Game Thread GAME# 31: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - FEBRUARY 23, 2021 - TUESDAY, 7:00, TNT

[THE HCP]

Tought stretch of games. These are the types of teams we will see in the Playoffs. We didn't do well against them before all the injuries and we expectedly, we aren't doing very well now.

So then the next couple of losses shouldn't be a surprise right?

 

[illmatic99]

@BonesJones How do you defend this action?

 

[B-Roy]

How does having a lot of good 3pt shooters mean we have to take more contested 3s? Other teams with a similar quality of 3pt shooters don't take as high a percentage of contested 3s.

If teams defend us heavily on the 3pt line, why do we shoot the highest percentage of 3s in the league? We should be able to easily exploit that and create good looks and driving lanes, but we don't.

Often times other teams work for open 3s. We don't, and tend to settle for contested ones.

There's no way to spin that to excuse Stotts. It's not good.

You need guys that can drive and kick. No one on our team is good at it except Dame. I still see it as more of a personnel issue. It's not in Ant, Gary, Melo, DJ, RoCo, Enes and Hood's DNA to pass.

 

[stampedehero]

Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets - Box Score - February 23, 2021 - ESPN<<<<

 

[kjironman1]

I think that guy that can create his own shot is extremely redundant on that end of the floor and far worse on D than what we have... and I don't care what the stats say, Gary might not be a lock down guy but he's a better defensive option than CJ. The Pick n Roll center, I'm cooler with. I'm just afraid that if Olshey isn't fired right at the end of this season he'll extend and overpay that center who is not athletic enough to be highly paid in today's NBA.

I will be rooting for a big trade, even though it's extremely unlikely, until the trade deadline and then I'll be rooting for CJ and Nurk to do the best they possibly can when they're almost certainly still on the team. Hell I'll be rooting for them to do the best before and after a trade if there is one. Both seem like great guys and I appreciate the effort and character they've brought to this team.

Olshey had Whiteside on a huge expiring contract last year and didn't budge at the trade deadline. I wouldn't hold my breath this year.

 

[BonesJones]

Why is everybody talking so much shit about @BonesJones? If this continues, I'll have to report you.

 

[BonesJones]

You need guys that can drive and kick. No one on our team is good at it except Dame. I still see it as more of a personnel issue. It's not in Ant, Gary, Melo, DJ, RoCo, Enes and Hood's DNA to pass.

First Philly game disproves this, in my opinion.

 

[B-Roy]

First Philly game disproves this, in my opinion.

Don't think one game disproves years of sample data. Also, being able to do something a few times vs. being consistent with a skill is entirely different, imo.

 

[BonesJones]

Don't think one game disproves years of sample data. Also, being able to do something a few times vs. being consistent with a skill is entirely different, imo.

Theres far more evidence to the contrary. An offensive system and style of play isnt solely defined by its players, especially to the point where it's the most basic and stagnant offense in the league.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Theres far more evidence to the contrary. An offensive system and style of play isnt solely defined by its players, especially to the point where it's the most basic and stagnant offense in the league.

I've literally watched a player get a defensive rebound and proceed to go 1 on 1 on the other side of the floor. Not one pass.

Melo, Damian, Simons, Gary, Hood, they've all done it. That's what's encouraged by the coach. Obviously.

 

[Tince]

Melo wasn't the reason we lost last night.

 

[THE HCP]

View attachment 37166

I would lay a lot of the blame on the bottom 3 for sure.

 

[kjironman1]

View attachment 37166

If those 4 players produce in any game vs any opponent the Blazers likely win that game.

 

[wizenheimer]

If those 4 players produce in any game vs any opponent the Blazers likely win that game.

they are role players and the general trait of role players is inconsistency. If a team has 7 role players in the rotation, it's extremely rare for all 7 to have great games in the same game. On the other hand, it's pretty common for 5 of the 7 to suck in the same game.