Game Thread GAME# 69: WARRIORS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 24, 2015 - TUESDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

[MAS RipCity]

On the bright side, CJ looked fabulous out there tonight and has ever since he was given a larger role. I really like how he and Dame play together in the backcourt.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A lot of those jumpers were LULZ worthy. He's never had a jumper to write home about, yet tonight he wasn't even hitting rim. I'll live with him shooting those shots all game long.

Yeah that's what I mean. It's like us if Robin scored 20 from mid range.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Overall Game Thoughts:

- Defensively, I wasn't impressed with the Warriors. I know the numbers say they're the best defensive team in the L, but the eye test says otherwise - looking at you Memphis. Without a true low-post threat, we were able to put up over 110 and got to any spot on the floor we wanted.

- A healthy Aldridge makes all the difference in this matchup. He would absolutely FEAST on Draymond Green down low. I truly think it would be a seven-game series between the two squads if we meet up and LA is healthy.

- Not even mad about the loss. We were down to 10 healthy bodies. The effort and intensity were there. But more importantly, we started to move without the ball and cut to the basket. It's easy to get up for the best team in the NBA, though. It'll be interesting to see how we come out in Salt Lake City on the second half of a back to back.

- Golden State plays beautiful offensive basketball, very reminiscent of the San Antonio Spurs. They shared the rock tonight and got any look they wanted. The key to taking them out of their rhythm is to play bully ball. Whenever they attack the paint, you've got to knock them on their ass - even if it results in a flagrant foul. No, I'm not calling for dirty basketball. But, to beat Golden State, you must play physical and beat them up in the paint.

 

[jlprk]

Dorell Wright had a better 1st half than McCollum, but all the TNT guys could talk about was McCollum's specialty, points. Wright was registering in all categories including points. He was just as effective as Lillard, per minute, in the 1st half.

 

[Pinwheel1]

On the bright side, CJ looked fabulous out there tonight and has ever since he was given a larger role. I really like how he and Dame play together in the backcourt.

He showed the whole arsenal. Deep ball, mid range, floater, left handed scoop, right handed layup in traffic, 3 steals.
I have to question those who said he was "terrible". Another example of rushing to judgement before a player has time to develop.

I agree that he and Dame play well together. They will only get better with time.

 

[Strenuus]

CJ had 23 points

I didn't write the tweet.

 

[MarAzul]

Hahahaha!

Are you going all Nate McMillan on me? Saying Stotts should start Blake instead of Lillard?

Heh? No, just relaying what the Warriors guys are talking about. They are all upset that Lillard is doing so well tonight. Garry St. Jean is pissed because the warrior's are not doubling team pressuring him. Everybody knows you should! err so he says. I switched back to TNT after half time, I imagine they recovered during the third quarter.

 

[oldmangrouch]

At one point it looked as if the Blazers would contend for 2nd best record in the West. Now they are on the express elevator to 7th. I just want this fecking season to end.

 

[MarAzul]

Hard game to watch. I now think the Blazers may well face the warriors in the first round.
That will be ugly.

 

[Strenuus]

Hard game to watch. I now think the Blazers may well face the warriors in the first round.
That will be ugly.

We'd drop to 8th in 12 games? That's 4 games with 4 teams having to jump over us.

 

[S550]

What an epic collapse to a season

 

[EGame]

were doomed. fuck lets just fast forward to next season.

 

[jlprk]

We were doing so well before Denny started the two new moderators.

 

[Strenuus]

We were doing so well before Denny started the two new moderators.

We were actually in the middle of the losing streak when we officially got the titles, just sayin. :MARIS61:

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

We were actually in the middle of the losing streak when we officially got the titles, just sayin. :MARIS61:

 

[jlprk]

Yes, but it got worse once you took over. Back then, we had hope. Now, we are doomed.

If I were you two, I'd start blaming each other. It's your only way out of this mess.

 

[Strenuus]

Yes, but it got worse once you took over. Back then, we had hope. Now, we are doomed.

If I were you two, I'd start blaming each other. It's your only way out of this mess.

 

[Sinobas]

all that matters is getting into the playoffs. And even that doesn't matter all that much.

 

[S550]

OKC only four back now. And we have lost home court advantage. And we are playing the worst defense we’ve played since the JJ Hickson era. So for anyone who tells me not to panic, we might get swept in the first round if we can’t figure out a way to win a darn game or two. And don’t give me the "we’re injured and playing the best team in the league". Maybe we should have beaten sub-500 Miami and Orlando and then I would accept that excuse. Panic button is now firmly pressed

 

[rasheedfan2005]

token black guy, token asian chick, brunette chick... TWO WHITE GUYS?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

On the bright side, CJ looked fabulous out there tonight and has ever since he was given a larger role. I really like how he and Dame play together in the backcourt.

