Thanks Neil

[Natebishop3]

This is what it looks like to have a bench.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rhal]

Love the fact we got Affalo. Makes our team so much more versatile. He was the player I was hoping all year would become available and we could get for basically a first.

 

[H.C.]

Afflalo was great on both ends. But he had arguely the most important play of the game when he grabbed the rebound after Westbrook missed. Ibaka was over the back on the play btw. But triple A was a beast.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Triple A is a fantastic get for us. I have no idea what our team will look like next season but I hope we see a lot of familiar faces, including his!

 

[santeesioux]

I thought people were crazy when they said he was as good as Wes, but I can see why they say that now.

 

[Rhal]

Afflalo was great on both ends. But he had arguely the most important play of the game when he grabbed the rebound after Westbrook missed. Ibaka was over the back on the play btw. But triple A was a beast.

They almost NEVER call over the back anymore. If they did Small ball would be so much better.

 

[Natebishop3]

The dude just looks happy to be back in the playoff hunt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ripcityboy]

What? Are you telling me you don't miss Thomas Robinson? For shame!

 

[EGame]

Or at least a 6th man. Blake is what he is, he'll make some points but not much and kaman is just baffling with how he plays at times. Our bench overall is still weak, but if Afflalo gives us 12+ a night that'll be big. He essentially played for ROLO at the end of the game, though, tonight. It worked fine since OKC had no bigs but when we play teams that do assuming he is playing great, will Stotts swallow his pride and play him over Wes or Batum?

 

[H.C.]

They almost NEVER call over the back anymore. If they did Small ball would be so much better.

So true, they never call over the back anymore unless it's FIBA.

 

[ehizzy3]

If Neil doesn't bring us a ring, no one will. We are lucky to have him

 

[H.C.]

Or at least a 6th man. Blake is what he is, he'll make some points but not much and kaman is just baffling with how he plays at times. Our bench overall is still weak, but if Afflalo gives us 12+ a night that'll be big. He essentially played for ROLO at the end of the game, though, tonight. It worked fine since OKC had no bigs but when we play teams that do assuming he is playing great, will Stotts swallow his pride and play him over Wes or Batum?

No, for as bad as Batum was tonight he played great defense and is still the only other playmaker for others outside of Lillard.
Batum is needed to both play better and be a playmaker.

 

[EGame]

No, for as bad as Batum was tonight he played great defense and is still the only other playmaker for others outside of Lillard.
Batum is needed to both play better and be a playmaker.

So than what about for Wes especially when he has his off nights like tonight?

 

[ripcityboy]

If Neil doesn't bring us a ring, no one will. We are lucky to have him

Bingo.

 

[H.C.]

So than what about for Wes especially when he has his off nights like tonight?

Maybe, but Wes had an off night but was 2-2 in the 4th wasn't he? I know he made at least 1 in the 4th from the corner. Was the one from the elbow in the 4th also?

 

[EGame]

Maybe, but Wes had an off night but was 2-2 in the 4th wasn't he? I know he made at least 1 in the 4th from the corner. Was the one from the elbow in the 4th also?

I don't remember either. He did have that dumb, dumb foul that could have sent the game to OT had westbrick made his fts and we missed a game winning shot. I'm just curious because Afflalo is valuable and could be used at the end of games but unless we face smaller teams like tonight, he may not see it.

 

[ehizzy3]

Wes also didn't box Westbrook out whenhe got his rebound and put it back in. If we can resign Wes AND Afflalo, that would be amazing.

 

[H.C.]

I don't remember either. He did have that dumb, dumb foul that could have sent the game to OT had westbrick made his fts and we missed a game winning shot. I'm just curious because Afflalo is valuable and could be used at the end of games but unless we face smaller teams like tonight, he may not see it.

It's possible that the lineup that will give the Blazers the best defense and force the most adjustments out of other teams is..
Lillard
Afflalo
Matthews
Batum
Aldridge.

They just have to make sure to rebound. Batum gets more of a pass on the rebounding because he is always matched up vs the best player.
His turnovers tho, no pass.

 

[EGame]

It's possible that the lineup that will give the Blazers the best defense and force the most adjustments out of other teams is..
Lillard
Afflalo
Matthews
Batum
Aldridge.

They just have to make sure to rebound. Batum gets more of a pass on the rebounding because he is always matched up vs the best player.
His turnovers tho, no pass.

Ya will have to wait and see. Hopefully Stotts makes the right adjustments as needed. He did fantastic tonight. The only team we can't do that with for sure is Memphis of the playoff teams and Houston when they have Dwight. Maybe Dallas as well.

