Game Thread GAME# 79: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - APRIL 5, 2019 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Nurkalicious]

I'm glad you saved me the time because when you asked your original question I was thinking...wut? He's played pretty well against playoff teams
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personally, I think it's fucking pathetic that people are hammering Dame for last night's game. The bile is strong in this thread

to start with, the only reason Portland was in a position where last night's game was a big game was because Dame had carried them there. And the asinine irony of this is that the people blaming Dame are blaming him for not taking yet another step and carrying Portland to a win last night in a building they've had historical trouble winning in (had lost 4 in a row before last night), over a team they haven't beat when healthy

second, anybody questioning Dame's commitment to the Blazers and to winning is 100% nincompoop

Dame didn't cost Portland the win last night by playing below his average. He was +5 which was 2nd best on the team behind Kanter. In fact, the starting unit was all + last night. Where was the failure? It could have been:

Evan Turner -10
Jake Layman -18
Zach Collins -14
Meyers Leonard -11
Anfernee Simons -7

vs

Mason Plumlee +11
Torrey Craig +10
Malik Beasley +15
Monte Morris +12

I believe Dame is simply fatigued by the burden he's been carrying. To me, the worst result wasn't the loss, it was Dame already working on tired legs playing 39 minutes at elevation in the 79th game of the year only 8 days before the playoffs start

If he didn’t spend as much time rapping etc. and spent more time conditioning, maybe he could play over forty minutes like all the great nba superstars? Also if he took pre-game preparation more seriously he would have more productive games even when fatigued. I often go to the games early to watch warm ups. Dame never warms up. He casually shoots about 5 min before the game and that’s it. You’re really gonna blame the fuckin altitude...? It’s his work ethic.

+\- can be a very misleading stat. Dames numbers improved bc he was on the floor at the same time as Kanter and Layman.

A Dame-led blazer team has basically never got past the first round (clips series didn’t count), stop acting like he’s above criticism. He is far from a bum, but his performance last night was utter shit and you’re delusional if you deny this.

 

[wizenheimer]

If he didn’t spend as much time rapping etc. and spent more time conditioning, maybe he could play over forty minutes like all the great nba superstars? Also if he took pre-game preparation more seriously he would have more productive games even when fatigued. I often go to the games early to watch warm ups. Dame never warms up. He casually shoots about 5 min before the game and that’s it. You’re really gonna blame the fuckin altitude...? It’s his work ethic.

+\- can be a very misleading stat. Dames numbers improved bc he was on the floor at the same time as Kanter and Layman.

A Dame-led blazer team has basically never got past the first round (clips series didn’t count), stop acting like he’s above criticism. He is far from a bum, but his performance last night was utter shit and you’re delusional if you deny this.

like I said, the bile has been strong in this thread and you're one of those spewing the most bile, and a lot of it sure looks like ignorant bile

 

[Nurkalicious]

like I said, the bile has been strong in this thread and you're one of those spewing the most bile, and a lot of it sure looks like ignorant bile

Yet you can’t dispute anything I’ve said and you can just namecall

You don’t have to carry Dame’s water. It’s ok for him to not be perfect. Everyone who states valid criticism isn’t “spewing bile”

 

[Nurkalicious]

like I said, the bile has been strong in this thread and you're one of those spewing the most bile, and a lot of it sure looks like ignorant bile

Which part of my comment specifically was “ignorant bile”?

These are all facts:

- Dame has never led a team out of the first round (besides fluke clipper series)

- Dame doesn’t warm up much at all before games

- Dame doesn’t play as many minutes as other elite superstars

Facts don’t care about your feelings.

 

[kjironman1]

Which part of my comment specifically was “ignorant bile”?

These are all facts:

- Dame has never led a team out of the first round (besides fluke clipper series)

- Dame doesn’t warm up much at all before games

- Dame doesn’t play as many minutes as other elite superstars

Facts don’t care about your feelings.

Oh boy.... You are gonna get pummeled for that one. I'll start.... Houston .9

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

If he didn’t spend as much time rapping etc. and spent more time conditioning, maybe he could play over forty minutes like all the great nba superstars? Also if he took pre-game preparation more seriously he would have more productive games even when fatigued. I often go to the games early to watch warm ups. Dame never warms up. He casually shoots about 5 min before the game and that’s it. You’re really gonna blame the fuckin altitude...? It’s his work ethic.

+\- can be a very misleading stat. Dames numbers improved bc he was on the floor at the same time as Kanter and Layman.

