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

[kjironman1]

Is Rondo a bad free throw shooter?

something like 54% this year.

 

[kjironman1]

I was gonna say "No shit, Sherlock" but I got chewed out for saying that earlier so I'll refrain. And it wouldn't have been meant in a disrespectful manner. We used to say that as kids when we agreed completely with what someone else was saying. I guess some in here take it differently.

No Shit Sherlock....

 

[Lanny]

something like 54% this year.

Almost as bad as Nurk during the second half of the season. Nurk's stat is only not disgusting 'cause he shot at least poorly during the first part of the season. Also, I'd like to see him stop shooting the long range 2 point jumper.

Disgusting is worse than poorly.

I cringe every time Nurk goes to the line.

 

[kjironman1]

Almost as bad as Nurk during the second half of the season. Nurk's stat is only not disgusting 'cause he shot at least poorly during the first part of the season. Also, I'd like to see him stop shooting the long range 2 point jumper.

Disgusting is worse than poorly.

I cringe every time Nurk goes to the line.

He'll get better. He has the touch to shoot the ball. Game is just still moving a bit fast for him.
Actually he needs to get better. This team needs him to be able to hit that elbow jumper.

 

[Lanny]

He'll get better. He has the touch to shoot the ball. Game is just still moving a bit fast for him.

I pray that you're right because that would be a dream come true.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

You could tell Nurk was concentrating and tried harder on his free throws at the end of the game last night. And he made them. Now he just needs to do that always.

 

[kjironman1]

I pray that you're right because that would be a dream come true.

That is the only hole in guys like Gobert, Jordan, Ed Davis game. They can't shoot the ball. If any of those guys had the ability to shoot from 14-17 feet out they would be absolute Monsters. They are already able to change the outcome of games with the things they do already.

 

[kjironman1]

You could tell Nurk was concentrating and tried harder on his free throws at the end of the game last night. And he made them. Now he just needs to do that always.

5-5 from the line.

 

[Lanny]

That is the only hole in guys like Gobert, Jordan, Ed Davis game. They can't shoot the ball. If any of those guys had the ability to shoot from 14-17 feet out they would be absolute Monsters. They are already able to change the outcome of games with the things they do already.

Give it up, Davis will never be a good mid range shooter. He's gonna have to be within 2 feet of the basket.

 

[JDC]

New Orleans was 21-37 on contested shots last night while we shot 17-51 on uncontested shots and still had a chance to win.

Tough to lose game 1, but I still like our chances to take this series.

 

[H.C.]

I disagree. It's a matchup issue and I think that each game will be a little bit different. First, I think Harkless changes the series for the Blazers. The Pels have to respect him if he's out there unlike Turner so I hope he doesnt come back any time soon. Second, as I said yesterday, I expect to see more Aminu and Zach Collins (maybe even Meyers Leonard) because AD & Mirotic roam everywhere. And Nurkic cannot keep up. If I was yall, I'd toy with the idea of playing big, i.e. Dame, CJ, Aminu, Collins, and Nurkic/Meyers Leonard. Or something to that effect because it'll keep the Pels out of the lane and force them to beat you on the perimeter, which won't happen. Not only that but yall would control the offensive & defensive glass and neutralize the Pelicans fast pace.

Or you can go small and start 3 guards along with Collins (I was really impressed with that prepubescent teenager) & Aminu/Nurkic. But that might play into the Pelicans hands because it would neutralize a strength of yalls (rebounding) and force yall to play with the pace New Orleans likes.

Each game is going to be a chess match.

Yeah I'm not as nice as everyone else on this forum.

See this is why I can't stand reading your comments.
You think Nurk doesn't have anyone to guard, because he can't keep up with AD or Mirotic. BUT you then say Leonard could play.
Give me a break dude. If you believe Nurk doesn't have anyone to guard. But then turn around and say Nards could play... It's just not worth talking to you.

The difference in the game was one thing.
Portland's star guards didn't show up until the 4th quarter.
It was obvious to anyone not wearing blinders for either side.
Pelicans are going to kill Portland if they're getting in transition.
Where if Portland keeps it a half court game. It'll make AD score 60 to beat them.

