Game Thread SUMMER LEAGUE GAME# 3 - SPURS VS BLAZERS - JULY 10, 2018 - TUESDAY, 1:00 PM PDT, NBATV & WATCHESPN

[Natebishop3]

Holy shit! Zach Randolph summer league photo!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Nice quote by Jim Moran: “We’ve been going a really good job defensively and guys get out and run,” said assistant coach Jim Moran, who is handling head coaching duties for the Trail Blazers at summer league. “Wade gets guys the ball, gets them involved. When you’re touching the ball every other possession or every third possession, you stay engaged, you stay involved. And I think that our guys being on the defensive end knowing ‘Hey, if I get out and run, someone is going to find me and throw me the ball,’ that really helps guys get in the flow of the game. And when they do get the ball for an open shot, it’s not the first time they’re touching it. So the confidence is there and I think all our guys have been shooting it really well.”
Hope the head coach understands that.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trent-jr-and-blazers-stay-undefeated-las-vegas-sharing-sugar

 

[dviss1]

"The Starters" is awesome. One of my favorite shows.

I wanted them to STFU...

I STILL don't understand what they meant by wedgie...

WTF?

 

[hoopsjock]

I wanted them to STFU...

I STILL don't understand what they meant by wedgie...

WTF?

It's when the ball gets "wedged" between the rim and the backboard. They had a bet where if there wasn't a wedgie they had to dress up in show girl costumes for their show last night. I'm not sure why anyone would care or make that bet though.

 

[BBert]

Nice quote by Jim Moran: “We’ve been going a really good job defensively and guys get out and run,” said assistant coach Jim Moran, who is handling head coaching duties for the Trail Blazers at summer league. “Wade gets guys the ball, gets them involved. When you’re touching the ball every other possession or every third possession, you stay engaged, you stay involved. And I think that our guys being on the defensive end knowing ‘Hey, if I get out and run, someone is going to find me and throw me the ball,’ that really helps guys get in the flow of the game. And when they do get the ball for an open shot, it’s not the first time they’re touching it. So the confidence is there and I think all our guys have been shooting it really well.”
Hope the head coach understands that.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trent-jr-and-blazers-stay-undefeated-las-vegas-sharing-sugar

Jim Moran for head coach.

And CJ for trade bait.

 

[Hoopguru]

As for the poll, it's easily Collins for me. He looks terrible. Did not expect this.

Couldn't watch the game (darn work), who/what allowed the comeback by SA? I noticed Trent had a nice line, but a -13 plus/minus.

Its been a great fun hanging with you guys for this summer league, but this is it for me this year. Leaving tomorrow for the wilderness not expecting to get internet connection.

Hope to come back to see images from the parade.

Go Blazers.

I thought Jenkins had a nice stroke within rhythm of the game.
You can tell he's somewhat of a vet, seemed real comfortable and took advantage of his pt yesterday. Someone will give him a shot I would think.

 

[Hoopguru]

Jim Moran for head coach.

And CJ for trade bait.

I think Moran will get an opportunity, I like his demeanor on the sideline and he seems to get the players attention.

 

[BBert]

Nice quote by Jim Moran: “We’ve been going a really good job defensively and guys get out and run,” said assistant coach Jim Moran, who is handling head coaching duties for the Trail Blazers at summer league. “Wade gets guys the ball, gets them involved. When you’re touching the ball every other possession or every third possession, you stay engaged, you stay involved. And I think that our guys being on the defensive end knowing ‘Hey, if I get out and run, someone is going to find me and throw me the ball,’ that really helps guys get in the flow of the game. And when they do get the ball for an open shot, it’s not the first time they’re touching it. So the confidence is there and I think all our guys have been shooting it really well.”
Hope the head coach understands that.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trent-jr-and-blazers-stay-undefeated-las-vegas-sharing-sugar

This is music to my eyes

 

[TBpup]

Nice quote by Jim Moran: “We’ve been going a really good job defensively and guys get out and run,” said assistant coach Jim Moran, who is handling head coaching duties for the Trail Blazers at summer league. “Wade gets guys the ball, gets them involved. When you’re touching the ball every other possession or every third possession, you stay engaged, you stay involved. And I think that our guys being on the defensive end knowing ‘Hey, if I get out and run, someone is going to find me and throw me the ball,’ that really helps guys get in the flow of the game. And when they do get the ball for an open shot, it’s not the first time they’re touching it. So the confidence is there and I think all our guys have been shooting it really well.”
Hope the head coach understands that.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trent-jr-and-blazers-stay-undefeated-las-vegas-sharing-sugar

That is almost a verbatim quote of why I don't like CJ at the point and why I think he is detrimental to the rest of the roster when he is dribbling the air out of the ball. That quote is so anti-CJ in it's content, I'm almost wondering if Moran will get a talking to.

