Game Thread GAME# 64: BLAZERS @ SUNS - MARCH 6, 2020 - FRIDAY, 6:00 PM, NBCSNW

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What do you feel is the biggest blunder by Olshey in the past 12 months?

  • Not re-signing Aminu

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Signing an injured Pau Gasol

    Votes: 10 19.6%

  • Failing to sign a back-up point guard

    Votes: 5 9.8%

  • Trading Meyers+Mo for Whiteside

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • Signing CJ to a 3-year extension

    Votes: 10 19.6%

  • Signing Anthony Tolliver

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • Signing Mario Hezonja

    Votes: 4 7.8%

  • Failing to re-sign Kanter or Curry

    Votes: 4 7.8%

  • Not trading away Whiteside at the trade deadline

    Votes: 13 25.5%

  • Other (Please specify in the comment)

    Votes: 3 5.9%
  • Total voters
    51
  • Poll closed .
TBpup said:
So for those taking issue with Baynes getting so many open looks agains Whiteside's defense, I'll take Ariza's word on it for what they wanted (and have wanted for all of Stotts' tenure) their center to do. If Whiteside isn't patrolling the middle (defensive warts and all) it would be an absolute parade line to the basket outside of whomever Ariza or Trent (if he is in the game) is guarding.
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It still was.
 
TBpup said:
So for those taking issue with Baynes getting so many open looks agains Whiteside's defense, I'll take Ariza's word on it for what they wanted (and have wanted for all of Stotts' tenure) their center to do. If Whiteside isn't patrolling the middle (defensive warts and all) it would be an absolute parade line to the basket outside of whomever Ariza or Trent (if he is in the game) is guarding.
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I was kind of thinking it was the reason Whiteside was having issues. The thing is here that Melo was not rotating and covering anyone on the perimeter. Ariza could not cover two players.
This kind of clears it up for me.
 
JoshuaHall said:
Now this has been a hell of a season and truuuuust me, no one wants Stotts fired more than me BUT...

If I told you we would be missing Nurk, Collins, Hood for most of the year, Dame for almost a month, would you feel the same way?

Now what if I told you are rotation, in late February, would include Caleb Swanigan, Wenyen Gabriel?

I’ll say this though...

OKC must have a hell of a training staff because CP3 hasn’t played more than 61 games in the last 3 years (already at 61) and only 3 in the last 9 years total.

CP3 says it’s the vegan diet, but idk
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no doubt. The injuries have been brutal. Like I said, last fall, I wouldn't have ever imagined OKC being this far ahead of Portland at this point. I guess my imagination was lacking. I don't like to imagine injuries for anybody though, except for an occasional in-law

I do remember thinking that Olshey was placing way too heavy bets on both Zach and Simons. Not only that they needed to perform really well, but that there was nothing behind them. I did imagine that if either Whiteside or Zach missed a lot of games, the Blazers would have major issues. And I couldn't believe Portland signed Tolliver, Hezonja, and the injured Gasol
 
kjironman1 said:
So this is what Ariza was saying to Whiteside.
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thanks for those links Kj

it looked like the entire Blazer defense, including Whiteside, was trapped between their schemes and what Phoenix was doing. Heads on swivels always about 2 beats behind where the ball was

I knew during the game that blaming Whiteside for Baynes going on a three-point tear was scapegoating the wrong player and letting the coaching off the hook. Is there any doubt that if the PF had been Aminu rather than Melo, Baynes wouldn't have had all those open looks?
 
wizenheimer said:
that makes no sense to me....maybe I'm missing your point

meanwhile, my point was that coaching assumptions that form a gameplan, before the game starts, will almost always need to be adjusted during the game. It was obvious about 6 minutes into the 1st Q that leaving Baynes open behind the arc was a bad idea, but he was still getting open looks in the 2nd half. Somebody listed a few minor adjustments he saw but they were ineffective. Portland lost by 10; if they would have held Baynes to 5 three's instead of 9, they could have won, and holding him to 5 sure doesn't seem like an unreasonable expectation

I have to say Tince it sure seems you're become very Pavlovian in regards to Stotts. When there's any hint of criticism toward Stotts, I expect to see you there pushing back, even when the criticism is valid. I'd agree that Stotts is holding some bad cards because of injuries and some dumbass decisions that Olshey made last summer (and before), but he still makes bets with the cards he's dealt and some are bad bats. Leaving Baynes open all night was one of them
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All fair points.

