Game Thread GAME# 53: HEAT @ BLAZERS - APRIL 11, 2021 - SUNDAY, 7:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Pinwheel1]

Stotts post game - “defense wasn’t the issue tonight”
Nurkic post game - “we’re clearly not on the same page defensively”

Actually, tonight that might be true. Miami's scored quite a bit off of turnovers. The offense was by far the bigger issue.

 

[brooklynballer]

Really? I don't recall reading that here. Then again I don't frequent this forum that often.

It’s pure BS. Half these motherfuckers masturbate to their posters of Terry Stotts that they have plastered all over their walls. No joke.

 

[brooklynballer]

not the first time lately. He also questioned the Melo Kanter pairing

I thought Aaron Goodwin was Dame’s agent?

 

[Scalma]

I thought Aaron Goodwin was Dame’s agent?

I think Jones is his marketing agent/manager

 

[illmatic99]

I thought Aaron Goodwin was Dame’s agent?

nate jones worked with that goodwin agency. was instrumental in getting dame his adidas stuff going, among other duties. also was in working for dame at his music label

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonesonthenba/

 

[brooklynballer]

I think Jones is his marketing agent/manager

Good. Well let’s hope The Vulcans and Jody are reading his tweets. Maybe we’ll finally see the hatchet come down on one or both of Stotts or Olshey.

 

[Haakzilla]

Bring back David Vanterpool time!!

 

[Scalma]

Bring back David Vanterpool time!!

last time he was here he was in charge of the defense, and they finished top 10. Dame loves him and he would always know how to get the best outta him. I’m for it, even if I don’t know any of his philosophies.

 

[Natebishop3]

last time he was here he was in charge of the defense, and they finished top 10. Dame loves him and he would always know how to get the best outta him. I’m for it, even if I don’t know any of his philosophies.

I want something fresh. I don't want any Stotts acolytes.

 

[Scalma]

I want something fresh. I don't want any Stotts acolytes.

I trust him. His coaching was developed in Europe, I’m not worried about the Stotts stench.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I want something fresh. I don't want any Stotts acolytes.

I know the perfect... dog!

 

[Scalma]

I wonder if Stotts comments about Jones got around to the rest of the team. Yeah we never had good schemes but I’ve never seen the team just look like it’s straight given up.

 

[illmatic99]

I wonder if Stotts comments about Jones got around to the rest of the team. Yeah we never had good schemes but I’ve never seen the team just look like it’s straight given up.

reminiscent of 2011 before mcmillan got axed. i just hope we don't plunge to the depths that team did before figuring out the solution. this season is still salvageable. best roster we've had in a dedcade.

 

[illmatic99]

eye opening quotes. a lot of this fire, i wish i could see from Dame. this is leadership.

 

[Scalma]

eye opening quotes. a lot of this fire, i wish i could see from Dame. this is leadership.

he’s pretty much saying Stotts doesn’t trust anyone/run plays outside dame and CJ

 

[Paine Tablet]

Every single person says over and over they don’t care if he’s fired. I think mayyyyybe one person I can think of actually wants to keep him. “Stotts apologists” is such a tired, overused term.

Recently downvoted on reddit for criticizing Stotts' apologism and there has been a long history of this anytime someone has been critical of Stotts. Maybe not so much here, but there are other places where sunshine pumpers can't suffer dissent. Reminds of Portland's current cultural climate that is reflected in such places like r/Portland, so maybe it's just that this place is somehow inoculated. It helps having a moderation team that isn't complete @#$%#@%#@ #%$#$#$# $@$@!#$!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I wonder if Stotts comments about Jones got around to the rest of the team. Yeah we never had good schemes but I’ve never seen the team just look like it’s straight given up.

I did not see that tonight. Even when things were ugly, I did not see anyone giving up. Lots of frustration for sure, but no one out there was quitting.

 

[illmatic99]

https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2021/4/11/coach-media

 

[blazedanugz]

Did dame not speak to the media tonight?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Postgame Notes – April 11, 2021
Miami 107, Portland 98
Game No. 53, Home Game No. 27


TEAM
• The Trail Blazers recorded eight offensive rebounds to the Heat’s six and outscored Miami 10-8 in second chance points. Portland outrebounded Miami in total, 41-30.
• Portland’s reserves outscored Miami’s bench, 37-32. Tyler Herro (14 points) and Enes Kanter (10 points) were the only two bench players in double figures.
• Both teams recorded 21 assists on the night. Portland had three players lead the way with four dimes, and recorded 20+ assists for the first time in its last four games.
• The Trail Blazers and Heat each had double-digit leads, were tied twice and exchanged the lead four times throughout the game.