 

[ehizzy3]

Ya will have to wait and see. Hopefully Stotts makes the right adjustments as needed. He did fantastic tonight. The only team we can't do that with for sure is Memphis of the playoff teams and Houston when they have Dwight. Maybe Dallas as well.

Aldridge can do decently enough against Dwight. do you not like batum against smith/jones?

 

[dviss1]

They almost NEVER call over the back anymore. If they did Small ball would be so much better.

That's because there's no such thing as over the back. There simply is no such call. You can go over someone's back as much as you want. The questions a ref has to ask are:

1. Is the defender boxing out?

2. Did he get pushed in the back while doing so?

if you don't get an affirmative answer to the first question it must be a serious push. If you do get an answer that's affirmative to #1, then the push does not have to be so serious. If you get affirmative answers to both questions it's an easy call. The problem is that the layman does not know the rule. You can athletically go over the back with marginal contact and it is not a foul.

In closing, they call pushes in the back all the time. It happens 4 or 5 times a game. Maybe even more.

 

[H.C.]

Ya will have to wait and see. Hopefully Stotts makes the right adjustments as needed. He did fantastic tonight. The only team we can't do that with for sure is Memphis of the playoff teams and Houston when they have Dwight. Maybe Dallas as well.

I like the fact that the Blazers have bench players the other team has to prepare for and think about...
Last year vs the Spurs one of the issues was the Blazers had no one off the bench that really made the Spurs pause.
With Rolo/Afflalo/Blake/Kaman. You have to honor those players and have them in your scouting report. If you don't... They could kill you.

I think it's a nightly biases and you go by who's hot. Or having more of an impact on the game. Tonight Rolo had very little impact.

I agree vs Memphis/Dallas it's difficult to go small.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Kaman is cringe worthy most of the time he's on the court though.

 

[EGame]

Aldridge can do decently enough against Dwight. do you not like batum against smith/jones?

No, you are right. For some reason I was thinking they still had Asik which they don't. I would agree that is fine the only thing I worry about is potential foul problems for Aldridge against Dwight. Never know how the refs are feeling on any given night.

 

[ehizzy3]

No, you are right. For some reason I was thinking they still had Asik which they don't. I would agree that is fine the only thing I worry about is potential foul problems for Aldridge against Dwight. Never know how the refs are feeling on any given night.

Its a tough match up but Aldridge usually stays straight up. At the same time, Dwight can shut down Aldridge. Overall id rather have Lopez on Dwight. But the way Aldridge tore up jones last year, Dwight (if
Healthy) will be guarding lma in the playoffs IMo

Thank god asik is gone to New Orleans

 

[Rhal]

Its a tough match up but Aldridge usually stays straight up. At the same time, Dwight can shut down Aldridge. Overall id rather have Lopez on Dwight. But the way Aldridge tore up jones last year, Dwight (if
Healthy) will be guarding lma in the playoffs IMo

Thank god asik is gone to New Orleans

Dwight can shut LMA down? When had that ever happened?
Dwights still a great defender but even when be was amazing and in orlando he had trouble with LMA

 

[H.C.]

Its a tough match up but Aldridge usually stays straight up. At the same time, Dwight can shut down Aldridge. Overall id rather have Lopez on Dwight. But the way Aldridge tore up jones last year, Dwight (if
Healthy) will be guarding lma in the playoffs IMo

Thank god asik is gone to New Orleans

No he can't, and if they put Howard on Aldridge that's a win for portland because then they have no rim protection vs Lillard/Blake/Afflalo/Batum/Wes.
+ they have no one to guard Rolo... Rolo would eat all of their small players alive.
D-Mo will be on Aldridge and they'll double team him, if they'd meet in the playoffs.

 

[EGame]

Its a tough match up but Aldridge usually stays straight up. At the same time, Dwight can shut down Aldridge. Overall id rather have Lopez on Dwight. But the way Aldridge tore up jones last year, Dwight (if
Healthy) will be guarding lma in the playoffs IMo

Thank god asik is gone to New Orleans

He does usually play straight up, but we all know how LMA does like to take swipes at the ball. Generally he isn't called for a foul, but again, any given night with refs is what would worry me.

 

[H.C.]

He does usually play straight up, but we all know how LMA does like to take swipes at the ball. Generally he isn't called for a foul, but again, any given night with refs is what would worry me.

I'd personally rather have Rolo on Howard. Switching to Aldridge later in the 4th when winning time happens.
Aldridge is the better post defender... but I'd rather Aldridge light them up offensively than have to waste energy during non-winning times.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I posted this in the game thread but it should really go here:

I can't even begin to express my happiness with Afflalo and what he brings to this team and our bench. He is going to give at least 10 points, ON A BAD NIGHT. And tonight he was AAAmazing!