Game Thread Game #45 - BLAZERS @ BOSTON CELTICS - JANUARY 21, 2022 - FRIDAY - 4:30 (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Scalma]

When the pieces get traded my fact will bear fruit.

Which is my way of saying I know I'm right and the facts will be too long to write.

But thank you.

you wanna put money where your mouth is and bet on Ant getting traded, since you’ve been so adamant about it?

 

[Tince]

When the pieces get traded my fact will bear fruit.

Which is my way of saying I know I'm right and the facts will be too long to write.

But thank you.

I love it! Just for fun, let's try to lay out something measureable before the fact to test your theory:

After "the peices" (define what those are please) get traded, what will our winning percentage be? And how does that relate to the 50% number your set out?

 

[Scalma]

So what's the bet about Billups getting past the WCF? Or are you backing away from that now?

backing away from what? What bet? That billups will make the WCF this season? Or in general. I’d bet on the latter.

 

[Tince]

you wanna put money where your mouth is and bet on Ant getting traded, since you’ve been so adamant about it?

Ant getting traded? I never said anything about Ant getting traded. What does that have to do with you claiming Billups will get further in the playoffs than the previous coach?

If you don't really believe that, no biggie. I thought you were being serious.

 

[Tince]

backing away from what? What bet? That billups will make the WCF this season? Or in general. I’d bet on the latter.

Making the WCF would not be any better than the previous coach. I do not think we'll see Billups get further than the WCF in the next decade and I havne't found anyone who is willing to be otherwise. Yourself included.

And again, that doesn't mean I think he's a bad coach, I don't. I think he's doing a fine job!

 

[Strenuus]

I love it! Just for fun, let's try to lay out something measureable before the fact to test your theory:

After "the peices" (define what those are please) get traded, what will our winning percentage be? And how does that relate to the 50% number your set out?

Easy. The ones olshey fucked up. That's your measurement.

It's okay tince, we're in the same boat. Grab an oar! You can bash me over the head with it if you want. Just make sure to row!

 

[Tince]

Easy. The ones olshey fucked up. That's your measurement.

It's okay tince, we're in the same boat. Grab an oar! You can bash me over the head with it if you want. Just make sure to row!

You're smarter than me in the fact that you make claims that can't be proven or disproven. I have to tip my cap to you there my friend!

I think we're sinking!

 

[Strenuus]

You're smarter than me in the fact that you make claims that can't be proven or disproven. I have to tip my cap to you there my friend!

I think we're sinking!

GRAB THE OAR DAMNIT.

Never claimed I was smart. Because I'm not. I'm just stubborn. Two very different things lmao.

 

[Tince]

GRAB THE OAR DAMNIT.

Never claimed I was smart. Because I'm not. I'm just stubborn. Two very different things lmao.

Sounds like we're the same guy! Nothing by friendly ribbing on my end

 

[Scalma]

Ant getting traded? I never said anything about Ant getting traded. What does that have to do with you claiming Billups will get further in the playoffs than the previous coach?

If you don't really believe that, no biggie. I thought you were being serious.

I wasn’t talking to you lol

 

[TBpup]

GRAB THE OAR DAMNIT.

Never claimed I was smart. Because I'm not. I'm just stubborn. Two very different things lmao.

 

[Tince]

I wasn’t talking to you lol

Nobody will!

 

[Fairly-Hard]

nope. Udoka even mentioned how they switched up coverages against Tatum/Brown throughout the game and forced other players to beat them. Whose decision do you think that was?

Okay he switched up some coverages.
Terrible clock management.
Terrible use of timeouts.
Bad rotations.
Bad uses of challenges.
Seemingly unaware when the Blazers have a mismatch.
We know who’s decisions these all should be.
He’s a new coach let’s all hope he can get it together.
Glad he made some decent adjustments on defense. It’s what he’s supposed to be good at.

 

[Scalma]

Okay he switched up some coverages.
Terrible clock management.
Terrible use of timeouts.
Bad rotations.
Bad uses of challenges.
Seemingly unaware when the Blazers have a mismatch.
We know who’s decisions these all should be.
He’s a new coach let’s all hope he can get it together.
Glad he made some decent adjustments on defense. It’s what he’s supposed to be good at.

 

[BBert]

I can tell you the Blazers record without Dame before this year was near .500. Not the case this year.

Let's look at the record when Dame and CJ played together this year. What was our winning percentage? Was it significantly better, worse, or nearly the same as pervious year? If it's not significantly better, then that holds to exactly what I predicted.

Edit: We were 10-9 this year with Dame/CJ healthy, a 52% percentage. Let's count all the wins with star opponents missing guys due to injury/covid. Our winning percentage in the previous 8 seasons was 58% That includes all the games Dame, CJ, and Nurk missed. That includes the years we started Harkless and Aminu at forward. Years our bench had far less fire power.

