Game Thread PRESEASON GAME # 4: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - OCTOBER 13, 2016 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT

[Blazer4ever]

Can't play Turner at 2guard (because he played it in College or HS or whatever) next to CJ who is clearly not a PG and expect to win. The same way you can't play a front-line of Meyers and Aminu on defense against Blake Griffin.
It's a simple game you know.
Some fans and the coach plug players into wrong position, into bad lineups, just because of minute distribution. Doesn't work that way. CJ can't play as the only guard, AC may be a SG next to Dame or Shabazz, ET is definitely a SF. Harkless is a PF and if you want the minutes to work out Aminu should be on his way out because he's also a PF but not as good.
Start playing the right players in their natural positions and we can be as good as anyone

 

[Tunchi]

I been hard on Vonleh but he's been looking nice this preaseason. His jumper looks on point and of course one thing I've always given him is his defense. That still looks good.

He needs to somehow get minutes still

 

[julius]

Dame did not suck. Crabbe knocked down some buckets. Leonard and Davis crashed the glass. Vonleh's presence yet again made us better immediately.

btw, I'm not including Damian as part of the 'rest of the team'. He's already showed us he's legit and the man.

 

[Scalma]

Layman can play. Can shoot, drive, and has put on some muscle since summer league. He's good enough to be in a rotation

Gonna be a long love hate year again with Meyers

Vonleh looks improved

Napier should get minutes

 

[Pinwheel1]

Can't play Turner at 2guard (because he played it in College or HS or whatever) next to CJ who is clearly not a PG and expect to win. The same way you can't play a front-line of Meyers and Aminu on defense against Blake Griffin.
It's a simple game you know.
Some fans and the coach plug players into wrong position, into bad lineups, just because of minute distribution. Doesn't work that way. CJ can't play as the only guard, AC may be a SG next to Dame or Shabazz, ET is definitely a SF. Harkless is a PF and if you want the minutes to work out Aminu should be on his way out because he's also a PF but not as good.
Start playing the right players in their natural positions and we can be as good as anyone

You say that CJ is not a good ball handler yet you think AC would be a better fit next to him then ET?

The issue was not that ET was playing the 2 guard. The problem is Stott's is experimenting with him as the PG. He even had him bring the ball up and initiate the offense while both Dame AND CJ were on the court. That was a 2 minute disaster. Cp3 is not the guy you try that against.

Last year CJ was fine running the 2nd team offense next to Hendo. There is no reason why it should not work alongside ET.
But unlike last year Stotts is letting ET run the offense. That is not looking too good. ET should be playing the Hendo role not the PG role. I thought he was signed to help Dame and CJ, not take over for them. Hopefully it is just a preseason experiment. ET is still a guard, he just isn't a PG. Big difference.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

I think we absolutely stole Napier! He reminds me of Isaiah Thomas (the one on the Celtics now)

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

We'll never get 23 wins playing like this.

 

[Five Second Violation]

Leonard trying to guard Blake Griffin was pure lolz all night long.

 

[Tunchi]

Man I liked what I say from Layman. Pat is terrible. Oh well there’s always baseball.

Take Luis with you too, you’ll get instant credibility for bringing in a high ceiling Dominican prospect, right?

 

[Nhawz]

Pat shouldn't make the cut. He's not going to play for any team in the league.

Pat is terrible, I don't care how much athletesism or potential he may have, we are too deep and do not have the time for a project like pat.... see what I did there? Project pat was terrible as well.

 

[Nhawz]

Pat and layman can kick rocks. Layman unfortunately got drafted by a team who has 2-4 players locked in at his position. I don't give two fucks about Montero either. I may be eating crow after posting this, but potential is a word that long time blazer fans should loathe and run from. Especially when you have hundreds of millions tied up long term in his POTENTIAL position. Bye Felicia

 

[Nhawz]

Leonard trying to guard Blake Griffin was pure lolz all night long.

