Game Thread GAME# 59: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - MARCH 4, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), ESPN & CSNNW

[B-Roy]

The small ball Aldridge+4 shooters lineup is going to be our go to closing/comeback lineup. Teams don't usually go in the post late in the game so we're not really at risk of getting killed down low. AAA+Wes+Batum basically allows us to switch everything on the perimeter, which limits most possessions into isolation shots. Offensively, this lineup gives us much more spacing and gives us more opportunities to create open shots.

 

[Pinwheel1]

This was maybe the scrappiest win of the year in my view. We didn't win with offense, we won with defense. Our three best shooters all were cold and we beat a very good team on the road. I see nothing to bitch about here. These are the grind it out wins you need in a playoff series. I can't find a scapegoat to blame for the win, not that I'd try to look for one.

The concern for me is that we don't play well against the Clippers. We need to figure it out. They shut Dame down in Staples Center almost every time. If we want to beat them in the playoffs when they have their full squad, then we need to make adjustments. They double Dame with CP3 and one of their bigs. So why do we not make them pay for that.? I have seen it against other teams too. Terry needs to make an adjustment.

 

[maxiep]

What a great thread to read. So bi-polar.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

This got buried in the thread, thought it worth reposting:

 

[riverman]

The concern for me is that we don't play well against the Clippers. We need to figure it out. They shut Dame down in Staples Center almost every time. If we want to beat them in the playoffs when they have their full squad, then we need to make adjustments. They double Dame with CP3 and one of their bigs. So why do we not make them pay for that.? I have seen it against other teams too. Terry needs to make an adjustment.

We won last night in the staples center with our leading scorers all having off nights. Chris Paul and Jordan are elite defenders and did not protect home court. I see last night as a success yet today people are searching for failure. Sorry, I don't get it.

 

[blue9]

The concern for me is that we don't play well against the Clippers. We need to figure it out. They shut Dame down in Staples Center almost every time. If we want to beat them in the playoffs when they have their full squad, then we need to make adjustments. They double Dame with CP3 and one of their bigs. So why do we not make them pay for that.? I have seen it against other teams too. Terry needs to make an adjustment.

Even one of the ESPN announcers was talking about this last night, suggesting that we use Reddick's defensive assignment to set the screen in order to create a more favorable situation.
I really don't get Stotts.

 

[riverman]

40 wins and 15 of them coming back from double digit deficits. I don't think it's dumb luck that we lead the league in that category. Winning without great shooting is a sign of heart and determination.

 

[riverman]

Even one of the ESPN announcers was talking about this last night, suggesting that we use Reddick's defensive assignment to set the screen in order to create a more favorable situation.
I really don't get Stotts.

ESPN announcers did nothing but talk about Westbrook. I don't look to ESPN for Blazer compliments

 

[blue9]

ESPN announcers did nothing but talk about Westbrook. I don't look to ESPN for Blazer compliments

It wasn't a compliment (or insult), it was analysis. They saw what several of us have been seeing - an inability to adjust to teams doubling Lillard on screens.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We won last night in the staples center with our leading scorers all having off nights. Chris Paul and Jordan are elite defenders and did not protect home court. I see last night as a success yet today people are searching for failure. Sorry, I don't get it.

I did not post last night because I was feeling good about the win and still am. But Doc let us off the hook by calling off the pressure when they got up by 10. Granted they were getting tired (Big Baby could barely move) but there was a fine line between and winning and losing last night. I am happy with the win, but if we would have lost again in that building, I would have been freaking pissed!

I will say one thing....someone (I assume Terry) saw that the alley oop would be successful and called for the play. That was a brilliant in game adjustment.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=263185&page=3

Rocket fans melting down on us again...

Yeah, no shit. I wonder if they've ever lost a game that wasn't the officials' doing?

You get some calls, you lose some calls. If Houston deserved to win that game, they wouldn't have been in the position for one no-call to swing the outcome. And then they still had a chance to win. Sour bitches.

 

[BBert]

I would have been so pissed if that offensive goal tending that allowed the Clippers to score had lost us that game.

As it is, with all of Batum's Clutch-ness, it hasn't even been mentioned.

But really, what is it with the NBA refs and screwing the Blazers on late-game goal-tend non-calls?

