Game Thread GAME# 4: BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - NOVEMBER 2, 2015 - MONDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Pinwheel1]

It certainly would be nice to have a scorer in the post. None of our bigs really have a post game.

Didn't Plumless post up Towns and put in a nice little hook? He looked pretty confident doing it. I have been surprised by his expanded game. The reverse dunk was nice as well although it was not a post move.

 

[BBert]

Didn't Plumless post up Towns and put in a nice little hook? He looked pretty confident doing it. I have been surprised by his expanded game. The reverse dunk was nice as well although it was not a post move.

He's pretty good when he's REALLY close to the basket. He's quick and agile. If only he could shoot a freaking free throw.

 

[Strenuus]

He's pretty good when he's REALLY close to the basket. He's quick and agile. If only he could shoot a freaking free throw.

Hack-a-plumlee is going to happen.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He's pretty good when he's REALLY close to the basket. He's quick and agile. If only he could shoot a freaking free throw.

The thing is, is that his quickness and agility gets him really close to the basket, so that he can be pretty good. Kaman on the other hand is much crafter with his post moves, but he also travels half the time. So that is frustrating.

But yes Plumlee's free throw shooting is going to keep him off the court at the end of games. Meyers will be needed.

 

[BBert]

The thing is, is that his quickness and agility gets him really close to the basket, so that he can be pretty good. Kaman on the other hand is much crafter with his post moves, but he also travels half the time. So that is frustrating.

But yes Plumlee's free throw shooting is going to keep him off the court at the end of games. Meyers will be needed.

The frustrating thing about Plumlee for me (other than the free throw shooting, which KILLS me), is that I've seen him repeatedly try to dribble in traffic in the key and have the ball stolen. Like, a bunch of times.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Hack-a-plumlee is going to happen.

In the playoffs, yeah. And by San Antonio in the regular season, because Pops is a min-maxing asshole.

 

[Strenuus]

In the playoffs, yeah. And by San Antonio in the regular season, because Pops is a min-maxing asshole.

What playoffs?

 

[Pinwheel1]

The frustrating thing about Plumlee for me (other than the free throw shooting, which KILLS me), is that I've seen him repeatedly try to dribble in traffic in the key and have the ball stolen. Like, a bunch of times.

That is a frustration I have with all bigs. It is inevitable if they put the ball on the floor more than a couple of times in traffic, it's a turnover. I could honestly care less if we ever posted up. You need points in the paint, but do you really need someone to post up?

 

[Strenuus]

That is a frustration I have with all bigs. It is inevitable if they put the ball on the floor more than a couple of times in traffic, it's a turnover. I could honestly care less if we ever posted up. You need points in the paint, but do you really need someone to post up?

"Only if I can fade away"

-That one guy that played for Portland.

 

[barfo]

The frustrating thing about Plumlee for me (other than the free throw shooting, which KILLS me), is that I've seen him repeatedly try to dribble in traffic in the key and have the ball stolen. Like, a bunch of times.

He clearly thinks he's a great ball handler - he's happy to dribble all the way from one end to the other. And he is good - for a big guy. But he's not good in an absolute sense.

barfo

 

[blue9]

You need points in the paint, but do you really need someone to post up?

That's a point I've tried to make in the past - points in the paint don't have to come off of post-ups. In fact, I think it's better when they come from passes to cutters. With the passing abilities of Plumlee/Leonard, and the cutting abilities of CJ/Aminu, we should have a lot more action moving towards the hoop. But: Stotts.

 

[Draco]

The funny thing about that is that Stotts is doing it right. He's playing the young guys. Minny isn't. They're wasting PT on Garnett, who isn't doing squat.

This was a game in honor of Flip which may have been a factor.

But if they keep it up maybe its a way of sneaky super tanking. Play 40 year old vets with dominant rookie of the years to get more top3 picks.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Did anyone else notice how Aminu worked his ass off out there? he was literally trying to be at 2 places at the same time on some defensive possessions.

I don't miss you Nikola Batum.

 

[Draco]

You think Kaman is better than Davis and Plumlee?

For 15mpg yes. For over 25mpg and on back to backs no. Remember his games at the start of last year before we overplayed him as a starter? He was one of our most effective players. Got dinged up and was never healthy the rest of the year. Can literally run an offense though him and we could certainly use that in the half court for stretches. Has underrated defense.

 

[Draco]

Didn't Plumless post up Towns and put in a nice little hook? He looked pretty confident doing it. I have been surprised by his expanded game. The reverse dunk was nice as well although it was not a post move.

Yes he's played better than I expected. Still has room to improve but has done a number of good things out there.

 

[Draco]

Did anyone else notice how Aminu worked his ass off out there? he was literally trying to be at 2 places at the same time on some defensive possessions.

I don't miss you Nikola Batum.

I didn't notice anything particular different with Aminu in this game.

Your observation applies to EVERY game.

 

[BBert]

Did anyone else notice how Aminu worked his ass off out there? he was literally trying to be at 2 places at the same time on some defensive possessions.

I don't miss you Nikola Batum.

Different team, different times, different role.

I'm ecstatic we have Aminu with this team.

 

[Natebishop3]

The only thing Aminu doesn't bring is passing. That's not his bag.

