Game Thread GAME# 55: BLAZERS @ SPURS - APRIL 16, 2021 - FRIDAY, 5:30, NBCSNW

[DDolla]

I tell you what, if we make the playoff, RoCo will win one for us with a steal

 

[kjironman1]

Early timeout by Stotts.

One of the best he has called.

 

[Hoopguru]

I like Norm when he attacks the rim. Easy two points or a foul

He's so much better than DJ going to the hoop, threes & D.

 

[illmatic99]

If we need a timeout at the end of the game I am going to irrationally blame the game on Melo for that play.

they changed the rule a few years back. no matter how many you have, after the three min mark in the fourth quarter, you only get two remaining the rest of the way.

it's why stotts always takes timeouts right ahead of the point where he would automatically lose one. sometimes... to the detriment of the team's momentum.

 

[Natebishop3]

Noooooooo my perfect prediction record has ended

 

[kjironman1]

Nurk did miss some lay ups but you have to admit he is moving better and he seems to be getting in better shape. The rest will come.
The combination of Nurk and then Kanter coming in off the bench is tough for teams to handle. Kanter can change the game without question.

 

[kjironman1]

Noooooooo my perfect prediction record has ended

Wait a minute???
You are saying so far this season you have predicted the Blazers would win 31 of 32 times and you are also on record saying this is the worst team you have ever seen?
Seriously?

 

[Strenuus]

Wait a minute???
You are saying so far this season you have predicted the Blazers would win 31 of 32 times and you are also on record saying this is the worst team you have ever seen?
Seriously?

He made a win/loss of the remaining games.

Keep up.

 

[DDolla]

Man I want to beat the Clippers and the Nuggets so bad... can we do it?

 

[kjironman1]

Man I want to beat the Clippers and the Nuggets so bad... can we do it?

They need to continue to improve if they want to even consider it. Bad news is they are a ways from that point. Good news they are improving.

 

[BlazerBeav]

No question our defense is markedly better with Nurk cutting off drives. Credit to Stotts - we changed our approach to defending Derozan and slowed him in the second half.

 

[kjironman1]

He made a win/loss of the remaining games.

Keep up.

So you are saying his perfect record was like one game long? Or was it just the last two losses?

 

[bobf]

I feel like Ant plays good fundamental defense. He moves his feet to stay in front of his guy. He pursues aggressively without flying by. He hustles. He rebounds. He’s just a lightweight at this point. Every time I see Ant he’s a little bit better than last time. I suspect we will be glad we kept Ant rather than Trent.

 

[OneSport3]

I feel like Ant plays good fundamental defense. He moves his feet to stay in front of his guy. He pursues aggressively without flying by. He hustles. He rebounds. He’s just a lightweight at this point. Every time I see Ant he’s a little bit better than last time. I suspect we will be glad we kept Ant rather than Trent.

He actually anticipates screens and tries to fight over them. Unlike CJ and Dame who think you just stop when screens are set.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I feel like Ant plays good fundamental defense. He moves his feet to stay in front of his guy. He pursues aggressively without flying by. He hustles. He rebounds. He’s just a lightweight at this point. Every time I see Ant he’s a little bit better than last time. I suspect we will be glad we kept Ant rather than Trent.

Fun facts:
Simons 5-10, 4-6 from 3, 16 pts, 2rbd, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 block, ZERO TO, +/- +16 (team high)
Patty Mills...0-6 from field, 1 rbd, 3 ast, 1 stl, +/- -16 (team low)

Another fun fact.... ESPN lists Simons as a SG. Everyone seems to know this, except, maybe Neil....

 

[Cugel]

Ant's steal was perfect and impactful.

 

[B-Roy]

I feel like Ant plays good fundamental defense. He moves his feet to stay in front of his guy. He pursues aggressively without flying by. He hustles. He rebounds. He’s just a lightweight at this point. Every time I see Ant he’s a little bit better than last time. I suspect we will be glad we kept Ant rather than Trent.

Could not disagree with this more.

 

[Tince]

Unfortunately I missed the game, but I skimmed through the game thread, and everything seemed normal. I looked at the box score and play log for the last 6 minutes and have a handful of questions:

1) Ant played well enough to finish the game?
2) Melo didn't finish the game?
3) DJJ with a Moe Harkless line.
4) Bench played well?
5) Stotts beat Pop w/out Dame? Outcoached him in the 2nd half?

 

[Tince]

Are these fair criticisms?

 

[THE HCP]

SIGH

 

[Tince]

Blazers move to 19-18 all time without Dame. 3-0 this season.

 

[Chris Craig]

Are these fair criticisms?

Sounds familiar

 

[Chris Craig]

Unfortunately I missed the game, but I skimmed through the game thread, and everything seemed normal. I looked at the box score and play log for the last 6 minutes and have a handful of questions:

1) Ant played well enough to finish the game?
2) Melo didn't finish the game?
3) DJJ with a Moe Harkless line.
4) Bench played well?
5) Stotts beat Pop w/out Dame? Outcoached him in the 2nd half?

1.) Ant had a great game. Blazers wouldn't have won it without him.

2.) Yeah, I was surprised too. Stotts wanted and needed to win. He needed defense.

3.) Yep, not a good game for him. He didn't really get many touches.

4.) Simons played well off the bench. Melo had a good enough night. Kanter got his double double but was terrible on defense. Little didn't get enough touches.

5.)Yep. Well, Stotts had the better team even Sans Lillard. It paid off.

 

[Drttimmy]

SIGH

No matter how annoyingly whiny this Blazer board can be at times....evidence we could always be worse. I can't imagine winning 5 rings in the last 22 years and ever getting low enough in the aftermath to use Blazerssaddestfan as my sign in. That's just me.

 

[Drttimmy]

I liked some of what Simons did tonight. Thought he looked poised down the stretch. With his athleticism, would kind of expect him to pick up steals off lazy passes or weak side block shot on the regular. He's a slow learner, but maybe it's a sign of things to come.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Tince]

1.) Ant had a great game. Blazers wouldn't have won it without him.

2.) Yeah, I was surprised too. Stotts wanted and needed to win. He needed defense.

3.) Yep, not a good game for him. He didn't really get many touches.

4.) Simons played well off the bench. Melo had a good enough night. Kanter got his double double but was terrible on defense. Little didn't get enough touches.

5.)Yep. Well, Stotts had the better team even Sans Lillard. It paid off.

Thanks for filling in the gaps. I rarely miss a game, but couldn't avoid it today, so I appreciate it! Glad we were able to pull this one out!

 

[KSF-ERIC]

At the Spirit of 77

Have my drink

Let's go!

When I was in Portland, I went there for a game. It was against SA coincidentally and guess what? They weren’t showing it. They were watching football. Not one TV was showing the Blazers game! At Spirit of fucking 77!!! I never went back.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I didn't realize Urkel had won a trophy at some point.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I didn't realize Urkel had won a trophy at some point.

CJ & Powell!