Game Thread SEEDING GAME# 5: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - AUGUST 8, 2020 - SATURDAY, 10:00AM, TNT & NBCSNW

[AldoTrapani]

apparently Morris and Green didn't get the message.

Well they can’t miss on purpose. But Doc and the Clips tried their best to give us the game. Unfortunately we just suck

 

[AldoTrapani]

I'm saying that if Portland wants to actually advance further then one 2nd round win in the last 20 years they might need to set a new course

I'm also saying that bowing out of the playoffs over the last 4 years with a 1-16 record in those series sucks a ton of donkey balls and indicates that the roster needs some major fucking work. They have played the Warriors 3 times in the playoffs and the only game they won was when Curry was out 4 years ago. Even a single win last season would have at least shown a little progression, but they couldn't even generate that. And the Warriors, just like the Pelicans, were doing the same thing they did 4 years ago and that's blanket Dame daring anybody else to beat them. Blazers still have no answer to that strategy, and it's a big reason why the Clipper bench won the game today

I agree blow this team up. It’s not that good and we tried

 

[wizenheimer]

Decisions about changes to the roster or coaching can’t happen until after the season so what’s the point of arguing about it now?

well, we can't beat the Lakers in the first round until we are playing the Lakers in the first round, but we're certainly talking about it

we occasionally talk about the draft before it happens too. If people want to discuss...or argue...about potential changes to the roster I don't see the harm

 

[AldoTrapani]

I’m pretty sure every Blazer fan was pissed off in a major way by that loss. I know I used a few choice words. That said, it came down to a bad break on a made 3 point shot on a broken play by the Clips, and some uncharacteristically un-clutch end of game play by Dame. It happens. Decisions about changes to the roster or coaching can’t happen until after the season so what’s the point of arguing about it now?

Dude it shouldn’t come to last minute shit on teams literally running B squads out there! That’s the point! Lol why ya keep using these moral victories to feel better..

Blazers really ain’t doing that well this bubble Barley beating Denver with their summer league team on a back to back. Then clips literally admitting they tired handing the game to the Blazers. Getting blown out by Boston. Beating weak ass Memphis in OT. Stop Blazers aren’t that good

 

[e_blazer]

well, we can't beat the Lakers in the first round until we are playing the Lakers in the first round, but we're certainly talking about it

we occasionally talk about the draft before it happens too. If people want to discuss...or argue...about potential changes to the roster I don't see the harm

I didn’t say it did any harm, I said I don’t see the point; which is why I usually stay out of the game threads. When it comes to the Blazers, we’ve all got caveman brains when the adrenaline is running. Not the best time for logic to win out.

 

[e_blazer]

Dude it shouldn’t come to last minute shit on teams literally running B squads out there! That’s the point! Lol why ya keep using these moral victories to feel better..

Blazers really ain’t doing that well this bubble Barley beating Denver with their summer league team on a back to back. Then clips literally admitting they tired handing the game to the Blazers. Getting blown out by Boston. Beating weak ass Memphis in OT. Stop Blazers aren’t that good

Sorry, man, but that’s a weak take. The Clippers are deep, so the players that they were running are well capable of beating anyone. If you’ve watched the NBA for any length of time, you know that shorthanded teams winning is very common.

 

[blazerkor]

I'm saying that if Portland wants to actually advance further then one 2nd round win in the last 20 years they might need to set a new course

I'm also saying that bowing out of the playoffs over the last 4 years with a 1-16 record in those series sucks a ton of donkey balls and indicates that the roster needs some major fucking work. They have played the Warriors 3 times in the playoffs and the only game they won was when Curry was out 4 years ago. Even a single win last season would have at least shown a little progression, but they couldn't even generate that. And the Warriors, just like the Pelicans, were doing the same thing they did 4 years ago and that's blanket Dame daring anybody else to beat them. Blazers still have no answer to that strategy, and it's a big reason why the Clipper bench won the game today

This shit is crazy, honestly, a first round sweep is sooo much different than getting swept out of the conference finals. Lumping all of those numbers together is so misleading.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Sorry, man, but that’s a weak take. The Clippers are deep, so the players that they were running are well capable of beating anyone. If you’ve watched the NBA for any length of time, you know that shorthanded teams winning is very common.

Oh god Man. If you think this team “HEALTHY” their a top 3 team then they shouldn’t need moral victories. Ridiculous Man. Face it, they have the worst rated defense in the bubble for a reason. THEY AINT THAT GOOD

 

[CupWizier]

I’m pretty sure every Blazer fan was pissed off in a major way by that loss. I know I used a few choice words. That said, it came down to a bad break on a made 3 point shot on a broken play by the Clips, and some uncharacteristically un-clutch end of game play by Dame. It happens. Decisions about changes to the roster or coaching can’t happen until after the season so what’s the point of arguing about it now?

