Game Thread PRESEASON GAME# 4: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - DECEMBER 18, 2020 - FRIDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[wizenheimer]

Wait. So Lakers and Warriors can coast then turn it on.. Isn't that exactly what you admit the Blazers do every year? Start slow, then get hot.

Something to remember: In KD's regular season debut as a Warrior in Oakland, the Warriors lost by 30. Obviously, the talent was there. They just had to work it out.

LOL...man, you have a talent for distorting what somebody says than launching an argument based upon the distortion. But I guess everybody here has some of that talent

that example you gave is the opposite of coasting. Yeah, the Warriors lost game 1 of the season by 29. They then went on to win 16 of the next 17 games. That was cruising, not coasting, and they cruised to a 35-6 1st half of the season record.

an example of coasting is the Lakers in the bubble last this late summer. Including the 1st playoff game against the Blazers, the Lakers were 3-6; playing witout focus or effort. The Blazer loss was the alarm clock, and the Lakers woke up and went 16-4 the rest of the way...against the better teams in the league. Portland certainly has the capacity for a 3-6 stretch; judging by the last 3 games even a 1-8 stretch. But I sure as hell don't see the capacity for a 16-4 stretch against playoff teams

 

[blazerkor]

ORTG and DRTG are AWFUL for CJ/Melo/Nurk/GTJ/Hood.

Melo is posting a usage rate of 30% coming off the bench. That is insane. That is what Dame averaged last year. Only MVP candidates should ever command a usage rate of 30%+, whether coming off the bench or not. He's shooting it almost every time he's touching the ball and Terry doesn't have the balls to tell him to stop. 50% TS, which is bolstered by the first game. The other three he's been arguably the worst player in the league.

One thing I find kind of funny is that many in here are really worried about a ton of guys on the team not named Dame but Dame's stats are shitty too. The reason why people aren't worried about Dame is they are probably thinking, "He's Dame, we know him and it's the preseason." The problem that I have with that is that no one is really worried about our one rotational player we know the least about (DJJ) because he's been playing better than the rest but there is so much worry about guys that we know.

We know that Nurk isn't going to play like this because he has always played better, he didn't have a real training camp and he will pretty quickly (with this intense schedule) work himself into shape. We know what CJ is, there's no use in worrying about it because he's great at some things and not so great at others. We know that RoCo is one of the best 3 and D forwards in the game. We know that Gary is a really good 3 and D wing who we have only seen get better throughout his time in the NBA. We know Kanter can rebound on both ends, set screens and score inside but is kind of weak at everything else. We know that Carmelo can get points in bunches but at this stage of his career if he isn't he's an absolute liability everywhere.

With Dame and DJJ that no one seems to be worried about that's 8 guys that we aren't worried about or shouldn't be worried about because we know them. Hoodie is a huge unknown because Achilles, what we'll get from Zach and when we'll get it is another unknown and in a positive way Giles is an unknown that can only be better than what we thought we were getting when we signed him.

I realize the defensive schemes and the way guys are gelling on offense is somewhat of an unknown. I think if we actually play D like we did in the preseason once the regular season starts, Stotts will quickly go back to his old ways just with better personnel which will be disappointing for some and a relief for others. I think this team has a high offensive ceiling and a high offensive floor, these guys should gel really quickly on that end. So no worries, we're going to win a bunch of games, be in the thick of the playoff race for seeds 2-6 and not contend... unless something completely unforeseen happens and then we're either way better or completely fucked.

 

[tykendo]

What the fuck happened to Nurkic, jokic once again flat out destroyed him

Actually this is not a true statement. Nurk has had some of his greatest games against Jokic. And has had many dominating performances against him . But Nurk isn't focused right now. He's rusty as all get out on offense right now as well. And Deserved to be called out by Stotts. Stotts knows Nurk can be special, and was just in his criticism. Popovich has done the same with his BEST players for years. And right in front for ALL to see. C'mon Nurk, time to put your bigboy britches back on.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Actually this is not a true statement. Nurk has had some of his greatest games against Jokic. And has had many dominating performances against him . But Nurk isn't focused right now. He's rusty as all get out on offense right now as well. And Deserved to be called out by Stotts. Stotts knows Nurk can be special, and was just in his criticism. Popovich has done the same with his BEST players for years. And right in front for ALL to see. C'mon Nurk, time to put your bigboy britches back on.

I might have a bad memory but I can only remember one game where Nurk really dominated Jokic, maybe his first game against him?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I totally agree Stotts needs to do that to CJ. I'm not sure he hasn't but i have not seen it yet.
But to say Fuck Stotts for doing it to Nurk? Nurk deserved every bit of it.
As far as Melo. Stotts has put him on the second unit. That is a pretty big message no?
Just trying to let you blow off some steam. It's Okay to want better but not everything so far this season has been on Stotts.

He's only ever done it with Nurk in the past. Mostly his first couple years. He's scapegoating one individual when the whole damn system is severely flawed.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

ORTG and DRTG are AWFUL for CJ/Melo/Nurk/GTJ/Hood.

Melo is posting a usage rate of 30% coming off the bench. That is insane. That is what Dame averaged last year. Only MVP candidates should ever command a usage rate of 30%+, whether coming off the bench or not. He's shooting it almost every time he's touching the ball and Terry doesn't have the balls to tell him to stop. 50% TS, which is bolstered by the first game. The other three he's been arguably the worst player in the league.

Ugh. We're about to turn Melo into our new Blazers version of Jamal Crawford. Just give him the ball and get out the way is apparently the game plan from Stotts.

As soon as Crawford left McMillan, he was much better.

 

[THE HCP]

I think it's Mixum.

I don't think it is. MIX fucking hated THE HCP.....this cat is actually pretty even headed and chill towards him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

This is the best thing I that could have happened. It'll be a huge wakeup call for the team....
...
...
I don't think so, but I really hope so!