 

[MarAzul]

Because LMA doesn't like to roll... He likes to pop.

uh, he rolled nicely for lob from Batum a couple time last night. Crucial to the win too. We use to get several of those a game with Rudy handling the ball too. It doesn't seem to be a Lamarcus deficiency.

 

[MarAzul]

Westbrook

Yep! Who the hell turns on a Blazer game that want's to hear about friggin Westbrook??

 

[BBert]

IIRC Blazers were lob city when we had Rudy feeding LaMarcus. Led the league in lobs, no?

 

[Boob-No-More]

IIRC Blazers were lob city when we had Rudy feeding LaMarcus. Led the league in lobs, no?

It wasn't just Rudy, it was Andre Miller (mostly), Rudy and Marcus Camby (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) from the high post.

BNM

 

[MarAzul]

It wasn't a compliment (or insult), it was analysis. They saw what several of us have been seeing - an inability to adjust to teams doubling Lillard on screens.

Well according to my old coach, that is precisely the way you defend a PG that has an AM of less than 1. The tactic is usually successful or gives your team it's best opportunity for success.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't get all the comments about Stotts lack of in-game adjustments. In my opinion, it was his late game adjustments that won us the game.

First, was the Hack-a-Jordan. The timing was perfect and it worked like a charm. I know some people don't like it, but identifying your opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them to your advantage is a huge part of coaching. If the Clippers don't like it, they can either hire a shooting coach to work with Jordan, or pull him out of the game until the 2:00 mark. Doc stubbornly stuck with Jordan too long last night and it cost his team the game.

Second, putting Batum on CP3 (and switching with AAA and Wes) shut down the Clippers offense late in the 4th and through the OT.

Third, with Lillard being trapped and ineffective, he put the ball in Batum's hands and ran the pick and roll with Aldridge.

How are those not adjustments? They all came from Stotts and all worked perfectly. As I was watched the 4th quarter and OT last night, I just kept thinking how lucky we are to have a genius like Terry Stotts as our head coach. He COMPLETELY outcoached Doc Rivers when the game was on the line, and it wasn't close. The pick and roll with Nic and Aldridge was ridiculously easy in OT. It was like taking candy from a baby - lure Jordan away from the basket and then have Aldridge cut to the rim. Who do you think called that? Where was the counter adjustment from Doc Rivers? I can't believe how many posters here are criticizing the WINNING coach of a game where our best players were playing like shit.

And before anyone says the adjustments should come sooner - if they come too soon, you give your opponent time to counter. Doc Rivers was completely flummoxed last night. By the time he got his head around what was happening, our guys were in the locker room with another "improbable" win (although at some point, when you've done something 15 times, it no longer seems so improbable any more).

I don't think it's just a coincidence that we have 15 come from behind wins when were down double digits. The players get a ton of credit for "having heart", "never saying die", etc., but who do you think is engineering those comebacks? For the love of god, does anyone here think we'd EVER win a game like last night with Nate McMillan or Mo Cheeks patrolling our sideline with their arms folded? People here need to start appreciating what we have, and that includes our head coach, Terry Stotts.

BNM

 

[MarAzul]

Stotts has to get on top of this business of teams double teaming Damian. His style of play dictates that teams should double team him to stifle the Blazers. It worked against Roy and we
see it will work against Damian. Anytime you can interrupt a team's flow by stifling both their ball handler and leading scorer with one double team you chances are good. Your chances become excellent when that guard looks to score more than create assists. This fact can be determined from the stats, when the guard misses more shots than he gets assists. Shots hit from long range off passes from a PG that gives up the ball under a double team pressure are not assists, just dumb luck.

More Batum in the assist creation role please.

 

[magnifier661]

Yes, teams can absolutely play the same defense over and over again if Terry doesn't have a counter move. So far he's shown very little ability to change the offense when teams double Lillard on the pick/pop. That's going to be a big problem in the POs. And when defenses ratchet up in the POs we'll have an even harder time finding open jump shots.
He'll also need to completely change the way our defense plays pick/rolls. Last year the Spurs picked us apart by shooting off of picks. Last night the Clippers did the same thing.

See this is where I disagree with you. We are one of the best teams coming out of the half. That would pursued me to believe that Stott's makes the necessary adjustments at half time.

