Game Thread GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - DECEMBER 28, 2020 - MONDAY, 7:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

[kjironman1]

I'm going to stand on the decision to play Simons last game as i think he needed a little run. I also think it was a great decision to play Gary Trent this game as the matchup was better for it. Simons would not have held his own tonight like Trent did. Kuzma and Pope are too big for Simons.
I'm not sure why on the third game of the season people are having a problem with plugging different players in and seeing what they bring? Isn't that what every coach in the entire NBA is doing right now? Isn't that what coaches with deep rosters do for entire seasons?
I don't get the rub here? Even if you don't agree with the substitution isn't a coach allowed to see how his players perform? Oh and why didn't Giles play tonight? Could it be because the small ball was working and playing Giles would have been a bad decision? I mean a number of people figured Stotts would go with Giles before the game started but matchups didn't really work out that way. maybe next game?

 

[bobf]

People were hating on him last week. I guess there's a group who hates virtually everyone on this roster though.

He's got DNPs on many of his other stops due to how much of a liabilty he can be, but our staff has seemed to got more out of him than others.

He can’t bother a penetration shot for the life of him so you need some good defenders around him but he does a good job grabbing the defensive rebound. The extra possessions are huge. Plus he’s smart - he doesn’t force the post ups that go bad he kicks it back out valuing the possession.

 

[Tince]

Also:

36+ minutes for each of the starting guards and forwards. You’ll probably see a lot of that in the playoffs if the Blazers don’t want to get annihilated on defense.

Their defense was fantastic, loved it. However, in the playoffs, teams will make DJJ and Covington shoot even more and they can't go 0-11 from 3 and expect us to win a playoff series.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Certainly some didn't, but if we found the thread where we signed him, I'm guessing plenty of people liked it too...

There is a poll on it somewhere; I think we can find out exactly who did and did not.

 

[PCmor7]

Certainly some didn't, but if we found the thread where we signed him, I'm guessing plenty of people liked it too...

I'll own it. I thought we needed a scorer off the bench, a guy who could produce his own shot opportunities, and I thought he fit well last year.

What I didn't foresee was after accepting his role coming off the bench, he instead seemed to chafe in it and just thought he was going to go for his in his 16 minutes per night. I really thought he learned his role. Maybe when he's on the court with Dame, he respects him enough to let him shoot. But he doesn't seem to feel the same way about the other bench guys and acts like every time he gets the ball it's his right to fire it up.

 

[bobf]

Jones and Covington are like Aminu and Harkless, but on all the drugs.

This game. They’re not always gonna defend that well. But clearly they are better defenders, but probably quite a bit worse shooters. But hopefully their 3’s improve. If they can both get it up to 35% they will be huge assets.

 

[B-Roy]

Their defense was fantastic, loved it. However, in the playoffs, teams will make DJJ and Covington shoot even more and they can't go 0-11 from 3 and expect us to win a playoff series.

I don’t expect them to. The Lakers were doubling Dame the entire 4th and we did quite well.

But even defensively, these two are way more disruptive than Harkless and Aminu were.

 

[LayneStaley]

Barring no major trades and retaining our 2 RFAs and Jones opts in I can see this next year...

Dame/Simons
CJ/Trent
DJJ/Trent/Nas
RoCo/Zach/Nas
Nurk/Zach

Solid 9...

I see Kanter, Melo, Hood, Giles all gone. Why would Giles stay with zero PT, don’t see Hood’s option being picked up.

My one concern is would we match big money for someone who didn’t start(Trent)?

I know it’s only game 3.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I'm looking for the data that compares Dame and Nurk with the ball in their hand, which I believe was the statement.

I agree our offense is better when he is in vs other centers on our roster. I like Nurk, a lot. Not as much as Dame. Dame has 10 eye balls on him at all times when he has the ball, he moves defenses better than anyone on our roster, it's not close.

Nurk is the better passer.

And, it's not close. I like Damian off the ball more especially when you have a guy who can find guys like Nurk.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Losing howard and green hurt, rondo too

Agreed. They were big as hell defensively, and got huge playoff contributions. I can see why on paper Schroder and Harrell seem like upgrades but its very possible the team won't perform as well. Might not matter when they have LeBron and AD, but this assumption the other players will for certain be better is flawed.