Means Portland's star guards have to show up. They don't need to score 60 combined to beat the Pelicans.
Just hitting their season averages is going to make the Pelicans play extremely well to beat Portland.
9 point game at half time, 3 points from CJ/Lillard combined.
Goes to 19 in the 3rd before Lillard & CJ start scoring and Portland cuts it to 1 with possession in the 4th.

This game is going to be close all series, but whichever teams star has lackluster performance is going to take the series.


Also, there is no bait with turner posting up smaller guards.
Portland took advantage of match ups and looked for small guards trying to defend Turner/Harkless when they went on their big win streak.
It's part of Portland's offense and takes pressure of Lillard/CJ while keeping others involved.
Last night they even did it with Collins. Pelicans aren't baiting anything. Any team will try to exploit match ups when they believe that have an advantage.

 

[SynTax]

I was gonna say "No shit, Sherlock" but I got chewed out for saying that earlier so I'll refrain. And it wouldn't have been meant in a disrespectful manner. We used to say that as kids when we agreed completely with what someone else was saying. I guess some in here take it differently.

The part I thought was interesting was the fact that the data wasn't just tracking data. The link shows that they also gave an estimated efg% weighted towards the players shooting the shots, and it was still the second highest of the day (after only the Warriors). I was sure we were getting good shots, I just thought it was deceptive considering who we had shooting them. It turns out I was wrong!

New Orleans was 21-37 on contested shots last night while we shot 17-51 on uncontested shots and still had a chance to win.

Tough to lose game 1, but I still like our chances to take this series.

Wow. I'm not sure which of those stats is more surprising: the 21/37 on contested shots, or the 17/51 on uncontested shots. Thanks for the stats! Let's hope for improvement on both of those for this game!

 

[Gronk Brady]

My anger from last nights has finally subsided... I removed the listing for my tickets and will go to game 2 to support team... but if this roster/coach has another showing like game 1, then changes have to be made in off season IMO... more specifically, trade CJ to balance roster and/or look for a coach that is not so player friendly and holds players accountable.

 

[KingSpeed]

My anger from last nights has finally subsided... I removed the listing for my tickets and will go to game 2 to support team... but if this roster/coach has another showing like game 1, then changes have to be made in off season IMO... more specifically, trade CJ to balance roster and/or look for a coach that is not so player friendly and holds players accountable.

balance the roster?? How does trading our starting SG balance the roster? Then we have no SG.

 

[Gronk Brady]

balance the roster?? How does trading our starting SG balance the roster? Then we have no SG.

So if Blazers lay an egg again in game 2, at home, you want to bring back same roster next season. We are guard heavy... would be nice to have a quality wing and get a SG that plays in the system and doesn’t need ball in his hands.

 

[deiondeion]

Yeah I'm not as nice as everyone else on this forum.

See this is why I can't stand reading your comments.
You think Nurk doesn't have anyone to guard, because he can't keep up with AD or Mirotic. BUT you then say Leonard could play.
Give me a break dude. If you believe Nurk doesn't have anyone to guard. But then turn around and say Nards could play... It's just not worth talking to you.

The difference in the game was one thing.
Portland's star guards didn't show up until the 4th quarter.
It was obvious to anyone not wearing blinders for either side.
Pelicans are going to kill Portland if they're getting in transition.
Where if Portland keeps it a half court game. It'll make AD score 60 to beat them.

Means Portland's star guards have to show up. They don't need to score 60 combined to beat the Pelicans.
Just hitting their season averages is going to make the Pelicans play extremely well to beat Portland.
9 point game at half time, 3 points from CJ/Lillard combined.
Goes to 19 in the 3rd before Lillard & CJ start scoring and Portland cuts it to 1 with possession in the 4th.

This game is going to be close all series, but whichever teams star has lackluster performance is going to take the series.


