Game Thread GAME# 68: CAVALIERS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 15, 2018 - THURSDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), NBCSNW

[H.C.]

Weren't they missing their two best players? Just checking. Thought you might have mentioned that so people get the full story. Instead of some twisted fantasyland version.

In the game Portland pulled 2-2. BG played 30 minutes, and CP3 played 25 minutes.
Portland clearly had game 4 in their favor, after clearly taking care of business in game 3.
The series was going 2-2 regardless of the injuries.
Whoever won the best of 3 after that no one will ever know.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm just amazed with the turn around in our ball club. To compare the way we're playing now vs last year and the first half of this year, it's confounding, to me at least because I didn't think they had it in them. Props to every player and coach on the team, who probably all deserve equal credit. Stotts, in his 6 years here, now has coached two completely different Blazer teams to just a step below the elite 3-4 teams the NBA generates every year. That's pretty damn impressive. They're now playing his brand of basketball with ball movement, smart passing, efficient balance of three point and fastbreak scoring, contributions up and down the lineup. Blazers are finally a joy to watch again.

And defense.

 

[stampedehero]

This was a great win because of CJ and Dame staying steady and Moe and Chief making major contributions. Once again a 3 point differential was not given away. We succeed because the 4thQ is controlled by stops and timely scoring. Want Detroit to choke for our 12th!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Kevin McHale just said the only reason we are 3rd is because of the injuries to San Antonio and the trades the Clippers made or both would be in front of us. Then he said we might be 3rd but it’s a very distant 3rd. What a piece of SHIT!

He's not wrong about a distant 3rd. We are 10 games back, after an 11 game win streak. As for SA and LAC being ahead of us if not for trades and injuries, it's an opinion. SA is 3.5 behind us, and LAC 4.5. Is Leonard worth 4 wins? Probably. Are Paul and Griffin worth 5 wins? Maybe. While he seemed to be saying it for no reason, it certainly wasn't a ridiculous statement

 

[kjironman1]

I really want to keep Pat Con on this team going forward.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Blazers so hot they can win 5 on 8

 

[theprunetang]

I really want to keep Pat Con on this team going forward.

Agree. He's no superstar in training, but he is a really good role player. He straight hustles his ass off.

 

[Orion Bailey]

HEll YEAH!!!!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Kevin McHale just said the only reason we are 3rd is because of the injuries to San Antonio and the trades the Clippers made or both would be in front of us. Then he said we might be 3rd but it’s a very distant 3rd. What a piece of SHIT!

Yes, because POR is the only team that has benefitted from the Spurs' injuries and the Clippers' trades.

Does Kevin McHale live in some alternate universe where only Portland plays the post-trade Clippers and every other Western Conference team must face them with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin? In Kevin McHale's world does Kawhi Leonard only sit out games against Portland and play against everyone else?

BNM

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yes, because POR is the only team that has benefitted from the Spurs' injuries and the Clippers' trades.

Does Kevin McHale live in some alternate universe where only Portland plays the post-trade Clippers and every other Western Conference team must face them with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin? In Kevin McHale's world does Kawhi Leonard only sit out games against Portland and play against everyone else?

BNM

I think he is saying without those things happening, they would have won more games against the rest of the West and put their record ahead of us. I don't think he meant it as a comparison between the three teams.

 

[julius]

Some of what McHale said is true, but it's the condescending nature of it that is what I think most have an issue with.

 

[TBpup]

Some of what McHale said is true, but it's the condescending nature of it that is what I think most have an issue with.

Very sour grape-ish.

 

[HailBlazers]

Agree. He's no superstar in training, but he is a really good role player. He straight hustles his ass off.

Kyle Korver lite.

 

[crandc]

Kevin McHale just said the only reason we are 3rd is because of the injuries to San Antonio and the trades the Clippers made or both would be in front of us. Then he said we might be 3rd but it’s a very distant 3rd. What a piece of SHIT!

Yeah, I was going to mention that. Dude, if a team makes a trade that makes them worse then the team is worse. Period. As there is no alternate universe no one can say "what it" the Spurs and TWolves had not had injuries. Although the standings show a big gap between Houston/GSW and the rest of the West, since the break Portland has played better than Golden State and as well as Houston. In fact they have not lost, have met every challenge. They beat good teams and had no letdown against bad ones. I wish the national media could give this team some credit without all the damn stupid qualifiers.

