Game Thread GAME# 72: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - MAY 16, 2021 - SUNDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[blazerkor]

What do we think the major cause for such a drastic difference is? Roster make-up? Improved schemes? Luck?

The players on this team privately and publicly said, "enough is enough". They dedicated themselves to not being the laughing stock of the league on defense and Dame made sure every game was Dame Time and when it's not Dame Time the guys have been moving the ball better... still like statues off the ball but the ball itself wasn't sticking quite as much.

There were also a lot of games, to flip Stotts's script on him, where our shots were just falling and theirs weren't.

 

[Tince]

Taking out DJJr and putting in Powel. DJJr can have some spectacular blocks and jump out of the gym, but his one-on-one defense sucked. Powell is solid every play. And he makes good decisions on the offensive end.

I was talking about the difference between last years record and this years. While I thought DJJ was a failed signing months ago and I liked the move to bench him, we were still having considerably more success with DJJ this year than last year than we were having last year. My question is why?

Saying Dame is the reason (I know it wasn't you) doesn't hold any water because Dame played and played pretty well last season.

 

[Tince]

The players on this team privately and publicly said, "enough is enough". They dedicated themselves to not being the laughing stock of the league on defense and Dame made sure every game was Dame Time and when it's not Dame Time the guys have been moving the ball better... still like statues off the ball but the ball itself wasn't sticking quite as much.

There were also a lot of games, to flip Stotts's script on him, where our shots were just falling and theirs weren't.

You think they said "enough is enough" in the off season? I'm trying to compare the trajectory in the graph from last year and this year. Even with the issues this year, the 2020-21 team was considerably ahead of the 2019-20 from Game 10 on.

 

[blazerkor]

I was talking about the difference between last years record and this years. While I thought DJJ was a failed signing months ago and I liked the move to bench him, we were still having considerably more success with DJJ this year than last year than we were having last year. My question is why?

Saying Dame is the reason (I know it wasn't you) doesn't hold any water because Dame played and played pretty well last season.

It's 50% Nurk and Enes over Hassan. Nurk and Enes just play to win in a different way. Then the other 50% is RoCo... Ariza was nice but we just didn't have one defender that was even close to on RoCo's level last season and putting RoCo's D where Melo's was last season was huge.

For the record I still want Olshey fired because although 42-30 is better than 35-39... it's still not good enough.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are run by idiots. The Mavs tanked in order to play the Clippers instead of winning and getting to play the depleted Nuggets. Instead, they get the full squad Clippers while the Blazers get the depleted Nuggets. The Mavs are idiots and whoever made the decision to tank should be immediately terminated from employment. The Blazers are lucky the Mavs are such idiots. They would have been worse off against the Clippers than the depleted Nuggets. Did I say the Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are so stupid?

Mavs would’ve still faced Clippers if they had won. Mavs/TWolves game had no impact on standings.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Taking out DJJr and putting in Powell. DJJr can have some spectacular blocks and jump out of the gym, but his one-on-one defense sucked. Powell is solid every play. And he makes good decisions on the offensive end.

I thought DJJ 's D was fine as a starter. But Powell really improved this team. It took some time to gel, but once they got it going the 3 guard offense clicked.
The Blazers have often looked good on offense with a 3 guard lineup in previous years, but they could only do it for short stints because of the lack of defense. But with Powell, they get the offense to help Dame and CJ, AND they get the defense. They don't lose anything by doing it.

In addition Dame CJ and Nurk, all started to play better. (and smarter) The key now is can we get anything from Roco on offense. He was a +23 tonight so he obviously helps in various ways. He is a streaky 3 pt shooter. Damn if he could get hot in the playoffs, the Blazers could make some noise. That is a pretty good starting lineup.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I was talking about the difference between last years record and this years. While I thought DJJ was a failed signing months ago and I liked the move to bench him, we were still having considerably more success with DJJ this year than last year than we were having last year. My question is why?

Saying Dame is the reason (I know it wasn't you) doesn't hold any water because Dame played and played pretty well last season.

Ah. Well, I think last year we were so decimated with injuries, we couldn't get a consistent rotation. Of course there's ton's of factors, but I think that's the primary one. This year we had injuries, but we were able to get our core together for long periods of time, and are finishing off on a healthy streak.

