Game Thread GAME# 5: BLAZERS @ HEAT - OCTOBER 27, 2018 - SATURDAY, 5:00 PM (PDT), NBCSNW (1 Viewer)

[BonesJones]

Here’s what the fuck needs to happen. Collins needs to start. I don’t care about anything else.

Collins is averaging about 19ppg, 10rpg, and 4 bpg per/36. And no I don’t think the team views him as strictly a center, especially since Olshey has only compared him to power forwards. Put his ass next to Nurkic, get over the Aminu love fest, and let’s go.

100%.

 

[BonesJones]

I don't disagree with you. But do you also understand that just because he's "not isolating and pounding the ball as much as last year" doesn't mean that he's not still doing it? He did it several times in this game, for Christ's sake.

He's been doing it about a quarter as much as he used to. He's been missing shots he normally makes. The first step to fixing his game is by getting him to not isolate and pound the ball as much. It looks like that's been successful.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Here’s what the fuck needs to happen. Collins needs to start. I don’t care about anything else.

Collins is averaging about 19ppg, 10rpg, and 4 bpg per/36. And no I don’t think the team views him as strictly a center, especially since Olshey has only compared him to power forwards. Put his ass next to Nurkic, get over the Aminu love fest, and let’s go.

Hmm. That would allow us to have length at the 3, instead of relying on Nurk to run back and forth between the paint and trying to guard the 3. Because that shit ain't working.

Yeah....why hasn't Stotts tried this yet? I actually like this idea.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

He's been doing it about a quarter as much as he used to. He's been missing shots he normally makes. The first step to fixing his game is by getting him to not isolate and pound the ball as much. It looks like that's been successful.

I'm not sure what the stats say, but sometimes I think CJ shoots better when he does just take the ball to one side the other 4 go to the other side and he just does his thing. Do you know what his numbers look like on catch and shoot vs dribble and shoot?

 

[Scalma]

Hmm. That would allow us to have length at the 3, instead of relying on Nurk to run back and forth between the paint and trying to guard the 3. Because that shit ain't working.

Yeah....why hasn't Stotts tried this yet? I actually like this idea.

I don’t know but eventually Zach will force Stotts into this move if he keeps playing like this.

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Collins
Nurkic

Curry
Stauskas
Turner
Aminu
Leonard

Leonard and Layman can alternate based on matchups.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don’t know but eventually Zach will force Stotts into this move if he keeps playing like this.

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Collins
Nurkic

Curry
Stauskas
Turner
Aminu
Leonard

Leonard and Layman can alternate based on matchups.

The funny thing is Layman's not even playing that bad, they just refuse to play him for more than like 3 minutes at time... I don't know where Aminu's stats are this year, but it seems like he's just pretty much sucked on both ends of the court...

 

[Jade Falcon]

He's been doing it about a quarter as much as he used to. He's been missing shots he normally makes. The first step to fixing his game is by getting him to not isolate and pound the ball as much. It looks like that's been successful.

ooooook, I think I finally see where you're coming from here. Not sure I agree with him doing it "about a quarter as much as he used to", but I think you and I are finally coming to an understanding about this. I think we're essentially agreeing on the same things here.

I do feel as if he's missing more shots than usual, but I kept trying to put my finger on what it was. Why do you think this is that he is missing more shots than usual?

I don’t know but eventually Zach will force Stotts into this move if he keeps playing like this.

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Collins
Nurkic

Curry
Stauskas
Turner
Aminu
Leonard

Leonard and Layman can alternate based on matchups.

Huh....I like that lineup.

Maybe Stotts is getting too bogged down in playing guards, rather than covering ALL areas of necessity?

 

[Jade Falcon]

The funny thing is Layman's not even playing that bad, they just refuse to play him for more than like 3 minutes at time... I don't know where Aminu's stats are this year, but it seems like he's just pretty much sucked on both ends of the court...