 

[Tince]

I'll own it. I thought we needed a scorer off the bench, a guy who could produce his own shot opportunities, and I thought he fit well last year.

What I didn't foresee was after accepting his role coming off the bench, he instead seemed to chafe in it and just thought he was going to go for his in his 16 minutes per night. I really thought he learned his role. Maybe when he's on the court with Dame, he respects him enough to let him shoot. But he doesn't seem to feel the same way about the other bench guys and acts like every time he gets the ball it's his right to fire it up.

I don't think anyone should take heat for being ok for us signing a guy to a minimum contract, who was key to our success in the bubble, and his teammates love. The issue should be if there were promises made that restrict our ability to succeed. Were promises made, who made them, who were they forced on? That I dont' know.

 

[Tince]

Nurk is the better passer.

And, it's not close. I like Damian off the ball more especially when you have a guy who can find guys like Nurk.

Respect your opinion, even if I don't agree. I can assure you other teams would prefer Nurk has the ball in his hands vs Dame as well.

 

[bobf]

Well, Melo has been professional since he has been here. So I think there is a possibility that when he comes back he will realize that Trent, Hood, Kanter all need touches too.

it’s not a matter of touches. He’s no good.

 

[blazerkor]

Barring no major trades and retaining our 2 RFAs and Jones opts in I can see this next year...

Dame/Simons
CJ/Trent
DJJ/Trent/Nas
RoCo/Zach/Nas
Nurk/Zach

Solid 9...

I see Kanter, Melo, Hood, Giles all gone. Why would Giles stay with zero PT, don’t see Hood’s option being picked up.

My one concern is would we match big money for someone who didn’t start(Trent)?

I know it’s only game 3.

I don't see Jones opting in. Also we'll be way into the luxury tax if we keep all of those guys you've got up there. I hope we can keep all of those guys too, I just don't know how realistic my hopes are.

 

[bobf]

Let’s not forget that there’s regular season reffing and there’s playoff reffing. I think RoCo gets a lot more fouls called on him in the playoffs.

I always thought in post season they let the D get away with more.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Because of covid there is no quote book this season. Teams are doing it a little different. Tonight the Lakers sent me a link to the zoom press meeting with the Blazer players and the media.

Sam Amik of the Athletic asked Dame an interesting question about the offseason. I'm not sure what the journalist ethics are about disclosing the question and answer but you should look for Amik's writeup tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Scalma]

Lmao Covington is the best off ball defender I’ve ever seen. He’s like Ed Reed.

Jones is so explosive good lord.

 

[Pinwheel1]

My one concern is would we match big money for someone who didn’t start(Trent)?

I love what Jones brings. And most definitely think he should start against LBJ. But I still like having the extra 3 pt shooter to start the game. We are starting off slow to begin games. Start Trent at the 3 as we did in the bubble.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I will admit that I want Melo to work with this team somehow but unfortunately that's completely up to Melo he is already trying to deal with not starting.

 

[bobf]

Their defense was fantastic, loved it. However, in the playoffs, teams will make DJJ and Covington shoot even more and they can't go 0-11 from 3 and expect us to win a playoff series.

If they can hit 35% that’s good enough especially if our defense is good. So they need to not hesitate during the regular season to keep taking those open 3’s no matter how they are shooting.

 

[PCmor7]

I don't think anyone should take heat for being ok for us signing a guy to a minimum contract, who was key to our success in the bubble, and his teammates love. The issue should be if there were promises made that restrict our ability to succeed. Were promises made, who made them, who were they forced on? That I dont' know.

I'd be surprised if there were promises. I think he probably was just told that they'd love to have him back and he had a role as being a primary scorer off the bench. How Olshey and Stotts interpreted that and how Carmelo interpreted it probably were two completely different things.

And, like I said, I suspect he's more willing to defer to some teammates than others. Maybe not even in a malicious way. Probably, like many people, he doesn't realize he's not in his prime anymore and that the world around him has changed a bit.

