Game Thread GAME# 75: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - MARCH 28, 2018 - WEDNESDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[TBpup]

Blazers need Thunder game version of CJ and not Houston/Pelicans version. To be honest, it makes me a little nervous that we need both CJ and Pat to step up in the same game with Dame/Mo out. It is the Grizzlies after all....but strange things can happen.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Inconsistent? Pats been consistently bad recently. You don't bench him but you try not to play him too much.

In March

0-4 followed by 3-6-, 2-4, 3-8, 1-2, 1-1, 2-4........followed by another bad stretch.
Same thing in February....good shooting games and bad shooting games. Yes I would call that inconsistent.
All of which he played decent D.

I want to give Baldwin a chance but is he going to get calls from the refs on the road? I am guessing not. Bottom line is Baldwin will not play when Dame gets back. Pat will ,so we mights as well give him more minutes tonight in hope he gets "warm" again.

 

[illmatic99]

Too bad the Clips won last night. If they lost, we could have officially clinched a spot with a win tonight.

Magic number is at 2.

But that win last night for us was a massive boost to our HCA chances. We have essentially a four game lead over 4th seed OKC with our tie breaker. Same with NOP. Spurs and Jazz still have an outside shot of climbing, but it's not very likely.

Do division wins mean anything still? I know it doesn't guarantee HCA, but does it still lock us in to at worst the 4th seed?

 

[Eastoff]

Too bad the Clips won last night. If they lost, we could have officially clinched a spot with a win tonight.

Magic number is at 2.

But that win last night for us was a massive boost to our HCA chances. We have essentially a four game lead over 4th seed OKC with our tie breaker. Same with NOP. Spurs and Jazz still have an outside shot of climbing, but it's not very likely.

Do division wins mean anything still? I know it doesn't guarantee HCA, but does it still lock us in to at worst the 4th seed?

It only matters about the second tie breaker now.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Too bad the Clips won last night. If they lost, we could have officially clinched a spot with a win tonight.

Magic number is at 2.

But that win last night for us was a massive boost to our HCA chances. We have essentially a four game lead over 4th seed OKC with our tie breaker. Same with NOP. Spurs and Jazz still have an outside shot of climbing, but it's not very likely.

Do division wins mean anything still? I know it doesn't guarantee HCA, but does it still lock us in to at worst the 4th seed?

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...division-winners-not-guaranteed-playoff-spot/

1. A division winner might not make the playoffs at all. Simply put, the top eight teams in each conference, according to overall record, will get in the playoffs, and they will be seeded according to those records. Winning your division now means nothing more than a banner in the rafters, if you're still into that sort of thing. Last year the Blazers got a top-4 seed without a top-five record because they won the Northwest division, and as a result, the Spurs, who had a better record, got the No. 6 seed. That won't happen anymore.

 

[Labinot41]

CJ had Not only "worst Game of his Career" this Season, when he isn't Scoring, he gives the Team Not much. This is Not a hate on CJ, but i expect more from a Max Player. He needs to improve his all around game if he ever want's to be a All Star in the West

 

[noknobs]

Magic number is at 2.

I was wondering what the magic number was, figured it was still higher than 2. Nice.

 

[illmatic99]

I was wondering what the magic number was, figured it was still higher than 2. Nice.

It's a bit messy because the 9th seed team keeps changing and we don't have every tie breaker set in stone.

If we win, Clips lose to PHX, AND I believe Minny loses to ATL, we can clinch a playoff spot tonight.

For all intents and purposes though, we win two more games, we're in the playoffs. Doesn't matter what anyone else does.

 

[Boob-No-More]

CJ had Not only "worst Game of his Career" this Season, when he isn't Scoring, he gives the Team Not much. This is Not a hate on CJ, but i expect more from a Max Player. He needs to improve his all around game if he ever want's to be a All Star in the West

C.J. does not have a max contract. In a true max contract, his pay would go up proportionately with increases in the salary cap. His contract calls for fixed annual increases regardless of how much the salary cap goes up. As a result, he will make about $2.5 - $3 million a year less than Dame. Which doesn't seem too far out of line for your second best player.

I see now that Nurk is beasting, you have found a new foil. Why not just enjoy all the players we have and stop worrying about their flaws and how much money they make? They may not all be perfect, but they are all here and helping this team win.

BNM

 

[BigGameDamian]

And Connaughton has been awful lately, why should he play MORE?

Who else do we have?

 

[crandc]

Those strawberries are not ripe. Hopefully the Blazers are.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Orion Bailey]

Didnt hurt us last night in one of our toughest games left....

 

[kjironman1]

And Connaughton has been awful lately, why should he play MORE?

Actually i kind of think he should start with CJ and then they can have Bazz anchor the second unit at PG.

