THUNDER @ BLAZERS 01.13.2013, 6:00 PM - GAME THREAD

[EGame]

If we ever find a bench or a 6th man we will be good. You can tell our starters can only do so much. It is hard to depend on 4 of the 5 starters to do well each night with no other scoring coming from anywhere else.

 

[B-Roy]

Yep. You could say we had no business coming close to winning. These last few games we probably should have been blown out. So it is a start but we have to shoot better at some point obviously.

Part of it is not shooting so many long jumpshots. Really dissapointed in the entire teams decision making this game. Specifically Damian + the entire bench. (Fuckin Price man...)

 

[Sinobas]

Nic Batum needs to fucking learn how to finish inside. The Blazers missed so many layups and open 3s, jacked up awful shots. I have no idea how we weren't blown out by 20 points, they looked like a bunch of lottery bound scrubs tonight.

And once again, they wait till the 4th quarter to pull their heads out of their asses and come up short.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I don't hate Aldridge and even though he was doing great tonight, I just don't want him take that final clutch shot. Except maybe a couple times (like against Dallas last year) he usually misses. I'll take my chances with Lillard, Batum or a wide open Wes from 3.

Ya Aldridge lost that game for us.

 

[B-Roy]

Nic Batum needs to fucking learn how to finish inside. The Blazers missed so many layups and open 3s, jacked up awful shots. I have no idea how we weren't blown out by 20 points, they looked like a bunch of lottery bound scrubs tonight.

And once again, they wait till the 4th quarter to pull their heads out of their asses and come up short.

That last layup attempt was a bad shot. Two guys right on him, he was basically hoping for the foul. Plus Matthews was open on the other side. (But it's not like he's been making layups either)

 

[EGame]

Ya Aldridge lost that game for us.

Can you read? Where did I say he lost it for us? I merely said I would rather someone else take the final shot. lrn2read.

 

[Darkwebs]

And there goes our 9-game winning streak at home. Nic really didn't come through with his guarantee.

 

[Sinobas]

The Blazers had so many face-palm moments this game...just a few less of those and we'd have won. This was a terrible game....

 

[Haakzilla]

Can you read? Where did I say he lost it for us? I merely said I would rather someone else take the final shot. lrn2read.

...agreed, I am pretty sure that's NOT how Stotts drew it up!

 

[Haakzilla]

...did HCP talk shit to Westbrook?!

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Our bench had 6 points tonight.

 

[EGame]

Our bench had 6 points tonight.

Is that above average or below?

 

[BBert]

Our bench had 6 points tonight.

Guh!

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we ever find a bench or a 6th man we will be good. You can tell our starters can only do so much. It is hard to depend on 4 of the 5 starters to do well each night with no other scoring coming from anywhere else.

Yes, if they get to that point they'll be "good" but probably not great unless the Olshey can somehow find another guy that "moves the needle." This team isn't just a few bits of duct tape here and some bailing wire there away, they've still got a lot of holes and some roster balancing ahead of them (particularly at center and probably at shooting guard, not too mention finding 3 or 4 additional bench quality players)

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Is that above average or below?

Earlier in the season that was right about average.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The bench was terrible, but frankly the starters didn't exactly acquit themselves all that well tonight. Pretty inefficient night for everybody besides LaMarcus. Too bad he was the only up for the challenge.

 

[EGame]

Yes, if they get to that point they'll be "good" but probably not great unless the Olshey can somehow find another guy that "moves the needle." This team isn't just a few bits of duct tape here and some bailing wire there away, they've still got a lot of holes and some roster balancing ahead of them (particularly at center and probably at shooting guard, not too mention finding 3 or 4 additional bench quality players)

Ya maybe. But that all depends on Lillard how he progresses too. If he can evolve his game even further, as you know, a star/superstar can help a lot. Ya we still need a bench, but if you can find a sixth man that goes along way. Of course we have some young guys who have a chance to improve in Leonard, Claver, Freeland, but who knows how they turn out. For a team that has holes we are still doing well on what was and still is a rebuilding year, so I think we can be ok going forward.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Lillard is already 22 that hinders his ceiling somewhat ... he'll at least have some incremental growth going forward -- the biggest strides he'll take are probably just becoming more consistent. But counting on him to become a "superstar" (like a top ten guy in the league and in the conversation for MVP) is probably pretty slim.