Conversely, Plumlee is an awesome passer for a big man so it kinda equals out.

 

[Pinwheel1]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ies-discussing-deal-miami-heat-mario-chalmers

With the passing abilities of Plumlee/Leonard, and the cutting abilities of CJ/Aminu, we should have a lot more action moving towards the hoop. But: Stotts.

You don't think there has been a lot more action moving towards the hoop? I think there has been quite a bit more. I think it will continue to increase. I know Henderson is an excellent finisher in the lane....that can't hurt.

 

[blue9]

You don't think there has been a lot more action moving towards the hoop? I think there has been quite a bit more. I think it will continue to increase. I know Henderson is an excellent finisher in the lane....that can't hurt.

There's certainly been more, but it's mostly been 1:1 action rather than a play that has multiple players working towards creating a high-percentage shot near the basket.
I am excited about Henderson, but I suspect he'll just be another player who attacks the hoop with ball in hand.
Stotts hasn't shown me much in terms of diagramming plays that create opportunities around the basket.

 

[B-Roy]

Plumlee had 6 turnovers yesterday, most of them bad ones trying to dribble into traffic.

But he also had some nice dimes. It's about finding the balance.

 

[Draco]

There's certainly been more, but it's mostly been 1:1 action rather than a play that has multiple players working towards creating a high-percentage shot near the basket.
I am excited about Henderson, but I suspect he'll just be another player who attacks the hoop with ball in hand.
Stotts hasn't shown me much in terms of diagramming plays that create opportunities around the basket.

We have a roster full of players who've never played rotational NBA minutes as they are now, except Dame.

The Blazers are averaging 100ppg with an effective FG% of .500 that ranks 9th in the NBA.

Do you really think there's a coach that could make plays and get significantly easier shots for this group?

I just don't understand all these fan expectations 4 games into a rebuild. I'm going to turn into HCP.

 

[Pinwheel1]

There's certainly been more, but it's mostly been 1:1 action rather than a play that has multiple players working towards creating a high-percentage shot near the basket.
I am excited about Henderson, but I suspect he'll just be another player who attacks the hoop with ball in hand.
Stotts hasn't shown me much in terms of diagramming plays that create opportunities around the basket.

True we are not going to get many of those other than the occasional inbound play for an alley oop. But the offense is based on motion and we have seen more players moving towards the basket this year and actually receiving the pass instead of being a decoy for the perimeter pass. Both Meyer and Plumlee are good high post passers and both CJ and Dame attack the paint and find open players. (i.e the CJ to Vonleh dunk last night.)
The offense seems to be evolving. Right now there is still too much unfamiliarity out there resulting in unforced turnovers. But that should improve.

 

[Draco]

True we are not going to get many of those other than the occasional inbound play for an alley oop. But the offense is based on motion and we have seen more players moving towards the basket this year and actually receiving the pass instead of being a decoy for the perimeter pass. Both Meyer and Plumlee are good high post passers and both CJ and Dame attack the paint and find open players. (i.e the CJ to Vonleh dunk last night.)
The offense seems to be evolving. Right now there is still too much unfamiliarity out there resulting in unforced turnovers. But that should improve.

Good post.

I agree its way early on. There are some very encouraging signs with our offense and of course some mistakes. I expected many mistakes though. I'm curious what changes we see every 10, 20, 30, 40+ games from now as the season goes on.

 

[theprunetang]

The frustrating thing about Plumlee for me (other than the free throw shooting, which KILLS me), is that I've seen him repeatedly try to dribble in traffic in the key and have the ball stolen. Like, a bunch of times.

I have noticed the dribbling into traffic thing as well. It is frustrating, but I would let him keep trying. If he can add that dribble drive and then kick out to open shooters, it could be very valuable. From my point of view, 90% percent of the times when he drives and loses the ball, it is because he is attempting a kick out pass about 1 or 2 dribbles too late. He'll have an open man, but then he'll take one more dribble forward, and by the time he is thinking about passing, it is too late and the ball gets stolen. I am sure that will be pointed out on game film sessions.

 

[theprunetang]

The only thing Aminu doesn't bring is passing. That's not his bag.

Conversely, Plumlee is an awesome passer for a big man so it kinda equals out.

My only complaint about Aminu so far has been his lack of touch on finishing drives at the rim. There have been several times this year, including a couple from last night, where will go straight to the basket and have all of the defenders behind him and instead of dunking or a simple lay up, he always goes with the finger roll, which he seems to lack touch with. He did make one of those driving finger rolls last night, but even then it was a bankshot.

With that said, I love the guy and I am very glad that we have him locked up. His defense is beautiful.

 

[WillG]

With that said, I love the guy and I am very glad that we have him locked up. His defense is beautiful.

Agreed. Love the effort he puts in. Effort to go along with ability = lockdown defender. . . who woulda thunk it?
(cough. . .Batum . . cough)

 

[Sinobas]

Huge win! Didn't realize we were down 17 though. KG needs to hang it up that's for sure. Great to see Stotts leave Crabbe in there during crunch time. Knowing his coach has his back like that could help AC down the line. Dame was just toying with those guys out there, such a stud!

Wouldn't it be cool if it was your job to watch Blazer games, then you'd never miss out on anything. *sigh*