 

[DDolla]

I’m begging you PatCon.... please please make some shots.

 

[kjironman1]

Its not because of it just being for the hell of it. It's because:
1.) Pats been horrible lately and I don't think WB4 can be much worse.
2.) It's the Grizzlies so WB4 knows them and will play with a huge chip on his shoulder.
3.) We don't have a ball-handler off the bench if we don't play Wade.
4.) It's him or Layman. We have to play one of them with Moe and Dame being out.

Honestly, I'd start Wade. We're gonna need Shabazz's scoring when CJs out of the game, and bringing him off the bench allows us to do so. Shabazz can finish the game but I'd do a perimeter rotation of:
Baldwin (14) / Napier (34)
McCollum (36) / Baldwin (6) / Pat (6)
Turner (30) / Pat (18)

Nah. Baldwin won't see the court. Pat has earned the minutes. He should get them.

 

[illmatic99]

Nah. Baldwin won't see the court. Pat has earned the minutes. He should get them.

I'd argue otherwise. He nearly cost us the game yesterday with a massive blunder and his horrific shooting cost us the game against Boston.

 

[kjironman1]

But what if we're tied with multiple teams? That's why it doesn't take into account ties. Too complicated.

Division winner. Simple

 

[kjironman1]

I'd argue otherwise. He nearly cost us the game yesterday with a massive blunder and his horrific shooting cost us the game against Boston.

That argument could be placed on the pass that was made to him also or the missed call on the foul. Pat played fine. He just didn't hit shots like a number of other players.

 

[kjironman1]

Th

In March

0-4 followed by 3-6-, 2-4, 3-8, 1-2, 1-1, 2-4........followed by another bad stretch.
Same thing in February....good shooting games and bad shooting games. Yes I would call that inconsistent.
All of which he played decent D.

I want to give Baldwin a chance but is he going to get calls from the refs on the road? I am guessing not. Bottom line is Baldwin will not play when Dame gets back. Pat will ,so we mights as well give him more minutes tonight in hope he gets "warm" again.

is is what you are saying. Wade Baldwin who shot 23% from 3 in the G league is who you want to start or get minutes. We are talking about a dude that couldn't shoot in the G LEAGUE......

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Th

is is what you are saying. Wade Baldwin who shot 23% from 3 in the G league is who you want to start or get minutes. We are talking about a dude that couldn't shoot in the G LEAGUE......

To be fair, his audition would be against a tanking Memphis.

 

[crandc]

I'll be starting the brisket for my brother's Seder (brisket best cooked in advance) so will be watching but not commenting for a while. Once the brisket starts to braise I can put in my $.02.

 

[Reep]

This is what you are saying. Wade Baldwin who shot 23% from 3 in the G league is who you want to start or get minutes. We are talking about a dude that couldn't shoot in the G LEAGUE......

He doesn't have to shoot threes (although he was 40%+ in college). I would rephrase the question: Given Napier is the starting point guard for this game, would I rather see Pat or Wade as the backup PG?

My order of players I would want to see play the point (assuming another PG isn't in the game):

Dame
Napier
ET/Baldwin (tie)
CJ
Pat

BTW, the only 5-man lineup on 82games with CJ at the point, with no other PG is credited with a 33% win rate.

 

[Eastoff]

I'll be starting the brisket for my brother's Seder (brisket best cooked in advance) so will be watching but not commenting for a while. Once the brisket starts to braise I can put in my $.02.

Just make sure there's a chair for Elijah and an orange on the plate.

 

[crandc]

Just make sure there's a chair for Elijah and an orange on the plate.

Of course!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Th

is is what you are saying. Wade Baldwin who shot 23% from 3 in the G league is who you want to start or get minutes. We are talking about a dude that couldn't shoot in the G LEAGUE......

No that is the opposite of what I am saying. You might want to read more than just the one post.

 

[Pinwheel1]

CJ had Not only "worst Game of his Career" this Season, when he isn't Scoring, he gives the Team Not much. This is Not a hate on CJ, but i expect more from a Max Player. He needs to improve his all around game if he ever want's to be a All Star in the West

Hmm he had one of his worst scoring games of the season last night yet he still gave the team 5 assist, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
That is not... NOT much

 

[Lanny]

Actually i kind of think he should start with CJ and then they can have Bazz anchor the second unit at PG.

Not a bad idea but ain't gonna happen. Napier is going to start.

 

[Cippy91]

CJ's night in my opinion. Think he will have a big game. Also big for the role players to continue their play. Who knows, might bring Meyers back out to have a great game like he did against Memphis in the playoffs. Doubt it but still

 

[BonesJones]

Nah. Baldwin won't see the court. Pat has earned the minutes. He should get them.

So does Pat, Shabazz, ET, and CJ all play 36 minutes?