Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 2: PELICANS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 17, 2018, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT & NBCSNW

[hoopsjock]

That's how playoff basketball is called.
Portland plays soft & didn't adjust. Refs were fair tonight. There were lots of no calls both ways.

Most of the bad calls had NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING SOFT.

There were at least 3 blatant balls off of Pelican players right in front of a ref and they gave the ball to them.

Anthony Davis throwing his whole arm and elbow into Harkless' face and calling a foul on Harkless was just pathetic.

The Blazers themselves are definitely more at fault for this but to say the refs were fair is the stupidest comment I've ever read on this site. Congratulations.

 

[HolyBackboard]

I've been lurking since the playoffs started but haven't been able to put into words what I've seen so far from the Blazers.

- Game 2 proved to me that the Conference Semis is as good as it gets with Terry Stotts at the helm. Mind you, I'm not saying there's a better coach available right now, but if 45-50 wins and a series win every 4-5 years is your jam then let's keep Stotts. He had to have known that New Orleans was going to do everything possible to take the ball away from Dame and CJ, which they did in both games, yet I have seen zero adjustments from Coach Stotts. I won't put all of this on Stotts as both Dame and CJ missed shooters wide open in favor for over-dribbling or more difficult passes but the offense remains the same. We run a big out to either receive a handoff or set a screen and if that action doesn't work, we stall. There's no movement, no cutting, and most importantly no patience with this offense. We're getting throughly out-coached by Alvin Gentry ... let that one sink in.

- For once it would be nice to try and force the opposition's hot scorers to give up the ball. All season long Portland has let superstars go off (Beal for 51, KD for 50, Greek Freak for 44, etc) and for the most part it doesn't work out in the end for Portland. Tonight was no different. Every time New Orleans needed a bucket, we let Jrue Holiday back our guards down into the paint, utilizing the threat of a lob over the top to Davis as collateral, and silenced the crowd. I know Mirotic hit a few big shots but Solomon Hill and Ian Clark were a combined 2-9, E'Twaan Moore was quiet as well, and I'll always live with Rondo taking a jump shot. We're not making life easy for the Pelicans on offense, not even showing them any other looks until the game is well in hand. If they're going to play Rondo 35+ minutes a night, we need to make them pay for going 4-on-5 on offense.

- Poise, patience, and control. What are three attributes the Blazers haven't had in either playoff game for $500, Alex? Whether it was throwing an outlet pass into the front row, letting a ball slip through our fingers, dribbling into three defenders, or rushing a shot on offense, the Trail Blazers looked out of sync and uncomfortable from the get go. I have no reason or rationale for why this occurring and it's equally scary how calm, cool, and collected our counterparts from the Crescent City looked. Why are the Blazers playing so tight? It's been this type of basketball since the 13-game winning streak was ended. If we don't regain control, this series is over.

- Why did we go small? It was our dominance on the glass and second-chance points let earned us a nine-point second quarter lead. Yet, when New Orleans went small, Stotts reacted and matched. When has that ever worked out in our favor this year? Did he already forget the Boston game? We simply can not win games without rebounders in there. Also, by going small is essentially eliminates our pick and roll action from the top of the key, which resulted in plenty of points in the paint in the first half.

- Last but not least, I saw a lack of trust on the team tonight. Instead of trust, it was as if each player felt personally responsible for the score and was going to do everything they could, individually, to bring the team back. We won't win anything with this mindset.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Most of the bad calls had NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING SOFT.

There were at least 3 blatant balls off of Pelican players right in front of a ref and they gave the ball to them.

Anthony Davis throwing his whole arm and elbow into Harkless' face and calling a foul on Harkless was just pathetic.

The Blazers themselves are definitely more at fault for this but to say the refs were fair is the stupidest comment I've ever read on this site. Congratulations.

I would go as far as saying the refs played an integral part in Portland losing that game ... mentally, it's tough trying to play 5-on-8. With that said, even if we win tonight if calls went our way, we'd lose the series, because we're not playing Blazer basketball.

 

[hoopsjock]

Yup. But apparently Olshey didn't have a 1st round pick to trade...

Oh wait.. we have to draft the next Caleb Swanigan..

Honest question Bones:

Would you rather have Mirotic this year to help us get out of the 1st round but probably not still beat GS or Houston with no TPE this summer and the repeater tax starting or Chandler Hutchinson on the team next year with the TPE still available and the ability to go into the tax without huge penalties?

 

[hoopsjock]

One thing I can say for absolute certainty:

The crowd fucking brought it tonight. That was the loudest I heard it in there all season. It's too bad our team didn't match the effort of the crowd.

