Game Thread GAME# 64: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - MARCH 5, 2018 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM, NBCSNW

[HailBlazers]

well @PtldPlatypus Kanter had the worst +/- in the game.

Shoulda ran with Collins for defensive purposes. Too bad Stotts has none.

 

[BonesJones]

I preach defensive versatility and the ability to switch to a different scheme if needed. This is why. We should've been trapping Conley.

 

[BonesJones]

Conley or allen, it doesn't matter, Lillard is very good but he's not elite, he's a 40% fg shooter in the Playoffs, and he get's lost under pressure By good defenders all the time, we saw it many Times in the past. The way he has been playing and shooting since two months or so worries me, when was the Last time he had a high scoring Game?

You think like a hater. I could explain it all to you but it wouldn't make a difference.

 

[BonesJones]

Your not allowed to criticize Lillard here period. Lol

Speaking of him, the word is out on him now with his playoff numbers and 1st round exits. Last year series brought the attention on him.

I’m going to feel so bad for him if he no shows again this 1st round. 10 losses in a row. Shut down in the SA series, Memphis series, both warriors series, then the big one, the New Orleans series.. good luck to him this playoffs

@SlyPokerDog why isnt this version of Tunchi banned yet???

 

[BonesJones]

When asked about his putried defense, "they hit a lot of shots."

Lmao. They hit a lot of shots, like Conley hitting a lot of floaters because we wanted him to shoot his most effective shot because we dont vary our defense to take away the opponents strengths.

 

[TBpup]

well @PtldPlatypus Kanter had the worst +/- in the game.

Kanter is so poor defensively, he has to be ridiculously efficient on defense just to stay neutral. But when he is scoring, efficiently or not, he clogs the lane and takes away movement and cutting lanes for players like Layman.

The infatuation with his offense is much like it is with CJ. They don't do much on the other side of the ball (of course Kanter rebounds but half the time that is because he doesn't even challenge the shot to go be in rebounding position) so when they aren't dominating offensively, their style of ball negatively affects the rest of the team.

 

[joeBlazers]

devastating loss

 

[royo]

Its a disapointing game to lose, but as long as it doesnt become a season defining loss, like send them spiraling for a week or two, its just an L. All teams, no matter how good or bad they are have a few losses at the end of the year that they look at and feel like they should win. This loss would be much harder to stomach if it wasnt the 7th game of a crazy long road trip.
They still come home 5-2 which is pretty good.

This game + Dallas game + Miami game = 3 games Blazers should win and we could have a run for 2nd now.

And it was tired legs now and "too fresh legs" against Miami.

But yeah, it just one game on the road trip. This game was screaming for playing reserves and let Dame and Nurk go for a drink. Zero mins for Collins and Leonard? Stotts chasing this win win Dame was really stupid IMO.
I mean, great road trip, let bench players close it. Last game on the trip, against bad team. I'm pretty sure young guns would be happy to play against Mem and if they lose, so what. Instead Stotts is chasing COTY. Well done.

 

[James lamphear]

Every team has a game like at end road trip. Bucks loose to the Sun's on there last game of there road trip it happens all the time. We will make the playoffs but our match up will be hard it either be OKC Houston Utah will be our 1st round match up. We can beat all 3 teams in series but we could loose to them too. That's how close all 4 teams are right now.

 

[Haakzilla]

well @PtldPlatypus Kanter had the worst +/- in the game.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Shouldn't lose games like this. I know it happens, but it's still a bad loss

 

[jlprk]

All these posts defending Lillard for being a bad shooter because he's double-guarded...He doesn't have a man within 10 feet when he misses most of those long shots. He's just not a dependable shooter. His whole act is to try to draw the foul, since he knows he'll miss. Unless the defender suckers for his act, Lillard looks like a fool missing badly.

 

[stampedehero]

''We had a 16-point lead, and they just kept playing and defending,'' Portland coach Terry Stotts said of the Grizzlies. ''Mike Conley was outstanding. He had his shot going and was directing the offense. And he got into us defensively.''

While Conley was scoring, the Trail Blazers were struggling. While Portland was 9 of 18 from the field in the fourth, it missed all six of its shots from beyond the arc. Coupled with six turnovers in the final 12 minutes, Memphis was able to overtake Portland.-Source: MSN Sports.

 

[BonesJones]

All these posts defending Lillard for being a bad shooter because he's double-guarded...He doesn't have a man within 10 feet when he misses most of those long shots. He's just not a dependable shooter. His whole act is to try to draw the foul, since he knows he'll miss. Unless the defender suckers for his act, Lillard looks like a fool missing badly.

How ridiculous can you get? You constantly top youtself.

 

[BonesJones]

I love how theres all this moronic talk about Dame being a bad shooter when hes shooting almost 37% on a shot selection and volume that makes that even more impressive with range that really stretched the floor and with the ability to draw fouls from 3.

I also love how haters will literally try to ignore, discredit, and slander basic common sense that's provided as context.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Well that sucked....

 

[kjironman1]

I was just responding to a much earlier post exchange we had. I just cant seem to beat a platypus, he always wins.

I've been reading the responses. I should have used green font.

 

[kjironman1]

I preach defensive versatility and the ability to switch to a different scheme if needed. This is why. We should've been trapping Conley.

