Game Thread GAME# 61: BLAZERS @ HAWKS - FEBRUARY 29, 2020 - SATURDAY, 4:30, NBCSNW

[TBpup]

I guess it's Nas turn to be in Stotts dog house... sigh

...but we did get to see Mario for absolutely no good reason what so ever...

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers have to go 15-6 just to reach the end of the season .500

Edit @ .500

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Blazers have to go 15-6 just to reach the end of the season .500

Edit @ .500

I think there is a greater chance they go 6-15

 

[TBpup]

I think there is a greater chance they go 6-15

6 wins is too many. That would put them at 32. They need to be in the 28-29 range to bet up to that #8 spot. Come on team, this is possible. Just avoid 1 or 2 key wins down the stretch that don't mean anything anyhow other than to put you in a worse position of purgatory.

#EmbraceTheTank

 

[HailBlazers]

Did you happen to feel the beginning of his response to me was "respectful"? Because from my response i obviously do "Understand".
I don't play victim. So lets not go there. I don't care how he responds to me. But if he wants to post to me directly like that then he is going to get it back. Sorry.

You'd have to point out exactly what he said for me to determine but it's besides the point. If we would all take on the responsibility of being the bigger person around here instead of "giving it back" it would help make the forum more enjoyable for everyone.

 

[kjironman1]

You'd have to point out exactly what he said for me to determine but it's besides the point. If we would all take on the responsibility of being the bigger person around here instead of "giving it back" it would help make the forum more enjoyable for everyone.

You do not want me to respond to this. I will oblige.

 

[Tince]

Don't you find it ironic that the one player that has come out and said that he watched film on his own is the only one who has improved this year?
Don't you find it ironic that the Blazers media team makes a big deal out of any defensive-minded practice the Blazers have?
Don't you find it ironic that the Blazers haven't fixed a number of defensive mental mistakes that they've been making all season?
Don't you find it ironic how Stotts usually simply attributes "shot-making" to winning/losing games in his postgame press conferences?
Don't you find it ironic how no players credit a member of the coaching staff with defensive improvement when players on other teams across the league do?
Don't you find it ironic that we run one defensive scheme 99% of the time other than a lazy 2-3 zone?
Don't you find it ironic that most players won't get benched no matter how poorly they're playing defense?

Seems like there's a lot there for them to all be coincidences... I think Stotts doesn't value defense enough.

Personally, something like the media "making a big deal" (not even sure what that means) about something has zero impact on judging if the Blazers improve or not during the season. If the media came out tomorrow and made a big deal about an offensive-minded practice, I wouldn't say that is proof that Stotts is a great defensive coach either.

I would think if everything above were true, there would be some data that shows the team (in general) gets worse thoughtout the season. I setup what I thought was the more objective data and then looked, nothing that even has a weak negative trend. I did not look for data and then create a narrative around that data.

 

[BonesJones]

@kjironman1 i like your retort there about the assistant coaches but is it really necessary to add the low key personal attack at the end?

@Tince has been acknowledged for his ability to disagree respectfully, everyone here could take a page out of his book.

Thats what he does best, but then he'll complain about others ruining the forum.

 

[BonesJones]

Did you happen to feel the beginning of his response to me was "respectful"? Because from my response i obviously do "Understand".
I don't play victim. So lets not go there. I don't care how he responds to me. But if he wants to post to me directly like that then he is going to get it back. Sorry.

No, I understand the context of HJs point (weve talked about it) and you obviously didnt understand it, which is completely fine. (Other than the fact that you're trying to tell someone off based on your own misunderstanding, but thats not a big deal). Having or not having Nurkic has nothing to do with Stotts improving the players he has, so your argument wasnt based off the context being discussed. But you'll be super-defensive of that, because instead of being humble enough to consider that you might not correctly interpret everything thats ever said, you double down with some bullshit, per usual.

 

[BonesJones]

I do understand what you are trying to say. I happen to disagree.
First 1M has absolutely improved on defense. To say he didn't is flat out wrong. Next Trent Improved on defense. Saying the only reason is because he looked at film again is flat out wrong. Skal Absolutely improved on defense. Saying he didn't is flat out wrong again. Little also has started to come around saying he is not better than the beginning of the season is again wrong. Biggie over the last two weeks has absolutely improved on both sides of the court. Gabriel actually is being effective at times without fouling though not much yet? Lets see where he is in a month and if they keep him where he is after a training camp and summer league? Over the last few season various players improved. Pat Con, Jake Layman and Seth Curry to name a few.