I will admit that teams being able to trap from that high pick really frustrates the hell out of me! I actually think that problem is mainly on the player setting the pick. It's too weak to stop the blitz trap.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Stotts has to get on top of this business of teams double teaming Damian. His style of play dictates that teams should double team him to stifle the Blazers. It worked against Roy and we
see it will work against Damian. Anytime you can interrupt a team's flow by stifling both their ball handler and leading scorer with one double team you chances are good. Your chances become excellent when that guard looks to score more than create assists. This fact can be determined from the stats, when the guard misses more shots than he gets assists. Shots hit from long range off passes from a PG that gives up the ball under a double team pressure are not assists, just dumb luck.

More Batum in the assist creation role please.

Isn't that EXACTLY the adjustment Stotts made last night that won us the game?

BNM

 

[B-Roy]

I don't get all the comments about Stotts lack of in-game adjustments. In my opinion, it was his late game adjustments that won us the game.

First, was the Hack-a-Jordan. The timing was perfect and it worked like a charm. I know some people don't like it, but identifying your opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them to your advantage is a huge part of coaching. If the Clippers don't like it, they can either hire a shooting coach to work with Jordan, or pull him out of the game until the 2:00 mark. Doc stubbornly stuck with Jordan too long last night and it cost his team the game.

Actually, you could argue not keeping Jordan in the game cost them the game. Even though Jordan missed like 6 free throws in a row the Blazers weren't scoring on the other end. It was only when he took Jordan out with 2:30 left for Hawes that the Blazers went on a 7-0 run to get the game within 3.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I don't get all the comments about Stotts lack of in-game adjustments. In my opinion, it was his late game adjustments that won us the game.

First, was the Hack-a-Jordan. The timing was perfect and it worked like a charm. I know some people don't like it, but identifying your opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them to your advantage is a huge part of coaching. If the Clippers don't like it, they can either hire a shooting coach to work with Jordan, or pull him out of the game until the 2:00 mark. Doc stubbornly stuck with Jordan too long last night and it cost his team the game.

Second, putting Batum on CP3 (and switching with AAA and Wes) shut down the Clippers offense late in the 4th and through the OT.

Third, with Lillard being trapped and ineffective, he put the ball in Batum's hands and ran the pick and roll with Aldridge.

How are those not adjustments? They all came from Stotts and all worked perfectly. As I was watched the 4th quarter and OT last night, I just kept thinking how lucky we are to have a genius like Terry Stotts as our head coach. He COMPLETELY outcoached Doc Rivers when the game was on the line, and it wasn't close. The pick and roll with Nic and Aldridge was ridiculously easy in OT. It was like taking candy from a baby - lure Jordan away from the basket and then have Aldridge cut to the rim. Who do you think called that? Where was the counter adjustment from Doc Rivers? I can't believe how many posters here are criticizing the WINNING coach of a game where our best players were playing like shit.

And before anyone says the adjustments should come sooner - if they come too soon, you give your opponent time to counter. Doc Rivers was completely flummoxed last night. By the time he got his head around what was happening, our guys were in the locker room with another "improbable" win (although at some point, when you've done something 15 times, it no longer seems so improbable any more).

I don't think it's just a coincidence that we have 15 come from behind wins when were down double digits. The players get a ton of credit for "having heart", "never saying die", etc., but who do you think is engineering those comebacks? For the love of god, does anyone here think we'd EVER win a game like last night with Nate McMillan or Mo Cheeks patrolling our sideline with their arms folded? People here need to start appreciating what we have, and that includes our head coach, Terry Stotts.

BNM

Am I the only one who sees this as a problem? We shouldn't be in a double digit deficit to begin with. Yeah, we've pulled quite a few out but it's clutch play by the PLAYERS down the stretch that's winning. Stotts isn't a terrible coach but he is not a guy that's gonna take us to a championship imho. We have way too much talent to be playing the way we are. We had no business winning last night and we played a depleted team, I'm happy for the W but we should never have been in the position to lose that game at any point when the team we played was missing their starting 3+4 (Who is an all star) and their reigning 6th man of the year.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Also kudos to David Guthrie for giving Doc a T in the first quarter last night. Doc was all over him, trying to intimidate him to get an edge later in the game, but Guthrie wasn't having any of his shit and let him know right away. I'd hate to referee Clippers games with all the non-stop whining and flopping from the players, but it starts at the top. Doc was way over the line last night, jumping all over Guthrie and even chasing him down during a time out. Nice to see Guthrie let Doc know he was the one calling the game last night, not Doc.

