Game Thread GAME# 49: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - JANUARY 22, 2019 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM, NBATV & NBCSNW

[KingSpeed]

how do you know?

We offered three first round picks and any player besides our big 3. Pacers could’ve had Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Kuzma, and Mo Harkless. They passed.

 

[LuckyShot]

how do you know?

Because I'm not a fucking idiot. For Pritchard to send him to us we'd have had to trade Dame.

 

[KingSpeed]

Other thing... only 3 players in double digits. Impossible to win

Impossible? We scored 112. Need better D.

 

[Scalma]

I don't think Dame or CJ played bad games. I don't even think they shot too much. But until our offense is ran exclusively through Nurk the way Denver does with Jokic, this team won't go any further.

Nobody else goes off on this team unless it's Nurk feeding them. He didn't get that chance tonight.

This is my biggest problem with Stotts. He just REFUSES to play through Nurk late in games, instead leaning on Dame and CJ. The offense hasn’t *consistently* evolved in three years. You’ll see flashes of things that work, but as soon as some adversity inevitably hits, its right back to Dame CJ Dame CJ Dame CJ Dame CJ Dame CJ.

 

[H.C.]

I don't think Dame or CJ played bad games. I don't even think they shot too much. But until our offense is ran exclusively through Nurk the way Denver does with Jokic, this team won't go any further.

Nobody else goes off on this team unless it's Nurk feeding them. He didn't get that chance tonight.

He didn't get a chance tonight because of OKC's defensive scheme against Nurk.
Lamar Hurd even mentioned this on the broadcast... With how much Hurd/Calaboro miss during games. The fact that they saw it obviously it was obvious.

 

[LuckyShot]

He didn't get a chance tonight because of OKC's defensive scheme against Nurk.
Lamar Hurd even mentioned this on the broadcast.

They were denying the cuts around Nurk hard, and he forced passes he shouldn't have several times, and we went away from it.

 

[kjironman1]

The Blazers got there and in their motel rooms by 4 am after playing in Utah last night. I think maybe they might have run out of gas.
Pretty obvious that team was giving everything they had. Just didn't have enough to in the end. Got to give OKC props for playing that game to win on their court.

 

[Scalma]

He didn't get a chance tonight because of OKC's defensive scheme against Nurk.
Lamar Hurd even mentioned this on the broadcast... With how much Hurd/Calaboro miss during games. The fact that they saw it obviously it was obvious.

Did they even post Nurkic tonight? He fucking owns Adams yet I can’t remember off the top one designed post up.

 

[LuckyShot]

Ah fuck, not Blazers Outsiders...

 

[H.C.]

They were denying the cuts around Nurk hard, and he forced passes he shouldn't have several times, and we went away from it.

Exactly. So there shouldn't be any talk about 'oh Stotts didn't run the offense through Nurk'.
It obviously wasn't working as easily as it has against previous teams. Can't keep going to the well that doesn't exist.

What it did do, is allow CJ and Lillard space to operate in the lane.

 

[Strenuus]

We offered three first round picks and any player besides our big 3. Pacers could’ve had Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Kuzma, and Mo Harkless. They passed.

I mean, what they got was better than that, to be fair.

 

[ripcityboy]

I don't think Dame or CJ played bad games. I don't even think they shot too much. But until our offense is ran exclusively through Nurk the way Denver does with Jokic, this team won't go any further.

Nobody else goes off on this team unless it's Nurk feeding them. He didn't get that chance tonight.

I don't even know if that would do it. It would create better opportunities for Nurk 1 on 1 and take pressure off of Dame and CJ but you still need another consistant scorer. Layman's success the last couple of games absolutely made that difference. But he got caught up by the OKC D and looked pretty frustrated.

 

[H.C.]

Did they even post Nurkic tonight? He fucking owns Adams yet I can’t remember off the top one designed post up.

Posting Nurk is completely different than what Portland has been doing.
Not saying it shouldn't happen, but Portland tried to run the same stuff through Nurk with him in the high post.
OKC just refused to get beat by backdoors.

tldr having Nurk own adams in the post is not having Nurk get others involved.
That's old Aldridge offense.

 

[kjironman1]

Lets step up, its not end of the world. My friends i can tell you one thing, i follow NBA generally, and there is no many players i do not like, i respect almost every player. But...two of them i do not respect. One is Harden. and other one i really hate - Its Westbrock. if he played in my weak Bosnian league, he would fully dominate in first few matches and then he would get beaten (kicked his ass) very hard. He wouldn't finish the season in healthy condition. I guarante you that.

You might be underestimating Russel Westbrook. Dude is a freaking bad ass. I would put money he would kick the shit out of just about anyone in the Bosnian League that tried. Just sayin.

 

[Scalma]

Posting Nurk is completely different than what Portland has been doing.
Not saying it shouldn't happen, but Portland tried to run the same stuff through Nurk with him in the high post.
OKC just refused to get beat by backdoors.

That’s what I’m saying. If that’s not there, why not try something else?

 

[LuckyShot]

Exactly. So there shouldn't be any talk about 'oh Stotts didn't run the offense through Nurk'.
It obviously wasn't working as easily as it has against previous teams. Can't keep going to the well that doesn't exist.

What it did do, is allow CJ and Lillard space to operate in the lane.

Yeah. We just made too many mistakes and got ourselves in a hole, and then kept making them every time we got close to getting out of it. We shot just over 25% from 3 and they were basically 50%.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I give OKC all due credit for the win. PG13 is having a great season.

