Game Thread GAME# 41: KNICKS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 7, 2019 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[kjironman1]

Do you guys get the same vibe, good or bad, that you did with Rudy Fernandez. Similar style of games.

Jake is tougher than Rudy but yeah same type of game.

 

[blue9]

Do you guys get the same vibe, good or bad, that you did with Rudy Fernandez. Similar style of games.

Interesting. Similar for sure.
Layman = Rudy + Harkless ?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Well we didnt win by 40. Blazers are trash.

 

[Scalma]

Interesting. Similar for sure.
Layman = Rudy + Harkless ?

If you combined the best of those two you’d probably be looking at an all star caliber player.

Its difficult to come up with a good comp because when Layman is playing well, he looks like one of the better players on the court, regardless of who he’s playing. He can do so many things offensively.

Here’s one; a young Danny Granger.

The build is similar as is the way they move imo

 

[HailBlazers]

@wizenheimer so overall do you think we are worse than last year? - davis, pat, bazz

 

[James lamphear]

That is basically the only way you can slow down certain players is with a solid scheme. Very few guys can stop top players by themselves who can attack the rim. No one is stopping ours either, not unless they are doubled, not with these rules, not without getting in foul trouble. Which is why teams with multiple shooters do better than teams who don't. You can' double everyone. You have to have that 3rd and 4th shooter on the floor at all times.

I understand that but the scheme that Stotts has is have your big right in front of the rim doesn't work. The reason is where a player going down hill he has his choice either pull up in empty space in key for a shot or attack the basket that either that make it or draw the foul. Yea sometimes they get blocked but percentage are pretty slim that only if your rim protector. In Leonard case he is not so that the reason teams attack the rim when he in there.

 

[James lamphear]

Thing about Layman is always moving without the ball. Very smart especially last night when did back screen and slip back to the bucket for the dunk. For all our forwards he move without the best. Another thing I like about him when he moving he moving with a purpose and that why he gets open on those lobs by the guards. Now he 3 decent games in a row so now can he be consent with his play. He has all the tool to be a good forward.

 

[wizenheimer]

@wizenheimer so overall do you think we are worse than last year? - davis, pat, bazz

not worse.

but I don't see how Portland addressed the issues exposed by the Pelicans. The Blazers will still stall-out if a team take's Dame out of the equation. Portland needed a major upgrade over and above simple organic growth and they didn't get it

 

[tlongII]

not worse.

but I don't see how Portland addressed the issues exposed by the Pelicans. The Blazers will still stall-out if a team take's Dame out of the equation. Portland needed a major upgrade over and above simple organic growth and they didn't get it

What major upgrade do you think they should have done?

 

[BonesJones]

We’ve actually lost 10 straight playoff games but that doesn’t mean we haven’t improved this season. If only playoffs matter to you, then don’t say anything about this team- negative or otherwise- until after this year’s playoffs

I mean, it sounds like I’m not allowed to say anything positive about coach and players THIS year but it’s ok to say negative things about THIS YE

Or you can remember that we’ve won 4 of our last 5!

You really can't grasp this.

We've already had a great regular season. Another great regular season doesnt show improvement.

We had 49 wins last year. Right now we're on pace for 48.

Not saying that I don't care or it doesn't matter, I'm saying weve had a great regular season so another one isnt improvement. What would be improvement is winning a playoff game.

How many different ways do i need to explain this?

 

[BonesJones]

What major upgrade do you think they should have done?

Ettore Messina.

 

[tlongII]

Ettore Messina.

Hmmm. An Italian coach.

 

[BonesJones]

not worse.

but I don't see how Portland addressed the issues exposed by the Pelicans. The Blazers will still stall-out if a team take's Dame out of the equation. Portland needed a major upgrade over and above simple organic growth and they didn't get it

I'd count figuring out how to beat a pick n rim trap as a major upgrade.

 

[BonesJones]

Hmmm. An Italian coach.

That knows his shit.

 

[wizenheimer]

What major upgrade do you think they should have done?

pay me 1/3rd of Olshey's 3M salary and I'll tell you. Joking of course because I don't know what his salary is and I'd settle for 1/5th

but I was asked if I thought the team was worse (or better) and I answered.

