Game Thread GAME# 36: BLAZERS @ WIZARDS - JANUARY 3, 2020 - FRIDAY, 4:00 PM , NBCSNW

[Blazers Roy]

The over-romanticizing of Nurkic occurs because he's gone now.
When he'll be back we'd be saved because he has no flaws! he's the same as Whiteside only with more advantages!

In reality - the absence of Whiteside next year would have the same effect. Neither of them is perfect, especially in an era like this when you see other 7-footers like Gobert rendered useless on some nights.

 

[stampedehero]

Top Performers

• 
  Hassan Whiteside
  POR - C
  23 PTS, 21 REB, 1 AST
• 
  Jordan McRae
  WSH - SG
  35 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST

Source:ESPN

 

[James lamphear]

* this season, opponents are taking 29.9% of their shots at the rim and shooting .605 when they do. That ranks as 3rd best in the NBA

* last season, opponents took the same 29.9% of their shots at the rim and shot .633 when they did, 6th best in the league
----------------------------------------------------
* this season, opponents are taking 16.5% of their shots in the 3-10'zone, and are shooting .393 which ranks 15th

* last season, opponents took 15% of their shots in the 3-10' zone, and shot .411, which ranked 24th
-----------------------------------------------------

In other words, in the two shooting zones where the defense of Whiteside/Nurkic would have the biggest impact, the results are: Whiteside, aided by Skal and Tolliver are doing quite a bit better than Nurkic, aided by Zach, Meyers, Kanter, and Aminu.

I know the narrative here is to credit Nurkic and debit Whiteside, but some of the arguments just don't withstand scrutiny

Don't get caught up in stats to much because there know way Skals or Tolliver is as good as Zach protecting the rim when he playing the center position. I just got watching the 2 first game of the season this year Zach was really good defending the rim matter fact Zach finish the game against the Kings at center. Both Nurk and Whiteside takes plays off or they get caught flat footed.

 

[GDiama]

Congrats to the Blazers for the win.

Disappointed Beal did not play. I wanted to compare his game to CJ's. I'm sold on a trade built around the two. Sure there are areas each is better than other. But overall, Beal's game would be a better fit with this roster. The tie braker for me is Beal's desire to play in a ball movement system. He averaged about 2.5 more assists the last two seasons. Beal would be much more enjoyable to watch than CJ.

I don't think Wizards would trade Beal for CJ if 1st round picks (not one) are not included. Beal is much better overall. Younger as well.

 

[kjironman1]

I agree, just curious if you were the GM what you'd be willing to pay... what do you think he'll get on the open market?

Not trying to be "Snarky" at all. I am not the GM and am not at all qualified to be one. So anything i say would have to be taken with a grain of salt. Too many variables. Market, Cap space vs Cap tax levels, Team need vs Team composition, Overall fit and willingness of all involved to include coach and other high profile players. What is Whiteside willing to take for a certain situation? Basic Supply and Demand issues. It would take me hours if not days to try and come up with a good number and that number would be different for each team he could go to.
I stay out of these kind of conversations for that reason. I simply don't have time. Blazers are and always will simply be entertainment. When i used to put that kind of effort out the fun vanished.

 

[BBert]

Top Performers

• 
  Hassan Whiteside
  POR - C
  23 PTS, 21 REB, 1 AST
• 
  Jordan McRae
  WSH - SG
  35 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST

Source:ESPN

He had 5 blocks, and they list his 1 assist? LOL

 

[wizenheimer]

Don't get caught up in stats to much because there know way Skals or Tolliver is as good as Zach protecting the rim when he playing the center position. I just got watching the 2 first game of the season this year Zach was really good defending the rim matter fact Zach finish the game against the Kings at center. Both Nurk and Whiteside takes plays off or they get caught flat footed.

my post was related to the Nurkic vs Whiteside chatter that filled this thread, and much of the chatter was making claims that are really hard to substantiate

like for instance, the claim that Nurkic >>> Whiteside on defense. A lot of people are talking like it's just not close at all and I think that's significantly overstating the advantage for Nurkic. Don't get me wrong, I think overall Nurkic is probably a better defender than Whiteside, mainly because 1) he has better recognition on help defense and rotates faster, 2) he has better instincts defending PnR. But that doesn't mean that Whiteside isn't better defensively at some things as well...because he definitely is

that's why I posted those opponent shooting numbers. Because the biggest impact a C's defense will have is in the paint, and a good way to gauge that is by opponent shooting numbers in those zones. If Nurkic's defense was >>> better that Whiteside's, those numbers would show it. But they don't...just the opposite in fact...

what they show is that this year, Whiteside + Skal + Tolliver are doing a significantly better job of lowering opposing shooting percentages at the rim (0-3') and in the 3-10' zone than Nurkic + Zach + Aminu + Meyers did last season. That shouldn't be ignored

This is Whiteside doing what he does, and what he does is block and intimidate shots at & near the basket much better than Nurkic. I think that's clear. Obviously, that's not all there is to big-man defensive responsibility, but it's a significant part of it, and I think people need to consider it before that make sweeping statements about how much better Nurkic was on the defensive end, especially considering all the help Nurkic had, and how little help Whiteside has

 

[Tince]

Not trying to be "Snarky" at all. I am not the GM and am not at all qualified to be one. So anything i say would have to be taken with a grain of salt. Too many variables. Market, Cap space vs Cap tax levels, Team need vs Team composition, Overall fit and willingness of all involved to include coach and other high profile players. What is Whiteside willing to take for a certain situation? Basic Supply and Demand issues. It would take me hours if not days to try and come up with a good number and that number would be different for each team he could go to.
I stay out of these kind of conversations for that reason. I simply don't have time. Blazers are and always will simply be entertainment. When i used to put that kind of effort out the fun vanished.