Very well said by the coach and couldn't agree more.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think Moran will get an opportunity, I like his demeanor on the sideline and he seems to get the players attention.

It's interesting that our so-called big man coach excels in a guard-friendly environment like the Las Vegas summer league. All of our guards and small forwards look great - Baldwin, Simons, Trent, Jenkins and Layman are all killing it.

Meanwhile, our bigs (Swanigan, Collins and Papagiannis) can't make a basket to save their lives. Collins looks great on defense, but that's just his natural instincts taking over. On offense, none of our bigs look like they even belong on an NBA roster. And, it's not like they are rookies. Swanigan and Collins have had a full year of tutelage under Moran the big man coach, and if anything, they look worse offensively than they did as raw rookies last summer.

Maybe it's time to end the farce that we don't really need a real big man coach and let Moran focus on what he does best - coaching up the guards and wings.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

"The Starters" is awesome. One of my favorite shows.

Why does this NOT surprise me? They are tools.

 

[illmatic99]

It's interesting that our so-called big man coach excels in a guard-friendly environment like the Las Vegas summer league. All of our guards and small forwards look great - Baldwin, Simons, Trent, Jenkins and Layman are all killing it.

Meanwhile, our bigs (Swanigan, Collins and Papagiannis) can't make a basket to save their lives. Collins looks great on defense, but that's just his natural instincts taking over. On offense, none of our bigs look like they even belong on an NBA roster. And, it's not like they are rookies. Swanigan and Collins have had a full year of tutelage under Moran the big man coach, and if anything, they look worse offensively than they did as raw rookies last summer.

Maybe it's time to end the farce that we don't really need a real big man coach and let Moran focus on what he does best - coaching up the guards and wings.

BNM

If we ruin Collins like we did Meyers with the lack of coaching, I think I will hold Neil just as accountable for that as his summer of 16.

We've been a guard factory in the last few years. Dame/CJ/ Crabbe/Barton/ Frazier/ Napier/ Baldwin/ etc etc etc. And the coach I think responsible from everything I've heard over and over again from these interviews, the guy doing most of the development here is David Vanterpool.

Compare that to the other end with big men: Did nothing with TRob, Meyers' best year was as a rookie and became progressively worse, Nurk stagnated a bit after his initial burst, and now Collins is a big 0 on offense, while Swanigan is awful. Vonleh was useless and did not improve at all.

 

[PCmor7]

I'm not as anti-Stotts as some on this forum, but I never understood why any coach, let alone one considered offensive-minded, would seemingly be so dead set against pushing the ball when the opportunities presented themselves. When I coached, I always thought getting the ball up the floor and getting shot opportunities before the defense could get set and find its men or its responsibilities was to our advantage.

The only possible reason I would think otherwise is if a coach wanted to limit the total number of possessions because he was worried about fatiguing his key players and didn't have confidence in his bench.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we ruin Collins like we did Meyers with the lack of coaching, I think I will hold Neil just as accountable for that as his summer of 16.

We've been a guard factory in the last few years. Dame/CJ/ Crabbe/Barton/ Frazier/ Napier/ Baldwin/ etc etc etc. And the coach I think responsible from everything I've heard over and over again from these interviews, the guy doing most of the development here is David Vanterpool.

Compare that to the other end with big men: Did nothing with TRob, Meyers' best year was as a rookie and became progressively worse, Nurk stagnated a bit after his initial burst, and now Collins is a big 0 on offense, while Swanigan is awful. Vonleh was useless and did not improve at all.

And why aren’t any of the local media giving that any attention?

 

[TBpup]

And why aren’t any of the local media giving that any attention?

Out local media? The ones who get no insider information and ask the most softball questions of Neil Olshey ever? That media?

 

[illmatic99]

And why aren’t any of the local media giving that any attention?

We need to get a press pass for this site. Collectively, there is more knowledge of the game, the cap, and the league than anyone on the Blazer beat. And infinitely more interest in the NBA/Blazers.

 

[Natebishop3]

We need to get a press pass for this site. Collectively, there is more knowledge of the game, the cap, and the league than anyone on the Blazer beat. And infinitely more interest in the NBA/Blazers.

I can guaran-damn-tee you that if someone from this board got a credential that allowed them access to the coaches or players, and they asked a question like, "why don't we have a better development system for the bigs?" We would lose that damn pass so fast that it would be like we never had it in the first place.