Here is where i also disagree. Did you want to see Melo improve? Really? You already know Lillard did indeed improve. CJ this year has been on again off again but there is no question his blocks and steals are up. I think his overall defensive rating is down but that might be because of the players he has on the court with him? Ariza is Ariza he is who he is.
Then you want to go all in on who is playing. If in 17' the only reason they got better was because of Nurkic????

I guess the only person that improved the defense over the years was Olshey? Or the schedule makers?

The original question was about the Blazers overall effectiveness throughout a season getting better or worse but you feel it's not improvement based on players. Even worse you doubled down on it with this. So this draws me to believe that you do indeed feel this has something to do with the team as a whole?

Now you want to say we are talking about something else?


There is also another that has taken this road. Collins has here is a story from before the season about working on film. He has since delved even more into it.
https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/...-has-long-been-preparing-for-this-moment.html
It seems Nurkic as well as Hood are on the film train also. Correct me if i'm wrong but the Blazers employ a coach named Jim Moran he was a video coordinator. And then that guy who is always holding the Ipad with the videos running. That is Jannero Pargo.
Then of course there is Johnathan Yim. He is about as good a video coordinator as there is out there. The only way these players have an opportunity to study film is because of the coaching staff. To say any player did this all on his own again speaks volumes about the poster.

You trash these guys defense when its convenient for your Stotts defense, and now you're contradicting that. Youve mocked me for making some of the points that you just did. The fucking irony...

Anyway, if all these players have improved so much, then Stotts gameplanning or scheming at fault that were giving up 84 points in 2 quarters to a trash team. Shit, you might be right.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Don't you find it ironic that the one player that has come out and said that he watched film on his own is the only one who has improved this year?
Don't you find it ironic that the Blazers media team makes a big deal out of any defensive-minded practice the Blazers have?
Don't you find it ironic that the Blazers haven't fixed a number of defensive mental mistakes that they've been making all season?
Don't you find it ironic how Stotts usually simply attributes "shot-making" to winning/losing games in his postgame press conferences?
Don't you find it ironic how no players credit a member of the coaching staff with defensive improvement when players on other teams across the league do?
Don't you find it ironic that we run one defensive scheme 99% of the time other than a lazy 2-3 zone?
Don't you find it ironic that most players won't get benched no matter how poorly they're playing defense?

Seems like there's a lot there for them to all be coincidences... I think Stotts doesn't value defense enough.

Alantis Morrisette in the house?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

...but we did get to see Mario for absolutely no good reason what so ever...

There could be one reason. Hoping some club, either here or in Europe, will see something that makes them want to sign him, and therefore he might decline his option with Portland.

 

[oldmangrouch]

He's gonna get more run now. Season is pretty much over. It'll be good for him.

Man, I hope you are correct.

 

[oldmangrouch]

6 wins is too many. That would put them at 32. They need to be in the 28-29 range to bet up to that #8 spot. Come on team, this is possible. Just avoid 1 or 2 key wins down the stretch that don't mean anything anyhow other than to put you in a worse position of purgatory.

#EmbraceTheTank

I can see it now: with a better pick on the line the Blazers start Simons/Trent/Little/Hoard/Gabriel - and we get a repeat of game 82 last season!

 

[kjironman1]

@kjironman1 i like your retort there about the assistant coaches but is it really necessary to add the low key personal attack at the end?

What ya gonna say now?

Thats what he does best, but then he'll complain about others ruining the forum.

But you'll be super-defensive of that, because instead of being humble enough to consider that you might not correctly interpretted everything thats ever said, you double down with some bullshit, per usual.

@HailBlazers if ya wanna play Mod or the forum Gestapo it's time you stepped up? Was it really necessary to add the "Not so Low key" personal attack at the end?

 

[CupWizier]

You'd have to point out exactly what he said for me to determine but it's besides the point. If we would all take on the responsibility of being the bigger person around here instead of "giving it back" it would help make the forum more enjoyable for everyone.

Good luck with that philosophy. I actually tried a year or so to talk to bonesjones in a pm suggesting we both should take responsibility in helping make this a better forum. He responded by telling me he doesn't need to take any responsibility because he does no wrong. That was all I needed to know about that kid.

 

[HailBlazers]

What ya gonna say now?

