Game Thread Preseason Game #4 Blazers @ Warriors - October 15th 2021 - Friday - 7PM - RootTV- NBA TV

[THE HCP]

It’s gonna take 20 games with healthy players to learn anything about this team. I will TRY not to read much into preseason games. Need Zeller at 100 percent

Once again….if Zeller is the key in your mind to our success….Good lord what has happened to our franchise?

 

[Kano John]

Not sure what this means? Well,well,well?

My grandma use to say: Well, well. well - the tale of three holes in the ground! LOL

 

[wizenheimer]

The thing is, this isn't LA. We aren't going to get high end talent here.

Portland can get high end talent. In the Stolshey erathey have had opportunities to draft Draymond Green , Khris Middleton, Giannis, Rudy Gobert, Pascal Siakam, Malcolm Brogdon, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, John Collins, OG Anunoby, & Devonte Graham. They had a chance to at least make worthy offers for PG13 and Jimmy Butler but held CJ untouchable. Every franchise will blow opportunities, but over a 9 year period a team better succeed on at least one of those opportunities or be left settling for mediocrity. That's Portland right now

it's a mindset IMO. I mean, people are screaming that 3 1st round draft picks for Simmons is too much, but the Blazers just spent 3 firsts on RoCo and Nance....a pair of role players. That's OK apparently but taking a bigger risk isn't

 

[BonesJones]

I kinda feel for the folks who were always banging the "coaching is holding back this talented roster" drum. Now they're trying to to find this sweet spot where they maintain that the roster is good, the scheme is good, but the (early) results just are the polar opposites of what we were told they would be. While I love the 180 from ultra negative to blindly positive, the spin has to be taxing.

I do believe Billups is doing an ok job and we're going to be fine in the regular season, but there has been almost nothing to celebrate at this point.

Pretty sure no one told you we'd win the preseason championship.

 

[BonesJones]

You do understand why this was a terrible response right? Seriously? History is not on your side here.

?

 

[BonesJones]

So are you going on record saying this team, as constructed, is talent rich? If so, you’re delusional, man.

Where did I day "talent rich"? I'm sayng using a game where we were missing our best player and entire bench to say our talent is thin is a bad argument.

 

[Tince]

Pretty sure no one told you we'd win the preseason championship.

How would you know what people have and haven't told me and why are you deflecting to statements I've never claimed were made in the first place? Maybe staying in the sweet spot is not even obtainable for some.

 

[TBpup]

Who knows how Billups will work out as a coach. Getting vets to change after 10 years is no small feat when they are used to doing pretty much whatever they want to and not having much accountability. #OldDogsNewTricks

But presidence has been set. Even if we can tell early on that Billups just isn't the guy, he should get 10 years to waste players' and fan's time.

 

[BonesJones]

How would you know what people have and haven't told me and why are you deflecting to statements I've never claimed were made in the first place? Maybe staying in the sweet spot is not even obtainable for some.

So the sweet spot is coming to premature preseason conclusions?

 

[THE HCP]

Who knows how Billups will work out as a coach. Getting vets to change after 10 years is no small feat when they are used to doing pretty much whatever they want to and not having much accountability. #OldDogsNewTricks

But presidence has been set. Even if we can tell early on that Billups just isn't the guy, he should get 10 years to waste players' and fan's time.

If he gets us to the playoffs every year over the next 10 years. I’ll be happy. And as far as “wasting” fan’s time…..my family and I have TONS of great memories because of this team over the last decade. Not sure what you were watching bro.

 

[Tince]

So the sweet spot is coming to premature preseason conclusions?

What conclusion have I came to this preseason?

I think this preseason hasn't been very good, but I also continue to say I think Billups is doing a fine job and the team will be ok come the regular season. If we end up being some 60 win team and make it out of the WCF, I'm 100% prepared to eat crow that my stance about the roster was wrong. Likewise, if we win 35 games, I'll owe Stotts an apology for saying coaching isn't that important.

 

[BonesJones]

What conclusion have I came to this preseason?

