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

[Labinot41]

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

 

[blazerkor]

Point taken, game threads are always very knee jerk but I don't expect that in the preseason for the reasons I stated. I know this team isn't a reigning champion but that doesn't mean that 9 days into training camp that the goal of a game is to play in mid-season form and win at all costs. We are obviously working on new defensive schemes and personnel rotations. Stotts is very clearly putting more weight into those things than the final score. I'm still optimistic about the season but this back court will always have a hard time contending for a championship but I do think HCA is very likely.

 

[wizenheimer]

but this back court will always have a hard time contending for a championship but I do think HCA is very likely.

I don't know about very likely. I think Lakers, Clippers, and Nuggets are all better. Portland might be better than Utah and have the inside track on 4th seed, especially with Porzingas out for Dallas. But if he comes back Jan 1 like Dallas is targeting, they can be a real threat for 4th. Josh Richardson is a good addition for then too, along with WCS

 

[DDolla]

I was just looking at our schedule and our first 10 games we can be 1-9.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Everybody bitched about our poor bubble preseason and our difficult schedule. What happened? We went 6-2, won the play-in, and got a win vs the champs. Tonight's game means nothing.

 

[blazerkor]

I don't know about very likely. I think Lakers, Clippers, and Nuggets are all better. Portland might be better than Utah and have the inside track on 4th seed, especially with Porzingas out for Dallas. But if he comes back Jan 1 like Dallas is targeting, they can be a real threat for 4th. Josh Richardson is a good addition for then too, along with WCS

Oh I think it's very close between the Clippers, Nuggets, Mavs, Jazz and us for the 2-6 spots. I just thought that we were right under the Clippers going into the last 9 days and 9 days even if four of them were televised and didn't look great, hasn't changed my opinion. 9 days for new schemes, 9 days with two new starters and really only 5 days with the starting lineup (Nurk missing the first two days of training camp and first Sac game and Dame missing tonight). It just doesn't sway my opinion.

We're deep and we have really good players. I still think we're the best team 1-10 and I don't think we have seen the team play like they will when it counts.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I was just looking at our schedule and our first 10 games we can be 1-9.

Well sure. We could also be 9-1. We could be 7-3. 10-0 maybe. Or 4-6. So many possibilities. There is no team on our schedule that can't be beaten. Relax.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Oh I think it's very close between the Clippers, Nuggets, Mavs, Jazz and us for the 2-6 spots. I just thought that we were right under the Clippers going into the last 9 days and 9 days even if four of them were televised and didn't look great, hasn't changed my opinion. 9 days for new schemes, 9 days with two new starters and really only 5 days with the starting lineup (Nurk missing the first two days of training camp and first Sac game and Dame missing tonight). It just doesn't sway my opinion.

We're deep and we have really good players. I still think we're the best team 1-10 and I don't think we have seen the team play like they will when it counts.

agreed

 

[KSF-ERIC]

sorry man, that you're bitching about guys bitching in game threads is kind of crazy too

for sure, pre-season games don't mean much. But the Blazers aren't the Warriors or Lakers...they don't have the history of coasting then just turning it on and going on winning streaks. They don't have that kind of top-level talent. In fact, they have a history in the Dame/CJ era of slow starts

maybe they will completely gear up between now and Wednesday. But that's only 5 days away and they won't likely be practicing tomorrow. And it's not like the Nuggets or the Kings had some massive advantage in training time either

personally, I think there is some over-reaction in these last 3 games threads. But part of that was, once again, unrealistic expectations based upon an on-paper off-season. Paper upgrades don't always equal the same level of real upgrades, and like it or not, all the Blazers really did was upgrade some role players. It's really rare that role players significantly alter the trajectory of a team

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nurk decided to get his hair done at a beauty salon instead of getting in shape.

Nurk has been checked out since his grandma died.

 

[PCmor7]

Point taken, game threads are always very knee jerk but I don't expect that in the preseason for the reasons I stated. I know this team isn't a reigning champion but that doesn't mean that 9 days into training camp that the goal of a game is to play in mid-season form and win at all costs. We are obviously working on new defensive schemes and personnel rotations. Stotts is very clearly putting more weight into those things than the final score. I'm still optimistic about the season but this back court will always have a hard time contending for a championship but I do think HCA is very likely.

