GAME THREAD: HEAT @ BLAZERS - 12/28/13, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), KGW

[julius]

Our D needs quite a bit of work

More than a bit.

This is upsetting, especially considering the Heat didn't have LeBron. They should've won, but Miamis defensive system is good even without LeBron.

It does kind of show that Miami is at a whole other level than Portland is (and imho, OKC). Now onto the Pelicans!

 

[B-Roy]

Aldridge should have stayed on Bosh. I saw the three coming the second LA followed Wade to the paint. Our defense really needs some work.

 

[LuckyShot]

Stotts needs to figure out how to deal with teams doubling Lillard on the pick and roll. It completely takes him out of the game and it really seems to hurt our offense. We've seen it a few times now. LAC was doing the same thing.

Anyone that faces us in the playoffs will do the same thing.

 

[TBpup]

No. It's actually not the difference between a contender and a team trying to get their. It's one game of 82.

Guess we have different opinions. The champs playing without their best player on the 2nd of a back-to-back beating a team off to a good start but that hasn't proved anything so far like Miami has. Quite a difference. I can appreciate the abject/no discussion opinion though.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Someway, somehow this coaching staff needs to figure out how to gain separation from the opponents. Portlands end of game heroics caught up with them.

 

[Samuel]

Dude.... he was like four feet behind the line... and it was Chris Bosh. We aren't talking about Ray Allen here.

Nah, he's pretty good from the outside. Over 40% from 3 in the playoffs last year. Gotta mark him.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't know---if you defend Wade like you did 22 seconds earlier (let's not even talk about the Foul to Give),the worst scenario you have is the ball in a tie game with about 4 seconds left.

 

[TheBlueDoggy]

Stotts needs to figure out how to deal with teams doubling Lillard on the pick and roll. It completely takes him out of the game and it really seems to hurt our offense. We've seen it a few times now. LAC was doing the same thing.

I agree, in the absence of Lillard learning how to dribble/pass out of the double, Stotts needs to come up with some kind of game plan for this. Lillard has always been neutralized by this play, and the Blazers as a whole have a tendency to pick up the dribble in that situation and throw a panic pass to the closest person they see, which is exactly what the Heat's defense was waiting for.

Disappointing loss, could have just as easily been a win, but I think it gives the Blazers a spot light on a few correctable holes they need to plug. Let's see if they make the right adjustments.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

More than a bit.

This is upsetting, especially considering the Heat didn't have LeBron. They should've won, but Miamis defensive system is good even without LeBron.

It does kind of show that Miami is at a whole other level than Portland is (and imho, OKC). Now onto the Pelicans!

You guys didn't think we'd beat Miami in the playoffs did you? They've been docking around thus far; they'll turn it on and win the championship still. They could sit their big three all season and still make the playoffs in the east.

 

[Strenuus]

I think it's safe to say we had at least 1 too many lazy passes at the top of the 3 point line tonight. Good lord that was maddening.

Yeah. That was probably the most frustarting part of the game.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I don't know---if you defend Wade like you did 22 seconds earlier (let's not even talk about the Foul to Give),the worst scenario you have is the ball in a tie game with about 4 seconds left.

Yeah the double by LA was maybe asked for but not the best move in hindsight.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

I think it's safe to say we had at least 1 too many lazy passes at the top of the 3 point line tonight. Good lord that was maddening.

No shit. Hope the players are pissed, cause they were terrible taking care of the ball tonight.

 

[B-Roy]

Dude a prayer from Bosh beat us. It wasn't like we got smashed.

Think about this. The last time Portland allowed less than 100 points was 12/9 against the Jazz... Who still scored more than their average.

 

[magnifier661]

We had this game won. We handed them the game. I'm not upset one bit. I'd be more upset if they blew us out.

 

[magnifier661]

Think about this. The last time Portland allowed less than 100 points was 12/9 against the Jazz... Who still scored more than their average.

And yet we have one of the best teams in the NBA.

Not swayed

 

[Rhal]

No shit. Hope the players are pissed, cause they were terrible taking care of the ball tonight.

To many times we have been horrible taking care of the ball and on D in the 4th and letting teams come back in only to pull it out in the end. I think we got to comfortable with the idea we will just win close games no matter what and I also hope they are pissed and learn something from this.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Guess we have different opinions. The champs playing without their best player on the 2nd of a back-to-back beating a team off to a good start but that hasn't proved anything so far like Miami has. Quite a difference. I can appreciate the abject/no discussion opinion though.

It's just one game. Blazers beat themselves.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I wonder how chuck feels about the win coming because miami's center started shooting threes

 

[Rhal]

Think about this. The last time Portland allowed less than 100 points was 12/9 against the Jazz... Who still scored more than their average.

This has a lot to do with the pace. When you play at a fairly quick pace so will the other team and its fine to allow 100 points when your scoring 110 a game, its when you score 110 a game and are letting other teams core 108-109 that its bad.

 

[julius]

You guys didn't think we'd beat Miami in the playoffs did you? They've been docking around thus far; they'll turn it on and win the championship still. They could sit their big three all season and still make the playoffs in the east.

No I didn't. I'm still not convinced this team is ready to make it out of the first round of the playoffs to be honest.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Guess we have different opinions. The champs playing without their best player on the 2nd of a back-to-back beating a team off to a good start but that hasn't proved anything so far like Miami has. Quite a difference. I can appreciate the abject/no discussion opinion though.

Miami was 5-1 without LeBron last season... It's like Lakers without Kobe: dangerous because there's no clear scouting plan.

 

[Strenuus]

I wonder how chuck feels about the win coming because miami's center started shooting threes

Jump shooting teams win!

-Chucks new montra.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

No I didn't. I'm still not convinced this team is ready to make it out of the first round of the playoffs to be honest.

Me neither but luckily it doesn't matter what we believe.

 

[BrianFromWA]

well, I think the Heat going 5-7 (2-2 on 3's by Bosh) in the last 3 minutes will hurt our "end-of-game Defensive Efficiency" metric.

Though our 1-3 (7-7 FTs) during the same timespan won't hurt.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Miami was 5-1 without LeBron last season... It's like Lakers without Kobe: dangerous because there's no clear scouting plan.

yup

 

[B-Roy]

And yet we have one of the best teams in the NBA.

Not swayed

The Blazers are one of the best teams in the league. This is indisputable if you look at their record. At the same time, it's not wrong to say they have major issues on defense.

 

[magnifier661]

The Blazers are one of the best teams in the league. This is indisputable if you look at their record. At the same time, it's not wrong to say they have major issues on defense.

The defense needs work, but how is that relevant to your response? I responded to someone saying this is why defense wins, but if Bosh missed that 3, then the argument doesn't work.

Get it?

 

[B-Roy]

This has a lot to do with the pace. When you play at a fairly quick pace so will the other team and its fine to allow 100 points when your scoring 110 a game, its when you score 110 a game and are letting other teams core 108-109 that its bad.

Except the Blazers don't play at a high pace, they are average. Tied for 12th.

 

[TBpup]

The Blazer have won more than their fair share of games at the buzzer....the odds caught up with them on one night. Great effort by the Heat and you have to appreciate their effort with the the league MVP. Portland seemed to let down a bit and not be very focused. It may be only one game but it is a statement game against the 2-time champs and they didn't pass.

Doesn't mean they aren't good or still aren't a top team but they lost, Heat won....next game. Let's see how they do against OKC without Westbrook.

 

[maxiep]

What can you do but tip your hat to the Heat? They played a great game, especially Bosh, who stepped up when they needed him most.