A Dame-led blazer team has basically never got past the first round (clips series didn’t count), stop acting like he’s above criticism. He is far from a bum, but his performance last night was utter shit and you’re delusional if you deny this.

Wow... What is this post. Sure his performance last night wasnt good.

Everyone around the organization I have ever talked to says Dames work ethic is second to none on the team, he sets the tone for everyone else.

Dame isnt above criticism, but this criticism is more like slander then criticism.
He’s 6th in minutes per game this year.
Tied for fourth in minutes per game last year.
Was 10th before that.

Also what you see “pregame warm ups” is a small part of how they prepare for the game.

Last night Dame didnt play well, you know who else has had bad games? Everyone!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Which part of my comment specifically was “ignorant bile”?

These are all facts:

- Dame has never led a team out of the first round (besides fluke clipper series)

- Dame doesn’t warm up much at all before games

- Dame doesn’t play as many minutes as other elite superstars

Facts don’t care about your feelings.

Dames been in the top 10 in minutes pergame most of his career.
He has been to the second round twice.
Pregame warm ups are mostly for the fans most guys get there and get in work hours before its open for us to get there.

So really none of them are facts.

 

[JDC]

Im gonna have to go rewatch parts of this because it seems like Harkless got switched onto him a few times.

I dont really get where you’re coming from about Aminu being a crappy defender, I dont think anyone said that...

I embellished to make my point.

Paul was very effective, but aminu made him work for everything minus the late dunk on a gamble.

But instead all im hearing is that Aminu got smoked and isn't big enough to guard him.

And feel free to go back and watch. One switch is all I saw, but maybe I missed one.

 

[blue9]

Which part of my comment specifically was “ignorant bile”?

I typically don't respond to idiot moron trolls, but here ya go - this is your ignorant, idiotic, moronic bile:

If he didn’t spend as much time rapping etc. and spent more time conditioning, maybe he could play over forty minutes like all the great nba superstars? ... It’s his work ethic.

 

[Labinot41]

It's not the Denver game last night, in the past six games Dame is averaging 19.8PPG, 36.9FG% and 30.3 3PT%, that’s really bad for his standards, if Dame plays like this in the Playoffs, it will be a short series just like last year. Of course, I hope that it does not happen, but right now it's difficult for me to belive in Dame's shooting, considering the fact that he's a 40%FG and 34% 3pt% shooter in the Playoffs. One month ago i said Lillard is my favourite player and very good, but not elite, and by Elite i mean players like Steph, Durant, Harden, Giannis, Kawhi, Paul George, Joel Embiid etc. I think you can argue that Anthony Davis is better 1on1 than Dame as a player, i know he wont make the Playoffs this year, but you cant deny what a great player he is and what he did to Dame and our team last year. I'm not hating Dame, he's my favourite player, but i dont accept excuses this year if he doesn't show up in the Playoffs this year. If you want to be one of the elite Players in the league, then you have to be great in the Playoffs, nobody cares about Regular Season, we know that better than probably any other fanbase. Nothing would me make more happy than Dame time in the Playoffs, i really really hope it will happen this year!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I embellished to make my point.

Paul was very effective, but aminu made him work for everything minus the late dunk on a gamble.

But instead all im hearing is that Aminu got smoked and isn't big enough to guard him.

And feel free to go back and watch. One switch is all I saw, but maybe I missed one.

I think Aminu is a good defender, and I wouldnt even say he had a bad night, Millsap just made shots. He probably couldve closed out harder at times.

 

[Chris Craig]

Phoenix and New York have no incentive to lose. They are already locked into the bottom 4 and the bottom 4 all have the same odds of getting the number one pick. This is new to curb tanking. Knicks and Suns should go for it the rest of the way. I was telling Chris though, the best way to end tanking would be to make it so the bottom two teams don't get a first round pick at all. That would make for some very exciting games down the stretch.

A lottery pick. They don't get a lottery pick. They get a 1st rnd pick, just outside the lottery.

Phoenix and New York don't have an incentive to win either, that's the problem

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

He has been.

"BonesJones and his goons will kill u"...

C'mon, that's funny. (and I might even be considered one of your goons)

 

[Chris Craig]

Well the problem is, the idea of the draft is to help the worst teams by allowing them to get a good (hopefully) young player.
So if a team really, does just suck, its kind of a groin kick to say you suck and you dont get a first round pick...

They don't get a lottery pick. They get a pick right outside the lottery

 

[LuckyShot]

Which part of my comment specifically was “ignorant bile”?