The Blazers don't want anyone from this board to have access to the players/coaches. They made that abundantly clear when they gave Sly his limited pass and stuck him up in the nosebleeds.

 

[Boob-No-More]

If we ruin Collins like we did Meyers with the lack of coaching, I think I will hold Neil just as accountable for that as his summer of 16.

We've been a guard factory in the last few years. Dame/CJ/ Crabbe/Barton/ Frazier/ Napier/ Baldwin/ etc etc etc. And the coach I think responsible from everything I've heard over and over again from these interviews, the guy doing most of the development here is David Vanterpool.

Compare that to the other end with big men: Did nothing with TRob, Meyers' best year was as a rookie and became progressively worse, Nurk stagnated a bit after his initial burst, and now Collins is a big 0 on offense, while Swanigan is awful. Vonleh was useless and did not improve at all.

Ever since we lost Aldridge and fired Kim Hughes, we have had a slew of young bug men who have not lived up to their offensive potential - not even close.

I'd forgotten about TRob, but I suspect that was a combination of him being uncoachable, and our lack of a true, proven big man coach. He's failed EVERYWHERE he's been, and he's been exposed to a LOT of different coaches, none who were able to get through to him. They all also let him go as soon as possible. We were the only ones who even brought him back after an initial look-see.

Of course, Meyers is the poster boy for a big man who never developed, backslid even - once we fired Hughes. It is sadly ironic that Hughes was working with Meyers in IL when Hughes made the statement about losing Aldridge that got him fired. Talk about biting off your nose to spite you face. Right at the exact moment when we needed a big man coach more than ever, we fired him. I get that Hughes needed to be taught to stay in his lane, but I also thought we'd immediately hire a qualified replacement. We didn't and still haven't.

Like Meyers, Vonleh actually got worse, offensively, the longer he was here. He was a solid defender, but never developed a go to low post move or improved his basic footwork.

Nurk has great footwork, but needs to work on finishing better around the basket. He's made improvement on his own, but imagine how much better he'd be with proper coaching.

I'm amazed how much worse Swanigan looks this summer compared to last. What the fuck did we do to him?

All of our guards seem to get better offensively. Many (most) of our young bigs seem to get worse. How is that possible? More importantly, how is it acceptable?

Even slightly older players like Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee failed to develop a single low post move or a mid-range jump shot (or any jump shot at all) while here. Those guys were decent contributors, but their contributions were 100% based on hustle and energy, not any skills our "big man coach" taught them.

Our staff seems to do an excellent job coaching up guards. Too bad, at the same time, they are coaching down our big men.

I was shocked last summer when we used three first round picks to select two big men, and still didn't hire a big man coach to work with them. I thought, this is it, we just invested 3 first round picks in a deep draft on big men, and added Nurk at the trade deadline, and still had Meyers and Vonleh, no way in hell do we not hire a proven big man coach. But, we didn't. And Swanigan looks MUCH worse offensively this summer than last and Zach Collins still can't make a basket against summer league level talent.

Sigh... How does this organization not recognize this as a problem in need of an obvious solution? Are all Vulcans short? Do they only care about developing short players? I mean really, WTF?

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

Ever since we lost Aldridge and fired Kim Hughes, we have had a slew of young bug men who have not lived up to their offensive potential - not even close.

I'd forgotten about TRob, but I suspect that was a combination of him being uncoachable, and our lack of a true, proven big man coach. He's failed EVERYWHERE he's been, and he's been exposed to a LOT of different coaches, none who were able to get through to him. They all also let him go as soon as possible. We were the only ones who even brought him back after an initial look-see.

Of course, Meyers is the poster boy for a big man who never developed, backslid even - once we fired Hughes. It is sadly ironic that Hughes was working with Meyers in IL when Hughes made the statement about losing Aldridge that got him fired. Talk about biting off your nose to spite you face. Right at the exact moment when we needed a big man coach more than ever, we fired him. I get that Hughes needed to be taught to stay in his lane, but I also thought we'd immediately hire a qualified replacement. We didn't and still haven't.

Like Meyers, Vonleh actually got worse, offensively, the longer he was here. He was a solid defender, but never developed a go to low post move or improved his basic footwork.

Nurk has great footwork, but needs to work on finishing better around the basket. He's made improvement on his own, but imagine how much better he'd be with proper coaching.

I'm amazed how much worse Swanigan looks this summer compared to last. What the fuck did we do to him?

All of our guards seem to get better offensively. Many (most) of our young bigs seem to get worse. How is that possible? More importantly, how is it acceptable?

