Game Thread GAME 77: BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - APRIL 3, 2017 - MONDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[illmatic99]

FWIW, this is a great potential tank game.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I support to winning. I still believe. Fuck the draft, we have more than 20 games to player. Go blazers!

But i support winning a title also. Just a different plan

 

[riverman]

Before Nurk....I wanted lottery...post Nurk signing....I want him to play in the playoffs for the first time in his career and win.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Anxious to see how Aminu reacts after hitting 5-6 from 3 in the last game. Hopefully he will not forget how effective he has been attacking the basket. I loved the last two games he has played, and not because he has re-found his stroke from deep. He is finally utilizing the mismatch he has when guarded by a bigger/slower PF. As long as he is not dribbling in traffic he should be able to get to the basket frequently. Three 3 pt shots is ample every night to keep the defense honest. (except maybe the occasional night when he is red hot)

 

[BBert]

It's really hard to get excited about adding any of these draft prospects. Only a couple of them appear to be huge impact players. I know we have to build through the draft and I know that somewhere in this draft there are some future stars. Nonetheless every players whose highlight video has been linked here so far has yet to get me really excited. So I keep going back to the theory that a few draft positions won't make much difference but the fact we have multiple 1st round picks might.

But we still have a full month of March madness to change my mind. Although there is also a good chance that the tournaments will just further convince me that the draft is deep but not great. Maybe a lot of good players but not a lot of great players?

I don't want any of these draft prospects at this time. I want to trade our pick/picks and a player/players and get a needle mover at a position of need. The higher our pick, the better our chances of doing that.

 

[BonesJones]

I either want us to make the playoffs, or get a top 9 pick.

Why?

There's a group of 9 players that are a cut above the rest: Fultz, Tatum, Jackson, Smith, Fox, Isaac, Monk, Ball, Markannen.

The other reason? I don't like the prospects that will go 10-14: Williams, Collins, Hartenstein, Rabb

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I either want us to make the playoffs, or get a top 9 pick.

Why?

There's a group of 9 players that are a cut above the rest: Fultz, Tatum, Jackson, Smith, Fox, Isaac, Monk, Ball, Markannen.

The other reason? I don't like the prospects that will go 10-14: Williams, Collins, Hartenstein, Rabb

The plan is to Tank, get the 11th pick, and get another Meyers Leonard.
Oh Wait!

 

[rotary111]

Before Nurk....I wanted lottery...post Nurk signing....I want him to play in the playoffs for the first time in his career and win.

I agree!

Nurk will really enjoy knocking his old team out.

Suck it Nuggets!

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I either want us to make the playoffs, or get a top 9 pick.

Why?

There's a group of 9 players that are a cut above the rest: Fultz, Tatum, Jackson, Smith, Fox, Isaac, Monk, Ball, Markannen.

The other reason? I don't like the prospects that will go 10-14: Williams, Collins, Hartenstein, Rabb

While I agree it is always better to have a higher pick, I guarantee you someone is going to go top 9 that isn't in your 9 top players. I don't think anyone (even scouts) pick the top 9 perfectly this early. That means someone is going to go at least 10 or later and we should have a shot at someone you like.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I either want us to make the playoffs, or get a top 9 pick.

Why? There's a group of 9 players that are a cut above the rest: Fultz, Tatum, Jackson, Smith, Fox, Isaac, Monk, Ball, Markannen.

The other reason? I don't like the prospects that will go 10-14: Williams, Collins, Hartenstein, Rabb

I wonder about Rabb. The thing that gives me encouragement is he is 8-18 from the 3 pt line. He rarely takes them but he actually has a decent stroke from the outside. He has very good length but like most PF's won't be able to cover the perimeter in the nba.
If we end up 14-16th....I bet we draft him. I still want TJ leaf though around that pick,if he actually enters the draft.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Nurk (6 games as a Blazer):
30 MPG <<<<<
.576 FG%
.704 FT% <<<<<<
8.2 RPG
4.0 APG
1.7 SPG
1.5 BPG
14.5 PPG
20.9 PER

3.2 TOPG (Only black mark on an incredible stat sheet, and I'm not sure it's that bad.)

----------------------------------------------------------------

2015-16 Blazers (Season Average Highs):
FG%: Davis (.611), Plumlee (.516).
RPG: Plumlee (7.7)
APG: Dame (6.8), CJ (4.3), Plums (2.8)
SPG: CJ (1.2)
BPG: Plums (1.0)
PPG: Dame (25.1), CJ (20.8), Crabbe (10.3)
PER: Lillard (22.2), Davis (18.7)

So, If he continues like this, then compared to last year's team, he'd be..
2nd in FG%
1st in RPG
3rd in APG
1st in SPG
1st in BPG
3rd in PPG
2nd in PER

That's a Load!