These are all facts:

- Dame has never led a team out of the first round (besides fluke clipper series)

- Dame doesn’t warm up much at all before games

- Dame doesn’t play as many minutes as other elite superstars

Facts don’t care about your feelings.

So much idiocy in this post that I legitimately can't tell if it's serious, or Tunchi is just upping his trolling efforts.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

They don't get a lottery pick. They get a pick right outside the lottery

Didnt his original post say they dont get a 1st round pick?

 

[Chris Craig]

Didnt his original post say they dont get a 1st round pick?

Yes, but that is not we he and I discussed or agreed on. It was that they didn't get a lottery pick. They do get a 1st round pick.

 

[hoopsjock]

Wow... What is this post. Sure his performance last night wasnt good.

Everyone around the organization I have ever talked to says Dames work ethic is second to none on the team, he sets the tone for everyone else.

Dame isnt above criticism, but this criticism is more like slander then criticism.
He’s 6th in minutes per game this year.
Tied for fourth in minutes per game last year.
Was 10th before that.

Also what you see “pregame warm ups” is a small part of how they prepare for the game.

Last night Dame didnt play well, you know who else has had bad games? Everyone!

THIS is why people had so many issues with the posts during the game last night. It's one thing to critique someone for having a bad game but a lot of the posts last night were made by people who think things like this about Dame. They just sit in the weeds waiting for the team to lose in the 1st round so they can come in here and say these kinds of things and can never acknowledge that the good Dame has done for this franchise outweighs anything bad he has done.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Yes, but that is not we he and I discussed or agreed on. It was that they didn't get a lottery pick. They do get a 1st round pick.

Not sure Im sold on the idea, but thats better then non1st rounder lol.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

THIS is why people had so many issues with the posts during the game last night. It's one thing to critique someone for having a bad game but a lot of the posts last night were made by people who think things like this about Dame. They just sit in the weeds waiting for the team to lose in the 1st round so they can come in here and say these kinds of things and can never acknowledge that the good Dame has done for this franchise outweighs anything bad he has done.

I understood, I guess what I was saying is, those people are annoying but none of that is against the rules. People were getting “personal” about it when it didnt really seem like anyone needed to make it personal. I have plenty of stupid hot takes especially when its after a loss or Im all up in my feels.

 

[Chris Craig]

Not sure Im sold on the idea, but thats better then non1st rounder lol.

The new rule giving the worst four teams is a start. But, it won't stop them from tanking. Giving them incentive to win by not giving the worst teams a lottery pick will make teams want to win. Teams are still tanking. It makes for terrible basketball.

You don't want to see teams like Houston get easy HCA because they get to play bottom feeders at the end of the season and get to walk into the playoffs, who don't care to win. Who are shutting their best guys down when they can play.

 

[Chris Craig]

I understood, I guess what I was saying is, those people are annoying but none of that is against the rules. People were getting “personal” about it when it didnt really seem like anyone needed to make it personal. I have plenty of stupid hot takes especially when its after a loss or Im all up in my feels.

Yeah it's a pain in the ass, especially for mods

 

[Nurkalicious]

Wow... What is this post. Sure his performance last night wasnt good.

Everyone around the organization I have ever talked to says Dames work ethic is second to none on the team, he sets the tone for everyone else.

Dame isnt above criticism, but this criticism is more like slander then criticism.
He’s 6th in minutes per game this year.
Tied for fourth in minutes per game last year.
Was 10th before that.

Also what you see “pregame warm ups” is a small part of how they prepare for the game.

Last night Dame didnt play well, you know who else has had bad games? Everyone!

Lol Dame is an elite player, but he still needs to step up his preparation. Steve nash’s Workout pre-game puts Dame’s to shame. He is lazy before games. He does not have Kobe’s focus, intensity, or dedication. I love Lillard, enough to tell him when he’s clowning his career and talent away. Carry his water into mediocrity if it pleases you.

 

[hoopsjock]

It's not the Denver game last night, in the past six games Dame is averaging 19.8PPG, 36.9FG% and 30.3 3PT%, that’s really bad for his standards, if Dame plays like this in the Playoffs, it will be a short series just like last year. Of course, I hope that it does not happen, but right now it's difficult for me to belive in Dame's shooting, considering the fact that he's a 40%FG and 34% 3pt% shooter in the Playoffs. One month ago i said Lillard is my favourite player and very good, but not elite, and by Elite i mean players like Steph, Durant, Harden, Giannis, Kawhi, Paul George, Joel Embiid etc. I think you can argue that Anthony Davis is better 1on1 than Dame as a player, i know he wont make the Playoffs this year, but you cant deny what a great player he is and what he did to Dame and our team last year. I'm not hating Dame, he's my favourite player, but i dont accept excuses this year if he doesn't show up in the Playoffs this year. If you want to be one of the elite Players in the league, then you have to be great in the Playoffs, nobody cares about Regular Season, we know that better than probably any other fanbase. Nothing would me make more happy than Dame time in the Playoffs, i really really hope it will happen this year!

During those 6 games though he was also named player of the week and there's been games where he hasn't played a lot so that skews his PPG numbers.

Seriously, what do you want Dame to do? If he forces more shots against the defense being played last night those percentages likely look worse and you'd be posting today about how he's shooting too many 3's when he's not a good 3 point shooter. If he tries to get his teammates involved (KNOWING HE FUCKING NEEDS THEM IN THE PLAYOFFS) then you say he's disinterested. You bring up regular season stats to prove your point but then say regular season wins are meaningless? Why not see what he does in the playoffs this year before crucifying him?

Anthony Davis has been to the playoffs twice in 7 years and has just ONE 2nd round appearance. The Warriors have 5 All-Stars in their starting lineup. Dame doesn't even have one All-Star teammate. You complain about Dame but mention Paul George who hasn't really done shit in the playoffs either. OKC is fighting not to be the 8th seed while we're fighting for home court advantage.

 

[Nurkalicious]

Dames been in the top 10 in minutes pergame most of his career.
He has been to the second round twice.
Pregame warm ups are mostly for the fans most guys get there and get in work hours before its open for us to get there.

So really none of them are facts.

Pedantic details.

He’s in the “top 10” of minutes and he doesn’t play hard when he’s in.

He’s been to the second round twice. Once with Aldridge scoring 50 ppg and once when the clippers had Blake and Paul out.

Pregame warm ups are crucial. Ask Steve Nash.

 

[hoopsjock]

I understood, I guess what I was saying is, those people are annoying but none of that is against the rules. People were getting “personal” about it when it didnt really seem like anyone needed to make it personal. I have plenty of stupid hot takes especially when its after a loss or Im all up in my feels.

If you've been given your 6th chance to be a member of the forum and you are trying to make posts specifically because they rile up certain posters (which he admitted doing) then that is where I have a problem with why you can't post in a respectful way. Tunchi should be going out of his way to make sure he's not even getting close to the line instead of trying to see how close he can get without getting banned again.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Pedantic details.

He’s in the “top 10” of minutes and he doesn’t play hard when he’s in.

He’s been to the second round twice. Once with Aldridge scoring 50 ppg and once when the clippers had Blake and Paul out.

Pregame warm ups are crucial. Ask Steve Nash.

LMA didnt average 50ppg.
Those details are the facts about how much he plays.
He warms up before the game whether you see it or not. If you think he doesnt play hard thats your opinion but I bet if you asked the guys who have to play against him they’d disagree with you.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

If you've been given your 6th chance to be a member of the forum and you are trying to make posts specifically because they rile up certain posters (which he admitted doing) then that is where I have a problem with why you can't post in a respectful way. Tunchi should be going out of his way to make sure he's not even getting close to the line instead of trying to see how close he can get without getting banned again.

Well Tunchi should just go away and find something better to do with his time.

 

[hoopsjock]

Pedantic details.

He’s in the “top 10” of minutes and he doesn’t play hard when he’s in.

He’s been to the second round twice. Once with Aldridge scoring 50 ppg and once when the clippers had Blake and Paul out.

Pregame warm ups are crucial. Ask Steve Nash.

Where were these comments before last night? Dude has led Portland to 6 straight playoff appearances, the last 4 without even another All-Star on the roster and in the tough West. I'm sorry but you're just wrong.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Where were these comments before last night? Dude has led Portland to 6 straight playoff appearances, the last 4 without even another All-Star on the roster and in the tough West. I'm sorry but you're just wrong.

I mean what I would consider fair criticism of Dame looks more like this. Not a great percentage wise 3 point shooter. Tends to keep shooting 3’s even when he’s not on. Has a tendency to settle for 30 footers. His natural tendency to a trap is to go on his heels which puts him at a disadvantage

Saying he doesnt play hard, or he doenst work on being a conditioned athlete or he doesnt want to win that stuff is laughable.