Game Thread GAME# 44: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - JANUARY 13, 2019 - SUNDAY, 5:00 PM, NBCSNW

[KingSpeed]

Thats not true at all though. I do give Stotts credit when he does good things. I was just saying that the closing minutes of that particular game wasnt really coaching. You are building up your own narrative too that I some how hate stotts so much that I will bash him whenever things go bad and when they go good I will never give him credit for those things. I do in fact give him credit for things.

I dont blame Stotts everytime they lose a close game.

No, you just call him a moron.

I agree, i just get frustrated being told i'm trying to create some anti-stotts narrative. I don't think Stotts is an elite NBA coach, but that doesn't mean I blame him for all their losses or give him credit for all their wins.
I never said this loss was all on him either.

Is he an elite coach or a moron? Make up your mind.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

No, you just call him a moron.


Is he an elite coach or moron? Make up your mind.

When did I call him a moron?

 

[KingSpeed]

When did I call him a moron?

Oh fuck lol. I thought you were BJ who called him a moron. My bad.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Oh fuck lol. I thought you were BJ who called him a moron. My bad.

All good. I dont think he’s a moron by the way and if I ever go that crazy to start name calling and all that during a game, Id like a shot to apologize.

 

[blazerkor]

It's seriously really simple. Denver is a really good team. Our guys weren't on tonight. Those two things being said, we almost won. This game was a good sign that our team is an elite team in the league.

 

[GDiama]

The annoying thing is Denver is too damn young as well and they are already this good. We made fun of them the last years for missing playoffs but i didn't see us accomplishing anything other than 4-0 1st round exits. They are first in the conference with some of their main guys missing many games and some are still not 100% or out. They also have a guy that has never played yet and fell in the draft because of injury concerns but was considered to go number 1 overall, he has the potential. They also can't draft wrong, literally whatever they get becomes gold. I envy them right now.

 

[THE HCP]

So everybody is mad again like I predicted. We lost to one of the best teams in the league......are we bad again?

 

[KingSpeed]

We could’ve won both games. I’m not sold on Denver being a top 4 seed this year. I think they will drop off big time as the season goes on. IMHO.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Sigh.

In fairness, he never said WHICH upcoming game the Nuggets would lose to Portland

 

[BigGameDamian]

So did Jokic show who the better player is?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Or that "Stotts is producing with the talent given by Olshey." It's nonsense. We have more talent than most teams.

Do we?

 

[BonesJones]

So everybody is mad again like I predicted. We lost to one of the best teams in the league......are we bad again?

Generic crap is the only counter. Try talking basketball fams.

 

[Portland2014]

Now we know that at least 15 people loves to vote on this forum while being drunk.

 

[BonesJones]

Now we know that at least 15 people loves to vote on this forum while being drunk.

Is that what explains all your posts?

 

[GDiama]

So did Jokic show who the better player is?

I don't think it's even a debate anymore. Somebody has to be blind to suggest otherwise. Jokic is like 5th in the MVP race.

 

[James lamphear]

It's seriously really simple. Denver is a really good team. Our guys weren't on tonight. Those two things being said, we almost won. This game was a good sign that our team is an elite team in the league.

I think we are getting there due to other players besides Dame and CJ that actually playing very well. Players on the bench are playing well and you got Layman that's playing well either starting or coming off the bench.

 

[kjironman1]

I think the way to play Jokic is to force him to score over and over. Don't double team unless he backs down very close to the basket. Make him score and use energy.

That is exactly what Stotts did last night. They were trying to get him to shoot mid range or pass out when he got in close. Jokic had a good game but if he misses one or two of the mid range the Blazers win that game.

 

[Labinot41]

Just finished the Game on League Pass. Wow, we're down 3 with 3 seconds left, and genius Stotts brings Nurkic on the court. LMAOOOOOOOO. Why not Stauskas or Curry? Or even Meyers? But why Nurkic???? WHY???????? Stotts has no idea what he's doing. What pathetic Coaching

 

[Labinot41]

Boy i'm fucking angry right now. This shit blows my mind

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

So everybody is mad again like I predicted. We lost to one of the best teams in the league......are we bad again?

Not mad. It happens losing happens.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Just finished the Game on League Pass. Wow, we're down 3 with 3 seconds left, and genius Stotts brings Nurkic on the court. LMAOOOOOOOO. Why not Stauskas or Curry? Or even Meyers? But why Nurkic???? WHY???????? Stotts has no idea what he's doing. What pathetic Coaching

Did you perhaps missed that Evan Turner was also out there ?

 

[illmatic99]

So everybody is mad again like I predicted. We lost to one of the best teams in the league......are we bad again?

I think people are mad because we lost a winnable game.

 

[Labinot41]

Did you perhaps missed that Evan Turner was also out there ?

Mhh ET was just the passer, so i'm okay with that, but not with Nurk on the court when we need a fucking 3...

 

[BonesJones]

That is exactly what Stotts did last night. They were trying to get him to shoot mid range or pass out when he got in close. Jokic had a good game but if he misses one or two of the mid range the Blazers win that game.

How is having an undersized tweeter forward on him and not throw a single double or even a dig at Jokic inviting him to shoot mid range shots or pass out?

The one time they invited him to pass out they had 4 help side defenders all in the key and allowed a wide open 3.

It was a terribly coached game.

 

[BonesJones]

Mhh ET was just the passer, so i'm okay with that, but not with Nurk on the court when we need a fucking 3...