 

[tlongII]

pay me 1/3rd of Olshey's 3M salary and I'll tell you. Joking of course because I don't know what his salary is and I'd settle for 1/5th

but I was asked if I thought the team was worse (or better) and I answered.

Fair enough.

 

[KingSpeed]

You really can't grasp this.

We've already had a great regular season. Another great regular season doesnt show improvement.

We had 49 wins last year. Right now we're on pace for 48.

Not saying that I don't care or it doesn't matter, I'm saying weve had a great regular season so another one isnt improvement. What would be improvement is winning a playoff game.

How many different ways do i need to explain this?

We can have a greater season than 49 wins. And I'd say we're on pace to do so since we've had a difficult schedule thus far. Getting the #1 seed would be an improvement.

 

[BonesJones]

We can have a greater season than 49 wins. And I'd say we're on pace to do so since we've had a difficult schedule thus far. Getting the #1 seed would be an improvement.

Were on pace to get around 49 wins halfway through the season, no matter how you shake it. Yes, getting the #1 seed would show improvement over the regular season, but were no closer to a championship until we show we can win a playoff series against a healthy team. We haven't shown improvement in either (except starting faster against a harder schedule than last year, but one shouldnt expect a 13-game winning streak either

 

[swish3]

Some of the arithmetic above is faulty. We are half-way through the season with 27 wins, and 2 x 27 = 54. And the 2nd half of the season schedule appears easier. I predict 56+ wins, not just 49.

 

[jlprk]

Did you read this? 2 times 23 wins = 46 wins.

better start?

* this year Portland is 24-17, but that's after 23 games at home and 18 on the road

* last year, Portland was 22-19; but that was after 20 games at home and 21 on the road

* currently, Portland's home record is 16-7 (.695) while their road record is 8-10 (.444)

so then if you 'adjust' this season's record to last season's 20-21 home/road ratio: you get 20 games X .695 = 14 wins. And 21 games X .444 = 9 wins. That works out to a 23-18 record

so yeah...improvement...by 1 measly win. That sure doesn't seem like any kind of platform to stand on and shout praise from, but apparently, like I said earlier in this thread, even teeny tiny accomplishments need to be treated like major victories in the Olshey era

 

[jlprk]

For anyone happy with being 24-17, just remember in our last 28 games (68.3% of the games we've played) we are 14-14.

In other words, at 13 games in, we were 10-3 (.769). So except for that first 16% (=13/82) of the season, we're a .500 team.

 

[BonesJones]

In other words, at 13 games in, we were 10-3 (.769). So except for that first 16% (=13/82) of the season, we're a .500 team.

Things don't work like that... You could take out the best 13-game stretch from every team and theyd be a .500 team. Ours just happened to be at the beginning.

 

[jlprk]

Things don't work like that... You could take out the best 13-game stretch from every team and theyd be a .500 team. Ours just happened to be at the beginning.

For the most part yes. Although when your hot 13 games are at the start of the season, the record goes downhill from there, after raised expectations.

After the 10-3 start, if we go .500 at 35-34, then we finish 45-37 (.549). Not too shabby. We can blame the 4-win decrease on giving away Ed Davis for nothing, and call it even with last season.

And after the first week in July, I can blame Olshey for doing absolutely nothing again. And you guys can tell me again, give him more time.

I've already predicted at least 50 wins for this season. But we'd have 60 by now with a conventional GM who knows how to trade.

 

[BonesJones]

For the most part yes. Although when your hot 13 games are at the start of the season, the record goes downhill from there, after raised expectations.

After the 10-3 start, if we go .500 at 35-34, then we finish 45-37 (.549). Not too shabby. We can blame the 4-win decrease on giving away Ed Davis for nothing, and call it even with last season.

And after the first week in July, I can blame Olshey for doing absolutely nothing again. And you guys can tell me again, give him more time.

I've already predicted at least 50 wins for this season. But we'd have 60 by now with a conventional GM who knows how to trade.

Usually trolling is supposed to be funny.

 

[jlprk]

It's 4:34 am. Does Jay Leno know where you are?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Save the lecture. I couldn't care less.

YES ! YES ! THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE !!