Game Thread PRESEASON GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - DECEMBER 16, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[Cugel]

22 assists vs. What 11??? Stotts will never learn from his mistakes. Hubris man.

 

[BonesJones]

Well this sucks.
Nuggets pretty much showing the Blazers are nowhere near being a contender this year.
Quite a bit different than playing the Kings huh?

Nowhere near contender this year? Box they're showing us the things we need to fix. Contending teams have duds like this, so I'm not gonna write this team off because of a bad half in the preseason due to some fixable issues.

I'm discouraged by the way the offense is functioning but that's the only thing I'm discouraged about, and hopefully that'll improve.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[BonesJones]

Well want can you say about our defense how many layins by them moving without the ball that's impressive. But honestly we got one rim protector on this team right that's Nurk. Positive side we had only 8 turnovers that half. But only 11 assist to there 22 assist and they control the boards.

Were not giving up those layins because of a lack of rim protection, were giving them up because our backside rotations suck.

 

[TBpup]

Stotts is who he is and isn't going to change.
CJ is who he is and isn't going to change.
Melo is who he is and isn't going to change.

If those 3 persons are part of a big 5 including Dame and Jurkic, things are not going to change with the addition of a couple of G-leaguers made good. It is the culture (which to be fair also has some good parts to it), style and tendencies that are ongoing and allowed.

Until some of those pillars change, I don't see the results changing either. Sad to watch....year after year after year.

 

[Hoopguru]

Let the offense go through Nurk, there is so much more movement.

 

[wizenheimer]

is giving up 54% shooting and 22 assists in the first half a sign of the improved defense?...asking for a friend

 

[kjironman1]

Nowhere near contender this year? Box they're showing us the things we need to fix. Contending teams have duds like this, so I'm not gonna write this team off because of a bad half in the preseason due to some fixable issues.

I'm discouraged by the way the offense is functioning but that's the only thing I'm discouraged about, and hopefully that'll improve.

I’m feeling a little negative. Thanks for bringing me off the edge so to speak.
The frustration was real watching that last three go down,

 

[James lamphear]

The defense looks bad, but its not because of Stotts at all. I love what Stotts is trying to do. Players just aren't in sync yet and theyre rotating slow and overhelping. The execution isnt there, and that's too be expected with a new philosophy in the preseason.

Now if that doesnt improve over half the season, then you could blame Stotts because good coaching should help increase proper execution and fix some of those issues. However, there will be some growing pains, and that's okay.

I but the problem is he putting in new defense with short amount of time for this team to catch on how to play it properly. I am not saying I don't like what he trying to do but how many lost are we going to give up before he either pull the plug on all together or when they actually going to excute properly.

 

[BonesJones]

Agreed... those teams had better options, we don't. Miami had better options on thier bench than we have to start. We're on the same page.

Those teams options werent much better at all. Given Jones age, he should be better this year, and his playing level this year could be high enough where he wouldve gotten regular playoff minutes last season.

Kanter literally started on a WCF team and now he's not good enough to be a backup C just because the Celtics had Thies and RWIII, both of which would be great backup Cs?

Or is what you're implying not what you mean? Seems like you're vague on purpose so you have some wiggle room.

 

[kjironman1]

Yes I do yell at my TV.
It’s a good TV always works. But I still yell at it!

 

[Buffalo Custard]

I have to give them credit - they are doing a stellar job lowering our expectations.

 

[wizenheimer]

CJ breaks one of the cardinal rules of basketball.

pink shoes?

 

[BonesJones]

I but the problem is he putting in new defense with short amount of time for this team to catch on how to play it properly. I am not saying I don't like what he trying to do but how many lost are we going to give up before he either pull the plug on all together or when they actually going to excute properly.

It might lead to a couple extra losses early in the season but itll make that up later in the season when we execute it better, and itll make us a better team on the playoffs.

Gotta go through some growing pains early in order to raise our defensive ceiling during the postseason.

 

[Tince]

42 win team? Hahaha these Stotts apologists will ALWAYS blame the personnel. ALWAYS.

That's higher than the Vegas line. You think that's way too low?

Last January I was an apologist for saying our roster wasn't good. Let's review that:

Starters
Melo - 20-21 minimum player
Whiteside - 20-21 minimum player

Bench
Tolliver - 3ppg on Memphis
Mario - Not in league?
Skal - Not in league
Hord - Not in league
Swanigan - Not in league
Brown - Not in league
Little - Unlikely to be a major contributor on a winning team

I was way off base...

 

[kjironman1]

Looking for some energy on defense and some improvement in communication.
A few more shots falling would also be nice. Seems like a bunch of shots were short?

 

[Natebishop3]

Maybe Dame shouldn’t try his long threes in Denver. They’re always short.

 

[BonesJones]

That's higher than the Vegas line. You think that's way too low?

Last January I was an apologist for saying our roster wasn't good. Let's review that:

Starters
Melo - 20-21 minimum player
Whiteside - 20-21 minimum player

Bench
Tolliver - 3ppg on Memphis
Mario - Not in league?
Skal - Not in league
Hord - Not in league
Swanigan - Not in league
Brown - Not in league

I was way off base...

Yawn. Roster sucks, as always. You're always gonna try to spin things in the most negative way in regards to our players. I'm done here.

 

[BonesJones]

Looking for some energy on defense and some improvement in communication.
A few more shots falling would also be nice. Seems like a bunch of shots were short?

Could be altitude FWIW.

 

[kjironman1]

Could be altitude FWIW.

Yep. That is always a consideration when in Denver.

 

[Tince]

Yawn. Roster sucks, as always. You're always gonna try to spin things in the most negative way in regards to our players. I'm done here.

Of those players I listed, which is inaccurate? I gave you facts, which is what you always ask for, and then you want to run away.

 

[illmatic99]

this is ugly

 

[Natebishop3]

I fucking hate Denver. I hate their team. I hate their fans. I hate their fucking elevation.

 

[Chris Craig]

Embarassing

 

[TBpup]

Our guard/perimeter defense is just awful. Tough having a good defense when 40% of your starting lineup (and at the point of attack) is a weakness.

 

[Hoopguru]

Dame has to start leading the offense not just jacking threes. I know its great when he hits them but hes also the point guard thats need to get his players invoked.

 

[OneSport3]

Not sure what kind of conversations the coaching staff has had with CJ, but he’s absolutely intent on not passing the ball. He will only pass if he really, really has no choice.

 

[kjironman1]

I fucking hate Denver. I hate their team. I hate their fans. I hate their fucking elevation.

I suppose they better have hone court advantage if they get them in the playoffs but the way it looks that might be tough.
Any way you look at it Denver is a good team this year and have taken the last two years experience and are looking like they have grown.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nurk shooting threes is a hard pass for me.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Nurk needs to stop with the threes