We're had time to get the inbounded open, which might've been the best option.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree, i just get frustrated being told i'm trying to create some anti-stotts narrative. I don't think Stotts is an elite NBA coach, but that doesn't mean I blame him for all their losses or give him credit for all their wins.
I never said this loss was all on him either.

Obviously different things couldve happened but if he simply coached a solid game, we win. Makes a difference of about 4 or 5 games at the end of the year, and then we get killed in the post-season because of him.

 

[BonesJones]

Yeah Jokic is damn good. I can still see Nurk maybe possibly getting that good, not in the same way of course, but that good. Nurk is more mobile & active. Nurks defense is superb. He just needs to get more smooth & steady offensively. We need to keep working on ways to use him offensively. He needs to keep working on his FT till he gets it above 80% if that is possible.

I think the way to play Jokic is to force him to score over and over. Don't double team unless he backs down very close to the basket. Make him score and use energy.

If the best defensive gameplan you can come up with is to force (allow) an elite player to score, then you shouldn't be a head coach.

If your scheme is to allow insanely wide open shots from 10-15 feet, you shouldn't be an NBA head coach.

 

[kjironman1]

How is having an undersized tweeter forward on him and not throw a single double or even a dig at Jokic inviting him to shoot mid range shots or pass out?

The one time they invited him to pass out they had 4 help side defenders all in the key and allowed a wide open 3.

It was a terribly coached game.

Nah that isn't what i watched on a bunch of occasions. Most of the time it was Nurk on Jokic. When he pushed down low they broke off either Aminu or at some times Turner for help. That is throwing a double. Jokic passed the ball well but he also was able to score despite the double in some cases.
Did it happen every play? No. Did it happen a bunch? Yes.
I even watched CJ jump in and try to "quick hand" Jokic. He was successful once knocking the ball loose but i don't think he got credit for a steal.
These are all different looks that the Blazers tried on Jokic. You may not want to give Stotts credit but in the end he tried about 6 different looks. He ended up going with what seemed to work best but nothing was working well. Jokic was having another awesome night. He has had many this year against some very good teams. At some point you have to give him credit instead of trying the blame game again.
In the end the Blazers were one shot from forcing OT and a couple plays from winning this game on their court. This is against arguably the best team in the west. Now come again with the Stotts did a terrible job. It just doesn't hold water. Good coaches keep their teams in a position to win at the end of the game. Stotts cannot go on the court and shoot the ball for his players or set a screen or keep them from fouling as Nurk did at the end when he lost the rebound to Jokic. This loss was anything but on Stotts. The BLAZERS as a team lost this game.

 

[BonesJones]

Nah that isn't what i watched on a bunch of occasions. Most of the time it was Nurk on Jokic. When he pushed down low they broke off either Aminu or at some times Turner for help. That is throwing a double. Jokic passed the ball well but he also was able to score despite the double in some cases.
Did it happen every play? No. Did it happen a bunch? Yes.
I even watched CJ jump in and try to "quick hand" Jokic. He was successful once knocking the ball loose but i don't think he got credit for a steal.
These are all different looks that the Blazers tried on Jokic. You may not want to give Stotts credit but in the end he tried about 6 different looks. He ended up going with what seemed to work best but nothing was working well. Jokic was having another awesome night. He has had many this year against some very good teams. At some point you have to give him credit instead of trying the blame game again.
In the end the Blazers were one shot from forcing OT and a couple plays from winning this game on their court. This is against arguably the best team in the west. Now come again with the Stotts did a terrible job. It just doesn't hold water. Good coaches keep their teams in a position to win at the end of the game. Stotts cannot go on the court and shoot the ball for his players or set a screen or keep them from fouling as Nurk did at the end when he lost the rebound to Jokic. This loss was anything but on Stotts. The BLAZERS as a team lost this game.

Well I'll have some film broken down for you tonight thatll show otherwise but I'm sure your find an excuse or a way to explain it differently then too! Because you've been known to make stuff up to defend Stotts in the past...

He didnt try 6 different looks. He doubled maybe once. Once again making stuff up because you like Stotts so you dont want to admit when he does a bad job.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Nah that isn't what i watched on a bunch of occasions. Most of the time it was Nurk on Jokic. When he pushed down low they broke off either Aminu or at some times Turner for help. That is throwing a double. Jokic passed the ball well but he also was able to score despite the double in some cases.
Did it happen every play? No. Did it happen a bunch? Yes.
I even watched CJ jump in and try to "quick hand" Jokic. He was successful once knocking the ball loose but i don't think he got credit for a steal.
These are all different looks that the Blazers tried on Jokic. You may not want to give Stotts credit but in the end he tried about 6 different looks. He ended up going with what seemed to work best but nothing was working well. Jokic was having another awesome night. He has had many this year against some very good teams. At some point you have to give him credit instead of trying the blame game again.
In the end the Blazers were one shot from forcing OT and a couple plays from winning this game on their court. This is against arguably the best team in the west. Now come again with the Stotts did a terrible job. It just doesn't hold water. Good coaches keep their teams in a position to win at the end of the game. Stotts cannot go on the court and shoot the ball for his players or set a screen or keep them from fouling as Nurk did at the end when he lost the rebound to Jokic. This loss was anything but on Stotts. The BLAZERS as a team lost this game.

Pointing out things that Stotts did well doesn't necessarily negate things he did poorly. It is possible for a coach to have both good and bad aspects of his game plan and execution.