Even slightly older players like Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee failed to develop a single low post move or a mid-range jump shot (or any jump shot at all) while here. Those guys were decent contributors, but their contributions were 100% based on hustle and energy, not any skills our "big man coach" taught them.

Our staff seems to do an excellent job coaching up guards. Too bad, at the same time, they are coaching down our big men.

I was shocked last summer when we used three first round picks to select two big men, and still didn't hire a big man coach to work with them. I thought, this is it, we just invested 3 first round picks in a deep draft on big men, and added Nurk at the trade deadline, and still had Meyers and Vonleh, no way in hell do we not hire a proven big man coach. But, we didn't. And Swanigan looks MUCH worse offensively this summer than last and Zach Collins still can't make a basket against summer league level talent.

Sigh... How does this organization not recognize this as a problem in need of an obvious solution? Are all Vulcans short? Do they only care about developing short players? I mean really, WTF?

BNM

This is more than just a blip. Maybe it's the league wide de-emphasis on bigs that's making us focus more on the development of guards rather than bigs. But when young guys with talent start regressing, you need to stop and fix it.

 

[BBert]

We need to get a press pass for this site. Collectively, there is more knowledge of the game, the cap, and the league than anyone on the Blazer beat. And infinitely more interest in the NBA/Blazers.

I'm sure our guys asking questions of Neil Olshey would go swimmingly LOL

Prepare to be insulted and condescended to. Between his defensiveness and his ego, the guy would have a total meltdown.

 

[BBert]

I can guaran-damn-tee you that if someone from this board got a credential that allowed them access to the coaches or players, and they asked a question like, "why don't we have a better development system for the bigs?" We would lose that damn pass so fast that it would be like we never had it in the first place.

The Blazers don't want anyone from this board to have access to the players/coaches. They made that abundantly clear when they gave Sly his limited pass and stuck him up in the nosebleeds.

Exactly

 

[THE HCP]

We need to get a press pass for this site. Collectively, there is more knowledge of the game, the cap, and the league than anyone on the Blazer beat. And infinitely more interest in the NBA/Blazers.

But @yuyuza1 you live waaaaay out in the sticks. Speaking of, keep an eye out for The HCP! Flying in to Indy tomorrow and working out at Butler University til Sunday.Living that hillbilly corn life!

 

[BBert]

But @yuyuza1 you live waaaaay out in the sticks. Speaking of, keep an eye out for The HCP! Flying in to Indy tomorrow and working out at Butler University til Sunday.Living that hillbilly corn life!

Wait...you work out?

 

[THE HCP]

Wait...you work out?

Funny post bro......not worthy of a LIKE son.

 

[Boob-No-More]

This is more than just a blip. Maybe it's the league wide de-emphasis on bigs that's making us focus more on the development of guards rather than bigs. But when young guys with talent start regressing, you need to stop and fix it.

If we're not going to invest in developing them we should stop wasting first round picks on them. It seems astonishingly counterproductive to use multiple 1st round picks, even multiple lottery picks, on big men and then not hire a proven big man coach to work with them.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'm sure our guys asking questions of Neil Olshey would go swimmingly LOL

Prepare to be insulted and condescended to. Between his defensiveness and his ego, the guy would have a total meltdown.

Paul is the one who should be asking him this question. It's like ever since the Kim Hughes firing, the entire organization has had their head buried in the sand. Like even mentioning the words big man coach is taboo and verboten.

BNM

 

[riverman]

But @yuyuza1 you live waaaaay out in the sticks. Speaking of, keep an eye out for The HCP! Flying in to Indy tomorrow and working out at Butler University til Sunday.Living that hillbilly corn life!

They are having hot dog eating contests in Indiana? Good luck bro...

 

[handiman]

I can guaran-damn-tee you that if someone from this board got a credential that allowed them access to the coaches or players, and they asked a question like, "why don't we have a better development system for the bigs?" We would lose that damn pass so fast that it would be like we never had it in the first place.

The Blazers don't want anyone from this board to have access to the players/coaches. They made that abundantly clear when they gave Sly his limited pass and stuck him up in the nosebleeds.

This may come as a surprise to many here, but forums and blogs are dirty words to most companies. They do just enough to make those outlets feel semi-appreciated, hoping to keep the inevitable bashing to a minimum, but would rather ignore their existence.

It doesn't matter how much knowledge is contained therein, the assumption is always going to be that it's a bunch of antagonistic blowhards.

 

[riverman]

antagonistic blowhards.

we prefer being called zeros

 

[Boob-No-More]

we prefer being called zeros

Losers, fanbois and geeks!

BNM