Game Thread GAME# 52: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 30, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[tlongII]

No, this game changed my mind.

Thank you.

 

[TBpup]

So do people still believe that Dame and CJ can't co-exist?

It's not that they can't. I thoroughly believe they could.....'if' they changed some of their most basic tendencies. (mostly referring to CJ). However, over the course of many years, that has been the case. A couple of games doesn't change that for me. I want to see what happens when games are tight or aren't going well....that is when they seem to revert back to Iso/Hero ball and the results are not good.

CJ last night was what I've wanted from him for a long time. Quicker decisions, quicker shots and not making the rhythm come to a screeching halt. If he can do that efficiently, that has a positive effect on the team.

 

[CupWizier]

Outstanding game last night with all the players contributing. Our starting guards were unstoppable and Leonard stepped in bigly and had a very solid game. Maybe this kid has finally figured it out.

 

[tlongII]

In my opinion there has never been a problem of CJ playing with Dame. The problem has ALWAYS been a lack of production from our starting forwards. Jake and Collins are helping us there now though.

 

[Hoopguru]

In the last 24 games, the Blazers are 17-7 (0.708).

If you look at that trend line since game 28, we're targeting 51 to 52 wins.

View attachment 24588

I'd say the Blazers are taking care of business!

Right on the course I set. 51 was baby! A few in there had them at mid to high 30's. They are so down on Neil and Terry they forget they've put together a very good team.

 

[blue9]

I just have to say, I think my favorite play last night was Leonard's shot-fake dribble-drive HAMMER followed by the CELEBRATORY LEG KICK! Fuckin a man!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Are your knees sore?

I think y’all reading way more into what I said than what is intended.

Or maybe you guys do have way more culture than I thought. If you are aware of who the ballet dude is, I suspect y’all might be spending more time doing what you’re implying about me, above, than I’d have suspected.

 

[3putt]

So do people still believe that Dame and CJ can't co-exist?

The ability to coexist I think hinges on the style of play. I mean when CJ and Dame play well it includes quality minutes with CJ moving the ball up court. Many times when he looks out of sync is when he has to start in the corner and run wheel routes while Dame walks the ball up court and begins the play. Don’t get me wrong Dame running the plays is successful but I think CJ plays better when he pushes the ball and creates some action himself. One caveat is NOT when CJ thinks he has to make a play with isolation, but rather running plays and creating movement by the others.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Biebs may actually be an asset.

I'm digging the Collins improvement.

Bench still makes me nervous, though.

I don't like "our" broadcast, but I unlike it the least. National guys can be good, but their pro-big market thing can be really annoying.

Good to see Nurk be able to take a game off, and not have the wheels come off.

 

[TBpup]

In my opinion there has never been a problem of CJ playing with Dame. The problem has ALWAYS been a lack of production from our starting forwards. Jake and Collins are helping us there now though.

I guess I've just seen far to many examples when Aminu, Harkless or of late, Jake were hitting shots but only ended up with 5-7 attempts because CJ was going 6-19 with 1 or 2 assists. Granted, they haven't been good consistently, but when they have been hot, there has been zero effort by CJ to get them the ball to help them maintain their grove or even help develop it so it can happen more often.

 

[ripcityboy]

When you said “consider the source,”


I think y’all reading way more into what I said than what is intended.

Or maybe you guys do have way more culture than I thought. If you are aware of who the ballet dude is, I suspect y’all might be spending more time doing what you’re implying about me, above, than I’d have suspected.

I know who Mikhail Brayniskhov is. I know who Rudolph Nureyev was. I also know who George Balanchine was as well. And my parents made me aware of Alexander Godunov before he starred in Die Hard and went 10 rounds with John McClain.

I've never been to a ballet in my life. But my family DID watch a lot of PBS growing up though. Ballet was very big when the Iron Curtain was still up. But then it came down and the famous dancers didn't draw the same interest or generate such large public profiles. Just the way of the world, I guess.

 

[kjironman1]

I think y’all reading way more into what I said than what is intended.

Or maybe you guys do have way more culture than I thought. If you are aware of who the ballet dude is, I suspect y’all might be spending more time doing what you’re implying about me, above, than I’d have suspected.

I'm older. So your comment has merit. But most of us who are older do know who he is.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't like "our" broadcast, but I unlike it the least. National guys can be good, but their pro-big market thing can be really annoying.

ESPN last night at halftime was pushing a stat on Mitchell. 15 first half points. It was funny because both Dame and CJ had more as i recall?

 

[tlongII]

I guess I've just seen far to many examples when Aminu, Harkless or of late, Jake were hitting shots but only ended up with 5-7 attempts because CJ was going 6-19 with 1 or 2 assists. Granted, they haven't been good consistently, but when they have been hot, there has been zero effort by CJ to get them the ball to help them maintain their grove or even help develop it so it can happen more often.

I think CJ just doesn't trust Aminu or Harkless as much as he trusts himself. And he shouldn't.

