Game Thread GAME# 71: ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 20, 2018 - TUESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT (2 Viewers)

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There hasn’t been a good thing to come out of Houston since Devin the Dude. Fuck those cockroaches.
 
The Blazers can win this game and gain the strategy for winning in the Western Conference Finals if several key factors can be devised. The Rockets average 15.4 swish3s made on over 41 attempts per game, which scoring needs to be matched or exceeded by the Blazers. This will depend on using the best swish3 shooters and taking the additional 12 or more attempts if necessary to reach 16+ swish3s made.

The Blazers need to play determined defense, especially preventing open swish3 attempts, and avoiding fouls of the Rockets FG shooters. We must hold Harden to less than his average number of Free Throws.

The Blazers must minimize turnovers and look for steals, blocks, and offensive rebounds. And the Blazers need to win the overall rebound contest. Some of these defensive triumphs need to be immediately turned into quick layups. And the spread court can add to opening the lanes to add to our points in the paint advantage.

For all of this to work, the Blazers need to substitute to keep the energy level consistently high and the probability for scoring maximized. The Blazers need to achieve at least 26 point per quarter scoring. I imagine that this is possible distributing minutes and shooting among the top 11 scoring leaders on the team.

This is one game and opponent strategy where using all 3 centers, Jusuf, Ed, and Meyers, at key times can open possibilities for swish3 scoring by Dame, CJ, Mo, Chief, Shabazz, Zach, and Meyers to beat the Rockets at their own swish3 strategy. This game can be the learning curve prelude to the Championship!
 
Superbeard said:
Hey guys :P

No matter what happens, the main reasons I want the one seed is of course to have home court throughout the playoffs...but also to avoid the Blazers in a possible 2nd round matchup. Yeah, I'd rather let the Warriors deal with that. Call it PTSD lol but I'm aware that you guys would be a very tough out and the Blazers look like an entirely different team and are playing with the confidence that they can beat anyone.

EDIT: Come to think of it, looking at recent games, I'm sure Warrior fans feel the same way.
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xin_040903271621554016040.gif The Blazers -(want)- the Holy Grail.
 
The Blazers showed they can beat a winning team on their court and kept the streak going. Now it’s the rockets turn to malfunction and push the streak to 14, LETS GO BLAZERS!!!

sNPbs.gif
 
bobf said:
Hope I'm wrong but I feel kind of pessimistic about this game. I feel like the Rockets have the exact kind of team and style of play that we don't match up well against.

I think two kinds of teams match up well against their small-ball slashing/3-point shooting style:
(a) Warriors type team, with a similar small ball lineup that can just outdo them at their own game. Better 3 point shooters, better defenders. Draymond and KD as their big men. Same-size players who can switch and still defend.
(b) Team with a punishing big man (Shaq-like) who can bully score in the paint and crush those midgets with offensive rebounds.

We have neither of those. Our big men are not efficient punishing scorers. Love Nurk and Ed, but they are not that. We have great interior defense, but I fear Nurk will get in foul trouble from the sheer number of drives. After that, our interior defense drops off with Ed and if we have to go to MyLe our interior D becomes non-existent. Our 3-point shooters are just not as efficient.

It's gonna take totally disciplined team game on D and O to beat them.
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But we have Meyers.... Everyone seems to forget that. Where is that green font? Dammit Man!
 
swish3 said:
The Blazers can win this game and gain the strategy for winning in the Western Conference Finals if several key factors can be devised. The Rockets average 15.4 swish3s made on over 41 attempts per game, which scoring needs to be matched or exceeded by the Blazers. This will depend on using the best swish3 shooters and taking the additional 12 or more attempts if necessary to reach 16+ swish3s made.

The Blazers need to play determined defense, especially preventing open swish3 attempts, and avoiding fouls of the Rockets FG shooters. We must hold Harden to less than his average number of Free Throws.

The Blazers must minimize turnovers and look for steals, blocks, and offensive rebounds. And the Blazers need to win the overall rebound contest. Some of these defensive triumphs need to be immediately turned into quick layups. And the spread court can add to opening the lanes to add to our points in the paint advantage.

For all of this to work, the Blazers need to substitute to keep the energy level consistently high and the probability for scoring maximized. The Blazers need to achieve at least 26 point per quarter scoring. I imagine that this is possible distributing minutes and shooting among the top 11 scoring leaders on the team.

This is one game and opponent strategy where using all 3 centers, Jusuf, Ed, and Meyers, at key times can open possibilities for swish3 scoring by Dame, CJ, Mo, Chief, Shabazz, Zach, and Meyers to beat the Rockets at their own swish3 strategy. This game can be the learning curve prelude to the Championship!
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I agree with all of that but you did forget one thing....
THE MODA MUST BE ROCKIN!
 
An interesting game, for sure. A clash of titans, absolutely.

