Game Thread GAME# 59: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - APRIL 23, 2021 - FRIDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[Natebishop3]

I'm looking at the next 8 games:

View attachment 38196

the way Portland has been playing, I'm having a hard time seeing more than 2 wins; Memphis and Cleveland? Maybe Indiana?.

the final 5 games aren't a cakewalk either. is it possible the Blazers end up a .500 team?

We're going to be close to .500 by the end of the season.

 

[Serbian]

The blazers have the 3rd worst defense in nba history right now. Once we loose next 4 games its bye bye stotts

 

[AldoTrapani]

Lottery pick

 

[B-Roy]

Aside from the obvious move of dumping Melo, I seriously hope Jody actually cares enough about the team to take a deep look at what is wrong.

6 years and there have been 5 constants: Dame, CJ, Terry, Neil, and playing poorly against top competition. Time to really evaluate why the last is true. Pretty sure some of the first 4 are a big reason why.

 

[Tince]

I'm pretty certain that FT miss was deliberate

You think he went rogue and missed it on purpose? He wasn't told to miss.

That would be a bad sign.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Terry admitted during the press conference that he had no idea whether Dame tried to miss or make the final free throw.

LET THAT SINK IN.

In the closing seconds, our head coach did not know what was going to happen.

This season is a wrap.

 

[santeesioux]

Houston fans must be sweating bullets, they probably thought they had that draft pick in the bag this offseason! We can't have nice things though so no way we get a lottery pick.

 

[wizenheimer]

You think he went rogue and missed it on purpose? He wasn't told to miss.

That would be a bad sign.

I think he was trying to miss...that's why Portland brought in Nurkic and why every player on both teams was as close to the hoop as allowed. There was plenty of discussion and jockeying. Pretty obvious memphis believed Dame was trying to miss

 

[Tince]

The rest Dame so he's fresh for the playoffs strategy isn't looking so hot:

1-3 since resting Dame and getting him back. He's 37% from the field, 23% from 3 since his return. Amazing we're even competing with that production.

 

[Tince]

I think he was told to miss...that's why Portland brought in Nurkic and why every player on both teams was as close to the hoop as allowed. There was plenty of discussion and jockeying. Pretty obvious memphis believed Dame was trying to miss

Stotts said he didn't tell him to miss.

I'm trying to think of why Stotts would be dishonest about that, but I can't come up with a great reason. Unless he wants to throw Dame under the bus, which doesn't add up.

 

[wizenheimer]

Stotts said he didn't tell him to miss.

that doesn't change what I saw. Even the arc of that shot was different than Dame's norm

 

[BlazerBeav]

If they were trying to miss, why wouldn’t Kanter have been out in opposite Nurkic?

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[Sean.ivity]

Terry admitted during the press conference that he had no idea whether Dame tried to miss or make the final free throw.

LET THAT SINK IN.

In the closing seconds, our head coach did not know what was going to happen.

This season is a wrap.

Correct me if I'm wrong but he made it sound like the plan was to make both and then foul and that Dame probably just missed the 2nd one... He said you'd have to ask Dame if he missed it on purpose. He went on to say that if they didn't have a time out left then missing on purpose would be on the table.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Houston fans must be sweating bullets, they probably thought they had that draft pick in the bag this offseason! We can't have nice things though so no way we get a lottery pick.

Been telling these guys for weeks now we need that pick this team sucks. Even when they were winning it was just iso luck. Dame is in a major slump like every year also

 

[James lamphear]

Stotts said he didn't tell him to miss.

I'm trying to think of why Stotts would be dishonest about that, but I can't come up with a great reason. Unless he wants to throw Dame under the bus, which doesn't add up.

Maybe Dame throwing his coach under the bus.But he been missing a lot from the free throw line lately. Maybe he see it's no hope that there going to do anything this he rather not make the playoffs.

 

[B-Roy]

I'm honestly fine with getting that lottery pick, making wholesale changes this off season and trying for one more season before maybe really thinking about moving Dame.

 

[Tince]

that doesn't change what I saw. Even the arc of that shot was different than Dame's norm

I'm not saying you're wrong. Like I said, if Dame did miss on purpose, that's a bad sign.

 

[boredinsalem]

Playing 4 of our 5 starters damn near 40 minutes in a loss to the Grizzlies. New low for Terry.

 

[Tince]

Maybe Dame throwing his coach under the bus.But he been missing a lot from the free throw line lately. Maybe he see it's no hope that there going to do anything this he rather not make the playoffs.

All options are possible, but throwing anyone in the organization under the bus or wanting to miss the playoffs would seem out of character for him

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm not saying you're wrong. Like I said, if Dame did miss on purpose, that's a bad sign.

who knows...it just looked like Dame and every other player on the floor was anticipating a miss

 

[wizenheimer]

can I change my vote to Portland winning 1 game?

 

[wizenheimer]

by the way, Morant and Jackson sure look like they will become a really good duo. They are already really close to really good. Brooks can be a solid glue guy like RoCo too. Memphis is a nice young team that plays really hard

 

[Tince]

by the way, Morant and Jackson sure look like they will become a really good duo. They are already really close to really good. Brooks can be a solid glue guy like RoCo too. Memphis is a nice young team that plays really hard

I agree.

Morant is more likely to be an all-star next year than CJ, in my opinion.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Just insane that neither Dame or CJ has had a big night in weeks.

CJ had 22/9/7 on 50/40/100 shooting.

 

[Tince]

"I did not tell Dame to miss it, I wanted him to make it.... I don't think he missed it intentionally."

-Stotts on Dame's last FTA.

"I didn't tell Dame to miss it." is a far worse response than "I told Dame to make it."

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Welp.... I thought we'd at least beat the Grizzlies.

On the bright side, this is just a clear sign that we need to blow this shit up.

Because of one possession losses?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

This is what happens when you spot a 10 point lead every game by playing Kanter/Melo together.

What’s their net rating together this season? Last I checked, they were + 0.7. So spotting a 10 point lead? No.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Hats off to Nurk having his best game in a long time. However, they will NEVER win when Dame and CJ are shooting like this.

CJ shot 50/40/100

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I’ve been a fan for 33 years. Im not watching another game this year.
Good luck guys

Quitter.

I’ll quote an old song:

“You’ve gotta have heart. Miles and miles and miles of heart. When the odds are sayin you’ll never win, that’s when the grin should start.”

If you’ve been watching the games, we are right there. We can turn this around. You give up cuz of 4 game losing streak? I’d understand if we were the Sacramento Kings but we’re the motherfuckin Blazers! Never give up!