Game Thread GAME# 63: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - MARCH 3, 2018 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[LayneStaley]

Might be time.

Well Ed/Zach are already closing out games, might as well start them.

Honestly would Nurk/Chief really be bad in the second unit where Nurk could be the focal point and dominate other bench bigs? Why not?

 

[LayneStaley]

Just keep fucking her until she calms down.

I told her she didn’t deserve that until she straightened up and treated me better

 

[StumptownHoliday]

Well Ed/Zach are already closing out games, might as well start them.

Honestly would Nurk/Chief really be bad in the second unit where Nurk could be the focal point and dominate other bench bigs? Why not?

Small sample size with ed and collins, and there is a difference between starting a game and closing it. Ed would not set the right tone at the beginning of a game (cuz he can't really score) and Collins is a rook.

 

[LayneStaley]

Small sample size with ed and collins, and there is a difference between starting a game and closing it. Ed would not set the right tone at the beginning of a game (cuz he can't really score) and Collins is a rook.

I see where you’re coming from but I believe Ed is 14/14 guy if he started, he’s a garbage man and outworks everyone on the floor. I’m kind of tired of first quarter entry passes to Nurk for some wild shot or watching Chief trip over his own feet. Collins has 60 games in the NBA, if he’s gonna be as good as most expect I think he can outplay Chief now. I never feel comfortable when Chief has the ball, never.

 

[StumptownHoliday]

I see where you’re coming from but I believe Ed is 14/14 guy if he started, he’s a garbage man and outworks everyone on the floor. I’m kind of tired of first quarter entry passes to Nurk for some wild shot or watching Chief trip over his own feet. Collins has 60 games in the NBA, if he’s gonna be as good as most expect I think he can outplay Chief now. I never feel comfortable when Chief has the ball, never.

I see where you're coming from too. My hearts hurts a little when I see Nurk throwing up these atrocious shots, or when chief loses his balance for literally no reason (expect perhaps for an undiagnosed inner ear problem). Between the two players you mentioned, I'd be much more into Collins starting over chief than Davis starting over nurkic. Davis is a banger, but he's just not as dynamic or talented as nurk. Chief would actually be great off the bench, but because he can't shoot you really don't want a guy like that being the backbone of a bench without dame and cj on the floor.

 

[hoopsjock]

I don’t see biggie being part of the future of the blazers, I see him being used as part of a deal to bring a sf here, like biggie/pick/expiring for something.

I do think Zach is LA with defense, 2 seasons of getting stronger and polishing up his post game and he’s gonna be filthy. The comparisons some have made between him and Meyers are insane, ML moves like a robot compared to Zach who moves like a gazelle.

Why can't Zach start with Biggie being the backup eventually?

 

[hoopsjock]

I hope we can use assets/picks to grab Knox, I think out of the SF coming out I would want he’s the most realistic for us to get, 10-15 range. I think he would look real nice in a Nurk(Davis)/Zach/Knox/CJ/Dame
Lineup. I put Davis in their cause I almost like him better than Nurk as the starter, he’s a better compliment to Zach imo.

The only bad part about how well we are playing is that our pick is currently 26th. It would be tough to move up high enough to get into the late lottery. I'm still holding out hope for Mikal Bridges though. He'd be such an amazing fit at SF on this team.

 

[LayneStaley]

The only bad part about how well we are playing is that our pick is currently 26th. It would be tough to move up high enough to get into the late lottery. I'm still holding out hope for Mikal Bridges though. He'd be such an amazing fit at SF on this team.

The latest mock I saw had Knox and Mikal going back to back so both would require roughly the same compensation to move up for but I like Knox better personally. However if we continue winning at this clip(a big if) Musa will be a more realistic target, at least he and Nurk will have something to talk about.

 

[LayneStaley]

Why can't Zach start with Biggie being the backup eventually?

He definitely could but I’d rather use a potential backup PF as a piece in a deal to acquire a starting SF.

 

[LayneStaley]

This dude might actually look pretty good here unless he’s Claver 2.0

 

[Scalma]

The only bad part about how well we are playing is that our pick is currently 26th. It would be tough to move up high enough to get into the late lottery. I'm still holding out hope for Mikal Bridges though. He'd be such an amazing fit at SF on this team.