A big game, though? Not even close.

The Rockets are 3.5 games ahead of GS, who is massively injured. They won't be losing HCA, regardless.

The Blazers are 3.5 games ahead of the 5th place Spurs for HCA in the first round. It doesn't really matter
whether the Blazers finish in 3rd or 4th.

Not to say the game doesn't matter. Every game is a chance for our SFs, Zach, and Nurk to improve their consistency.
Obviously, it would be great for Zach's confidence if he played well against the best team in the league (record-wise).
Of course, it would also nice to extend the winning streak, especially if you care about things like Lillard votes on
all-NBA teams, and national exposure.
 
It does matter whether Portland finishes 3 or 4. Finish 3 and they face a 6 seed first round; if they win that series they face either a crippled GSW team or a #7 seed, with home court.
Finish 4 and they face a 5 seed, tougher match-up. If they win presumably get Houston second round. They want the 3 seed.

There was a pretty decent preview on NBA TV, I mean, actually said good things about the Blazers. Talked about Dame's scoring & improved defense, then about the role players all understanding and accepting their roles. How the team has acquired a swagger where they now believe they can win every game regardless of opponent. And that winning is fun, they are having fun, they want to continue.
 
Not sure if this has been addressed in this thread, but I wonder what Terry has planned this time trying to stop Harden when he goes ISO ball.
Last game that Harden played against us in Portland (late in the game) they spread the Blazers out and Harden went one on one with whoever was guarding him. (Several different players as I recall) Either there was no help or the help was late. It clearly did not work as the Rockets put up 40 in the 4th.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Not sure if this has been addressed in this thread, but I wonder what Terry has planned this time trying to stop Harden when he goes ISO ball.
Last game that Harden played against us in Portland (late in the game) they spread the Blazers out and Harden went one on one with whoever was guarding him. (Several different players as I recall) Either there was no help or the help was late. It clearly did not work as the Rockets put up 40 in the 4th.
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With what I saw from Turner in the GSW game, if anyone is going to match up with Harden out on an island, I want it to be him. Secondarily, I'd want Shabazz. IMO, Harden's too shifty to be bothered significantly by Harkless and/or Aminu.
 
crandc said:
It does matter whether Portland finishes 3 or 4. Finish 3 and they face a 6 seed first round; if they win that series they face either a crippled GSW team or a #7 seed, with home court.
Finish 4 and they face a 5 seed, tougher match-up. If they win presumably get Houston second round. They want the 3 seed.

There was a pretty decent preview on NBA TV, I mean, actually said good things about the Blazers. Talked about Dame's scoring & improved defense, then about the role players all understanding and accepting their roles. How the team has acquired a swagger where they now believe they can win every game regardless of opponent. And that winning is fun, they are having fun, they want to continue.
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Meh. 3rd or 4th - doesn't matter to me. If NOP somehow got the 5th I'd love to slide down to the 4th. Ditto if MIN gets the 6th.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
With what I saw from Turner in the GSW game, if anyone is going to match up with Harden out on an island, I want it to be him. Secondarily, I'd want Shabazz. IMO, Harden's too shifty to be bothered significantly by Harkless and/or Aminu.
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I just hope whoever guards him doesn't reach. Arms straight up or straight out to the sides. (Except Bazz, I'm good with him getting into Harden's jersey and poking at the ball on the perimeter.) Whoever is guarding him should never attempt to block his shot when he's going for a lay-up - let the help defense do that while you maintain verticality.
 
Titan said:
The Blazers showed they can beat a winning team on their court and kept the streak going. Now it’s the rockets turn to malfunction and push the streak to 14, LETS GO BLAZERS!!!

sNPbs.gif
Click to expand...

I like the idea of the Rockets malfunctioning.....but that one fires up the guy's ass. :biglaugh: Not what I want Harden & Co doing to the Blazers.
 
Weird I haven't seen it here already, but Basketball-Reference.com's injury report for Portland says Bazz has a left big toe injury and is questionable for tonight's game.
 
SportsAndWhine said:
Weird I haven't seen it here already, but Basketball-Reference.com's injury report for Portland says Bazz has a left big toe injury and is questionable for tonight's game.
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Really? Shit
 
PtldPlatypus said:
With what I saw from Turner in the GSW game, if anyone is going to match up with Harden out on an island, I want it to be him. Secondarily, I'd want Shabazz. IMO, Harden's too shifty to be bothered significantly by Harkless and/or Aminu.
Click to expand...

I agree on both those options. But no one player can guard him. And he dissects a defense when someone leaves his man to help out. Especially when they put 4 outside shooters on the court with him late in games. The 4 guys you definitely can't leave open are Harden, Paul, Gordon, and Anderson. So I guess whoever is guarding Ariza or Tucker helps out and we hope they are cold?
 
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