PLAYER
• Norman Powell scored 17 points (7-13 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 2-2 FT) and had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. It was his third-highest scoring game with the Trail Blazers.
• CJ McCollum added 17 points (7-18 FG, 3-9 3-PT), six rebounds and four assists. it was his sixth game this season with six or more rebounds.
• Damian Lillard recorded 12 points (3-10 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 3-4 FT), one rebound, three assists, one steal and one block over 37 minutes. With his third three-pointer of the game, Lillard passed Dirk Nowitzki for 11th on the NBA all-time three-pointers list.
• Enes Kanter finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. It was the fourth time in his last five games scoring in double figures.
• Jusuf Nurkic recorded six points (2-3 FG), nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 22 minutes of action.
• Robert Covington had nine points (3-10 FG, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. It was his seventh game this season with four or more assists.
• Derrick Jones Jr. had nine points (4-5 FG, 1-2 3-PT) and one rebound in 14 minutes off the bench.
• Bam Adebayo led Miami with 22 points (9-14 FG, 4-8 FT), three rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was his 17th game this season with 20 or more points.
• Jimmy Butler added 20 points (7-13 FG, 1-2 3-PT, 5-6 FT), four rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. It was his second game this season with multiple rejections.
• Kendrick Nunn finished with 15 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.

 

[royo]

As for V.pool, I think it is not good idea to bring any "Lillard loves him" guys. Maybe till end of the season. I wanted Stotts gone for years and I still want him gone ASAP. There was no point to keep him in january, there is no point to keep him now. There is no single changes for rive years.

I would like new coach, that don't know nothing about CJ's mama sandwiches. Professional would be good. No more "friends".

 

[MickZagger]

I'll be in Playa Del Carmen in 3 1/2!

I was in Isla Majures when we got swept by the Pelicans.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I was in Isla Majures when we got swept by the Pelicans.

That's a great way and place to lose a series!

 

[THE HCP]

I was in New Orleans!!!

 

[PCmor7]

remember when teams waited till the playoffs to completely sell out their defense to blitz and stop dame? when they would trap, double, and triple him to exhaustion?

well, they aren't waiting till the playoffs anymore. The formula is obvious: "sell out your defense to shut down Dame because the rest of the team won't beat you". It works like magic. When was the last time, other than the 76ers, when the Blazers beat a good team when Dame didn't produce at a high level? 7 years after Memphis employed the strategy to great success and Portland still doesn't have a fucking answer. It's not going to be solved by 3 points shooting or a backup PG or shuffling in different role players, year after year. Portland needs another elite talent that can consistently punish defenses in 4-on-3 situations

and while so many in this thread were hammering Dame for not being able to beat two or three players shadowing him, CJ had a shit game too.

the Stolshey ship has run aground.

Dame won't beat you either. He's reluctant to give up the ball until he has no other choice.

Stotts should know better. Dame should know better. The four teammates who are standing around should know better. It's a mess.

 

[PCmor7]

Terry has been getting pissy when Jason asks the tough questions.

This isn't even a tough question, though. This is a question that irritates the interviewee when he's feeling heat and has no answer for it. The question, though, is very fair, and if you want to be at the top of coaching a contending NBA team, you should be expecting so much from your team that this is a question you should expect in the Blazers' current situation.

For Pete's sake, your best player received this question two games ago and answered it earnestly. If you think this is acceptable and your top player thinks it's unacceptable there's a disconnect that should be fireable right there.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Don’t really watch Blazer games anymore. Me? Personally waiting on the rebuild but I see we lost again..

What the hell happened?? Now u see what me and @Natebishop3 have been saying for months now

 

[AldoTrapani]

There it is. I was wondering how long it was going to take before you said this LMAO.

Lol dude!! He was looking for a big man clearly. And here is Bam sitting there waiting. What the fuck happened?!

 

[AldoTrapani]

dame also doesn't look right. he keeps getting hit in the muscle above his knee. got hit there again by butler in the first and could get no elevation after that. he's not even faking trying on defense right now.

i know he would hate to do it, but he needs to sit right now.

Why is it EVERY TIME he’s slumping there’s an excuse?

 

[Mr. Robot]

it would make me really happy if somebody on the team would just go out and say how the things stand, whats the problem defensively and offensively, talk about coaching etc

fuck that "dont want to throw anybody under the bus" shit, just be honest and say it the way it is

this team is getting beaten by good teams with ease, thats unacceptable