Also, there is no bait with turner posting up smaller guards.
Portland took advantage of match ups and looked for small guards trying to defend Turner/Harkless when they went on their big win streak.
It's part of Portland's offense and takes pressure of Lillard/CJ while keeping others involved.
Last night they even did it with Collins. Pelicans aren't baiting anything. Any team will try to exploit match ups when they believe that have an advantage.

nice to meet you dude. full disclosure, I didn't read your post and don't plan on reading your post due to your second line. Ill talk basketball and talk some smack with you guys in good fun, but basketball is a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy and have fun with. so I'm not wasting my time with a post that starts like that

 

[stampedehero]

Home Court Advantage means jack shit now.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Shabazz had 3 turnovers in 14 min game 1... I really hope Stotts considers benching him for Baldwin in game 2

 

[kjironman1]

Give it up, Davis will never be a good mid range shooter. He's gonna have to be within 2 feet of the basket.

That was the point. Neither will Deandre Jordan or Rudy Gobert.

 

[KingSpeed]

So if Blazers lay an egg again in game 2, at home, you want to bring back same roster next season. We are guard heavy... would be nice to have a quality wing and get a SG that plays in the system and doesn’t need ball in his hands.

You don't know what you're talking about. Guard heavy? We only have one decent SG. CJ.

 

[Gronk Brady]

You don't know what you're talking about. Guard heavy? We only have one decent SG. CJ.

50% of salary cap for 15 man roster committed to 2 players at PG and SG is definition of guard heavy roster... you don’t know what you are talking about... and you didn’t answer my question

 

[KingSpeed]

50% of salary cap for 15 man roster committed to 2 players at PG and SG is definition of guard heavy roster... you don’t know what you are talking about... and you didn’t answer my question

What is the mystery SHOOTING guard that doesn't need the ball that fits into our "system"? It's bad to have a good SG and a good PG? What the fuck?

 

[KingSpeed]

The three biggest favorites in this playoffs is DeRozen/Lowry, Klay/Steph, and Paul/Harden. You need good guards to win.

 

[KingSpeed]

And yes, I want to bring back our roster. We're the youngest team in the playoffs that is slowly but surely coming into its own.

 

[Gronk Brady]

What is the mystery SHOOTING guard that doesn't need the ball that fits into our "system"? It's bad to have a good SG and a good PG? What the fuck?

There is no point in arguing with you if you like being mediocre and don’t even want to look for a solution

 

[H.C.]

nice to meet you dude. full disclosure, I didn't read your post and don't plan on reading your post due to your second line. Ill talk basketball and talk some smack with you guys in good fun, but basketball is a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy and have fun with. so I'm not wasting my time with a post that starts like that

But you're not talking basketball.
You said Nurk has no one to guard. Then in the same post.. went on to say Nards might play because of matchups.
Literally contradicts yourself.
You're posts aren't worth reading.
You quoted me, could've left it alone. Instead you tried to 'talk basketball' with me.
Then you get upset when someone laughs at your post.

Don't read my posts, I frankly don't care.
But don't expect everyone on this forum to sugar coat their posts to you.

 

[KingSpeed]

There is no point in arguing with you if you like being mediocre and don’t even want to look for a solution

We're not mediocre. We went from 8 seed to 3 seed in one year. We are on the rise. Even if we lose this series, that doesn't erase that. Teams lose in playoffs. Even the Spurs lost in playoffs as #1 seed once and they didn't break up the team. Stay the course. We're getting better. We'll be even better next year. A trade for a trade's sake won't help.

 

[KingSpeed]

But you're not talking basketball.
You said Nurk has no one to guard. Then in the same post.. went on to say Nards might play because of matchups.
Literally contradicts yourself.
You're posts aren't worth reading.
You quoted me, could've left it alone. Instead you tried to 'talk basketball' with me.
Then you get upset when someone laughs at your post.

Nards is awesome. He can hit swish3s.

 

[H.C.]

Nards is awesome. He can hit swish3s.

True sarcasm doesn't need green font.
Well played Eric.

 

[deiondeion]

We're not mediocre. We went from 8 seed to 3 seed in one year. We are on the rise. Even if we lose this series, that doesn't erase that. Teams lose in playoffs. Even the Spurs lost in playoffs as #1 seed once and they didn't break up the team. Stay the course. We're getting better. We'll be even better next year. A trade for a trade's sake won't help.

speaking of trades, what was yall reaction to the Allen Crabbe trade?