Game Thread GAME# 47: PELICANS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 18, 2019 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, NBCSNW

[Blazer4ever]

I liked what Aminu was doing in the 4th quarter, he was not taking many 3s instead driving to the basket and making good things happen. I hope he does it more often

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Nurk is proving just about every game that he’s for real. I loved that he held his own out there didnt seem intimated to go at AD on either end. He did so many little things very well.

 

[hoopsjock]

Yeah. Together they do well but Layman was not giving enough defense when Nurk picked up that 5th foul and was out.
I am giving Stotts the benefit of the doubt on that lineup. But i would also have been good with Layman playing beings he earned it in the first half no question. Having Both Collins and Nurk in foul trouble was a tough issue to deal with. Turner and Aminu on the court at the same time can be tough to watch.

My point was that because the Pelicans were guarding Layman with Jrue Holiday, when Jrue was locking down Dame they should have put Layman in to see if Jrue switched back to him which would open Dame up. You're right though the rotations were all messed up by foul trouble.

 

[Blazer4ever]

My point was that because the Pelicans were guarding Layman with Jrue Holiday, when Jrue was locking down Dame they should have put Layman in to see if Jrue switched back to him which would open Dame up. You're right though the rotations were all messed up by foul trouble.

Nobody can lock up Dame. If he's guarded well he just needs to look for his teammates, that's all

 

[hoopsjock]

Nobody can lock up Dame. If he's guarded well he just needs to look for his teammates, that's all

Did you watch the game?

 

[Blazer4ever]

Did you watch the game?

Most of the game. I joined as Layman was getting hot

 

[Scalma]

CJ with only 12 attempts tonight. That’s coming off an efficient 13 against Cleveland. Less is more.

 

[kjironman1]

My point was that because the Pelicans were guarding Layman with Jrue Holiday, when Jrue was locking down Dame they should have put Layman in to see if Jrue switched back to him which would open Dame up. You're right though the rotations were all messed up by foul trouble.

I did notice when Layman first went in during the third Quarter and Nurk still only had 4 fouls, The Pels were keying on Layman and Dame was hitting Nurk for easy looks so you might be right. He might have drawn more attention. Layman had a few open looks but missed them and he got burned taking a chance on defense. But how can anyone argue against playing the guy with the energy he brings?

 

[hoopsjock]

Most of the game. I joined as Layman was getting hot

So you don't think it's advantageous to have their best perimeter defender guarding Layman instead of Dame?

 

[kjironman1]

CJ with only 12 attempts tonight. That’s coming off an efficient 13 against Cleveland. Less is more.

He made a few nifty passes also.

 

[TBpup]

From 6:48 til 2:24 of the 2nd period (in 4 minutes and 24 seconds)

Jake Layman had 18 freaking points! Holy Turtle Buckets!!!

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Amazing quarter by Jake. Seeing as how I really enjoy watching the games from home now, it’s moments like that that make me wish I could have been there.

 

[Scalma]

It’s weird how teams defend layman. It’s almost like they respect his three point shot because he’s white, because his percentages aren’t much different than Aminus. But that’s what’s so exciting about him. He’s multi dimensional and really adds something to the offense Harkless doesn’t. I’m not necessarily saying bench Harkless, but a guy like Layman has his value when games slow down in the fourth quarter.

 

[Pinwheel1]

"Layman.... he channeled his inner Billy Ray Bates!"

Classic line by Neil Everett tonight

 

[Blazer4ever]

So you don't think it's advantageous to have their best perimeter defender guarding Layman instead of Dame?

I didn't say I don't agree with you. I said nobody can stop Dame and that if he's faced with a good defender, he should look for his teammates, as he did.
I also don't think they'd be guarding Layman with Jrue Holiday as he's much smaller

 

[Scalma]

 

[hoopsjock]

I didn't say I don't agree with you. I said nobody can stop Dame and that if he's faced with a good defender, he should look for his teammates, as he did.
I also don't think they'd be guarding Layman with Jrue Holiday as he's much smaller

My statement wasn't an opinion it was fact so you arguing that they wouldn't do it is rather silly.

 

[Eastoff]

That was a good win. We played a playoff caliber team and came out on top. Jake had a first half that was the best of his career and our starters did the rest.
GO BLAZERS!!!

The Pelicans are 11th in the West.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Ah. Some great pictures of Jake from tonight's game on the Blazers website -

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Blazers back to a season high 9 games over 500.

View attachment 24372

3 games ahead of last years pace, and 4 games off the 2014-15 pace (last year with Aldridge). I'm feeling good about the finish to this year. The first unit seems to be really clicking! How long can Layman keep up this run of good games?

If we keep this up, we get to 49 wins.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[illmatic99]

 

[HailBlazers]

Gentry is all talk.

 

[KingSpeed]

He’s absolutely right.

 

[blazerkor]

The Pelicans are 11th in the West.

They're a whopping 4 games out of a playoff spot and the same team that swept us last year in the playoffs. They also just got Mirotic back which makes them more dangerous. I'll stand by calling them playoff caliber.

 

[theprunetang]

They're a whopping 4 games out of a playoff spot and the same team that swept us last year in the playoffs. They also just got Mirotic back which makes them more dangerous. I'll stand by calling them playoff caliber.

You might be right. It's hard to say. If I remember correctly, they had a below average record last season at this point in time as well. They picked it up in the 2nd half of the season after Cousins went down and after the trade with the Bulls. They could do the same thing this year. Although, their chemistry feels really off. I was watching Davis on the bench just sitting there looking down, shaking his head, and not even watching the game. That team may be broken.

 

[Scalma]

They're a whopping 4 games out of a playoff spot and the same team that swept us last year in the playoffs. They also just got Mirotic back which makes them more dangerous. I'll stand by calling them playoff caliber.

Mirotic ain’t helping that awful defense. Doesn’t even make sense why they’re so bad on that end. Davis and Holliday are elite defenders. Payton is above average. Is Randle really that bad?

 

[Labinot41]

Great win fellas. WTF was Stotts thinking to take out layman of the roatation in November/december? Now two tough Games @Utah and OKC, Hope we can win at least one Game. After these 2 Games we Play against the Hawks and Suns!

 

[LayneStaley]

I really wanna beat Utah.....by a lot.

 

[stampedehero]

Bing::''It's keeping your man in front of you and if you can't do it, we gotta find someone who can,'' he said. ''We just can't keep having guys drop to the basket and lay it in. We can't have a guy come in and get 20 points and laugh at us while he's doing it. At some stage, you've gotta have pride in what you're doing.''-Coach Gentry doesn't appreciate that for at least one night we found the missing link. Layman delivers and he is sarcastic about it. Finally, we get some sort of revenge. Also a Moe sighting!