I've taken many classes over the years, some for my past job and the rule was always said, never make a decision when you are in a highly emotional state as that's often when bad decisions are made. I always say, step back, take the necessary time and then assess the situation before commenting or making a decision. That's why it is it said cooler heads prevail?

 

[CupWizier]

“We”? Do you have part ownership of the team? Are you a player or a member of the coaching or support staff? Didn’t think so. So stop telling other posters how they should feel or what an appropriate reaction to a win or loss is. You wanna act like things are rosy and no changes need to be made - fine, that’s your prerogative... but don’t tell others how to feel.

wow, aren't you now trying to tell me what I can post and what I can't? I will use "we" anytime I feel like it when talking about a team I root for as many other people do as well. I just tell it as I see it and feel free to not read my posts if it upsets you so much. I never said things are all rosy, and I never said no changes need to be made and that had absolutely nothing to do with what I posted earlier. No changes can be made now anyway so it's extremely premature to worry about that at this stage.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I'm saying that if Portland wants to actually advance further then one 2nd round win in the last 20 years they might need to set a new course

I'm also saying that bowing out of the playoffs over the last 4 years with a 1-16 record in those series sucks a ton of donkey balls and indicates that the roster needs some major fucking work. They have played the Warriors 3 times in the playoffs and the only game they won was when Curry was out 4 years ago. Even a single win last season would have at least shown a little progression, but they couldn't even generate that. And the Warriors, just like the Pelicans, were doing the same thing they did 4 years ago and that's blanket Dame daring anybody else to beat them. Blazers still have no answer to that strategy, and it's a big reason why the Clipper bench won the game today

So your point is we lose when we lose. We won a must win game at home and a Game 7 on the road last year. Why do you wipe that out of your analysis?

And yes, the Blazers have the answer this year— Nurk, GT2, Collins, and Melo. Nurk was injured last 2 times we played Warriors too.

I think going from being swept in first round in 2018 to making the WCF in 2019 is major fucking progress.

 

[CupWizier]

well, we can't beat the Lakers in the first round until we are playing the Lakers in the first round, but we're certainly talking about it

we occasionally talk about the draft before it happens too. If people want to discuss...or argue...about potential changes to the roster I don't see the harm

and that's why there are draft threads as well as trade threads. This is a GAME thread.

 

[CupWizier]

Sorry, man, but that’s a weak take. The Clippers are deep, so the players that they were running are well capable of beating anyone. If you’ve watched the NBA for any length of time, you know that shorthanded teams winning is very common.

I'd avoid any discussion with this guy as he's obviously here just to rile the crowd.

 

[blazerkor]

Oh god Man. If you think this team “HEALTHY” their a top 3 team then they shouldn’t need moral victories. Ridiculous Man. Face it, they have the worst rated defense in the bubble for a reason. THEY AINT THAT GOOD

Yeah, our defense is terrible but that doesn't necessarily mean we need to blow it all up. I'm not going to talk about personnel moves until we're done with the bubble but this roster is capable of being a decent defensive team. Both Nurk and Zach are playing for the first time in a long time, so they are rusty. We see flashes of great D from each of them which tells me they will be good once they get into more of a rhythm. So, I think our starting interior defense is fine. With the players we have under contract our starting perimeter D could be very good too. Starting Dame, Gary and Ariza would be a very effective defensive perimeter. So I don't know if your panic is totally justified. I don't know what our defense would look like when people come off the bench, we wouldn't be too deep unless Nas, Wenyen and some backup guard stepped up but I think our starters could potentially be good.

 

[blazerkor]

I'd avoid any discussion with this guy as he's obviously here just to rile the crowd.

I don't think @AldoTrapani is just trolling, I think he is very reactionary and truly believes the stuff he says, which is pretty negative and especially during games is proven to be inaccurate more often than not.

 

[CupWizier]

I don't think @AldoTrapani is just trolling, I think he is very reactionary and truly believes the stuff he says, which is pretty negative and especially during games is proven to be inaccurate more often than not.

I didn't call him a troll, but he's not far from it.

 

[blazerkor]

I didn't call him a troll, but he's not far from it.

I just don't think his takes are meant to stir shit up, I think he is genuinely like that. He is incredibly negative and very quick to react and slow to correct his opinions when they are proven false.

 

[HailBlazers]

Man we miss Ariza.