The lower the pick the higher the chance we trade it imo. Not necessarily for an established player, because I’m not sure what kind of value a late first has, but I could see us trading it for a couple of seconds and give Olshey two opportunities to work his draft game.

 

[BBert]

Ed Davis reminds me a lot like what Wes brought to Portland. A spark and just a pure dog, toughness. Much like Wes big part of our success as well

True. Goes for Shabazz too.

 

[Darkwebs]

LP cut to commercial. Anyone get a clip of the interview?

 

[HailBlazers]

ZEFENSE

 

[Haakzilla]

Z-Co!!!

 

[Mediocre Man]

That was a great win.

Now, someone give me a mediocre lecture about Zach Collins and his lack of development.

And the game before this?

He played great last night. If he can bring that consistently, it will help a ton

 

[Mediocre Man]

That's cold. Cold cold cold.

Hahahaha

 

[Mediocre Man]

okc fans on reddit complaining about the refs lmao

As a bunch here would have if we'd lost.

 

[stampedehero]

All Right. This win is special to me as I DON'T like the Thunder. The score was really close to my prediction too! CJ is AOK! The Stamp is a major CJ fan! (Generic photo used for dramatic effect)

 

[handiman]

Davis and Collins are 200% effort. They’re hard hat Bros.

Edony and Ivory.

 

[stampedehero]

So Minny lost last night and now the Blazers come up against another division rival. This game would be a really nice win.

The Blazers are "workin" hard and it's "payin" off!

 

[stampedehero]

Hopefully we hit some shots in the First 3 quarters. The last two Games was terrible Shooting. Im sick of these off Shooting nights

Ya! If the Wolves could hit their 3's and it was more than a Towns/Wiggins show we would have lost the game due to our inept three point and in paint shooting for three quarters.

 

[kjironman1]

Ya! If the Wolves could hit their 3's and it was more than a Towns/Wiggins show we would have lost the game due to our inept three point and in paint shooting for three quarters.

The Blazers have added the ability to play defense this year. When they go all in on defense they do suffer on the offensive end. They still can play against certain opponents through their offense. But against teams like the TWolves and the Thunder they need to step up on defense. In both of those games they had to win it on both side of the court. The intensity of Zach Collins at the end of the game seemed to rub off on the entire team. Nice to see.

 

[stampedehero]

The Blazers have added the ability to play defense this year. When they go all in on defense they do suffer on the offensive end. They still can play against certain opponents through their offense. But against teams like the TWolves and the Thunder they need to step up on defense. In both of those games they had to win it on both side of the court. The intensity of Zach Collins at the end of the game seemed to rub off on the entire team. Nice to see.

Good observation! The Wolves game fourth quarter Blazers efforts proves that point. It's nice to see Defense if the refs want to see it too.

 

[Eastoff]

Well Ed/Zach are already closing out games, might as well start them.

Honestly would Nurk/Chief really be bad in the second unit where Nurk could be the focal point and dominate other bench bigs? Why not?

It depends on if Nurkic can mentally handle that

 

[kjironman1]

It depends on if Nurkic can mentally handle that

Personally speaking (And yes i could be way way off) but i don't really think it matters to Stotts who starts the game. He will adjust as he sees fit and the players seem to be fine with that. Nurk was all over Twitter last night giving props to Zach as he has been in the past saying what a beast Ed was.
I think Stotts has this team playing well and as a unit. I think he has got them understanding that each game will be different. He is going to use the rotation that is winning games.

 

[kjironman1]

I also think as much as Davis and Collins impacted that game. Pat Con had a huge impact on it as well. 3-6 shooting for 6 points, 4 rebs, 2 asst, 1 bk, 2 stls. He was all over the court making plays.

 

[kjironman1]

So they signed Brewer and he immediately gets 11 mins off the bench.

 

[SIeepwalker]

So they signed Brewer and he immediately gets 11 mins off the bench.

Let's send them a thank you note

 

[SportsAndWhine]

There were bad calls both ways. They do have a right to bitch about that out of bounds call, though.

Just as we have as much of a right to bitch about that goaltending call.

Yeah the out of bounds was a total makeup call for that awful goaltending call.