Game Thread GAME# 53: BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - FEBRUARY 7, 2017 - TUESDAY, 5:30 PM (PST), CSNNW

[LuckyShot]

Everybody throws the potential card out for Noah Vonleh, but what does reaching that potential look like? The guy might be the worst finisher at that size I have ever seen, not a natural shooter and is a foul prone defender. I don't see it.

Size/athletic ability combo. Everyone thinks that if a guy has the things you can't coach, that you can just coach him up on the other things and everything will fall into place. The problem I have with that theory is if the guy is this far along and still doesn't have a basic understanding of how to play basketball in general, he's probably too far gone. See: Leonard, Meyers.

At this point, I'm just hoping a guy needs to learn some of the nuances of the pro game and rounding out his skill set a bit. You can't teach a player to have basketball instincts. Meyers and Vonleh both seem to be lacking those whenever I watch them play.

 

[Darkwebs]

Refs are letting them play

 

[LuckyShot]

Refs going to allow a rough game, or just having trouble being consistent with the whistles again?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

PLUMS!

 

[JDC]

I argue that Vonleh is a below average athlete. His agility is above average but he's both a slow leaper and a bad one. You can be one, but you can't be both.

 

[LuckyShot]

The scouting report on Crabbe must be to use a lot of pump fakes, because everyone gets him to bite on a couple of them per game.

 

[Cippy91]

Game thread is dead. Damn a year ago we would be on the 10th page by now

 

[Blazinaway]

Noah Vonleh is so bad....

he seems to me to be a terrible finisher inside, he gets stuffed a lot

 

[LuckyShot]

I argue that Vonleh is a below average athlete. His agility is above average but he's both a slow leaper and bad leaper. You can be one, but you can't be both.

He's strong and has decent lateral quickness for his size. He can get out and move with guards, and has the lower body strength to hold his own in the post. Seems he'd be able to use his quickness to go past bigger, slower defenders, and his big body to bully smaller ones on offense. He looks pretty coordinated for his size too. He can be an explosive finisher, but like you said he's a bit slow to gather. Not a quick twitch type of athlete.

 

[Darkwebs]

I argue that Vonleh is a below average athlete. His agility is above average but he's both a slow leaper and a bad one. You can be one, but you can't be both.

Yeah, I agree. He is not an explosive athlete and that's why he gets rejected at the rim so often. He seems to have good lateral quickness and can guard multiple positions though.

 

[Blazinaway]

Game thread is dead. Damn a year ago we would be on the 10th page by now

not hard to figure why

 

[Cippy91]

not hard to figure why

lol I know I'm just saying it's weird

 

[LuckyShot]

Yeah, I agree. He is not an explosive athlete and that's why he gets rejected at the rim so often. He seems to have good lateral quickness and can guard multiple positions though.

He gets rejected a lot because he's slow and robotic. Everyone knows what he's going to do a couple of beats before he does it, and then he's slow to gather himself. He's the opposite of Harkless, who seems to have an instinct of when to go up strong and he doesn't second guess it and telegraph his move as bad.

 

[LuckyShot]

not hard to figure why

5:30 start probably has something to do with it?

 

[Darkwebs]

Crabbe has trouble playing D without fouling

 

[KingSpeed]

Go Blazers!!

 

[JDC]

Crabbe has trouble playing D without fouling

I'd be interested how much of a focus defending w/o fouling is for Stotts'...not saying it's his fault, but it seems like it would be a pretty coachable skill.

 

[LuckyShot]

It feels to me like Crabbe gets a lot of silly fouls...

 

[LuckyShot]

Dame so sexy.

 

[LuckyShot]

Nice, smart finish by Ed.

 

[LuckyShot]

CJ with an alley-oop dunk?!?

 

[Darkwebs]

Maybe CJ should be in the dunk contest, too!

 

[LuckyShot]

Dame going back to what was working so well for him in the beginning of the season. Attacking the rim relentlessly.

 

[LuckyShot]

I can't tell if that was really a pass by Aminu, but the end result was freakin sweet.

 

[Darkwebs]

This Lillard guy is shooting like Yogi Ferrell.

 

[LuckyShot]

HOLY SHIT, DAME!

 

[Cippy91]

Trade dame

 

[LuckyShot]

Wes doesn't like someone giving him a taste of his own medicine. Turner is bullying him right back.

 

[JDC]

Dame with the three ball going and no shotblocker in the middle? Have fun, Dallas.

 

[BonesJones]

The only thing thing that will give me hope for higher than 8th is if we win out till the all star break AND if we make a good trade.