@HailBlazers if ya wanna play Mod or the forum Gestapo it's time you stepped up? Was it really necessary to add the "Not so Low key" personal attack at the end?

No it wasn't. @BonesJones needs to take the same advice for the sake of us all. I'm not playing sides. Tired of the drama.

 

[Hobbesarable]

The Usual Suspects. May they never change.

Hahahaha.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

So does no one think we should be performing better against the lowly Atlanta Hawks roster with our current team? I certainly do. Are we still making injury excuses for Stotts when we're losing to the worst rosters in the league regularly?

 

[Labinot41]

So does no one think we should be performing better against the lowly Atlanta Hawks roster with our current team? I certainly do. Are we still making injury excuses for Stotts when we're losing to the worst rosters in the league regularly?

Stotts job is safe. I hate it but that's the reality

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Stotts job is safe. I hate it but that's the reality

That wasn't the question. We both agree that Stotts is safe. The question is, are we acknowledging that despite the injuries, he has a good enough roster to beat the worst teams in the league like the Hawks?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

That wasn't the question. We both agree that Stotts is safe. The question is, are we acknowledging that despite the injuries, he has a good enough roster to beat the worst teams in the league like the Hawks?

Without Dame, Im not really sure there roster is better than Atlanta’s. Young is probably the best player of all of them. CJ, Whiteside, (John)Collins are all some where in the 2-4 spots and after that its either old guys who are basically done or young guys that have a long way to go.

If last nights available roster played 82 games they’d have a worse record then the Hawks do... Im not “making an excuse” for their effort or weird game plan, but what the Blazers put out last night is not a winning basketball team and Im not sure it matters if Red Auerbach raised from the grave to coach them. The Blazers have some potential on the roster guys who need minutes, and maybe next year or a year later those guys will be fine, but not today.

 

[HailBlazers]

That wasn't the question. We both agree that Stotts is safe. The question is, are we acknowledging that despite the injuries, he has a good enough roster to beat the worst teams in the league like the Hawks?

The good thing about this seasons is it's exposing Stotts, the bad thing is that it gives him a big excuse.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

The good thing about this seasons is it's exposing Stotts, the bad thing is that it gives him a big excuse.

I kind of think this season has exposed Neil and CJ more than Stotts. Neil’s trade deadline interview was so much spin he was circling his own story... If CJ was as “good” as the organizations believes (look at the contract extension), they should have a much better record then they do, because while there have been injuries in theory CJ and Dame are their “stars”, Dame is the only one who has looked like a Star all year. Neil’s still being bit in the backside by the 2016 mess, the cap is in a terrible spot. They basically said Simons is ready (because they provided almost no other point guard options). They’re in a real mess right now.

 

[kjironman1]

So does no one think we should be performing better against the lowly Atlanta Hawks roster with our current team? I certainly do. Are we still making injury excuses for Stotts when we're losing to the worst rosters in the league regularly?

Kind of seems like they threw in the towel last night. It’s over. They know it.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Kind of seems like they threw in the towel last night. It’s over. They know it.

Dame not making the trip?
Care to read between the lines there?

 

[kjironman1]

Dame not making the trip?
Care to read between the lines there?

Yeah he’s done this year. They needed to win a few without him and it would have helped if they would have won a few that got away.

 

[BonesJones]

Good luck with that philosophy. I actually tried a year or so to talk to bonesjones in a pm suggesting we both should take responsibility in helping make this a better forum. He responded by telling me he doesn't need to take any responsibility because he does no wrong. That was all I needed to know about that kid.

You mean when you were constantly trying to instigate drama (like you are right now) then you messaged me telling me to relax and take more responsibility?

And why are you bringing up PMs from a year and a half ago?

Just stop.

 

[BonesJones]

No it wasn't. @BonesJones needs to take the same advice for the sake of us all. I'm not playing sides. Tired of the drama.

All I said is he didnt understand the point Eric was trying to make, then I explained it. Thats literally it.

 

[Tince]

That wasn't the question. We both agree that Stotts is safe. The question is, are we acknowledging that despite the injuries, he has a good enough roster to beat the worst teams in the league like the Hawks?

Could the Blazers have beat the Hawks? Yes. Any team can beat another team in the NBA, we've seen 60+ win teams lose to 20 win teams even when healthy.

Vegas had the Hawks as the favorites to win, so apparently they didn't think Portland was the far superior team.