo guard, and is a huge reason we're 6th in defense. Also, he seems to be letting the game come to him a lot more, and has shown trust in other guys.

Anyways, hopefully we can string a few wins together but honestly I'm close to the point to where I wouldn't mind seeing us go off the rails if it means Stotts is canned.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Meyers was a sieve on defense

Yeah, his defense was especially porous in the 4th quarter when the Blazers gave up 40 points (most points in a quarter by an opponent this season) and as James Harden put it:

"So it was layup, layup, layup, 3-ball,'' Harden said.

BNM

 

[DreamKillah]

"So it was layup, layup, layup, 3-ball,'' Harden said.

Fuk that bić Harden . . .

 

[blue9]

Mike Rice laying down some burn on Tater Totts? Oh man, he's winning me over!

 

[blue9]

WHY DOES STOTTS CONTINUE TO GIVE STARS THE SAME LOOK FOR ENTIRE BASKETBALL GAMES?

This question is trending on Twitter.

 

[RR7]

Yeah, his defense was especially porous in the 4th quarter when the Blazers gave up 40 points (most points in a quarter by an opponent this season) and as James Harden put it:

"So it was layup, layup, layup, 3-ball,'' Harden said.

BNM

sarcasm?

 

[GrandJury]

You guys see a 10-11 game losing streak coming?

It’s possible or nah.. ?

Imagine when that happen ohhh boy

 

[blue9]

You guys see a 10-11 game losing streak coming?

It’s possible or nah.. ?

Imagine when that happen ohhh boy

Why stop at 10-11? Perhaps we lose-out the remainder of the month!

 

[GrandJury]

Why stop at 10-11? Perhaps we lose-out the remainder of the month!

These next 5 games are brutal. And their on the road.. Stotts probably will be fired after this road trip

 

[blue9]

Stotts probably will be fired after this road trip

Fingers crossed!

 

[Strenuus]

These next 5 games are brutal. And their on the road.. Stotts probably will be fired after this road trip

I like how you think!

 

[MarAzul]

Anyone else notice that Stotts may be the best timekeeper the Blazers has had in years?
Player time is held to plan no matter the consequences or the opportunities.

 

[calvin natt]

You guys see a 10-11 game losing streak coming?

It’s possible or nah.. ?

Imagine when that happen ohhh boy

It’s happening.

 

[Boob-No-More]

sarcasm?

Was the green font really necessary?

It is disengenous and tediously predictable for him to criticize Meyers' defense in a game where Meyers didn't even play during the team's worst defensive quarter of the season.

The defense last night was actually worse with Meyers on the bench than when he was in the game.

If Meyers' defense was seive-like, what does that say about the guys who were on the floor during last night's 40-point 4th quarter layup drill?

Why did he chose to single out Meyers defense and not criticize those guys?

I think we all know the answer to that question. It doesn't fit his tired, long running narrative about WABCs in general and Meyers Leonard specifically.

The fact is Meyers played well last night, and as hard as it may be for some to believe, if Stotts would have played him in the 4th quarter, the Blazers might have actually won the game.

The sample size is still small, but the fact is, in his limited minutes this season, Meyers has played well and been productive. And that just irritates the shit out of the Meyers haters. They'd rather see him fail than prove them wrong.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

You guys see a 10-11 game losing streak coming?

It’s possible or nah.. ?

Imagine when that happen ohhh boy

For you personally, this:

BNM

 

[GrandJury]

For you personally, this:

BNM

To be honest I am rooting for that. That way Stotts will be fired by the end of this road trip and we go towards a youth movement and gunning for a high lottery pick..

I been telling friends for a few years now don’t fight the inevitable and delay the rebuild but nooooo

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yeah, his defense was especially porous in the 4th quarter when the Blazers gave up 40 points (most points in a quarter by an opponent this season) and as James Harden put it:

"So it was layup, layup, layup, 3-ball,'' Harden said.

BNM

62 point fist half. He was awful....AGAIN, defensively. Constantly out of position