You keep bringing up the number of practices and the couple of new guys in the rotation like the Blazers are the only team dealing with that, like the Blazers are at some big disadvantage in that regard.

The Nuggets only played one preseason game before playing us. Why isn't that an advantage for the Blazers?

If you want to say "It's preseason and the Blazers aren't really trying so it means nothing," I'd disagree to some extent, but I'd admit it was possible. To continually act like the Blazers had 9 practices and present it like the teams they're playing have had 216 -- and continually be reminded that the Blazers and other teams all started practicing at the same time -- just seems a gross misinterpretation of facts.

 

[PCmor7]

Nurk has been checked out since his grandma died.

Yeah. That's true.

 

[THE HCP]

Changing my win prediction to 23 Wins!

 

[BonesJones]

Everybody bitched about our poor bubble preseason and our difficult schedule. What happened? We went 6-2, won the play-in, and got a win vs the champs. Tonight's game means nothing.

I think thebhop is that this year, we wont have to rely on Dame scoring 40ppg.

 

[BonesJones]

I actually feel it to be true. They said they were going to get serious with the rotation and minutes and after 1 blowout, I feel like they know the pressure was on so sitting Dame could help deflate it.

It didn't at all. Another substantial blowout. There is reason to be concerned as I said while you had others calling us crazy for making preseason a big deal.

This is a very big deal.

I highly doubt Stotts sat Dame during a preseason game that didn't matter to "releive the pressure". I dont think Stotts is worried about job security because of meaningless games.

 

[SIeepwalker]

It's only preseason and I'm already fucking sick of CJ

 

[kjironman1]

Everybody bitched about our poor bubble preseason and our difficult schedule. What happened? We went 6-2, won the play-in, and got a win vs the champs. Tonight's game means nothing.

I have to admit i did this. I even had conversations with you about it. I said "It's not the loss it's HOW they lost". They did come out better in the bubble than i expected.

 

[kjironman1]

I highly doubt Stotts sat Dame during a preseason game that didn't matter to "releive the pressure". I dont think Stotts is worried about job security because of meaningless games.

Yeah highly unlikely.
Stotts sat him to see other rotations and he played a bunch of different lineups in that game is what i'm thinking. I hope you noticed one rotation was pretty strong They had Kanter and Giles with DJJ and Trent with CJ. Jones got hurt and it was short lived but it was very strong for a short time. No question CJ needs to watch a bunch of video and he will have some now. The complaints about CJ have merit. The complaints about Stotts not holding CJ accountable seem to have merit also.
CJ has got to hit an open man if he is going to run the offense. But to be fair Trent got 18 shots. it's not like he wasn't getting the ball. Melo was a dismal 0-7. That isn't going to help this team at all. I'm not sure the Melo experiment off the bench is going to work? I hope it starts flowing better but it seems he immediately comes in and tries to be "Scoring Champ" Melo. He has got to find his role in that unit. Defenses know he is going to try to break someone down and force a shot. Obviously i don't like Melo and CJ on the court together unless both (Not just one) of them start playing team ball. (Please Obi-Stotts you're our only hope) Pull the plug if they won't play team ball.
-Elleby is very raw. But he does bring energy. He needs G-league. Do they have one this year? Elleby just needs a bunch of minutes before I'm willing to judge the guy.
-Giles is not ready to shoot from the outside. This is gonna hurt his minutes.
-Hood getting better but still not there yet and seems a step slow on defense.
-Nurkic is out of shape. You can immediately tell when he is tired. Sloppy passes, bad hacks and flimsy flip shots at the basket. Gonna be another week before you see any beast named Nurkic.
-RoCo is not sure where to be on any given play yet. They are finding their groove so to speak. maybe another week or two?

Lets talk about Collins. Zach could be the player that works better for this team? Combination of shooting and willingness to mix it up and play defense could help. Again he will be out of shape when he does come back and that is 10-20 games before he is really in the mix. When he comes back i would think the depth is going to push someone out of the rotation? Sorry to say this but Melo must take the cut.