Oh and someone should have told Turner the game had started.

 

[H.C.]

This is so weak. The refs weren't perfect, but they were fair.

Refs did not cause us to loose the game. Coaching (or lack thereof) did

Hey excellent post. But can you do me a favor.
Please point to the exact part of any post i've made which says.
The refs caused Portland to lose the game.

I'll wait with great anticipation of your reply. Being that you're such an excellent poster....

 

[Sarni]

The most frustrating thing about this game for me, aside from the fact that I stayed up all night to watch it and now have to go through 8 hours of work (including 3 hours of meetings) without any sleep whatsoever, is that every single time we seemed to have gained some momentum and crawled our way back from 5-9 point deficit, we dug another hole for ourselves in the next few plays. We chased them from deficit 4 or 5 times during the game and never actually went on any kind of run to build a lead, instead we just allowed them to get back into significant lead time and time again. If the game lasted for five more minutes we would have probably produced another comeback and then gone behind again.

 

[BonesJones]

Honest question Bones:

Would you rather have Mirotic this year to help us get out of the 1st round but probably not still beat GS or Houston with no TPE this summer and the repeater tax starting or Chandler Hutchinson on the team next year with the TPE still available and the ability to go into the tax without huge penalties?

I'd rather have Chandler Hutchison for sure.

Olshey will instead, draft Donte DiVicenzo.

 

[DDolla]

Just my opinion: I think Dame is tired and not getting the rest he needed due to being a first time father. Anyone here knows how he was shooting before and after the birth of Dame Jr? The road games could be a good thing for Dame and the Blazers so we could see a new Dame come Thursday.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Tbf, we have gotten absolutely railroaded by the refs... AT HOME

Hahahaha.

Thanks for this. After a brutal loss at home, this puts a smile on my face

 

[stampedehero]

Uh oh.....the third quarter looked like crap and in the fourth we played to match points rather than take and hold a lead. Now the horrible odds of winning four in a row has been cursed upon this team.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So I guess with just using some simple math, this was the 3rd best thing that could have happened?

 

[SIeepwalker]

So I guess with just using some simple math, this was the 3rd best thing that could have happened?

Depends.
I you count winning 1 and losing 1 as just one thing, it is. But if you sepparate winning game 1/losing game 2 and losing game 1/winning game 2 as two distinct things, this was only the 4th best thing that could have happened !

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I'd rather have Chandler Hutchison for sure.

Olshey will instead, draft Donte DiVicenzo.

Who are we kidding? He’s gonna take Moritz Wagner.

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Hahahaha.

Thanks for this. After a brutal loss at home, this puts a smile on my face

If you want to personally punch me or anybody else from this forum in the face you should ask them for their address.

After a loss like that, this is what you post?

YOU'RE A ASSHOLE.

@SlyPokerDog if you have to ban me for breaking the personal insult rule,although in this case, if the shoe fits...., do what you have to do. Just let me know if it is a temporary or permanent ban via PM.

Thank you.

As for the Blazers, I believe this will be over next Tuesday in New Orleans. If Olshey wants any chance of saving his job he should announce that CJ is available for trade.

It hurts right now but GO BLAZERS!

See everyone next year!!!!!!!

Or not?

 

[SIeepwalker]

We didn't lose because of the refs, we lost because we shat the bed yet again late in the 4th

 

[Lukee]

we didnt make the shots

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

we didnt make the shots

Also CJ is a glory and ball hogging MFer. Instead of passing and setting up the offence up for a better shot, when the game was tied at 93, he has to be the guy who gives the Blazers the lead.

It is sooooooo frustrating. I am done with him being on the team I root for.

 

[Lukee]

Also CJ is a glory and ball hogging MFer. Instead of passing and setting up the offence up for a better shot, when the game was tied at 93, he has to be the guy who gives the Blazers the lead.

It is sooooooo frustrating. I am done with him being on the team I root for.

He was taking the ball without passing 3-4 straight times in 4th q. Despite he made 2 shots, I wanted to kill him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If you want to personally punch me or anybody else from this forum in the face you should ask them for their address.

After a loss like that, this is what you post?

YOU'RE A ASSHOLE.

@SlyPokerDog if you have to ban me for breaking the personal insult rule,although in this case, if the shoe fits...., do what you have to do. Just let me know if it is a temporary or permanent ban via PM.

Thank you.

As for the Blazers, I believe this will be over next Tuesday in New Orleans. If Olshey wants any chance of saving his job he should announce that CJ is available for trade.