All my point was is that if anything had been happening consistently for 8 years, I would think there would be frequent examples of a performance like this. Baynes was killing us out at 3 and on the glass, I would have loved if Stotts put someone on him who can move his feet well outside the paint and still block out down low and handle Baynes in the post. I'm just not sure who that guy is on our roster. Though skinny, I think giving Collins a chance would have been worth a shot, if he were available.

I do think Stotts is a good coach, I don't think he's a great one. I understand when I challenge people on their theories it typically comes across as me saying Stotts is perfect, but in reality, I've done the same thing when we had previous coaches and will probably do it when we have another coach. My theories get challeneged frequently and because of that, I find out they are not always correct, and my knowledge base grows. You are one of those people who I feel gives me a better perspective, so thanks!
 
wizenheimer said:
thanks for those links Kj

it looked like the entire Blazer defense, including Whiteside, was trapped between their schemes and what Phoenix was doing. Heads on swivels always about 2 beats behind where the ball was

I knew during the game that blaming Whiteside for Baynes going on a three-point tear was scapegoating the wrong player and letting the coaching off the hook. Is there any doubt that if the PF had been Aminu rather than Melo, Baynes wouldn't have had all those open looks?
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Absolutely Aminu would have made a huge difference. But in my opinion Little or Gabriel would have also. That was a bad matchup for Melo.
 
kjironman1 said:
Absolutely Aminu would have made a huge difference. But in my opinion Little or Gabriel would have also. That was a bad matchup for Melo.
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good point...and Stotts should have a much quicker hook for Melo when his shot is off, because he gives Portland almost nothing in that case; net negative
 
kjironman1 said:
You guys are probably better than i am at second guessing the coach. But it just seemed like a bad game and a bad match for the type of player he is.
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Its not about Stotts. I think Melo was never good on defense and at this point really is only even sort of ok being on the court when he’s hot on offense. He’s a pretty terrible defender.
 
TorturedBlazerFan said:
Its not about Stotts. I think Melo was never good on defense and at this point really is only even sort of ok being on the court when he’s hot on offense. He’s a pretty terrible defender.
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No it's not just about Stotts. He has a limited arsenal at his disposal to deal with these issues but he did have some options and he could have chosen to try them. Again i am probably not the best at second guessing. Just the way i see it.
 
kjironman1 said:
No it's not just about Stotts. He has a limited arsenal at his disposal to deal with these issues but he did have some options and he could have chosen to try them. Again i am probably not the best at second guessing. Just the way i see it.
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So this year has really annoyed me with NO or the management direction. I think signing Melo to be a starting PF was a mistake. Sign him if you’re filling out your bench, but sign someone else if your defense is bad and you need a starter to help the defense.
 
Labinot41 said:
Typical S2 Whiteside and Stotts bashing, but yet nobody mention how awful Dame was in the game, no fire, no motivation, not even trying. As a leader who talks so much about making the Playoffs i dont see it on the court.
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Dame had a rough game for sure, but imagine being a Blazer fan and having this take. Go back and watch the games in January.

Dame has carried this franchise for years.
 
hoopsjock said:
I'm sorry but when you win 5 titles and 3 titles respectively you get a pass. To put Stotts in their category to prove a point actually disproves your point even further.
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So you don't think Kerr or Pop are cashing it in this season? I never said Stotts was as good as them, nor do I think it.
 
hoopsjock said:
Dame had a rough game for sure, but imagine being a Blazer fan and having this take. Go back and watch the games in January.

Dame has carried this franchise for years.
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So glad I put him on ignore.
 
The row was filled when I got here, but after my coughing fit, I’ve got the whole row to myself!

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Go Blazers!

(cough cough)
 

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