This right here proves you're a smarter man than I am!

 

[CupWizier]

I don't think Wizards would trade Beal for CJ if 1st round picks (not one) are not included. Beal is much better overall. Younger as well.

McCollum and a first round pick is better than Beal. Beals numbers aare slightly better this year as he is the primary scorer where as McCollum is a secondary scorer.

 

[kjironman1]

This right here proves you're a smarter man than I am!

Nah maybe not smarter. Older probably. But i highly doubt smarter would pan out.

 

[GDiama]

McCollum and a first round pick is better than Beal. Beals numbers aare slightly better this year as he is the primary scorer where as McCollum is a secondary scorer.

CJ's number are better than Klay's as well. CJ is not as good as them. Is Beal as good as Lillard? You can say that according to numbers but he is not.

 

[CupWizier]

CJ's number are better than Klay's as well. CJ is not as good as them. Is Beal as good as Lillard? You can say that according to numbers but he is not.

but you are saying one probably 2 first round picks plus McCollum for Beal. That is insane in my book as you really wouldn't be gaining that much and those 2 first round picks could lead to another good player either by drafting or using them in trade. It's all about value and like usual, many of you value the other side more than the Blazer side and this isn't based just on numbers but observation as well.

 

[GDiama]

but you are saying one probably 2 first round picks plus McCollum for Beal. That is insane in my book as you really wouldn't be gaining that much and those 2 first round picks could lead to another good player either by drafting or using them in trade. It's all about value and like usual, many of you value the other side more than the Blazer side and this isn't based just on numbers but observation as well.

Ok i might exaggerate with the two first round picks, but if i was Wizards Gm i don't think i would accept CJ+1, basically because this not a good value. CJ has the same type of contract and is older plus the fact that Beal is well respected there. Not really worth it for CJ + the 15th pick.

 

[blazerfan11]

The Wizards, mainly the bench, beat the Nuggets by 14, 128-114, in Washington tonight. Ish Smith was 15-24 for 32 points and Troy Brown Jr. was 10-12 for 25 points.

 

[Tince]

The Wizards, mainly the bench, beat the Nuggets by 14, 128-114, in Washington tonight. Ish Smith was 15-24 for 32 points and Troy Brown Jr. was 10-12 for 25 points.

Fire Mike Malone!

 

[Strenuus]

Fire Mike Malone!

One game.


Seven seasons.

Stotts is awful.

Malone Will soon be exposed as awful.

Facts.

 

[Tince]

One game.


Seven seasons.

Stotts is awful.

Malone Will soon be exposed as awful.

Facts.

Those are not all facts.

Fact.

 

[CupWizier]

One game.


Seven seasons.

Stotts is awful.

Malone Will soon be exposed as awful.

Facts.

Once again, those are opinions.

 

[wizenheimer]

Those are not all facts.

Fact.

people need to lighten up around here. Too many sarcastic posts are being taken literal

 

[CupWizier]

Wonder if Nuggets fans are melting down like our fans do after a bad loss? Maybe Wizards playing us tough through almost 3 quarters was as bad as some of you thought. On any given day.

 

[hoopsjock]

Wonder if Nuggets fans are melting down like our fans do after a bad loss? Maybe Wizards playing us tough through almost 3 quarters was as bad as some of you thought. On any given day.

I could see your point if the Blazers had only a couple or even just a handful of bad losses this year but that's not the case.

 

[CupWizier]

I could see your point if the Blazers had only a couple or even just a handful of bad losses this year but that's not the case.

My point was struggling against the Wizards isn't as bad as some want to portray it. They blew the Nugs out with essentially the same lineup.

 

[hoopsjock]

My point was struggling against the Wizards isn't as bad as some want to portray it. They blew the Nugs out with essentially the same lineup.

And again, if stuggling against the Wizards was more of an outlier like it was for the Nuggets while being among the top teams in the West it would be completely different. But the Blazers have struggled almost the entire year.

 

[CupWizier]

And again, if stuggling against the Wizards was more of an outlier like it was for the Nuggets while being among the top teams in the West it would be completely different. But the Blazers have struggled almost the entire year.

I am aware that we have been struggling, but that wasn't my point. Posters were mocking the team during the game for struggling through almost 3 quarters and then we dominated the 4th. It was simply about this game and this game only. In addition, only one team below us has had a better record over the last 10 games (6-4 compared to 5-5) and two teams above us have had the same record over that period. If we can continue to hang around that 8th spot then maybe we can make a push in the second half as we begin to get some players back.

 

[BonesJones]

Fire Mike Malone!

What's their record? Exactly.

 

[BonesJones]

Beal can't even be traded this year.

 

[Tince]

What's their record? Exactly.

I just don't like the way their offense looks, I don't think the Nuggets are trying hard, and it's not acceptable to lose to bad teams that you're better than.