BNM

 

[blue9]

Isn't that EXACTLY the adjustment Stotts made last night that won us the game?

BNM

I guess he deserves credit for figuring it out eventually? But when non-coaches have been seeing this problem - dating back to last season - how much credit does he actually deserve?
Stotts is far from being a Nate/Mo coach - nobody is claiming he's bad. But he's not that great, either. He's just a fairly run-of-the-mill coach in today's NBA. Much like SG there's a dearth of coaching talent these days.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't get all the comments about Stotts lack of in-game adjustments. In my opinion, it was his late game adjustments that won us the game.

First, was the Hack-a-Jordan. The timing was perfect and it worked like a charm. I know some people don't like it, but identifying your opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them to your advantage is a huge part of coaching. If the Clippers don't like it, they can either hire a shooting coach to work with Jordan, or pull him out of the game until the 2:00 mark. Doc stubbornly stuck with Jordan too long last night and it cost his team the game.

Second, putting Batum on CP3 (and switching with AAA and Wes) shut down the Clippers offense late in the 4th and through the OT.

Third, with Lillard being trapped and ineffective, he put the ball in Batum's hands and ran the pick and roll with Aldridge.

How are those not adjustments? They all came from Stotts and all worked perfectly. As I was watched the 4th quarter and OT last night, I just kept thinking how lucky we are to have a genius like Terry Stotts as our head coach. He COMPLETELY outcoached Doc Rivers when the game was on the line, and it wasn't close. The pick and roll with Nic and Aldridge was ridiculously easy in OT. It was like taking candy from a baby - lure Jordan away from the basket and then have Aldridge cut to the rim. Who do you think called that? Where was the counter adjustment from Doc Rivers? I can't believe how many posters here are criticizing the WINNING coach of a game where our best players were playing like shit.

And before anyone says the adjustments should come sooner - if they come too soon, you give your opponent time to counter. Doc Rivers was completely flummoxed last night. By the time he got his head around what was happening, our guys were in the locker room with another "improbable" win (although at some point, when you've done something 15 times, it no longer seems so improbable any more).

I don't think it's just a coincidence that we have 15 come from behind wins when were down double digits. The players get a ton of credit for "having heart", "never saying die", etc., but who do you think is engineering those comebacks? For the love of god, does anyone here think we'd EVER win a game like last night with Nate McMillan or Mo Cheeks patrolling our sideline with their arms folded? People here need to start appreciating what we have, and that includes our head coach, Terry Stotts.

BNM

100% this... And the "hack a Jordan" maybe didn't capitalize in points, but it surely got into the head of Jordan. Maybe that mental game was why he did that "brain fart" after the CP3 miss at the end of regulation. Then that snow balled and completely took Jordan out of the game in OT

 

[blue9]

Actually, you could argue not keeping Jordan in the game cost them the game. Even though Jordan missed like 6 free throws in a row the Blazers weren't scoring on the other end. It was only when he took Jordan out with 2:30 left for Hawes that the Blazers went on a 7-0 run to get the game within 3.

Exactly. The hack-a-dope nearly didn't work because we couldn't do shit on the offensive end - which is where Stotts is supposedly a genius. Instead we relied on players making low-percentage jumpers in the closing minutes of the game, rather than executing good offense. Stotts didn't win the game, Nic did. With a helping hand from Doc.

 

[magnifier661]

Exactly. The hack-a-dope nearly didn't work because we couldn't do shit on the offensive end - which is where Stotts is supposedly a genius. Instead we relied on players making low-percentage jumpers in the closing minutes of the game, rather than executing good offense. Stotts didn't win the game, Nic did. With a helping hand from Doc.

See this is another thing I disagree, with respect of course! I think the "hack-a-jordan" was a perfect chess move that got into the head of their best defender. By the time Jordan knew what hit him, the Blazers tied the game and put even more pressure on that mental midget

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Hack-A-Jordan is effective but I HATE playing Lawyer Ball. It sucks that we had to do it for the chance to win.

 

[MarAzul]

Isn't that EXACTLY the adjustment Stotts made last night that won us the game?

BNM

Yes it was. Down by a bunch with time running out is a tad late. Luck prevailed this TIME, assisted by Jordan holding the ball instead of dunking the damn thing.
This should be a wake up call for Stotts, not the genius award presentation.