Game Thread GAME# 67: BLAZERS @ MAGIC - MARCH 20, 2015 - FRIDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[jlprk]

He got thoroughly worked over by Payton tonight. EP looked like GP driving around Dame, or running around him to grab offensive boards/put-backs. Maybe Lillard is tired.

He's been ordinary since early in his 2nd year. Starting then, I've posted over and over that the coaches make him dedicate too much energy to defense, leaving nothing for offense. He didn't play defense in his clutch-shooting rookie year.

This fact hasn't caught on yet, but my truths always do, eventually. Just like my Meyers Leonard contact lens irritation theory.

 

[stampedehero]

We win tonight and I will blast Gimme Shelter from my speakers while I play my Jazz Bass full resonant volumn. I'll disturb the neighbors for some Blazer success.

After three losses, I had to listen (in subdued atmosphere) to Steely Dans' "Reeling in the East"

 

[WillG]

These kind of loses aren't all on the players. Stotts has run the starters ragged.
He's way too rigid with his substitutions and calls the most ill-advised time-outs.

I also feel his schemes don't extract enough from our talent.

Stotts' installed offensive scheme, whilst novel - and pretty when the ball moves, is overly orchestrated, marginilizing the players organic court instincts (See ANY Blazer fast break). It is predicated on jumpers, and whilst it does move the ball, it is VERY PREDICTABLE!



* Stotts' "Settle for J/Pass around the Horn" Offense = Flamboyant Swordsman (in appropriate Blazers colors)

* Typical NBA Defense = Indy

 

[kjironman1]

[QUOTE="kjironman1, post: 3582425, member: 2832] I am sure you are more informed than to think Miami is "Subpar". .

They're 32-36 and in the eastern conference.

'Subpar' might be too kind.[/QUOTE]
Trades my friend...Trades have happened. But you know this already. You also know they have been playing way better the last 15 games and you know they are not the same team that started the year. Simply quoting their record and saying eastern conference is an insult to my intelligence. Beating the Heat on their home court will be no easy task the rest of the year. Miami is going to make the playoffs and their experience alone should be respected.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

They're 32-36 and in the eastern conference.

'Subpar' might be too kind.

Trades my friend...Trades have happened. But you know this already. You also know they have been playing way better the last 15 games and you know they are not the same team that started the year. Simply quoting their record and saying eastern conference is an insult to my intelligence. Beating the Heat on their home court will be no easy task the rest of the year. Miami is going to make the playoffs and their experience alone should be respected.[/QUOTE]

I still stand by the record and them being in the eastern conference. It means something. I haven’t been aware of the Heat's improved play. But to me none of that should or make a difference. Portland is the BETTER team. They are a title contender… Suppossedly. Portland is in a dog fight for playoff positioning. Portland just came off a which should have invigorated them and motivated to play at a level that made them difficult to beat by ANYONE. Instead, they played at a level no better than and I stand by this a ‘subpar’ eastern conference team and they loss due to it. To me there is no excuse for that.

For the record. The Washington loss was understandable. They have a lot talent. I don't consider them subpar. I gave Orlando a lil more credit by calling them subpar and Portland had no business losing to Orlando...It may come down to one or two things. The Blazers are overrated from the top down. Or they are just a bunch of unmotivated ball players aside from LA. That use the on and off switch very liberally. That play at a high level when it's only convenient. Which to me is again inexcusable... I haven’t figured out which one it is or if either pertain to them. But it's frustrating.

 

[kjironman1]

...It may come down to one or two things. The Blazers are overrated from the top down. Or they are just a bunch of unmotivated ball players aside from LA. That use the on and off switch very liberally. That play at a high level when it's only convenient. Which to me is again inexcusable... I haven’t figured out which one it is or if either pertain to them.

This is very funny being you just went over to the prediction thread and predicted a Blazer win.
Talk about hot and cold. Even funnier is you have 4,400+ comments on this site. You have been around way too long to think this team is a bunch of unmotivated players. As far as overrated? We shall see.

 

[H.C.]

Lillard, as much as it pains me. really will and consider requesting a trade..
Everyone else has fallen off a cliff.