Please point out the negative from tonight's win against the Celtics

[TradeNurkicNow]

GOD HELP US IF LAs SHOT ISNT FALLING or BLAKES MISSING THREES WOUT BRANDON.

this is basically all of your posts to me

 

[Cake]

That was a great, gritty win for a young team on the rise.

They looked horrible in the first quarter - just lost without Roy. They only scored 13 points and were en route to getting run out of their own building by the defending champs. Yet, they pulled out one of the more impressive wins I've seen - against a very good team that never went away.

So, please, to all those people who only appear to see the negative: please tell me what the negative is from this game.

I don't like their uniforms.

 

[Cake]

I must be the only idiot on the board (aside from Mixum), since apparently we played The Perfect Game and I missed it. Did I enjoy the game? Sure. Did I scream at the TV more than once? Yep. If you didn't, good for you. You have more patience, or better blinders (or Rose-colored Kool-Aid). B/c I watched 48 minutes of basketball (most parts twice), and, sure 'nuff...saw some bad things.

I know, say it ain't so. We can't win unless we play The Perfect Game (TPG). Sucks that we broke out TPG so early, and Roy wasn't involved. Wish we could've held onto it for the playoffs.

Normally I'd start with the positives, and then go into the negatives, but since OP asked (and Alex thinks I'm an idiot) I'll flip the script.

1) Steve Blake still shows an inability to take advantage of a fast break opportunity. It's almost Jack-like. But I was impressed at how JB found LMA on the dunk in the 4th.

1a) Blake and Oden were the only ones keeping us in the game in the first half. Blake was clutch from 3. When he is, he's great for us. When he's not hitting his 3's, it's tougher for me to have patience with a 6th-year vet.

2) Bayless is lacking in some basic PG skills, like not picking the ball up unless you have someone to pass to. I still think he has tons of talent and would like to see him start. I was happy to hear that he's getting all of his time in practice with the first unit.

3) Lost in all the Travis love for tonight (where I was happy to see that he attacked the rim hard and went after rebounds) the BrianFromWA Rule of Travis (BROT) is still in effect: it's a crapshoot from play to play if he'll do something insanely boneheaded or that makes you stand up and scream like Braveheart. Not game to game or quarter to quarter; play to play. I was happy to see that he redeemed himself at the end tonight.

4) Until Oden "tosses" Allen into the stands, we were still getting punked. LMA needs to realize a little earlier that if he's missing that open jumper, he should take it inside for some chippies, or get to the line to get a rhythm going, then go back outside. IIRC he was 2-8 before he even got to the line. If he's drilling that 18-footer, no worries. If he's not, it's tough for us if he keeps letting it fly.

4b) Second half, we played much tighter D, seemed to respond like pros to the refs, the trashtalk, and the game situation.

5) This isn't a negative, but something I find interesting. The first half the game was called pretty tightly on both ends. Then Doc Rivers spends an entire timeout in the ears of all three refs, and then it starts getting a little hinky. I'm not sure it's a negative, or if I don't see it; I rarely see Nate lighting up refs for bad calls. Maybe that's a reason we talk so much about "poorly reffed games" in here?

6a) It took about 4 possessions with Joel and Oden in the game together (iirc) for a guard to throw one of them the ball. Then, there were two 3 point plays in 2 possessions. I wish our guards would look more for bigs in the paint.

6b) Really enjoyed seeing Greg play tonight. Him pushing Allen out of bounds turned the tide.

6c) Not sure I like 2 PGs and Travis with the 2 C's in the game.

7) Sergio seemed taken a bit out of his game tonight. Clutch FTs at the end, but I'm not sure he is confident playing off the ball as the 2. Him with Bayless reminded me a lot of him with Jack last year, and imo it's wasting a bit of his talent and taking away from Bayless's ability to create for an open shooter. Maybe that's something both get better at throughout the year. A little along the same lines, I don't like Rudy starting at the 2, since he's always with the 2nd unit in practice with Sergio and Outlaw. It seemed to take him a bit out of his game early.

Great win. Great fun to watch. Agonizing during certain parts. I'll bet Nate finds 30 things in this, TPG, to teach the team about or to "correct".

I aim to please.

W.

(my message was too short, so I'm adding this addendum)

 

[Natebishop3]

you asked for it.

first it was a wonderful win...a gutty win and proved garnett needs his f#cking ass kicked. I hate garnett more then any player in the nba. guy is a complete scumbag.

Oden looked like a top 5 pick and LA stepped up. Rebecca must have motivated him last night.

ok heres your negative....

OUTLAW... was responsible for a 5 point swing where he missed a wide open 3 and then fouled pierce after a made basket. Then pierce stelas teh ball form outlaw for an easy layup while travis has teh deer in headlights look. He comes back and misses a 20 ft jumper. Thats why as much as he shoots well...he kills you everywhere else.

BATUM... 0 POINTS? Cant have that from your starting SF in the NBA. Least he plays decent defense.


BAYLESS... oh god he's miserable on offense. I really cant remember him making a jump shot. Hes gotta be shooting under 20%. His defense is laughable. However Sergio isnt much better on defense or shooting so its pick your poison if you wanna lose a lead. Chris Paul must be drooling for friday. At this point Id trade one cause neither is any big loss. Get value before its too late IMO. If teh knicks want Sergio...find a way to get Lee and give them sergio and whatever else.

RUDY... AWFUL GAME ALL AROUND except for the free throws. Hes more out of control then ever. His 3pt shot looks worse every game. Cant shoot jumpers and doesn.t drive enough to the rim.

PRYZ... Worst game of the season. Got abused.

REFS....i thought we were playing the spurs.

GOD HELP US IF LAs SHOT ISNT FALLING or BLAKES MISSING THREES WOUT BRANDON.

Your assessment of Bayless, Rudy, and Joel was way off.

 

[Bosco]

Now THAT is a valid point. LMA should've gotten his money's worth on his technical and whacked him harder upside the back of KG's pointed head. Where's Anthony Peeler when you need him? Can we still sign him?

[video=youtube;S7krGO66LYM]

it's so satisfying to see KG get hit....

 

[Natebishop3]

it's so satisfying to see KG get hit....

Notice how KG did nothing

 

[mgb]

I wouldn't be to tough on Bayless, he's getting more mins finally, but he's a rookie so it's a learning experience.

Rudy's shot hasn't been going down, but he does do more than just shoot.

 

[Mediocre Man]

How about we still switch on every defensive possession allowing mismatches every time down the floor?

Blake can't take advantage on the break?

LMA settled for his jumper in the first half too much?

I mean there are negatives in every game.




As I pointed out in another thread though, the Blazers did a lot of things to correct what their problems were against Toronto.

They moved a lot more.
They attacked the basket and fed the post a lot more.
They moved a lot more on offense.


Great, great win. It is the style of play that was great though. Win or lose last night and it was a step forward if they maintain that.