It hurts right now but GO BLAZERS!

See everyone next year!!!!!!!

Or not?

Don't be silly. Sly will just edit your post.

Why would I punch anybody? I want them to win just as much as you, but I don't blame the refs after every loss.

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Don't be silly. Sly will just edit your post.

Why would I punch anybody? I want them to win just as much as you, but I don't blame the refs after every loss.

I posted who is to blame above you.

Also posting 'HAHAHAHA' and 'puts a smile on my face', in a post after a frustrating and emotional Blazers loss like last night is always going to get a heated and negative response.

 

[Sarni]

It's another discussion altogether but how good are Pelicans going to be once Cousins returns?

I think they'd be tough to handle even for the best teams in the league, with Jrue and Davis playing this way. Mirotic is a very threatening player off the bench and they have plenty of decent shooters that you need to pay attention to on the perimeter. Maybe not contender level but definitely a team that should have a HCA in the West.

We wouldn't even be close in this series if Boogie was healthy and it's a worry. I know people dismiss the fact that we got our 3rd seed largely due to injuries in other teams and it doesnt' really matter if you do well in the playoffs and have a season to remember but if you completely fail in the playoffs (direction we seem to be heading in), it really does matter because it helps you evaluate the strength of the team and make moves.

 

[Sarni]

That Mirotic three when we were 100-99 ahead was crucial. He doesn't make that one, we score back and the game could go our way.

 

[Lukee]

That Mirotic three when we were 100-99 ahead was crucial. He doesn't make that one, we score back and the game could go our way.

That was some crazy shoot.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I posted who is to blame above you.

Also posting 'HAHAHAHA' and 'puts a smile on my face', in a post after a frustrating and emotional Blazers loss like last night is always going to get a heated and negative response.

You do you

 

[Jason W Strickland]

What is it with all the Pels bashing on here. Some of you speak as if you are were such a far superior team and have no business losing to a lowly NOLA shitty city, pseudo fanbase team. The record shows you were only one game better over an 82 game season. In fact, just like every western conference playoff team outside of Houston and Golden State, only 3 games separated you from the 3 seed and missing the playoffs all together. Just curious as I've seen this sentiment echoed by many posters here.

 

[Sarni]

What is it with all the Pels bashing on here. Some of you speak as if you are were such a far superior team and have no business losing to a lowly NOLA shitty city, pseudo fanbase team. The record shows you were only one game better over an 82 game season. In fact, just like every western conference playoff team outside of Houston and Golden State, only 3 games separated you from the 3 seed and missing the playoffs all together. Just curious as I've seen this sentiment echoed by many posters here.

Yeah that is true. West was full of teams of similar quality this year, below Warriors you could see any team between 3 and 10 beat another team from the same places over 7 games. I don't think it's an embarrassment to lose to New Orleans, it's however very disappointing to be 2-0 down in the series after two home games. We should make good use of homecourt advantage and we haven't done that at all.

Also, if everyone is healthy Timberwolves and Pelicans are better teams than us. Probably OKC too.

 

[trailblazer18]

That Mirotic three when we were 100-99 ahead was crucial. He doesn't make that one, we score back and the game could go our way.

I agree. My heart sank when he nailed that. Can we sign Bobby Portis for the rest of the series?

 

[kjironman1]

They haven't. I just watched the press conference. Dame actually said he's looking forward to the challenge. That it's fun.

Dame is being delusional. This is going to be a sweep if he doesn't figure out when there are three guys guarding him there are two open players on the court. They are throwing a blanket on him and he can't find an open shooter.
Yes the small lineup seems to frustrate Davis a bit but not having Nurk on the court killed the team. He is big enough to set a real screen and he can keep them honest on defense. That lineup will only work for short stretches. You can't go with that group for an entire fourth quarter because it depends only on Aminu/Harkless/Collins making open looks from three. There was nobody that could roll to the rim on the offensive side. Though they did fight their way to a few nice put back type buckets.

I agree this is a seven game series but that is only if they can get a win next game. We all know there has NEVER been a team come back from 0-3. And no this will not be the first team to do it. "Why not us" will not fly this year.....

 

[kjironman1]

- Last but not least, I saw a lack of trust on the team tonight. Instead of trust, it was as if each player felt personally responsible for the score and was going to do everything they could, individually, to bring the team back. We won't win anything with this mindset.

I've been seeing this for the last 10-15 games. When Harkless went down Turner came in and the chemistry changed. Then Davis went down and it got worse. Then Lillard got hurt and CJ was trying to win games by himself.
This is a problem.