His Defense is okay at times, and he picks his 3 shots well.

The problem I find is relying on him to play Defense in the paint in absence of a Center. He's not a Center, and he's barely a PF, if at all (I think I see him more as a PF/Wing). And his inability to drive into the paint without fouling or turning the ball over. God, his dribbling is awful.

 

[Scalma]

ooooook, I think I finally see where you're coming from here. Not sure I agree with him doing it "about a quarter as much as he used to", but I think you and I are finally coming to an understanding about this. I think we're essentially agreeing on the same things here.

I do feel as if he's missing more shots than usual, but I kept trying to put my finger on what it was. Why do you think this is that he is missing more shots than usual?



Huh....I like that lineup.

Maybe Stotts is getting too bogged down in playing guards, rather than covering ALL areas of necessity?

It’s still early. We’ll see. All I know is Collins needs to be playing more than 20 minutes.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

His Defense is okay at times, and he picks his 3 shots well.

The problem I find is relying on him to play Defense in the paint in absence of a Center. He's not a Center, and he's barely a PF, if at all (I think I see him more as a PF/Wing). And his inability to drive into the paint without fouling or turning the ball over. God, his dribbling is awful.

And yet his dribbling is still basically the same as Aminu's. I don't think Layman can play center, but PF/SF I think he could do, and I'm not advocating he gets 30 minutes a night, but the way they're handling him is frustrating to watch. He's a starter, but not really...

 

[Scalma]

The funny thing is Layman's not even playing that bad, they just refuse to play him for more than like 3 minutes at time... I don't know where Aminu's stats are this year, but it seems like he's just pretty much sucked on both ends of the court...

They should put Layman on that second unit and let him run with them. He’ll get more shots and will get more of an opportunity to make an impact. He’s even more useless than Vonleh was as a starter. At least Lillard has acknowledged his presence lately. Don’t think CJ even knows he’s on the court.

 

[Jade Falcon]

And yet his dribbling is still basically the same as Aminu's. I don't think Layman can play center, but PF/SF I think he could do, and I'm not advocating he gets 30 minutes a night, but the way they're handling him is frustrating to watch. He's a starter, but not really...

I must apologize, I thought you were talking about Aminu, not Layman.

And God no, I would never advocate him playing Center.

Agreed with everything else though.

 

[Driew]

Huh....I like that lineup.

Maybe Stotts is getting too bogged down in playing guards, rather than covering ALL areas of necessity?

Probably just giving the vet Aminu the starting nod since it is a contract year for him and he's more than played up to his contract. Collins will for sure be starting next year when Aminu leaves for a better contract.

I do like having Aminu in the second unit though.

 

[hoopsjock]

Is it possible that CJ is now thinking about whether or not he should shoot when he gets good looks and it's messing with his head?

There was a stretch in the first half where Dame got like 3 good looks in a row off of pick and rolls and they didn't fall but they looked smooth and then the next play he was wide open off the pick and hesitated when wide open. Dame is strong enough mentally to forget about it and hit the switch back on.

CJ is playing like something isn't quite right mentally. This isn't meant as an excuse for his play, I'm just trying to figure out how such a deadly shooter is struggling so bad. Maybe the solution is to just let him be CJ again and not force him to be something he's not. Kind of like when a running QB gets told not to leave the pocket.

I don't know.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Is it possible that CJ is now thinking about whether or not he should shoot when he gets good looks and it's messing with his head?

There was a stretch in the first half where Dame got like 3 good looks in a row off of pick and rolls and they didn't fall but they looked smooth and then the next play he was wide open off the pick and hesitated when wide open. Dame is strong enough mentally to forget about it and hit the switch back on.

CJ is playing like something isn't quite right mentally. This isn't meant as an excuse for his play, I'm just trying to figure out how such a deadly shooter is struggling so bad. Maybe the solution is to just let him be CJ again and not force him to be something he's not. Kind of like when a running QB gets told not to leave the pocket.