I'm turnt up on a Thursday, so please judge my posts with caution right now. After a vigorous night of fending off mud sharks at the bar and knocking down multiple vodka sodas( I'm on a diet because I have a free trip to Miami in 2 weeks, don't judge fellas) I'm gonna keep it 100. Blake griffin to me is mediocre at best. I do not understand why he gets even close to superstar status. Yes he hit a three tonight, but as a coach and within my defensive scheme, that motherfucker can have those all day on a Sunday and whenever he likes. Open or not that's a win for the defense. He's gullible and obviously incredibly easy to razz and get under his skin. All the trade rumors about him coming to Portland are moot unless doc would take aminu and a pack a swisher sweets and in my opinion Portland would be the dogs in that trade. Pick me apart as you will but I've never appreciated his game, style of play and his demeanor and the way he has conducted himself SPEAKS FOR ITSELF! FUCK LA, good preseason win LA. But when all said and done the joke is on you. Doc is mediocre as a coach and giving him the gm duties as well, he is overworked and in way over is head. And that is apparent by how four so called "super team" has failed to do anything but flame out before the WCF! Good win clippers, we will again rip your kool aid packets when it counts.....

 

[Wizard Mentor]

dviss or others, quick question:
Isn't holding an offensive player with 2 hands above the 3 point line hand checking? Clips doing it all night.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Here's what I've learned after 4 games:
1) We are a VERY good team. 2/3 of our players can play poorly, and we still can win.
2) We are a very Versatile team. We've played teams with differing styles and have adapted well.
3) Our defense is still a work in progress. I think our defense will gel midseason, but that could be the homer in me....
4) ET is gonna need time to adjust. So far, it looks like he shouldn't be starting. That's OK, I think he fits in with Crabbe, especially as part of a "long" lineup.
update: ET needs to have a PG bring the ball up the floor.
5) Who of the 4 is gonna make #15? It's not obvious any of them will.
update: It's becoming clear that the acquisition of ET has spelled the end for Montero. From
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-team-stats
Jerrett and Stiemsma are leading in mpg over the others by a factor of about 2.
6) As opposed to last year, I actually like it when Vonleh is on the court - not sure if it'll happen much, but he's making his case.
Vonleh hitting 3s. Looks like our best big out there this year. Wish coach would have matched him up against Griffin.
7) Harkless is still awesome.

 

[Mediocre Man]

-17 in 23 minutes is epic. Basically a point every minute and 15 seconds or so. I don't really think plus/minus stats mean a lot, but when others throw them around in their tragically long posts defending the great white hype, they need to be pointed out.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Here's what I've learned after 4 games:
1) We are a VERY good team. 2/3 of our players can play poorly, and we still can win.
2) We are a very Versatile team. We've played teams with differing styles and have adapted well.
3) Our defense is still a work in progress. I think our defense will gel midseason, but that could be the homer in me....
4) ET is gonna need time to adjust. So far, it looks like he shouldn't be starting. That's OK, I think he fits in with Crabbe, especially as part of a "long" lineup.
update: ET needs to have a PG bring the ball up the floor.
5) Who of the 4 is gonna make #15? It's not obvious any of them will.
update: It's becoming clear that the acquisition of ET has spelled the end for Montero. From
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-team-stats
Jerrett and Stiemsma are leading in mpg over the others by a factor of about 2.
6) As opposed to last year, I actually like it when Vonleh is on the court - not sure if it'll happen much, but he's making his case.
Vonleh hitting 3s. Looks like our best big out there this year. Wish coach would have matched him up against Griffin.
7) Harkless is still awesome.

I think Jerrett should make the team

Vonleh should be playing ahead of the other 4s on the roster based on preseason

Layman looks like a player

Harkless IS awesome

 

[Nhawz]

Here's what I've learned after 4 games:
1) We are a VERY good team. 2/3 of our players can play poorly, and we still can win.
2) We are a very Versatile team. We've played teams with differing styles and have adapted well.
3) Our defense is still a work in progress. I think our defense will gel midseason, but that could be the homer in me....
4) ET is gonna need time to adjust. So far, it looks like he shouldn't be starting. That's OK, I think he fits in with Crabbe, especially as part of a "long" lineup.
update: ET needs to have a PG bring the ball up the floor.
5) Who of the 4 is gonna make #15? It's not obvious any of them will.
update: It's becoming clear that the acquisition of ET has spelled the end for Montero. From
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-team-stats
Jerrett and Stiemsma are leading in mpg over the others by a factor of about 2.
6) As opposed to last year, I actually like it when Vonleh is on the court - not sure if it'll happen much, but he's making his case.
Vonleh hitting 3s. Looks like our best big out there this year. Wish coach would have matched him up against Griffin.
7) Harkless is still awesome.

Great points man. Evan for sure needs to come off the bench, no question. Real awkward with three ball handlers on the court at the same time. We maximize his talent with either Dame or CJ and I really like him with shabazz as well.