Note: Nurk is averaging 30 MPG while Plums only averaged 25.4, and this contributes to Nurk's higher per game stats than Plums. HOWEVER, Plums only played 25.4 because of his poor FT% and foul trouble. Nurk is also not in the greatest shape yet, so his MPG could easily rise, making him even more effective on a per game basis.

 

[stampedehero]

I want a home NURK jersey. How come the stooges in the Blazers merchandize department have not introduced it?

 

[THE HCP]

So this game might not happen FAMS

 

[THE HCP]

It's like 60 something here and there is ice under the floor, players are slipping everywhere during shootaround!

 

[BonesJones]

While I agree it is always better to have a higher pick, I guarantee you someone is going to go top 9 that isn't in your 9 top players. I don't think anyone (even scouts) pick the top 9 perfectly this early. That means someone is going to go at least 10 or later and we should have a shot at someone you like.

Wanna bet?

Tatum, Jackson, Ball, Fultz, and Smith are locks for the top 9.

The other 4: Isaac, Markannen, Fox, and Monk shouldn't fall either.

Markannen won't slip past Minnesota. They need shooting. They need a PF. He'd be a perfect fit in their lineup.

So the other 3 are a PG, SG, and SF.

The Knicks won't take anyone outside of those top 9 because they don't need a PF with Porzingas (so no Williams, Rabb, Collins Hartenstein, etc.) They need a PG to replace Rose, or even a starting SG like Monk. They could go for Isaac if they're trading Melo.

The Kings would have the 7th and 8th picks, and the last thing they need is more big men. They need a PG and a SF. No way they'd let Fox or Isaac slip past them. A young core of Fox/Hield/Isaac/Labissiere/WCS would be solid going forward.

 

[Cippy91]

 

[riverman]

It's like 60 something here and there is ice under the floor, players are slipping everywhere during shootaround!

somebody might want to turn up the heat and bring in some fans....not the human kind

 

[riverman]

Wanna bet?

nice try.....we all know college students are broke!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

 

[Scalma]

Wait, why is there ice under the court?

 

[BonesJones]

nice try.....we all know college students are broke!

So? I'm right, so that ain't no problem old man!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Wait, why is there ice under the court?

global warming.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Wait, why is there ice under the court?

Good question, since the NHL team in Minnesota plays at the Xcel Center.

 

[Cippy91]

Good question, since the NHL team in Minnesota plays at the Xcel Center.

Disney on ice apparently

 

[Cippy91]

 

[Cippy91]

 

[Cippy91]

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Wanna bet?

Tatum, Jackson, Ball, Fultz, and Smith are locks for the top 9.

The other 4: Isaac, Markannen, Fox, and Monk shouldn't fall either.

Markannen won't slip past Minnesota. They need shooting. They need a PF. He'd be a perfect fit in their lineup.

So the other 3 are a PG, SG, and SF.

The Knicks won't take anyone outside of those top 9 because they don't need a PF with Porzingas (so no Williams, Rabb, Collins Hartenstein, etc.) They need a PG to replace Rose, or even a starting SG like Monk. They could go for Isaac if they're trading Melo.

The Kings would have the 7th and 8th picks, and the last thing they need is more big men. They need a PG and a SF. No way they'd let Fox or Isaac slip past them. A young core of Fox/Hield/Isaac/Labissiere/WCS would be solid going forward.

Sure I will take that bet. At least one of your top 9 of Tatum, Jackson, Ball, Fultz, Smith, Isaac, Markannen, Fox, and Monk will go 10th or later. I don't want to take your money (I have been in College, it can be rough) though so lets bet something like winner gets to choose losers avatar for the whole season. Only stipulation is it can't be nudity or too highly inappropriate for the forum. We will let Sly be the judge.

 

[THE HCP]

I remember back in the day we had a game here delayed because the parquet floor had too big of cracks in it....

 

[THE HCP]

Oh ya, and theres a tornado watch for Minny right now......