This season isn't about winning... (1 Viewer)

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SlyPokerDog

SlyPokerDog

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It's about learning what it takes to win.

Tonight's 2nd quarter was a thing of beauty. We outplayed and out hustled the Clippers.

A very vet Clippers team came out in the 2nd half and made adjustments. We didn't adjust to their adjustments. From the coaching staff to the players, that has to be learned.

These past few years we were playing to lose because at the time, that's what was needed. That era is over.

Sure, we lost, but there were a ton of positives to learn from it.

GO BLAZERS!
 
They lost by a total of 7 points, despite their really subpar shooting night. On the road, vs a veteran team.

FIRE THE COACH! TRADE EVERYONE! BRING BACK CHAUNCEY!

Wait, that last bit might be a bridge too far.
 
They are a fun team to watch, at least they are fun to watch on defense. Love the hustle and effort on that end of the court, along with the ball movement and player movement on offense. When things are clicking for this team, they will beat some really good squads, or at least put some fear into them like they did the Clippers last night. Sadly they just don't have one guy that can make things easy on offense. To truly win in the NBA, we all know that having THAT guy is key, a guy to get the easy bucket, to knock down the tough jumper like Kawhi did last night and Ant did on opening night. That's what is most frustrating about missing out on a guy like that when they had picks at the top of the draft, because I don't see that guy on the roster and feels like the only way to really find that guy is through the draft. Feels like we have a roster a lot like the Spurs, just missing that other worldly 7'5" monster, that makes everyone else better around him.
 
Mediocre Man said:
This is horseshit. At some point they have to win. What was last year for?
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The goal is always to win as many as you're able to. I still think 41-41 is possible; our losses have been competitive, and our win has been authoritative. These kids are "young and dumb", but they have a few veterans who really seem to be putting in their all, and the team has taken their good defense from last year and built on it.

All that said, we're maybe 50/50 to win tonight. But I think that's it: I think we're gonna be a 50/50 chance every night for a while until we figure out what works best for our roster. Against bad teams or injured teams that'll be frustrating, but against really good teams that'll be breathtaking.

And, now that the NBA Insider is out as head coach, we'll probably give ourselves more chances late in competitive games.
 
I believed the biggest issue with our shooting right now is guys are still getting their legs under them. Anytime you play this type of full court pressing defense it’s going to take some time for players bodies to adapt and no amount of conditioning prepares you for this. You just have to play through it.

Good part is once we have our conditioning other teams are going to struggle playing us. We are already seeing it. Loving this brand of basketball
 
1 Eye Jack said:
I believed the biggest issue with our shooting right now is guys are still getting their legs under them. Anytime you play this type of full court pressing defense it’s going to take some time for players bodies to adapt and no amount of conditioning prepares you for this. You just have to play through it.

Good part is once we have our conditioning other teams are going to struggle playing us. We are already seeing it. Loving this brand of basketball
Click to expand...

I think this is a big reason why their shooting has been suspect. It's not the ONLY reason, in the case of Shaedon his outside shooting hasn't been consistent or reliable since his rookie year, but it's a big reason.

Look at the players who aren't, really, struggling offensively. Grant, Jrue and Tisse.

2 of them are seasoned vets who kinda know the game. The other is someone who always was a water bug on defense. The teams offense was always going to lag behind it's defense because for the first time in god knows how long, they're actually PLAYING defense. In addition to that, they're now playing a totally unique style of defense that takes a LOT of energy to do. especially if you're coming from a place of not playing defense at all (or at least knowing the fundamentals of defense).

Eventually the offense is going go catch up with the defense, and then they'll start winning more games than they have been (over the years). That's not to say that once they get their offensive schemes figured out/muscle memory that the team will start steamrolling through the league, but they'll know what to do, or what position to be in so there shouldn't be as many bad passes or missed opportunities for offense or rebounding.

I kinda hope/think last nights game was the turning point for Shaedon. Not that he's going to be 48-40-90 going forward, but his drives to the hoop (while he did get blocked a lot) looked less laborious for him. That could just be wishful thinking on my part, but the previous two games his drives to the hoops seemed timid by comparison.
 
bigbailes said:
They are a fun team to watch, at least they are fun to watch on defense. Love the hustle and effort on that end of the court, along with the ball movement and player movement on offense. When things are clicking for this team, they will beat some really good squads, or at least put some fear into them like they did the Clippers last night. Sadly they just don't have one guy that can make things easy on offense. To truly win in the NBA, we all know that having THAT guy is key, a guy to get the easy bucket, to knock down the tough jumper like Kawhi did last night and Ant did on opening night. That's what is most frustrating about missing out on a guy like that when they had picks at the top of the draft, because I don't see that guy on the roster and feels like the only way to really find that guy is through the draft. Feels like we have a roster a lot like the Spurs, just missing that other worldly 7'5" monster, that makes everyone else better around him.
Click to expand...
If only we had a guy like Lillard, waiting in the wings, licking his chops...
 