 

[Tince]

It's 50% Nurk and Enes over Hassan. Nurk and Enes just play to win in a different way. Then the other 50% is RoCo... Ariza was nice but we just didn't have one defender that was even close to on RoCo's level last season and putting RoCo's D where Melo's was last season was huge.

For the record I still want Olshey fired because although 42-30 is better than 35-39... it's still not good enough.

I think this is a fair assessment. Roster composition is going to have the biggest impact towards drastic improvements?

 

[AldoTrapani]

I don’t want get to excited because Karma is a Bitch, but maybe we gonna see Collins in this season if we beat Denver

Meh even if he does he still needs a lot time to get back to looking decent. He’ll be nice to throw in
for an extra body tho I guess

 

[Tince]

Ah. Well, I think last year we were so decimated with injuries, we couldn't get a consistent rotation. Of course there's ton's of factors, but I think that's the primary one. This year we had injuries, but we were able to get our core together for long periods of time, and are finishing off on a healthy streak.

Brace for people who do not like injuries to be an excuse for poor results.... I agree with you though.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Ah. Well, I think last year we were so decimated with injuries, we couldn't get a consistent rotation. Of course there's ton's of factors, but I think that's the primary one. This year we had injuries, but we were able to get our core together for long periods of time, and are finishing off on a healthy streak.

Healthy at the right time

 

[42N8Bounce]

Brace for people who do not like injuries to be an excuse for poor results.... I agree with you though.

Totally understand that argument. Injuries aside, I think it developing a consistent rhythm with the other players. When the rotation is always changing, you lose that synch. I think that's one reason why Stotts' teams finish with solid records is because he experiments a lot with the rotation early in the season, then tightens it up at the end of the season.

 

[Tince]

Totally understand that argument. Injuries aside, I think it developing a consistent rhythm with the other players. When the rotation is always changing, you lose that synch. I think that's one reason why Stotts' teams finish with solid records is because he experiments a lot with the rotation early in the season, then tightens it up at the end of the season.

Oh man, now you're saying Stotts changes his rotations? Stuff like that can trigger people, be careful! Word from the wise; <current coach> doesn't:

1) Run any plays
2) Coach defense
3) Make adjustments
4) Change rotations
5) Subtitute correctly
6) Use his timeouts properly
7) Play the young guys enough

 

[garbagetime]

They were tanking to avoid the Clippers actually, no one thought the Clippers could out tank OKC but everything is possible

They were tanking to avoid the Clippers actually, no one thought the Clippers could out tank OKC but everything is possible

They don't play George and Leonard and they weren't tanking? C'mon, it is real simple to tank just shoot to miss. Who knows the difference?

 

[EGame]

Well bring on the Nuggets then. I remember that epic game that went into 4 Overtimes a couple of seasons ago. Hopefully we can make some noise.

 

[garbagetime]

Mavs would’ve still faced Clippers if they had won. Mavs/TWolves game had no impact on standings.

Mavs would’ve still faced Clippers if they had won. Mavs/TWolves game had no impact on standings.

You are right and I was wrong. Thank you for correcting my mistake.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Go Blazers!

4-2 against Denver was my earlier prediction however I’ll change it to 4-0 sweep!

 

[KSF-ERIC]

So yet again, the thread is shorter because it was a win. Even with 9 pages posts before the game began. People post furiously when we lose and just vanish or say nothing when we win.

 

[DDolla]

Thank you RoCo for missing 2 FTs

 

[Chris Craig]

So yet again, the thread is shorter because it was a win. Even with 9 pages posts before the game began. People post furiously when we lose and just vanish or say nothing when we win.

Everyone was busy watching 4 games at once

 

[THE HCP]

Yeah but LBJ and the Refs are basically a package deal. I mean LBJ is certainly still great on his own, but at the end of games, he is going to get the calls after crying for the other 45 minutes.

Which is EXACTLY why I was happy when Melo came to us. I knew he would get us 6 Its or so a night purely on his legacy and who he is. The refs respect him and he has gotten the benefit of the doubt. Dame this season more than any yet has started getting those same whistles in my opinion.