It's certainly nice to see CJ playing well. But it's better if he does it when Lillard is NOT on the court, because we want our bench to be better. I'm hoping his trajectory can be like Reggie Jackson (a suggestion David Thorpe made a while back) - CJ will never be a pure point but it would be nice if he could be a backup lead guard and take over Blake's role.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

all that matters is getting into the playoffs. And even that doesn't matter all that much.

So you're saying that essentially nothing matters. Fucking nihilist!

 

[e_blazer]

OKC only four back now. And we have lost home court advantage. And we are playing the worst defense we’ve played since the JJ Hickson era. So for anyone who tells me not to panic, we might get swept in the first round if we can’t figure out a way to win a darn game or two. And don’t give me the "we’re injured and playing the best team in the league". Maybe we should have beaten sub-500 Miami and Orlando and then I would accept that excuse. Panic button is now firmly pressed

Well, golly, pushing the panic button is really going to help a lot. Fortunately, it's the players' mental state, not the fans', that matters. The Blazers showed enough fire last night, despite the injuries, to show that they aren't going to give up on the season. LA, Nic and Kaman will all be back soon and there's time to get things going in a positive direction before the playoffs start.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It's certainly nice to see CJ playing well. But it's better if he does it when Lillard is NOT on the court, because we want our bench to be better. I'm hoping his trajectory can be like Reggie Jackson (a suggestion David Thorpe made a while back) - CJ will never be a pure point but it would be nice if he could be a backup lead guard and take over Blake's role.

There has to be some overlap or CJ would only get 12-13 minutes a game. That is like saying Ginobli should only play play well when Parker is not on the court. The better bench players in the league often play with the starters as well. CJ got 29 minutes last night.,he needs to play with Damian as well. Plus it takes time for bench players to get warmed up. There are very few microwaves. I hate when a bench players has to shoot as soon as he comes in the game because he has no choice. These guys need to run up and down the court a few times.

 

[BBert]

As well as that make-shift lineup played in the first quarter, they played just as bad in the third. Just stunk it up with horrible shot selection, gave GS all the momentum, and away they went.

Igoudala was a huge difference in this game. I kept saying, yeah, that's the shot we want him to take. Problem was, he was barely hitting net. Usually he makes one, decides he's a shooter, then misses a few at just the right time. Not this time.

That's probably the most entertained I've been watching the Blazers get their butts whooped. There were definitely some things to be optimistic about, and a good chance to evaluate and teach the bench players, and get some guys used to playing together.

Silver lining for the win!

 

[Sinobas]

So you're saying that essentially nothing matters. Fucking nihilist!

Well, I figure if the Blazers blow it so badly that they miss the playoffs, they shouldn't be there anyway. In the NFL you can get screwed out of a playoff spot, but in the NBA there are 8 spots and 82 games. OKC's has dealt with more major injury issues than us, and if they pass us....we deserve to be in the lottery.

 

[Sinobas]

As well as that make-shift lineup played in the first quarter, they played just as bad in the third. Just stunk it up with horrible shot selection, gave GS all the momentum, and away they went.

Igoudala was a huge difference in this game. I kept saying, yeah, that's the shot we want him to take. Problem was, he was barely hitting net. Usually he makes one, decides he's a shooter, then misses a few at just the right time. Not this time.

That's probably the most entertained I've been watching the Blazers get their butts whooped. There were definitely some things to be optimistic about, and a good chance to evaluate and teach the bench players, and get some guys used to playing together.

Silver lining for the win!

Portland has been stinking it up in the 4th quarter during this losing streak. But yes, the ball movement was much improved, Dame and CJ looked great.

 

[magnifier661]

This is some insane reality right now. I call it the Blazer Fandom Rollercoaster

I've seen this so many times, I'm just numb to the whole damn thing now.

 

[riverman]

1. I have to say I enjoyed the game last night even in a loss. CJ, DWright, Gee all played really well. I don't know why DWright didn't play much in the second half as he was the floor general in the first half. Still it's good to see role players fight and produce even for half a game. I don't have a panic button. Like mags says, I'm numb to Blazers injury scrambles after all these decades. Go Blazers! To those who actually thought we had a shot at winning against the Warriors without LA, Wes, Nico and Kaman..well..that's just classic denial. Kerr played his starters big minutes against our 3rd stringers. I know now why Crabbe has not been playing. He looked horrible.

 

[riverman]

What an epic collapse to a season

Season isn't over