I think this preseason hasn't been very good, but I also continue to say I think Billups is doing a fine job and the team will be ok come the regular season. If we end up being some 60 win team and make it out of the WCF, I'm 100% prepared to eat crow that my stance about the roster was wrong. Likewise, if we win 35 games, I'll owe Stotts an apology for saying coaching isn't that important.

This post seemed like a conclusive "gotcha"

I kinda feel for the folks who were always banging the "coaching is holding back this talented roster" drum. Now they're trying to to find this sweet spot where they maintain that the roster is good, the scheme is good, but the (early) results just are the polar opposites of what we were told they would be. While I love the 180 from ultra negative to blindly positive, the spin has to be taxing.

I do believe Billups is doing an ok job and we're going to be fine in the regular season, but there has been almost nothing to celebrate at this point.

I understand why people might be discouraged. It's a process and there will be growing pains. People that are lower on the roster will be more pessimistic which make sense even though I disagree with it. The only thing driving me crazy is the people drawing conclusions from preseason or saying "our bench sucks" in the middle of a game when our entire bench is missing.

It is weird to be banging the "relax" drum to be honest.

 

[Tince]

This post seemed like a conclusive "gotcha"


I understand why people might be discouraged. It's a process and there will be growing pains. People that are lower on the roster will be more pessimistic which make sense even though I disagree with it. The only thing driving me crazy is the people drawing conclusions from preseason or saying "our bench sucks" in the middle of a game when our entire bench is missing.

It is weird to be banging the "relax" drum to be honest.

I agree, that it would makes no sense to draw a conclusion about our bench when the majority of it was unavailable last game. I personally don't think our bench sucks, I think it's slightly more versitile than last year, though I don't think it's much better either.

It is interesting to see you going from harping on small things early on (last season), to banging the relax drum this year, but I'd say it's an overall net positive!

 

[MickZagger]

Wow. Too many people with weird ‘agenda’ takes on the Blazers. This has almost turned into political theater where there’s no gray area.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree, that it would makes no sense to draw a conclusion about our bench when the majority of it was unavailable last game. I personally don't think our bench sucks, I think it's slightly more versitile than last year, though I don't think it's much better either.

It is interesting to see you going from harping on small things early on (last season), to banging the relax drum this year, but I'd say it's an overall net positive!

It was just obvious to me that Stotts was reverting back to an offensive and defensive system that I don't think gives us the best chance for postseason success and that gave me no hope that he'd add more as the season went along if he wasn't willing to in pre-season. So it was more-so harping on the status quo for previous seasons that was obviously not going to change and I felt like was holding us back. Completely different with someone trying to implement a bunch of new stuff compared in the pre-season compared to someone who refuses to.

 

[Tince]

Wow. Too many people with weird ‘agenda’ takes on the Blazers. This has almost turned into political theater where there’s no gray area.

Certainly the new norm in many areas. Some might put me in that category too, though I'm very open to us being better/worse, I just don'to expect it nor have I seen anything to make me change my mind. I truly want Billups and the bench to be massive difference makers in a positive way, nothing would make me happier!

 

[THE HCP]

But weren’t we told last year that injuries don’t matter. It’s the coaching? I thought we got that messages tossed our way daily on here.

 

[julius]

Well I for one am glad they hand out end of the year awards after the preseason ends.

 

[Tince]

Looks like we were drawing conclusions at the end of last years preseason game too.

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/5057268/

 

[brooklynballer]

Where did I day "talent rich"? I'm sayng using a game where we were missing our best player and entire bench to say our talent is thin is a bad argument.

And where in my post did I say my opinion of the talent on the roster was based solely on who played vs Golden State? Don’t make assumptions, dude. Not a good look.

 

[BonesJones]

And where in my post did I say my opinion of the talent on the roster was based solely on who played vs Golden State? Don’t make assumptions, dude. Not a good look.

You literally just made an assumption by putting words in my mouth. Not a good look.


