Game Thread GAME# 63: BLAZERS @ NETS - APRIL 30, 2021 - FRIDAY, 5:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

[kjironman1]

I sure didn't see it; at least not with anything close to the focus and intensity that happens in the playoffs

and it hasn't been Dame passing to other Blazers out of traps that has been the problem. It's been that the other Blazers can't run the offense and can't get scores consistently enough against good playoff defense.

the last two times the Blazers have faced that kind of defense in the playoffs was against the Warrior and Lakers over the last two seasons. And Portland was 1-8 against those teams and the one win was what woke the Lakers up. And that's clearly the goal of that kind of defense: get the ball out of Lillard's hands because nobody else on the Blazers is feared by opponents

Maybe go back and watch the games again?
Dame sees the trap coming as well as Nurk and there ya go. Happened over and over again the entire first half against the Nets. The Yogi's used it off and on all of the first and second game and they tried it most of the first quarter in the third game. Simons/CJ/Melo torched them. They went to switching and Lillard started getting open looks. They went back to trap off and on but by then the game was out of reach. Lillard didn't play the fourth quarter.

 

[handiman]

and it hasn't been Dame passing to other Blazers out of traps that has been the problem. It's been that the other Blazers can't run the offense and can't get scores consistently enough against good playoff defense.

To my eyes, it's 50/50 Dame and teammates. Dame's tendency is to back away from traps and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to rotate to where he's trying to pass it. When he makes quick decisions and teammates make the shots, he's tough to trap. Defenses are right in gambling on one or both not being the case more often than not, though.

 

[kjironman1]

To my eyes, it's 50/50 Dame and teammates. Dame's tendency is to back away from traps and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to rotate to where he's trying to pass it. When he makes quick decisions and teammates make the shots, he's tough to trap. Defenses are right in gambling on one or both not being the case more often than not, though.

Helps having that 7 footer on the other side of the coming trap to float a pass to. Nurk is getting better at seeing them come as well.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Good win. Beating up decimated teams is what they should be doing. Nice to finally see.

Grizzlies weren’t decimated though. Fully healthy and we scorched them.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Just ignore his posts if you don't like what he has to say. He is free to attack Stotts, who is not a poster here. He is upset about the Blazers and voicing that. I have said negative things about this team and Stotts on occasion when I have been upset. Should I step down too?

It is fine to hate Stotts’ coaching but not okay to hate Stotts. He’s a real person. The site doesn’t allow me to put Stren on ignore. Just have him stop the act.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Disagree. I love to hear everyone's opinion.

But he’s not really offering an opinion. He’s just trying to piss people off and succeeding.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

if that was actually true Portland's offense would be better with Nurkic on the floor....but it's not. It's 2.4 points/100 worse

Your stat is for Nurk on the floor. The argument was that we are better when Nurk is on the floor WITH THE BALL. What's the stat for when the offense runs through him?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

that's not true, at least it isn't statistically. Over the all-star break Portland's defensive rating was 116.4. After the 2nd loss to Memphis, the rating was 116.5. It's now down to 116.3

they did post a rating of 110.7 in that 2nd Memphis game, but in the first game the rating was 125.6. Before that ratings were 116.0; and 121.4

in this 3 game win streak, the ratings have been 109.7; 107.2; and 110.1. So those are big improvements and have pushed their rating down from 116.5 to 116.3. But, IMO, that's also too small a sample size to have any confidence in the results, especially considering the circumstances of the opposition. The change in focus might stick, but it also might fade back to norms for the year

Blazers are 21st defensively (tied with Lakers) in last 15 games but Nurk missed some of them.

Blazers are 1st defensively over last 3 games.

How we play going forward with Nurk rounding into shape is all that matters. Who cares what our defensive rating was before?

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/def...20-21&SeasonType=Regular Season&LastNGames=15

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I sure didn't see it; at least not with anything close to the focus and intensity that happens in the playoffs

and it hasn't been Dame passing to other Blazers out of traps that has been the problem. It's been that the other Blazers can't run the offense and can't get scores consistently enough against good playoff defense.

the last two times the Blazers have faced that kind of defense in the playoffs was against the Warrior and Lakers over the last two seasons. And Portland was 1-8 against those teams and the one win was what woke the Lakers up. And that's clearly the goal of that kind of defense: get the ball out of Lillard's hands because nobody else on the Blazers is feared by opponents

Lillard got hurt in one of those losses, Lillard didn't even play in one of those losses and Lillard was playing with separated ribs in 4 of them.