He could have a role with the Blazers if he accepted that he's coming off the bench and he doesn't have to pace his effort on the defensive end, and he can post up and be a guy to go to when the offense is struggling. He just seems too set in his ways that he HAS to get up so many shots regardless of his minutes, his role, and how if affects the team. But, after what I saw tonight, I just don't see a spot for him. When Collins returns, I think he fits nicely as another defensive option at forward, one that is a more natural matchup against bigger guys like Wood and AD. Rotate those three guys, save their legs, and I think it'll work. But Melo needs to be smart on offense if he wants minutes, and I just think his habits are what they are.

 

[Tince]

If they can hit 35% that’s good enough especially if our defense is good. So they need to not hesitate during the regular season to keep taking those open 3’s no matter how they are shooting.

Agreed... same thing we said about Harkless and Aminu. The question is will they have the stones to knock them down when it counts. I have faith Covington will, not as much with DJJ.

 

[Pinwheel1]

it’s not a matter of touches. He’s no good.

I admit I did not want to resign him, and I would prefer to see Giles, but he is still the best 3 point shooter from the 4 position that we have. It will come in handy.

 

[Tince]

I'd be surprised if there were promises. I think he probably was just told that they'd love to have him back and he had a role as being a primary scorer off the bench. How Olshey and Stotts interpreted that and how Carmelo interpreted it probably were two completely different things.

And, like I said, I suspect he's more willing to defer to some teammates than others. Maybe not even in a malicious way. Probably, like many people, he doesn't realize he's not in his prime anymore and that the world around him has changed a bit.

He could have a role with the Blazers if he accepted that he's coming off the bench and he doesn't have to pace his effort on the defensive end, and he can post up and be a guy to go to when the offense is struggling. He just seems too set in his ways that he HAS to get up so many shots regardless of his minutes, his role, and how if affects the team. But, after what I saw tonight, I just don't see a spot for him. When Collins returns, I think he fits nicely as another defensive option at forward, one that is a more natural matchup against bigger guys like Wood and AD. Rotate those three guys, save their legs, and I think it'll work. But Melo needs to be smart on offense if he wants minutes, and I just think his habits are what they are.

I believe when he resigned, he said he just needed to know what his role would be. You're right, he may have heard, "lead our 2nd unit" as "shoot every time." We'll probably never know what's said.

To be honest, we need to make a 3 for 1 trade beacuse if everyone is healthy we've got 12 guys that could play, and we should only be playing 9.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Well, here we are....

3 games into the season, we are tied for 1st in the West!!!

Go Blazers!

 

[LayneStaley]

I don't see Jones opting in. Also we'll be way into the luxury tax if we keep all of those guys you've got up there. I hope we can keep all of those guys too, I just don't know how realistic my hopes are.

So we let Zach, Melo, Kanter walk, DJJ opts out, don’t pick up Hoods option and we match Trent?

Dame/Simons
CJ/CJ2
Trent/Nas
RoCo
Nurk/Giles

Maybe pray Giles plays on a similar deal with playing time?

 

[Tince]

Well, here we are....

3 games into the season, we are tied for 1st in the West!!!

Go Blazers!

WORST. BLAZER. TEAM. EVER.

 

[Tince]

I don't see Jones opting in. Also we'll be way into the luxury tax if we keep all of those guys you've got up there. I hope we can keep all of those guys too, I just don't know how realistic my hopes are.

1) You're right.

2) I can't believe we're talking about the offseason, 3 games into the regular season where we're 2-1 and just beat the champs on the road.

 

[Natebishop3]

Because of covid there is no quote book this season. Teams are doing it a little different. Tonight the Lakers sent me a link to the zoom press meeting with the Blazer players and the media.

Sam Amik of the Athletic asked Dame an interesting question about the offseason. I'm not sure what the journalist ethics are about disclosing the question and answer but you should look for Amik's writeup tonight or tomorrow.

If it’s in the middle of a group interview it’s fair game. Only a private one on one would be under some kind of ethics.

 

[bobf]

Agreed. They were big as hell defensively, and got huge playoff contributions. I can see why on paper Schroder and Harrell seem like upgrades but its very possible the team won't perform as well. Might not matter when they have LeBron and AD, but this assumption the other players will for certain be better is flawed.

Lebron can get anyone a shot especially when he’s going 100% in the playoffs. So surrounding him with D and 3 like Green is ideal. Guys like Harrel not so much.