Game Thread GAME# 68: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - MARCH 21, 2015 - SATURDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Kaydow]

@BenGolliver: POR starters w/ Matthews (629 mins): 107.8 ORtg, 97.1 DRtg, +10.7 Net
POR starters w/ Afflalo (181 mins): 105.6 ORtg, 114.6 DRtg, -9 Net

Not sure if this was posted yet, but Matthews loss is getting bigger game by game. We can no longer stick Lillard out in right field like it's Little League. This team will only go as far as Lillard's defense takes us. He doesn't need to be a lock down defender, just not a swinging door to the basket.

It's not so much his on ball defense. Most nights he does a decent job of keeping his man in front of him. But he gets swallowed up on picks. Same with AA. Whether it's pin downs, pick and roll, pick and pop, we're not getting off screens at all since Wes went down. I don't know how you fix that w/o revamping the whole system. Defensive breakdowns are not only leading to open shots, but a lot more offensive boards as well. No way we give up 108 and 111 points to Mia/Orl with Wes out there. Two of the lowest scoring teams in the league . . . and now we get to play the Warriors? What a difference a week makes. Last Sunday, didn't we all feel pretty good about the team even w/o Wes after we blew out Tor to start the trip? Now we're hoping we can hang on to win the division. If LA and Nic are out for a while it's not inconceivable that OKC could catch us, although it would take an epic collapse like a 3-11 or 4-10 finish. If things don't get better I can actually see a scenario where LA bolts after the season. Listen to his post game interviews after the last few games. Kind of scary how down he is. They did play hard last night vs Mem but where was that effort vs Orl, Mia, and 1st half of Wash? They don't seem as galvanized as they were last year when they all talked about sticking together and believing in each other. LA said "there's a different feeling" this year vs last year after the Orl loss. That's not good . . . and to think just a week ago the thought of a finals or WCF run seemed within our reach. What a turn around.

 

[Strenuus]

A little nervous we haven't heard anything yet about LMA or Batum... usually they have -something- out by mid morning.

 

[MAS RipCity]

At this point, I could care less about seeding. We just need to get healthy and rested.