Shaboid said:
If only we had a guy like Lillard, waiting in the wings, licking his chops...
Click to expand...
Was waiting for this reply ... if only he wasn't coming off a massive injury that will probably take two years to heal and he was an absolute sieve on defense, but yes he should be a deadly spot up shooter next year.
 
bigbailes said:
Was waiting for this reply ... if only he wasn't coming off a massive injury that will probably take two years to heal and he was an absolute sieve on defense, but yes he should be a deadly spot up shooter next year.
Click to expand...
I mostly agree. Doesn't give us much on the court this year besides more run for the young guys.
 
Shaboid said:
If only we had a guy like Lillard, waiting in the wings, licking his chops...
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And where does Dame fit on a defensive team? He was never good at defense but is notably older now, coming off injury. I love seeing the team play defense and I'm not sure how Dame fits into a defensive team. He didn't play at the kind of pace we are playing now as well.

Kinda thinking round hole, square peg. We'll see.
 
Everything Beagle said:
The goal is always to win as many as you're able to. I still think 41-41 is possible; our losses have been competitive, and our win has been authoritative. These kids are "young and dumb", but they have a few veterans who really seem to be putting in their all, and the team has taken their good defense from last year and built on it.

All that said, we're maybe 50/50 to win tonight. But I think that's it: I think we're gonna be a 50/50 chance every night for a while until we figure out what works best for our roster. Against bad teams or injured teams that'll be frustrating, but against really good teams that'll be breathtaking.

And, now that the NBA Insider is out as head coach, we'll probably give ourselves more chances late in competitive games.
Click to expand...
I agree with all of this. If we don’t win it’s not the end of the world, but learning is over
 
bigbailes said:
Was waiting for this reply ... if only he wasn't coming off a massive injury that will probably take two years to heal and he was an absolute sieve on defense, but yes he should be a deadly spot up shooter next year.
Click to expand...
Not to mention, he really likes to slow the game down
 
I’m not sure Dame will ever play again, so I think we start with those expectations. If he ever plays again, I would want him to come in as a pinch hitter, a decoy that can catch and shoot from deep and hit his free throws, keeping the defense honest and opening up the lanes for one of our penetrating wings. Not the most glamourous on the court role but I don’t think him coming back is about the glamour of being a basketball star anymore. And, if he hits one of those daggers, he’s gonna be the hero.
 
Everything Beagle said:
I’m not sure Dame will ever play again, so I think we start with those expectations. If he ever plays again, I would want him to come in as a pinch hitter, a decoy that can catch and shoot from deep and hit his free throws, keeping the defense honest and opening up the lanes for one of our penetrating wings. Not the most glamourous on the court role but I don’t think him coming back is about the glamour of being a basketball star anymore. And, if he hits one of those daggers, he’s gonna be the hero.
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Did anyone see Dame warming up on TV last night before the Clippers game? He is going to play again and he's not one to come in as a pinch hitter. His competitiveness won't allow him to be some role player. My wondering is - will he try to come back this year? He sure looked like someone who wants to come back this year and contribute.
 
Norman Dale said:
Did anyone see Dame warming up on TV last night before the Clippers game? He is going to play again and he's not one to come in as a pinch hitter. His competitiveness won't allow him to be some role player. My wondering is - will he try to come back this year? He sure looked like someone who wants to come back this year and contribute.
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Before the Warriors game he said he has no plans to come back this season.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
It's about learning what it takes to win.

Tonight's 2nd quarter was a thing of beauty. We outplayed and out hustled the Clippers.

A very vet Clippers team came out in the 2nd half and made adjustments. We didn't adjust to their adjustments. From the coaching staff to the players, that has to be learned.

These past few years we were playing to lose because at the time, that's what was needed. That era is over.

Sure, we lost, but there were a ton of positives to learn from it.

GO BLAZERS!
Click to expand...

Eh? This team hasn't been about winning since they hired Olshey. Why would this season be any different?
 
oldmangrouch said:
Eh? This team hasn't been about winning since they hired Olshey. Why would this season be any different?
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Ill bite. For starters, almost everyone from the Olshey era is now gone.
However, the center of my rebuttal is the effort and competitiveness we have witnessed in the three games so far. Nothing has indicated they werent trying to win with all their might. The defensive style alone, unless they change that, will keep us competitive in most every game.
Have you seen anything so far this season that hints at the team not wanting to win?
 
Norman Dale said:
Did anyone see Dame warming up on TV last night before the Clippers game? He is going to play again and he's not one to come in as a pinch hitter. His competitiveness won't allow him to be some role player. My wondering is - will he try to come back this year? He sure looked like someone who wants to come back this year and contribute.
Click to expand...

I hope he doesnt come back this year. Itd be a waste of time and a distraction to the cohesion.
 
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