Again, I'm NOT saying Billups sucks, I'm not saying injuries don't matter, and I'm not saying we ran the best schemes in the past. What I was saying before the coaching change was I did not think we were likely to see a significantly improvement by only changing the coach who focuses on defense. So far, the data would back that up (it actually suggests we got worse).

I don't believe Dame has been healthy at any point this season.

 

[Tince]

I don't believe Dame has been healthy at any point this season.

I agree. If we take him at his word, he's been dealing with this for years. Which I guess means after a successful surgery, we should expect him to be even better than he's ever been.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Team looks better coached to me. We’ve seen more development out of Ant and Nas in half a season than in their previous years under Stotts. Ant when from a zero playmaker with no responsibility to looking like a legitimate starting point guard. Think Billups has anything to do with that?

But yeah you’re right, stupid me for not being able to predict losing the teams best player, on top of all the other absences and injuries. Btw the season is only halfway over. Team is above .500 this month without their best player. Crazy to think the team may have needed time to adjust to a new staff and system. Who could’ve predicted that one?

btw Billups’ winning percentage right now is higher than Terry’s was his first year in Portland.

And for me, the team has become more enjoyable to watch.

 

[handiman]

Yeah Anfeenee be really good but oh suck ass and lose at the same time..

my uncle was a pro athlete. You know what separates them from the rest of us?

They hate to lose!

It sounds like-worthy on the surface, but it doesn't really hold water. There are numerous pro athletes with no disdain for losing, as evidenced by all the teams tanking every year, and there are tons of scrubs with a competitive streak for days but lacking the physical gifts to do anything professional with it.

Talent, both physical and skills, is the one and only separator. From there, things like competitive fire differentiate tiers of players.

 

[Scalma]

It sounds like-worthy on the surface, but it doesn't really hold water. There are numerous pro athletes with no disdain for losing, as evidenced by all the teams tanking every year, and there are tons of scrubs with a competitive streak for days but lacking the physical gifts to do anything professional with it.

Talent, both physical and skills, is the one and only separator. From there, things like competitive fire differentiate tiers of players.

I think tanking is more of a management thing than a player one. A front office can put together a shitty enough roster, but players aren’t out there actively trying to lose games imo. They don’t get rewarded for playing bad, the team does.

 

[THE HCP]

And for me, the team has become more enjoyable to watch.

WHHHAAAAATTTT!!!!??

This has been the most boring team to watch LITERALLY in my lifetime. You guys may be all excited about the last couple games, but bro, this team has been BRUTAL to watch!

 

[handiman]

I think tanking is more of a management thing than a player one. A front office can put together a shitty enough roster, but players aren’t out there actively trying to lose games imo. They don’t get rewarded for playing bad, the team does.

In the short term, they do get rewarded by being paid to play. After the tanking, it's a question of whether they're good enough to stick on a roster. Can you think of examples where management has turned down better players when money wasn't an issue? I'm of the opinion that GMs fill their roster spots with as much talent as possible. Teams in win-now mode will overspend on replacement players, while the tankers will look to develop cheap, young talent.

 

[TBpup]

WHHHAAAAATTTT!!!!??

This has been the most boring team to watch LITERALLY in my lifetime. You guys may be all excited about the last couple games, but bro, this team has been BRUTAL to watch!

Watch what? I keep seeing replays while live action is being missed.

(Couldn't help it....hanging curveball.)

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Watch what? I keep seeing replays while live action is being missed.

(Couldn't help it....hanging curveball.)

Worthy.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

WHHHAAAAATTTT!!!!??

This has been the most boring team to watch LITERALLY in my lifetime. You guys may be all excited about the last couple games, but bro, this team has been BRUTAL to watch!

You love watching Melo. I love watching good passes and tough defense (lately).

 

[illmatic99]

You love watching Melo. I love watching good passes and tough defense (lately).

seriously... id much rather watch ant and nas ball out than whiteside laze around or melo jack up contested midrange jumpers

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

WHHHAAAAATTTT!!!!??

This has been the most boring team to watch LITERALLY in my lifetime. You guys may be all excited about the last couple games, but bro, this team has been BRUTAL to watch!

I just saw Dame on the pregame said he found it fun and entertaining watching this team!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

good start

 

[riverman]

I like Watford

 

[riverman]

Impressive start for the tail end of a road trip.....18 pt lead after one....I'll take it!

 

[THE HCP]

Watch what? I keep seeing replays while live action is being missed.

(Couldn't help it....hanging curveball.)

I'm amazed you even saw THAT! I thought nobody could see the games anymore.