 

[H.C.]

That’s what I’m saying. If that’s not there, why not try something else?

They did try something else.
Just not low post Aldridge type offense.
It seemed to work as CJ/Lillard/Nurk lines show so.
But back to the basket post ups don't really get others involved.

 

[Scalma]

You might be underestimating Russel Westbrook. Dude is a freaking bad ass. I would put money he would kick the shit out of just about anyone in the Bosnian League that tried. Just sayin.

He wouldn’t last a day in Bosnia. Youre talking about a war torn country, they’d laugh in Westbrook’s face (like Nurk) because he hasn’t experienced half the stuff they have. He’s literally a joke.

 

[H.C.]

Yeah. We just made too many mistakes and got ourselves in a hole, and then kept making them every time we got close to getting out of it. We shot just over 25% from 3 and they were basically 50%.

I think I care more about Stotts not having the team ready for the pressure defense OKC applies than Portland's 3 point %.
If Portland limits OKC to half of the steals they got, Portland walks away with this game.

BD obviously had the Thunder ready for Nurk. Why didn't Stotts have Portland ready for gambling defense?

But I've had this same issue with Stotts for a few years now.
Gambling/pressure defense and Stotts looks like this guy.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I don't even know if that would do it. It would create better opportunities for Nurk 1 on 1 and take pressure off of Dame and CJ but you still need another consistant scorer. Layman's success the last couple of games absolutely made that difference. But he got caught up by the OKC D and looked pretty frustrated.

The point of running the offense through Nurk isn't necessarily for more shots for Nurk, it's to get other guys easier and cleaner shots. There's a correlation between how much we go through Nurk and how much other players contribute offensively.

Damian and CJ aren't going to get easy and clean shots for their teammates for the most part. Nurk will do that because he can see over the top of defenses. He gets his teammates easier shots. That's why we need to run the ball through him more. Layman could have done better if he got easier shots.

 

[kjironman1]

He wouldn’t last a day in Bosnia. Youre talking about a war torn country, they’d laugh in Westbrook’s face (like Nurk) because he hasn’t experienced half the stuff they have. He’s literally a joke.

Not so sure about that. But i can't dispute it. Just think you are way underestimating Russel Westbrook.

 

[LuckyShot]

I think I care more about Stotts not having the team ready for the pressure defense OKC applies than Portland's 3 point %.
If Portland limits OKC to half of the steals they got, Portland walks away with this game.

BD obviously had the Thunder ready for Nurk. Why didn't Stotts have Portland ready for gambling defense?

We've never been ready for it...

 

[Scalma]

The point of running the offense through Nurk isn't necessarily for more shots for Nurk, it's to get other guys easier and cleaner shots. There's a formation correlation between how much we go through Nurk and how much other players contribute offensively.

Damian and CJ aren't going to get easy and clean shots for their teammates for the most part. Nurk will do that because he can see over the top of defenses. He gets his teammates easier shots. That's why we need to run the ball through him more. Layman could have done better if he got easier shots.

I’d also argue Nurkic has the best vision on the team. He almost never misses an open guy and is completely selfless.

 

[ripcityboy]

The point of running the offense through Nurk isn't necessarily for more shots for Nurk, it's to get other guys easier and cleaner shots. There's a formation correlation between how much we go through Nurk and how much other players contribute offensively.

Damian and CJ aren't going to get easy and clean shots for their teammates for the most part. Nurk will do that because he can see over the top of defenses. He gets his teammates easier shots. That's why we need to run the ball through him more. Layman could have done better if he got easier shots.

I'm fine with that as long as the results stick. My worry is they will pressure us with different sets and Terry won't adapt. With Jake playing the way he did, even if we got hung up he made some dagger threes when we needed them.

 

[tlongII]

We lost because we turned it over too much. Another repeating theme for this team. They are sloppy with the ball. Questionable coaching.

 

[wizenheimer]

We offered three first round picks and any player besides our big 3. Pacers could’ve had Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Kuzma, and Mo Harkless. They passed.

I saw that rumor too...it was from Blazers Edge and the 'report' was “All three of their first-round picks along with Pritchard's choice of any player off the current roster other than their Big-3.”

https://www.blazersedge.com/2017/7/...l-george-trail-blazers-offer-2017-draft-picks

is only one player on Portland's roster that had a salary that would have worked within the trade rules: Evan Turner. That's it. Harkless didn't have enough salary; neither did Meyers or Aminu. The rumor said any player, not any combination of players

so then, To take 3 years of Turner's contract that would require at the very minimum the 15th pick and that almost certainly wouldn't have been enough to offset that negative value. In other words, you guys are acting like Indiana turned down some attractive offer from Portland when it was very likely a crap offer. Ropp was right, Olsheyism has infected Blazer fans

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I’d also argue Nurkic has the best vision on the team. He almost never misses an open guy and is completely selfless.

No question about it. I'm not sure he's less than Jokic with his passing ability. Let's utilize it for goodness sake.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Really tough B2B on the road, couldve easily lost both, they played bad tonight. I thought this felt like a schedule loss going into it. Not meant as an excuse or just being a homer but nothing that happened tonight was a surprise.

Hopefully they can make a decent move at the deadline, but I wouldnt take a lot from this game.

 

[TBpup]

Stotts has a new way to mess with Jake. Play him for stretches of 2 minutes, 4 minutes and 1 minute in the 2nd half. I can't imagine him doing that to anyone else on the team.

Money made....but I was actually hoping to lose the bet and win the game. The money didn't help me feel better.