I don't know.

Envy/ego? He is getting paid like Dame, so he should be as big a star? He doesn't project that image off the court - but I think you are right that the problem is mental. There is no sign of physical breakdown, and he is too smart to just suddenly forget how to play.

 

[BonesJones]

I'm not sure what the stats say, but sometimes I think CJ shoots better when he does just take the ball to one side the other 4 go to the other side and he just does his thing. Do you know what his numbers look like on catch and shoot vs dribble and shoot?

I do not. Would have to Google them.

 

[BonesJones]

ooooook, I think I finally see where you're coming from here. Not sure I agree with him doing it "about a quarter as much as he used to", but I think you and I are finally coming to an understanding about this. I think we're essentially agreeing on the same things here.

I do feel as if he's missing more shots than usual, but I kept trying to put my finger on what it was. Why do you think this is that he is missing more shots than usual?



Huh....I like that lineup.

Maybe Stotts is getting too bogged down in playing guards, rather than covering ALL areas of necessity?

Probably not shooting with as much confidence as before. Probably due to himself 2nd guessi g whether he should shoot or pass.

 

[DollaBel]

CJ is just cold. He’ll regress to his mean and A LOT more of his 2 pointers will go in. We just have to pray his 3 point shooting so far is at least kind of sustainable because hes on fire from deep. Maybe take more 3’s until he finds his rhythm from inside

 

[Orion Bailey]

Sorry I dont really buy it. It wasnt the refs who kept saying I know lets not guard Beal or Morris.

It wasnt the refs fault the Blazers couldnt get a rebound half the game tonight. Has there been some bad calls? Of course, but the Blazers played well for basically one quarter total today, they didnt deserve to win it.

Yet the refs missed key calls in the last two minutes that would have likely altered the score board in both losses.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's funny - I would've said that we were getting killed with Nurkic on the floor but that Harkless was doing great things. But Nurk was a net neutral while Harkless was -13.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Also weird: Zach was the guy who shot the most FTs - even more than Dame. He's certainly continuing to be a bright spot.

 

[TBpup]

He's been doing it about a quarter as much as he used to. He's been missing shots he normally makes. The first step to fixing his game is by getting him to not isolate and pound the ball as much. It looks like that's been successful.

CJ isn't isolating as much but his shooting has been brutal. Maybe there is a correlation and that is just the type of player he is.

 

[Mediocre Man]

 

[crandc]

I honestly thought the Blazers would pull this one out.

But this was not the loss that was on my mind last night. Sometimes it really is just a game.

 

[Labinot41]

It's funny - I would've said that we were getting killed with Nurkic on the floor but that Harkless was doing great things. But Nurk was a net neutral while Harkless was -13.

+/- is absolutely shit stats. Please forget this stats

 

[James lamphear]

I don’t know but eventually Zach will force Stotts into this move if he keeps playing like this.

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Collins
Nurkic

Curry
Stauskas
Turner
Aminu
Leonard

Leonard and Layman can alternate based on matchups.

Or olshey will by trading Aminu away. It might be Davis situation with Aminu with Olshey.

 

[TBpup]

Aminu might want to refund a game check for last night's performance.

2 points (0 FGs) and 2 rebounds in 20 minutes? #MilkCarton

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Gronk Brady]

Stotts said he wanted to be open minded this year, and that players had to earn there minutes... so far he has locked back into his usual patterns... CJ shoots 4/25 the other night and stays in the game with a green light, Aminu is locked into his minutes and starting no matter how poorly he plays... Jake plays great last night and still gets his predictable first 4-5 min of the quarter, Collins has taken his game to next level yet still gets benched for Aminu

 

[Shaboid]

Going into tonight, we were second in the NBA in total rebounds.

Cool story.

This year, we are getting out offensive rebounded 62-59. So we may not be getting "killed" like I expected, but as always, your response to my assumption is completely irrelevant.