 

[blue9]

ESPN last night at halftime was pushing a stat on Mitchell. 15 first half points. It was funny because both Dame and CJ had more as i recall?

Listened to their broadcast for a short while (half-time & part of 3rd quarter) and all they'd talk about was Mitchell. Mitchell would miss a shot and Doris Burke would just talk about how even though he missed, what he did was really great. Then Dame/CJ/whoever would wreck shit and it was crickets until Mitchell did something again. It was comical, but got really boring. I always choose TNT broadcasts when available, but ESPN is absolutely terrible. How they're the sports broadcast giant is beyond me - they're half a step up from the post-game stiffs we employ.

 

[blue9]

I think CJ just doesn't trust Aminu or Harkless as much as he trusts himself. And he shouldn't.

Agreed. Except for when Harkless cuts - Harkless should always be hit with a pass when he cuts.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I'm older. So your comment has merit. But most of us who are older do know who he is.

I was having drinks with two 50-year old dudes at the time of the post. Both looked at me and were like, “Uh, hmmm.... oh, is that that one ballet dude.” Didn’t know anything about him other than he was somehow tied to ballet.

But based on folks’ behavior here, I assume most posters here are younger. And thus, would have no clue who he is.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I was having drinks with two 50-year old dudes at the time of the post. Both looked at me and were like, “Uh, hmmm.... oh, is that that one ballet dude.” Didn’t know anything about him other than he was somehow tied to ballet.

But based on folks’ behavior here, I assume most posters here are younger. And thus, would have no clue who he is.

39, know exactly who he is. Your premise and focus group were flawed. Just take the L.

 

[CupWizier]

I just have to say, I think my favorite play last night was Leonard's shot-fake dribble-drive HAMMER followed by the CELEBRATORY LEG KICK! Fuckin a man!

Leonard is kind of a kick as he seems like an overgrown child playing a mans game at times.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

39, know exactly who he is. Your premise and focus group were flawed. Just take the L.

You act like I’m upset folks know who he is.

Color me surprised. I mean, I didn’t expect that nobody here would know of him. But you guys don’t strike me as a cultured bunch of folk.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Leonard is kind of a kick as he seems like an overgrown child playing a mans game at times.

Yeah. I assume he watches a lot of WWE by the way he acts.

It is nice to see him finally take some steps forward as a player.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Agreed. Except for when Harkless cuts - Harkless should always be hit with a pass when he cuts.

Yeah Hark is playing well. He deserves touches when he cuts. Obviously Jake deserves touches, but he is getting them. Last night for instance he got opportunities as soon as he entered the game and that was during a stretch when CJ was on fire.

Aminu does not need more touches. I was fine with his 0-3 last night. He has other roles he needs to provide.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I will admit I understand this reference (I once dated a professional ballerina for several years).

Do you understand your audience? Most these folks have no clue of what you’re talking. I mean, I barely understand. No disrespect intended (towards you, at least).

Maybe we are not as ignorant as you think!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Maybe we are not as ignorant as you think!

That’s really not saying all that much. Many posters here have set a very low bar....

 

[Pinwheel1]

Mikhail Brayniskhov? Oh yeah the old guy from Sex and the City......

 

[TBpup]

ESPN last night at halftime was pushing a stat on Mitchell. 15 first half points. It was funny because both Dame and CJ had more as i recall?

But Dame and CJ play for a team that doesn't exists as far as ESPN is concerned. So if the team doesn't exist, do the players exists? Mitchel was playing against no one....and still missed.

I think CJ just doesn't trust Aminu or Harkless as much as he trusts himself. And he shouldn't.

When one of them does happen to be on a role and CJ was on one of his 5-19 nights, then that is a problem.

 

[riverman]

It's amazing what our coaching staff accomplished in just a few days leading up to this win...we were well prepared for the Jazz,,shoutout to the coaching staff on this one

 

[TBpup]

It's amazing what our coaching staff accomplished in just a few days leading up to this win...we were well prepared for the Jazz,,shoutout to the coaching staff on this one

Props where props are due. Last night was a back alley beat down. The Blazers looked fresh, sharp and crisp. The game plan was quite good and as much as anything, it helped that Meyers was firing flameballs at will. Next step.....in-game adjustments.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

But Dame and CJ play for a team that doesn't exists as far as ESPN is concerned. So if the team doesn't exist, do the players exists? Mitchel was playing against no one....and still missed.



When one of them does happen to be on a role and CJ was on one of his 5-19 nights, then that is a problem.

Hey, the odds of CJ making his next shot is not affected by how many of his prior 19 he missed...

 

[ripcityboy]

Mikhail Brayniskhov? Oh yeah the old guy from Sex and the City......

Yeah, Mikail Brayniskhov that old guy who once hooked up with Jessica Lange when she was considered the hottest woman in America. Yeah, why the hell is that guy worth mentioning, anyway!