 

[kjironman1]

Kyle Korver lite.

I think more like Ginobili.

 

[THE HCP]

In the game Portland pulled 2-2. BG played 30 minutes, and CP3 played 25 minutes.
Portland clearly had game 4 in their favor, after clearly taking care of business in game 3.
The series was going 2-2 regardless of the injuries.
Whoever won the best of 3 after that no one will ever know.

Good points. Just wanting to bring the kid back into the real world. If we are tied 2-2 this spring in a series and then lose Dame and CJ and then lose the series........ I'm quite sure most on here would blame that for the reason we went down.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Good points. Just wanting to bring the kid back into the real world. If we are tied 2-2 this spring in a series and then lose Dame and CJ and then lose the series........ I'm quite sure most on here would blame that for the reason we went down.

Most?

 

[e_blazer]

Good points. Just wanting to bring the kid back into the real world. If we are tied 2-2 this spring in a series and then lose Dame and CJ and then lose the series........ I'm quite sure most on here would blame that for the reason we went down.

True, but I'd also point out that when the Warriors lose two of their All-Star caliber players, they've still got two left who can play. Their bench also has players who have been All-Stars. Portland...not so much.

 

[Natebishop3]

Blazers so hot they can win 5 on 8

The only reason why we were able to win 5 on 8 is because the Cavs are horrrrrible at shooting free throws.

They went 12-21 from the line (57%)

 

[SportsAndWhine]

The only reason why we were able to win 5 on 8 is because the Cavs are horrrrrible at shooting free throws.

They went 12-21 from the line (57%)

To be fair they would have needed to have gone 21-21 to win the game outright.

 

[kjironman1]

True, but I'd also point out that when the Warriors lose two of their All-Star caliber players, they've still got two left who can play. Their bench also has players who have been All-Stars. Portland...not so much.

You are pretty much making his case.

 

[Natebishop3]

To be fair they would have needed to have gone 21-21 to win the game outright.

True, but if they had made even six more free throws, the game is much closer and anything can happen. I mean... hell.... we ran out the clock with 20 seconds remaining. If the game had been closer, they would have fouled.

 

[e_blazer]

You are pretty much making his case.

Not really. What I'm understanding him to say is that the Warriors losing two of their best players has the same impact on their odds of winning as the Blazers losing Dame and CJ. Obviously, that's not the case. Is anyone arguing that the Warriors aren't a deeper and better team than the Blazers?

 

[THE HCP]

Not really. What I'm understanding him to say is that the Warriors losing two of their best players has the same impact on their odds of winning as the Blazers losing Dame and CJ. Obviously, that's not the case. Is anyone arguing that the Warriors aren't a deeper and better team than the Blazers?

I swore we were talking about the Clippers son.

 

[e_blazer]

I swore we were talking about the Clippers son.

Son? If you're my dad I really need to stop banging mom.

 

[H.C.]

Good points. Just wanting to bring the kid back into the real world. If we are tied 2-2 this spring in a series and then lose Dame and CJ and then lose the series........ I'm quite sure most on here would blame that for the reason we went down.

I'd blame you.

 

[DUB]

I'm not going to read over 40 pages of this thread, so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but LeBron seemed pretty chummy with us. He was talking, and smiling with Dame, CJ, Ed, even Stotts throughout the game, and had a long chat with ET after the game.

 

[THE HCP]

I'm not going to read over 40 pages of this thread, so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but LeBron seemed pretty chummy with us. He was talking, and smiling with Dame, CJ, Ed, even Stotts throughout the game, and had a long chat with ET after the game.

40 pages? I'm on 9!

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not going to read over 40 pages of this thread, so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but LeBron seemed pretty chummy with us. He was talking, and smiling with Dame, CJ, Ed, even Stotts throughout the game, and had a long chat with ET after the game.

He's coming.

 

[-Ace-]

The only reason why we were able to win 5 on 8 is because LeBron is horrrrrible at shooting free throws.

He went 4-9 from the line (44.4%)

FTFY. I was just amazed...I didn't realize he had a flaw in his game.