Wes Matthews can't possibly get enough credit

[Natebishop3]

James Harden averaged 26.8 ppg but he only shot 37.6 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range for the series. He had to work for every single point.

Wes was a warrior in this series. He shouldered the burden of guarding Harden and at the expense of his own numbers. Wes might not have put up a lot of stats, but his defense was a huge reason why we won.

Thanks Wes!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Thanks, Wes! I was very wrongly a bit hard on you last night, but I've come around!

 

[Hobbesarable]

James Harden averaged 26.8 ppg but he only shot 37.6 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range for the series. He had to work for every single point.

Wes was a warrior in this series. He shouldered the burden of guarding Harden and at the expense of his own numbers. Wes might not have put up a lot of stats, but his defense was a huge reason why we won.

Thanks Wes!

Yes, thank you, Wes. He gives tremendous effort on defense in just about every game he plays.

 

[Darkwebs]

Wes is a true competitor. He pours his heart and soul into every game and every play. Props to him for slowing down Harden in the series.

 

[Further]

I am amazed by the non-stop effort always made by Wes. He must eat 10,000 calories a day to be able to work that hard. A beast and a warrior.

 

[riverman]

Wes played great all season

 

[mook]

If Portland can move up a few levels on defense next season, I think the Rockets playoff series will put the idea in a lot of people's heads that Matthews deserves to be on the All-Defense team in 2015. With the hand checking rules it's so hard to make such an impact on defense as a guard.

 

[Darkwebs]

If Portland can move up a few levels on defense next season, I think the Rockets playoff series will put the idea in a lot of people's heads that Matthews deserves to be on the All-Defense team in 2015. With the hand checking rules it's so hard to make such an impact on defense as a guard.

Yes, and hopefully, the refs give Matthews more leeway on defense. That'd be nice to have a guy who can play gritty defense and get away with it.

 

[Stevenson]

MVP, MVP, MVP!

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER. MY VOTE SINCE GAME 1.

 

[Sinobas]

I think this was the first time I've seen Wes really live up to the reputation he came with as being a good on ball defender. I think Damian played pretty good defense too.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think this was the first time I've seen Wes really live up to the reputation he came with as being a good on ball defender. I think Damian played pretty good defense too.

Dame's defense is definitely improving. He got a lot more steals in this series as well.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

He's our Bruce Bowen..but likeable.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Well, Bowen was likeable to spurs fans...fact is, if he continues to body up and frustrate other teams best scorers he is gonna be hated by everyone else's fans REAL QUICK.

Which is fantastic!

 

[riverman]

Wes is a coaches player. If only they allowed hand checking in the modern game he'd be better than Bowen

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Wes is pure heart and determination. If he would have hit the threes from game five in game six instead there would have been A WILL YOU MARRY ME WES thread.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Instead he got a bunch of fuck offs. I think I wanted to trade him.

 

[maxiep]

I think he was happier than anyone that the Houston series ended. At some point Harden was going to figure out how to get free. It happened in Game Six. Now, we're done with them. Ten times in one season is enough. Now, Wes can breathe a little.

Just an amazing series by him. And imagine, we signed him as our backup SG.

 

[BBert]

Dame's defense is definitely improving. He got a lot more steals in this series as well.

Dame was possessed in that last game. How many 50-50 balls and rebounds did he get? He would not be denied. MVP

 

[BBert]

Wes' defense on Harden all series was huge, huge, huge. And he made his share of big shots. We don't need 5 all stars. We are good with the two we have and the right supporting cast. Wes, Nico and Lopez are the right supporting cast.

Now, about that bench....

 

[riverman]

Watching the after game on court of game 6 Wes seemed to be really basking in the crowd love! He just stood there scanning the Moda Center fans with a look of pure joy! This guy is special!

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Funny how lillards shot changed the way that MOST of the board would view Wes.....A lot of us would be grilling him for his extremely poor shooting and shot selection in game 6, but lillards shot cleansed all those sins.


One things for sure, no one could have guarded the last two Harden shots better

 

[riverman]

Blocked shots in the series, LA 16, Rolo 16, DWright 9, Wes 5, Nico 4...Wes lead the team in steals throughout the series and did a great job making Harden get tough looks and also doubling with help defense in the post on Howard and Asik. Wes and Nico did things no folks are talking about that they just don't have stats for. Tiring out your matchup is one of them.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Funny how lillards shot changed the way that MOST of the board would view Wes.....A lot of us would be grilling him for his extremely poor shooting and shot selection in game 6, but lillards shot cleansed all those sins.


One things for sure, no one could have guarded the last two Harden shots better

Nature of sports. Parsons is a perfect example, he lucked into that shot for the most part and then screwed the pooch at the end.

If Wes had made that last shot I don't think anyone would remember all the shots he forced.

 

[KingSpeed]

Wes' numbers weren't bad himself, Nate! 15.3 ppg on 44% FG and 39% pointers.

 

[maxiep]

Wes' numbers weren't bad himself, Nate! 15.3 ppg on 44% FG and 39% pointers.

You should add onto his numbers the amount he kept Harden below his season numbers--even with his increased MPG--to get his effective scoring rate.

 

[Rhyster66]

He really doesn't get enough credit. I looked on Spurstalk and there was a post where someone said Marion is a better shooter than Wes, which made me chuckle a bit.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

James Harden averaged 26.8 ppg but he only shot 37.6 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range for the series. He had to work for every single point.

Wes was a warrior in this series. He shouldered the burden of guarding Harden and at the expense of his own numbers. Wes might not have put up a lot of stats, but his defense was a huge reason why we won.

Thanks Wes!

Agreed 1,000%

 

[PapaG]

James Harden averaged 26.8 ppg but he only shot 37.6 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point range for the series. He had to work for every single point.

Wes was a warrior in this series. He shouldered the burden of guarding Harden and at the expense of his own numbers. Wes might not have put up a lot of stats, but his defense was a huge reason why we won.

Thanks Wes!

Nic defended him quite often, too.

 

[PapaG]

Wes' numbers weren't bad himself, Nate! 15.3 ppg on 44% FG and 39% pointers.

He also had an Ortg of 98, a Drtg of 117, and WS/48 of -.011.

He played decent, but let's not go overboard here. A PER of 9.3 on 19.9 USG kind of stinks, too.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nic defended him quite often, too.

Wes did the lion's share of the defending.