-DJJ is the type of player that is going to deal with these kind of injuries. 4 games and twice now we have seen him come up hobbled. I love highlight reel dunks but they levy a toll on the body of the guy doing them. Go up get the ball but try to come down a bit more controlled. Doesn't look as good on ESPN but they all score 2 points.
-Gary Trent can shoot the ball. he will be a 3&D guy this team needs but he is not a great creator just yet. Again Dame, CJ, Melo, Nurk need to find this guy when he is open. It will come.

Blazers will struggle the first 20 games IMO. Hoping for 12-8 but i would not be surprised to see 10-10. At some point this season though they will gel and they will have a good run to help that record.

 

[TBpup]

Point taken, game threads are always very knee jerk but I don't expect that in the preseason for the reasons I stated. I know this team isn't a reigning champion but that doesn't mean that 9 days into training camp that the goal of a game is to play in mid-season form and win at all costs. We are obviously working on new defensive schemes and personnel rotations. Stotts is very clearly putting more weight into those things than the final score. I'm still optimistic about the season but this back court will always have a hard time contending for a championship but I do think HCA is very likely.

Wins and losses don't matter in the pre-season. But you should see growth and effort, getting better in execution....and it would be a huge stretch to say that any of that has happened. That isn't knee-jerk, it's sadly just reality. Of course it is early, but it is early for everyone, so it's a level playing field. I saw many other teams with roster changes coming together much faster, improving in what they were trying to do, and showing signs they were beginning to gel regardless of the outcome. Sadly, it is difficult to point to any sign of that with the Blazers.

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.

I do so love the apples-to-oranges comparisons. Lakers/Warriors....may have started a LITTLE slow, then turned it on....AND WON CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Blazers start VERY slow, then turn it on.....to make the #8 seed? To get swept out of the Playoffs?

Please....better analogies would be helpful.

 

[Mr. Robot]

fuck terry stotts for what he did to nurk

fuck terry stotts cause he has no courage to do it to dame or cj mccollum or carmelo

fuck terry stotts for not being a good coach, i cant stand him

fuck terry stotts just because

 

[TBpup]

fuck terry stotts for what he did to nurk

fuck terry stotts cause he has no courage to do it to dame or cj mccollum or carmelo

fuck terry stotts for not being a good coach, i cant stand him

fuck terry stotts just because

Nurk deserved to be called out...but I agree, he won't do that to CJ or Melo for things even more egregious. The most selfish brand of basketball imaginable and all you get is complete enabling.

 

[kjironman1]

fuck terry stotts for what he did to nurk

fuck terry stotts cause he has no courage to do it to dame or cj mccollum or carmelo

fuck terry stotts for not being a good coach, i cant stand him

fuck terry stotts just because

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.

 

[AldoTrapani]

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

Nurk has been garbage

 

[AldoTrapani]

I was just looking at our schedule and our first 10 games we can be 1-9.

Easily this team is vastly overrated

 

[Mr. Robot]

nurk absolutely deserved it, but when you do it to nurk or some other player, but not to dame, cj mccollum and carmelo, then theres a problem and it shows you have no courage or balls should i say

coaches in europe do it all the time and i love it, in the nba theres a lot of "players coaches", theyre just "friends" with players, they let them do whatever they want and and in return players like them and coaches are safe

 

[tlongII]

Let me guess???

blazers lost again and it’s not that big of a deal bc it’s preseason..

BLAZERS SUCKK!!! mark my word this will be a huuuuuge dissapointing season

How you doin Mixum?

 

[Chris Craig]

nurk absolutely deserved it, but when you do it to nurk or some other player, but not to dame, cj mccollum and carmelo, then theres a problem and it shows you have no courage or balls should i say

coaches in europe do it all the time and i love it, in the nba theres a lot of "players coaches", theyre just "friends" with players, they let them do whatever they want and and in return players like them and coaches are safe

I would have tore them all a new asshole

 

[BonesJones]

Easily this team is vastly overrated

Your posts are so clownish.

 

[tlongII]

Your posts are so clownish.

I think it's Mixum.

 

[B-Roy]

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.