You were talking about their play and how if they "play like this they'll only win 25 games" and started taking about how theyre thin on talent. Guess those two things weren't related.

 

[BonesJones]

Looks like we were drawing conclusions at the end of last years preseason game too.

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/5057268/

Everything I said on that thread (when it seemed like Stotts was switching it up) is exactly what I've been saying this year. I'm more consistent than even I thought.

 

[BonesJones]

But weren’t we told last year that injuries don’t matter. It’s the coaching? I thought we got that messages tossed our way daily on here.

I bet you cant find one person that said injuries don't matter. Stop being obtuse.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Wow. Too many people with weird ‘agenda’ takes on the Blazers. This has almost turned into political theater where there’s no gray area.

its the sign of the times. Take a stance!
Choose a side!

 

[Orion Bailey]

If this game disappointed you….

watch this for a pick me up!!!

 

[Fairly-Hard]

?

Exactly. I'm questioning why you would do such a dramatic about face from what has been in your videos.

While I love the 180 from ultra negative to blindly positive, the spin has to be taxing.

This quote pretty much sums it up. First time they are dealing with an injury (Like the last three seasons) and they have to use Nurk or worse Zeller (Kanter) all game in a "Drop Scheme" where will you go? What happens if Zeller goes down for 30+ games? They will have to protect Nurk from fouling out. These are the exact same situations you absolutely crucified the last coaching staff for.

How about Time to gel? Do we want to have this conversation really? Implementing a new defense does take time. Getting it working will cost games. Last season they had 10 less games to work with. They decided to keep the defense they were used to and implement new wrinkles as the season progressed. They never got that chance as Nurk and CJ both went down. Then they added Powell at the deadline. Now they have essentially 20 games to get the machine working but guess what? They had not won enough games to take a losing streak (Like they had when trying to implement "New Defensive" sets) and still make the playoffs. The Coaching staff and players were in a no win situation. They needed to win but needed to implement a new defense that would cost games to learn. When they finally got to the Playoffs they were ill prepared for the type of game they needed to play to win. The 9 years argument is not on the coaching staff completely. Just look at the rosters every season for the last 8-9 years and tell me they had players and continuity to compete for a title.

That is the part of the Jason Quick story that doesn't get written.

There is another poster on here that calls you delusional if you think this roster is "talent rich" which from your posts and videos seems to be your stance.

So are you going on record saying this team, as constructed, is talent rich? If so, you’re delusional, man.

I tend to agree with his take here.

Stand strong because as this season unfolds you will be coming under a bunch of fire. Lets both hope you are right about everything you have been saying.

 

[THE HCP]

I bet you cant find one person that said injuries don't matter. Stop being obtuse.

Constantly we were told last season that it didn't matter that we were without Nurk,CJ and Collins. That we had enough talent to win games, but it was STOTTS' fault. I can't find ONE person that was claiming this? Really? HALF the fucking forum was telling us this. #FireStotts

 

[BonesJones]

Constantly we were told last season that it didn't matter that we were without Nurk,CJ and Collins. That we had enough talent to win games, but it was STOTTS' fault. I can't find ONE person that was claiming this? Really? HALF the fucking forum was telling us this. #FireStotts

You missed the context apparently, but I'm not sure you wanted to understand it. It was never black or white like you try to make it out to be.

 

[BonesJones]

Exactly. I'm questioning why you would do such a dramatic about face from what has been in your videos.

If you're running drop and not switching it up even though he's torching it you're not really trying to contain him for a scheming prospective.

That doesn't mean that if you do the best you can from a scheming perspective then he's guaranteed to have less than 40.

But I feel like you knew that?

 

[THE HCP]

You missed the context apparently, but I'm not sure you wanted to understand it. It was never black or white like you try to make it out to be.

We were told all season by the #FireStotts crew that STOTTS was the reason we were losing plain and simple. Deny it kid. EVERY FUCKING GAME WIN OR LOSE it was Stott's fault for something, not the roster or injuries. You can try to talk down to me all you want with the,"I'm not sure you wanted to understand" shit all you want.