Not disagreeing with you at all. I think i saw a few times they tried to put pressure on him but they didn't have the energy to do it and they got burned. Then i watched Mo get called for weird touch fouls and that kind of seemed to put a damper on things defensively. Even more where i agree with you is that i feel that Stotts probably should changed the look earlier and maybe gone deeper into the bench with Collins or maybe even Meyers. If you are gonna get fouls called on you they might as well be hard Meyers Leonard albatross fouls.

 

[kjironman1]

devastating loss

Not really.

 

[kjironman1]

Every team has a game like at end road trip. Bucks loose to the Sun's on there last game of there road trip it happens all the time. We will make the playoffs but our match up will be hard it either be OKC Houston Utah will be our 1st round match up. We can beat all 3 teams in series but we could loose to them too. That's how close all 4 teams are right now.

18 games left and you know where they will end? Relax.It's a long season and there is still over a month left.

 

[bobf]

Kanter is so poor defensively, he has to be ridiculously efficient on defense just to stay neutral. But when he is scoring, efficiently or not, he clogs the lane and takes away movement and cutting lanes for players like Layman.

The infatuation with his offense is much like it is with CJ. They don't do much on the other side of the ball (of course Kanter rebounds but half the time that is because he doesn't even challenge the shot to go be in rebounding position) so when they aren't dominating offensively, their style of ball negatively affects the rest of the team.

Exactly what I’ve been thinking about Kanter but was too lazy to put it all into words.

 

[kjironman1]

Kanter is so poor defensively, he has to be ridiculously efficient on defense just to stay neutral. But when he is scoring, efficiently or not, he clogs the lane and takes away movement and cutting lanes for players like Layman.

The infatuation with his offense is much like it is with CJ. They don't do much on the other side of the ball (of course Kanter rebounds but half the time that is because he doesn't even challenge the shot to go be in rebounding position) so when they aren't dominating offensively, their style of ball negatively affects the rest of the team.

I thought i would address this part of the comment because i actually don't think Kanter is as bad as some are making him out to be on defense. But he does stink it up at times.
The other side to the rebounding part is that players make shots at 40-50% rate. Less when it is a three. Rebounding on defense is in fact playing defense. So having a guy ready to corral a rebound on a miss instead of letting the team have another chance at 40-50% of making a shot does help the team. Kanter does present a body they need to go around or through or over. So maybe it isn't quite as bad as suggested? It is very demoralizing to give up offensive rebounds. Kanter reduces that issue at an astounding rate.

 

[brooklynballer]

No one ever praises him after wins. Hardly ever. It’s all about what he doesn’t do in losses and crickets when he wins.

Because they win IN SPITE of him, not because of him. Please, in your infinite wisdom, provide me with one example of a game where Stotts’ quick thinking, strategic adjustments, or game plan DIRECTLY resulted in a win for the team.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It is very demoralizing to give up offensive rebounds. Kanter reduces that issue at an astounding rate.

Unfortunately, one of the ways Kanter reduces offensive rebounds is by making it more likely for the opposition's first shot to go in.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This Curry/Hood/Kanter and Curry/Hood/Turner shit needs to stop - let alone playing all four of them at once. Playing all four of them with Jake is doing Jake a major disservice - he's a bit of a chameleon: playing him with shit will just get you more shit, but playing him with players who are worth a damn pays huge dividends.

I agree. I think the rotation needs to be shortened. But I'm sure Stotts must feel hemmed in by Olshey's moves. I think Collins will be more valuable than Kanter in the playoffs and Collins should be playing every day. Turner should be out of the rotation. But Turner was Olshey's big free agent signing and Kanter his big buyout acquisition; I don't think Stotts is tough enough to do what's necessary. Curry also probably needs to be out. I love how hard the kid plays but he is just not getting it done.

 

[CupWizier]

Because they win IN SPITE of him, not because of him. Please, in your infinite wisdom, provide me with one example of a game where Stotts’ quick thinking, strategic adjustments, or game plan DIRECTLY resulted in a win for the team.

and that is total bullshit. Just the game prior to last night, he made the adjustment of going at the Hornets with Hood and they kept running plays for him and instead of pulling him when he normally does he left him in the whole 4th quarter that helped lead us to the win. Quit being such a hater rook.

 

[BonesJones]

He doesn't get it. It's all sunshine and flowers with him. You're wasting your time.

So? That was last year. What would 49 wins have gotten us before that?

How did that work out for us? 49 regular season win, made the Playoffs, and still had 49 wins when the Playoffs were over.

Thank you guys for allowing me to take a backseat.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

and that is total bullshit.

Why not just give examples...? Its ok to have conversations.

My example would be the Charlotte game, he left Hood in, instead of going with his normal rotation. That was a good call.

Not that Im in love with Stotts as a coach, cause Im not. There examples of good coachhing from him though.

 

[BonesJones]

It's just the same trajectory as past few years. Late hype, buzz, 1st round exit. Rinse, repeat

Only difference this year I truly believe ONE more 1st round exit this team will be VERY different next year. It’s just time for a change now..

Tunchi, shut up.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

and that is total bullshit. Just the game prior to last night, he made the adjustment of going at the Hornets with Hood and they kept running plays for him and instead of pulling him when he normally does he left him in the whole 4th quarter that helped lead us to the win. Quit being such a hater rook.

My apologies Cup, I didn't see the full reply.