Game Thread GAME# 59: BLAZERS @ PISTONS - FEBRUARY 28, 2017 - TUESDAY, 4:30 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Pinwheel1]

How did Nurkic look?

He looked good. He was treated like a rookie in terms of calls. The offensive foul towards the end of the game was absurd.

 

[BigGameDamian]

When one player not stoping Morris than you try someone else. But I give Morris credit he had a great game. Would I try Noah on him hell yea I would due to he stronger than Harkless and Aminu. I just don't know what Stotts is seeing so I will continue to be puzzle with his coaching.

JVG wants to come back.

 

[Scalma]

He looked good. He was treated like a rookie in terms of calls. The offensive foul towards the end of the game was absurd.

There's also a big difference between nurks turnovers, and say aminus. Nurks are aggressive, but usually the right read. Aminus are reckless and out of control.

 

[e_blazer]

Well, this was another successful debacle. Play hard, mess up at the end and rip defeat from the jaws of victory. The tank rumbles ahead.

 

[LuckyShot]

Reading the box score... did we get fucked over by the refs as usual? Outrebounded them, out shot them and made more 3s, but got called for more fouls and they got enough FTs to win. Yes, my homer glasses are pretty much always on.

Holy turnovers, Batman...

 

[Scalma]

We are fucked for the foreseeable future. I'm just going to call it like it is. We are fucked. Let's hope one of those three picks can contribute immediately.

Then call it like it is. Two guys that score at will and a 22 year old center that shows on both ends of the court. And three first round picks. That's how you build. This team was rebuilding last year too, they just overachieved. Sick of all this bitching and crying.

 

[Reep]

I thought Harkless really played hard on D but Morris hit some ridiculous shots

Drummond was sticking his butt into Harkless when he came around the screen and they never called it. Not much you can do then.

I'm more upset at Dame going under the pick on a 12 foot jumper. Seriously? If Dame doesn't work on his D this summer in a big way I hope they can find a way to end this nightmare. No way any three front court players we can realistically get can cover for Dame and CJ on D.

Every team in the league knows to put in your quickest backup PG against Dame and he will have a career night.

Can someone look up Dames plus/minus in crunch time this season?

 

[BBert]

Dame is right two straight times they have fouled him on 3 and no call.

Refs in on the tank?

 

[Trackjack]

Well that lost put us right the 9 pick in the draft.

 

[tlongII]

Tank!

 

[HailBlazers]

Caught the end of regulation on the Radio. Nice subtle tank job by Dame missing that technical free throw.

 

[Reep]

Caught the end of regulation on the Radio. Nice subtle tank job by Dame missing that technical free throw.

And giving Ish an open free throw by going under the screen. I don't give Dame enough credit. He knows what he is doing.

 

[H.C.]

I'm more upset at Dame going under the pick on a 12 foot jumper. Seriously? If Dame doesn't work on his D this summer in a big way I hope they can find a way to end this nightmare. No way any three front court players we can realistically get can cover for Dame and CJ on D.

If you're going to put the blame there, you should also put it on Stotts.
The gameplan for every team is to go under the pick and roll for Ish Smith, the guy has an EFG of 45% this year.
Literally anything outside of 10ft he shoots under 40% from the field. He also had a bunny from less than 10 feet late in OT that he all but airballed.
Portland turned the ball over too much, and gave up key offensive rebounds. These two things had more to do with the loss than Morris going for nearly 40, and Ish Smith hitting a couple jumpers.

 

[Mediocre Man]

But rim protection is what we were missing on D. LOL

 

[Blazer4ever]

I watched the game this time. We looked good most of the game but then kinda threw it away. There are some things I think we could have done differently but mostly it was the attitude, the lack of confidence. we are better than our record but we lose games we should win, forefit big leads, the players just don't seem to really believe in themselves.
Oh well, I guess it just isn't our season

 

[H.C.]

But rim protection is what we were missing on D. LOL

Who said that about last nights game?

 

[Troy.Ave]

Who said that about last nights game?

He meant in general what the theme has been this team needs.

So in reality it's really Dame atrocious defense that's the biggest problem

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who said that about last nights game?

Cippy. Post 32

 

[Mediocre Man]

see what a little defense does. AND people think dame and cj defensive woes are the issues...

 

[illmatic99]

CJ lost some focus last night, and our P&R d with Nurk needs some work.

Still, that scoop finger roll thing Nurk threw up off @ 1:00 of Dame's pass was so sick. So much skill. Don't care about wins anymore, only development.

 

[illmatic99]

Portland's Bosnian community must be really large cause Nurkic looks just at home for this team.

It's crazy. He has yet to play a home game.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It's crazy. He has yet to play a home game.

Wow. I didn't realize that. But ya, that is crazy

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am not a big +/- guys but I could not help but notice that Vonleh was a +18 and no one else was even close.
All the other starters were + 1, 2, or 3.

On the flip side our bench got worked. Aminu was a -24.
Crabbe (-23) played well with the 1st unit (in the 4th) but not well with the bench.

 

[Scalma]

CJ lost some focus last night, and our P&R d with Nurk needs some work.

Still, that scoop finger roll thing Nurk threw up off @ 1:00 of Dame's pass was so sick. So much skill. Don't care about wins anymore, only development.

Yeah, I saw Nurk get caught in no mans land a lot defensively on pick and rolls, but that's not all his fault. Our guards need to step up and stop being afraid of screens. It leaves our bigs out to dry. That being said, Nurk still needs to do a better job of staying back. It'll come with time.

I also think we should play through Nurk down low early in games. Get him in a rhythm. I've also noticed when he backs down with patience it usually ends with two points, or a foul(not always called btw, which is aggravating.) Get the opposing center in foul trouble. Dame likes to start games by deferring anyways, so it wouldn't be a bad idea. Same with Vonleh. Post those boys up and set the tempo.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame likes to start games by deferring anyways, so it wouldn't be a bad idea. Same with Vonleh. Post those boys up and set the tempo.

Our start was terrific last night. I swear, we have the most losses in games in which we led by double digits.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am not a big +/- guys but I could not help but notice that Vonleh was a +18 and no one else was even close.
All the other starters were + 1, 2, or 3.

On the flip side our bench got worked. Aminu was a -24.
Crabbe (-23) played well with the 1st unit (in the 4th) but not well with the bench.

Thank god Stotts rewarded him with crunch time minutes ...

 

[Pinwheel1]

Thank god Stotts rewarded him with crunch time minutes ...

Yeah at some point he has to, just to see how he responds. But Terry has always favored small ball when we are down in crunch time. Harkless at the 4 and Crabbe at the 3 did hep bring them back last night. But in a 53 minute game, Vonleh should have played more than 19 minutes.

 

[illmatic99]

We're only 2.5 games out of the #4 slot for the lotto. .

 

[Blazer4ever]

Crabbe played well at the 3. When he plays the 2 the team struggles, no matter if it's Dame or CJ as PGs. In the game Stotts used Napier as Dame's backup, usually playing him with CJ when Dame sits. He tried a bit of Dame with Napier but then subbed him out. I think it's a better lineup than Dame and Crabbe, even better is Dame, Napier and Crabbe. Crabbe is a 2/3 but when he plays the 3 he's more effective, his talent is better utilized. I've said in another thread, we should go smaller in the backcourt (Napier playing with both Dame or CJ) and bigger in the front court with Vonleh or Leonard at PF and Ed Davis should also be getting a chance. Even though he had a very slow start of the season, he could be helping us right now

 

[THE HCP]

2.5 from the playoffs........ 2.5 from the #4 pick............ Interesting