 

[THE HCP]

The Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are run by idiots. The Mavs tanked in order to play the Clippers instead of winning and getting to play the depleted Nuggets. Instead, they get the full squad Clippers while the Blazers get the depleted Nuggets. The Mavs are idiots and whoever made the decision to tank should be immediately terminated from employment. The Blazers are lucky the Mavs are such idiots. They would have been worse off against the Clippers than the depleted Nuggets. Did I say the Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are so stupid?

Was the word "DEPLETED" today's word on your Word O The Day calendar?

 

[blazerkor]

The Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are run by idiots. The Mavs tanked in order to play the Clippers instead of winning and getting to play the depleted Nuggets. Instead, they get the full squad Clippers while the Blazers get the depleted Nuggets. The Mavs are idiots and whoever made the decision to tank should be immediately terminated from employment. The Blazers are lucky the Mavs are such idiots. They would have been worse off against the Clippers than the depleted Nuggets. Did I say the Blazers are so lucky that the Mavs are so stupid?

I think you might be missing the one and only thing that was motivating any of the tanking hijinks going on in the Western Conference today... the Lakers. The Nuggets intentionally lost to us so they wouldn't have to play the Lakers. The Clippers lost they're game today to make it so they wouldn't have to face the Lakers in either of the first two rounds. Maybe just maybe the Mavs believe they'll beat the Clippers in the first round and therefore the reason that they intentionally lost today was to also avoid having to play the Lakers until the conference finals.

The Lakers are the defending champs and I think the vast majority of teams in this league would put the Lakers as the favorites to repeat if they're healthy and they look pretty healthy. I am definitely not a Lakers fan but that is one scary team they have.

 

[stampedehero]

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers - Box Score - May 16, 2021 - ESPN<<<"

 

[Serbian]

I thought DJJ 's D was fine as a starter. But Powell really improved this team. It took some time to gel, but once they got it going the 3 guard offense clicked.
The Blazers have often looked good on offense with a 3 guard lineup in previous years, but they could only do it for short stints because of the lack of defense. But with Powell, they get the offense to help Dame and CJ, AND they get the defense. They don't lose anything by doing it.

In addition Dame CJ and Nurk, all started to play better. (and smarter) The key now is can we get anything from Roco on offense. He was a +23 tonight so he obviously helps in various ways. He is a streaky 3 pt shooter. Damn if he could get hot in the playoffs, the Blazers could make some noise. That is a pretty good starting lineup.

Norm is huge difference. We finally gotta guy who shoots wide open 3s at 40%+ and also attacks the basket like a attack dog with good finishing and is great FT shooter and he plays defense. People cried about trent jr being traded but as of now norm is better thant trent in every way. Our 3 guard line up is so good because Dame attacks and shoots 3s iso while CJ shoots 3s iso and got midrange, while norm spot up 3s and attack basket, our starting 5 is best Dame has had entire career

 

[Chris Craig]

Which is EXACTLY why I was happy when Melo came to us. I knew he would get us 6 Its or so a night purely on his legacy and who he is. The refs respect him and he has gotten the benefit of the doubt. Dame this season more than any yet has started getting those same whistles in my opinion.

Started getting? Dame is a star. He should be getting those calls...he still doesn't get enough of them called. He takes a beating. Put some respect on his mother fucking name.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Which is EXACTLY why I was happy when Melo came to us. I knew he would get us 6 Its or so a night purely on his legacy and who he is. The refs respect him and he has gotten the benefit of the doubt. Dame this season more than any yet has started getting those same whistles in my opinion.

I still think Melo would be most effective sticking to three point shots. He has about one game in ten where he gets hot on the midrange shots; not worth waiting for, stick to his strengths.

 

[Natebishop3]

Started getting? Dame is a star. He should be getting those calls...he still doesn't get enough of them called. He takes a beating. Put some respect on his mother fucking name.

Imagine how good Dame would be if defenders weren't able to body him? Imagine if he got the Anthony Davis treatment? Remember the calls AD was getting against Wenyen last year in the playoffs?

 

[THE HCP]

I still think Melo would be most effective sticking to three point shots. He has about one game in ten where he gets hot on the midrange shots; not worth waiting for, stick to his strengths.

I actually love him in the post over shooting 3s to be honest.

 

[HailBlazers]

Imagine how good Dame would be if defenders weren't able to body him? Imagine if he got the Anthony Davis treatment? Remember the calls AD was getting against Wenyen last year in the playoffs?

And yet people say ish ain't rigged.