 

[kjironman1]

Man we miss Ariza.

Yeah they do.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Yeah they do.

Ariza would've meant less minutes and shots for GT2. I know Ariza's taller but GT2 has made up for the loss of Ariza and then some. He's the best shooter in the bubble. More than 5 MADE threes per game at an incredible percentage. Ariza went 0-11 from 3 in Game 7 WCF 2018.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Dame missed FTs hurt, but what lost us the game was stagnant offense that wasn't prepared to beat the trap, and constant defensive switching. I'm sure you guys know who I blame for that shit.

Right; didn't it seem like every time down, Nurk would end up getting matched up against their most skilled and/or quickest player? I don't think that's the best way to use him; he din't have a single block.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This shit is crazy, honestly, a first round sweep is sooo much different than getting swept out of the conference finals. Lumping all of those numbers together is so misleading.

You could say it's misleading; but has there ever been another team with a streak like ours in closeout series?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Ariza would've meant less minutes and shots for GT2. I know Ariza's taller but GT2 has made up for the loss of Ariza and then some. He's the best shooter in the bubble. More than 5 MADE threes per game at an incredible percentage. Ariza went 0-11 from 3 in Game 7 WCF 2018.

Or maybe it would have meant less minutes for Collins and Hezonja, I really think that is more likely.

 

[kjironman1]

Ariza would've meant less minutes and shots for GT2. I know Ariza's taller but GT2 has made up for the loss of Ariza and then some. He's the best shooter in the bubble. More than 5 MADE threes per game at an incredible percentage. Ariza went 0-11 from 3 in Game 7 WCF 2018.

Probably right.

 

[blazerkor]

Ariza would've meant less minutes and shots for GT2. I know Ariza's taller but GT2 has made up for the loss of Ariza and then some. He's the best shooter in the bubble. More than 5 MADE threes per game at an incredible percentage. Ariza went 0-11 from 3 in Game 7 WCF 2018.

I think Ariza would mean less time for CJ, Melo and Zach. The way Gary is playing he would be getting minutes over all of those guys. We could definitely use Ariza right now. Just think if we needed a stop out of a time out, how much better would a lineup of Dame, Gary, Ariza, Zach and Nurk be than Dame, CJ, Gary, Zach and Nurk... it would be huge for us to have that option. If Ariza was playing he'd be starting and that would most likely mean Zach would be coming off the bench but regardless of how Stotts played it, we would be better with Ariza.

 

[blazerkor]

You could say it's misleading; but has there ever been another team with a streak like ours in closeout series?

I don't know and honestly I don't care that much, a series loss is a series loss and a series win is a series win, the only reason why it's good to sweep is so your guys can get rest and practice time before the next round in the playoffs. You grouping last year's WCF in with the other sweeps is just disrespectful to the team and what they accomplished. They won two playoff series and didn't win the conference finals, that's how I see it.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

UKRAINEFAN- I believe Shaq was swept out of the playoffs 5 times before he won a championship.

Let's see....

Shaq swept out of first round by Pacers in 1994.
Shaq swept out of NBA Finals by Rockets in 1995.
Shaq swept out of ECF by Bulls in 1996.
Shaq swept out of ECF by Jazz in 1998.
Shaq swept out of the second round by the Spurs in 1999.

5 sweeps in 6 years. And in 1997, he lost second round in 5 games by Jazz.

And then he broke through. And won three straight championships.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

You could say it's misleading; but has there ever been another team with a streak like ours in closeout series?

Yes.

 

[AldoTrapani]

I don't think @AldoTrapani is just trolling, I think he is very reactionary and truly believes the stuff he says, which is pretty negative and especially during games is proven to be inaccurate more often than not.

thank u. I love this team. But I’m not a blink homer. If they did well and proved me wrong I would love it. But they don’t. They struggle against Elite teams That literally don’t care about winning. Ask Paul George he literally said I got took out of the game because we didn’t care about the win. We still didn’t win. We suck. Even Denver tried to hand us the game but we still didn’t get the memo.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

thank u. I love this team. But I’m not a blink homer. If they did well and proved me wrong I would love it. But they don’t. They struggle against Elite teams That literally don’t care about winning. Ask Paul George he literally said I got took out of the game because we didn’t care about the win. We still didn’t win. We suck. Even Denver tried to hand us the game but we still didn’t get the memo.

But what about when we win? What about when we beat Lakers on Kobe night? What about when we won Game 7 on the road? You trash the team anytime anything goes wrong and seem to forgot all the great things they've done. Let PG13 have his fun. Dame waved goodbye to him when it mattered.