 

[wizenheimer]

Your stat is for Nurk on the floor. The argument was that we are better when Nurk is on the floor WITH THE BALL. What's the stat for when the offense runs through him?

well...go find it.

I don't believe it's true by the way, but it's on you to prove it

 

[Mr. Robot]

tatum is about to cook powell lol

 

[wizenheimer]

Lillard got hurt in one of those losses, Lillard didn't even play in one of those losses and Lillard was playing with separated ribs in 4 of them.

c'mon man...I'm not going to crawl around in the tall grass of distraction with you

Blazer fans have been talking about this for years.

bottom line is that in the playoffs, when a good defensive team fully commits to the 'stop-Dame-at-all-costs' defense, it has worked every time

2014 - neither Houston or San Antonio tried it
2015 - Memphis did it and won the series 4-1
2016 - Warriors did it and won the series 4-1
2017 - Warriors did it and won the series 4-0
2018 - Pelicans did it and won the series 4-0
2019 - Warriors did it and won the series 4-0
2020 - Lakers did it and won the series 4-1

if you're keeping track, that's Portland going 4-24 against that type of defense. Clippers didn't do it in 2016 and lost after CP3 & Griffin were hurt. OKC didn't in 2019 and Dame torched them. And while Denver flexed their defense toward Dame quite a bit in 2019, they never consistently trapped and doubled Dame; maybe that's because, unlike other teams, Denver didn't have a lot of length and a mobile big to throw at Dame. Anyway, they got beat in 7.

but this defense has been the Achilles heel for Portland; the major flaw in the offense

and it's to the point that several teams are using the same defense in the regular season and the Blazers struggle in every game it is employed. I see no evidence that Portland has any clue how to solve it. And no, Dame simply passing quicker or others bringing the ball up isn't the solution IMO.

Maybe it's the gap in Dame's armor, as well as the team's, but that's all the more reason why the solution is to get Dame a partner on court that can carry the burden of running the offense while consistently punishing a defense in a 4-on-3 situation. They haven't had that player, and still don't IMO

 

[handiman]

And no, Dame simply passing quicker or others bringing the ball up isn't the solution IMO.

You have to attack the trap, so yes, Dame passing the ball quicker is a huge part of the solution. The problem is, his when-trapped passes tend to be bailouts, rather than quickly identifying the man who will be left open. Until he improves dramatically at that, defenses will keep doing it.

 

[Strenuus]

It is fine to hate Stotts’ coaching but not okay to hate Stotts. He’s a real person. The site doesn’t allow me to put Stren on ignore. Just have him stop the act.

I'm stopping.

I never said I hate stotts the person. Just him as the coach. If it was ever thought to be the person then it was recieved wrong. I do hate him as a coach though. That won't change.

 

[wizenheimer]

You have to attack the trap, so yes, Dame passing the ball quicker is a huge part of the solution. The problem is, his when-trapped passes tend to be bailouts, rather than quickly identifying the man who will be left open. Until he improves dramatically at that, defenses will keep doing it.

what I'm saying is Portland is not going to win a series running Dame off screens as a spot-up shooter. As soon as he gets the ball, the defense will rotate to him. That's happened over and over. It isn't just getting the ball out of Dame's hands; it's been that when that happens, Portland's offense has stalled over and over. He needs to run the offense or, Portland needs somebody as good as Dame in running the offense and getting his own. They don't have that

 

[kjironman1]

I'm stopping.

I never said I hate stotts the person. Just him as the coach. If it was ever thought to be the person then it was recieved wrong. I do hate him as a coach though. That won't change.

I'm glad you posted that. I obviously don't know him at all but i did get a chance to meet him twice. Just a very nice man and a fine human being all around.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I bet Stotts is a cat person.

 

[Strenuus]

I'm glad you posted that. I obviously don't know him at all but i did get a chance to meet him twice. Just a very nice man and a fine human being all around.

I think he is an incredibly nice guy. I'll never take that away from him. Just as a coach I have a different opinion lol.

 

[Strenuus]

I'm glad you posted that. I obviously don't know him at all but i did get a chance to meet him twice. Just a very nice man and a fine human being all around.

And honestly, being a nice guy is a hell of a lot better than being any sort of accomplished coach. It's literally nothing personal.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Another damned good win!!!

man we are putting it together now!!!