 

[tlongII]

He did have too many turnovers, but watch the game. Not the box score.
Offense sucked ass when he was out, aka 0-9 to start the 2nd quarter.
Only for Lillard to come back in with 6:49ish left and bail the Blazers out. Only 12 at half instead of the 20+ it was looking like.

I was at the game. Lillard was bad. 5 TO's is bad.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

-17 in 23 minutes is epic. Basically a point every minute and 15 seconds or so. I don't really think plus/minus stats mean a lot, but when others throw them around in their tragically long posts defending the great white hype, they need to be pointed out.

CJ was -23 in 27 minutes...

 

[Mediocre Man]

CJ was -23 in 27 minutes...

Like I said, they mean nothing.

People defending Cooney like to use them, so where are their nauseating stats now?

 

[Sinobas]

Pat is terrible, I don't care how much athletesism or potential he may have, we are too deep and do not have the time for a project like pat.... see what I did there? Project pat was terrible as well.

He definitely looks like a baseball player trying to play basketball. Layman already looks like a much better prospect.

 

[julius]

Like I said, they mean nothing.

People defending Cooney like to use them, so where are their nauseating stats now?

Cooney?

I think ET needs to take an Andre Iguodala type role with this team. Can help facilitate offense, but isn't the PG, so to speak.

Of course, it's not even the regular season yet. I do think they probably have at least 2 too many players who can play.

Plumlee, Davis, Festivus and Meyers (with Meyers being the last on the rotation).

Aminu, Vonleh

Harkless, Turner, Crabbe


Thats 9 players for 3 positions. Granted, Vonleh and Meyers probably can be spot minutes, but it's too many bodies.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Like I said, they mean nothing.

People defending Cooney like to use them, so where are their nauseating stats now?

Who?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Need to get the ball handling with Turner worked out. Good thing we have a good chunk of the preseason left. Man. He looked bad today.

He needs to be put in a situation where he feels comfortable, find the guys he can work well with and keep him working with them. I also suspect that he is used to working with a more detail-oriented and possibly more creative coach. Coach Stotts may want to see if Turner has some input into how to jigger our offense a little bit.

 

[Pinwheel1]

dviss or others, quick question:
Isn't holding an offensive player with 2 hands above the 3 point line hand checking? Clips doing it all night.

I was at the game and was commenting about it as well. I was frustrated with it in the playoffs as well. Stotts needs to call it to the refs attention before the game even starts.

I thought the Blazer came out with the mind set to be more physical, but were getting a lot of early fouls in every quarter.
The Clippers play physical and get away with it at home.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Cooney?

I think ET needs to take an Andre Iguodala type role with this team. Can help facilitate offense, but isn't the PG, so to speak.

Of course, it's not even the regular season yet. I do think they probably have at least 2 too many players who can play.

Plumlee, Davis, Festivus and Meyers (with Meyers being the last on the rotation).

Aminu, Vonleh

Harkless, Turner, Crabbe


Thats 9 players for 3 positions. Granted, Vonleh and Meyers probably can be spot minutes, but it's too many bodies.

I so can't wait for Festus to get back and get onto the floor.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I so can't wait for Festus to get back and get onto the floor.

Me too. I really want to see a lineup of Dame/CJ/Harkless/Leonard/Ezeli. I think Ezeli's inside presence will be the biggest benefit to Leonard. Plus I really want to see how much we can improve D with him on the court.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

-17 in 23 minutes is epic. Basically a point every minute and 15 seconds or so. I don't really think plus/minus stats mean a lot, but when others throw them around in their tragically long posts defending the great white hype, they need to be pointed out.

I saw that too. Will probably be someone post later that he had 11 rebounds per 36 and shot 50% and we should stop defecating on him. I think about guys who have been in the league a few months and they say the game is finally slowing down for them. Don't think the game will ever slow down for him. Not sure if it is the part of the brain that makes decisions is slow or the part that tells the body what to do after making the decision, but there is a big problem.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who?

Jerry Cooney, the great white hope

 

[Trackjack]

dviss or others, quick question:
Isn't holding an offensive player with 2 hands above the 3 point line hand checking? Clips doing it all night.

Problem is alot of teams does that to the Blazers and we don't get that call. Yes it is a foul in the NBA college High school it just a foul. Then I hear all the time that NBA refs have hard job and yes they do but when its right in there face its not hard to blow your whistle.