Chances are if this team is ever going to have a shot becoming a title contender with this core of players (LMA, Batum, Lillard) they're going to need to be more like those early aughts Pistons teams vs. the traditional "2/3 superstars and roleplayers" model. To me that means that even if Lillard turns into a top 5 guy at his position, this team still needs another near all-star caliber acquisition to bolster this team.

 

[B-Roy]

Lillard is already 22 that hinders his ceiling somewhat ... he'll at least have some incremental growth going forward -- the biggest strides he'll take are probably just becoming more consistent. But counting on him to become a "superstar" (like a top ten guy in the league and in the conversation for MVP) is probably pretty slim.

Chances are if this team is ever going to have a shot becoming a title contender with this core of players (LMA, Batum, Lillard) they're going to need to be more like those early aughts Pistons teams vs. the traditional "2/3 superstars and roleplayers" model. To me that means that even if Lillard turns into a top 5 guy at his position, this team still needs another near all-star caliber acquisition to bolster this team.

Where do you think they are more likely to get that player?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Where do you think they are more likely to get that player?

Possibly a trade, probably not through free agency and depending on our draft position the chances could be decent or kind of poor.

All I know is that trying to make the playoffs this year and sacrificing the cheapest and most direct way of adding talent (the draft) would be a real setback for this team as it tries to remake itself in as short amount of time as possible -- before LMA's contract enters the last year.

 

[B-Roy]

Possibly a trade, probably not through free agency and depending on our draft position the chances could be decent or kind of poor.

All I know is that trying to make the playoffs this year and sacrificing the cheapest and most direct way of adding talent (the draft) would be a real setback for this team as it tries to remake itself in as short amount of time as possible -- before LMA's contract enters the last year.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. The only way the Blazers can get their pick this year is if they decide to tank. Anything 12 and up goes to Charlotte. And they're probably better than the 10th or 11th pick with the current crew.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Look at the schedule, they aren't going to have to "tank" that hard.

 

[B-Roy]

Look at the schedule, they aren't going to have to "tank" that hard.

I don't know. That sounds like the mentality of the people who thought we were going to be lucky to win 30 games all year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I guess time will tell, but just going by strength-of-schedule We've got one of the toughest slates in the second half of the season.

 

[B-Roy]

I guess time will tell, but just going by strength-of-schedule We've got one of the toughest slates in the second half of the season.

Oh for sure. I just don't think they'll dip hard enough for a good pick. I'm really not enthused by the thought of a late lotto pick as most of them are garbage.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Actually the trouble with this draft look like like the top 5. Depending on who you listen to, 1-15 look almost interchangeable. Draft gurus like Givony and Ford are sounding pretty positive when talk about the quality of the players available in the late lottery.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

‎"Glad that Lillard didn't shoot that three at the end, he's such a big-game player." -- Kevin Durant per Blazers Edge.

 

[B-Roy]

Actually the trouble with this draft look like like the top 5. Depending on who you listen to, 1-15 look almost interchangeable. Draft gurus like Givony and Ford are sounding pretty positive when talk about the quality of the players available in the late lottery.

Blah blah blah. It's all talk. Historically the draft has been mostly a crapshoot (especially in the late lotto), and I don't expect it to be any different this year.

It wouldn't be the first time a draft has been lauded as deep, and then not delivered. (I'm looking at you 2007)

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Draft basically is synonym for crap shoot. With that said you are better off with a chance then without one period.

 

[pinwheelempire]

Your videos are fucking pimp!!!! Keep it up

Welcome to S2! Huge fan of your videos!

I thank you for some great vids. Rep

Hell yeah! Love the vids!

Batum is going to have to be a hero on both ends again tonight.

Thanks guy! I was going to be around for the game thread tonight but forgot! I thought for sure Blazers would pull of the W... but a learning experience I suppose. I'll be around for the next game, was ready to make a video then they lost...