What needs to be changed

[H.C.]

There isn't much we need to do different offensively. Aminue/Harkless/CJ all had subpar games but we saw that the role players can get open 3's relatively easy, the amount of open 3's Aminu passed up was astounding, and attacking the paint on a quick slash or rolling/cutting to the paint all resulted in good looks. If we are deep in the paint they collapse and leave open shooters on the wings, if we get an O rebound the bigs might want to look to pass it out in game two. The big problems with our D came from O rebounds where we had trouble resetting our D afterwords as well as transition D. Jokic needs to be bodied and forced to exert effort on every shot, to many open looks from 2, don't care if he wants to shoot the 3 he is bad at it and if he hits them well you gotta live with that. A big problem was Murray was able to get open on the PnR just about everytime becasue we were more worried about Jokic then him and i'm not so sure we should be.

Jokic is bad at threes huh.
Career 34% from that range.
Sure he shot 30% this year, but he nearly shot 40% last year.
I wouldn't say that's bad.

 

[illmatic99]

Adjustments are needed in every playoff series. Usually adjustments don't involve blaming our 2nd best player when that guy was one of only 3 players that actually showed up last night.

The fact is that the Blazers are 22-8 since we signed Kanter, which is over a 70% win percentage and many of those games have been without Nurk and/or CJ. Jokic shot 61% from the field (51% during the regular season), 60% from 3 (30% during the regular season), and 100% on 12 free throws (82% during the regular season). He had a great game. We lost a road game to a really good team. Now is not the time to panic. We need to tighten up our defense quite a bit but what I saw was correctable.

The bottom line is we had 18 turnovers that led to 23 points for Denver. Several of which were bad passes that gave Denver fast breaks, open shots, and mismatches because our defense wasn't set. The Nuggets had 12 turnovers and we only scored 6 points off those 12 turnovers. The Blazers will be hard pressed to win many games with that big of a deficit in points off turnovers. They're hard to match up with to begin with, we can't let our sloppy offense contribute to our average defense.

Our defense had a lot to do with what Jokic did.

 

[hoopsjock]

Our defense had a lot to do with what Jokic did.

Sure, but like I said there were numerous plays where we turned the ball over or they got a long rebound and they ended up with Harkless or Lillard or someone else having to pick him up just because we didn't get back quick enough. Plus we could mix in an occasional double team but you know our coach doesn't like that.

 

[kjironman1]

Sure, but like I said there were numerous plays where we turned the ball over or they got a long rebound and they ended up with Harkless or Lillard or someone else having to pick him up just because we didn't get back quick enough. Plus we could mix in an occasional double team but you know our coach doesn't like that.

They did show double a number of times. But only flashes. Jokic is a good passer. He sees double as well as any center in the league. But I agree they need to pressure him.
Also seemed like Harkless was getting called as soon as he put any body on Jokic. Kind of tough to watch that.

 

[Natebishop3]

People need to stop looking at this game like it's the same as OKC. It's not the same. If we played the way we did last night against OKC, we would have blown them out.

The problem wasn't offense - We shot 52% from the floor and 38% from three. Those are very good numbers. We were hitting our shots. We put up 113 points.

The problem wasn't the refs - We shot 27 FTA to their 31. Dame was getting very favorable calls in this game. Much better than any game against OKC. Yes, we missed some free throws, but honestly it wouldn't have made a huge difference. We never would have made 100% of our free throws, so at best we maybe get an extra 4 points? We lost by 8.

The problem was unforced turnovers. 18 in this game compared to only 12 for them.

The problem was defense. When we shoot that well, we need to make it so that they DON'T shoot that well. This was basically a shootout, and in the end we lost because of the turnovers and the missed foul shots. They had 12 steals, we had 6. They had 12 turnovers, we had 18. They made 27 free throws, we made 20.

If you even up those made free throws, play some better defense, and cut down on your turnovers, this is a win.

I like starting Hood though. If they're going to try to hide Murray on our small forward, I want a small forward that can take advantage of him, and Hood abused the hell out of that guy last night. 17 points off 5-10 shooting.

Look at the symmetry though..... almost identical numbers right down the board.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame said postgame the problem was the players not executing the game plan and missing coverages they had prepared for. I wonder what the strategy was.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame said postgame the problem was the players not executing the game plan and missing coverages they had prepared for. I wonder what the strategy was.

Some of the guys just looked rattled. Not sure why.

 

[illmatic99]

Some of the guys just looked rattled. Not sure why.

There has to be a sort of emotional let down following the long break, but what I saw last night was unacceptable. Almost as if they're satisfied about winning Round 1. The defensive effort was appalling. I really think the coaching dropped the ball. Terry needed to tear into the guys at halftime after the sloppy finish to the 2nd quarter.

 

[Natebishop3]

So when they say "points off turnovers" is that points that Denver scored off our turnovers or is that points that we scored off turnovers?

If you look at the graphic I posted, it says 18 total turnovers and then below that it says "points off turnovers - 23"

 

[illmatic99]

So when they say "points off turnovers" is that points that Denver scored off our turnovers or is that points that we scored off turnovers?

If you look at the graphic I posted, it says 18 total turnovers and then below that it says "points off turnovers - 23"

Points they scored off our turnovers. We scored only 6 on their 13 turns.

 

[Natebishop3]

Points they scored off our turnovers. We scored only 6 on their 13 turns.

That's what I figured. So there's the ballgame right there.

They scored 23 points off our 18 turnovers.

That's huge.

 

[e_blazer]

If we don't make brutal changes we lose in 5 and I'm being generous

No, you're being reactionary. I get it. That loss sucked and it's easy to overreact as a fan in these instances. Aminu and Harkless have played consistent basketball throughout the stretch run and the first playoff series. I think it's safe to say that they won't play that badly again. Jokic is going to get his points, but Lillard is most likely going to offset him. The Blazers need to get the turnovers under control, get back to hitting their free throws, and do a better job on the Nuggets' role players. Do those things tomorrow night and they come home with a 1-1 record and homecourt advantage.

 

[BigGameDamian]

People are losing their minds.

Heads are going to roll!

 

[Chris Craig]

Game 1 was self inflicted. Bad defense. Poor passing. 23 Denver points off of 18 Blazers Turnovers. Blazers jawing too much with refs instead of focusing on the game. Blazers need to clean it up and get used to the Altitude. They will be fine game 2.

 

[Natebishop3]

Game 1 was self inflicted. Bad defense. Poor passing. 23 Denver points off of 18 Blazers Turnovers. Blazers jawing too much with refs instead of focusing on the game. Blazers need to clean it up and get used to the Altitude. They will be fine game 2.

I really don't even think the refs were that big of a factor. For all of the touch fouls and flopping that Jokic got on us, Dame did quite a bit to Denver.

Dame attempted 13 FT
Joke attempted 12 FT

I think we just didn't like it because Jokic didn't really have to work for his FTA or points, while Dame had to bust his ass to score 39. I thought the reffing was much more balanced than it was against OKC.

 

[noknobs]

I actually think Meyers did fairly well against Jokic.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Nice one

 

[noknobs]

Not having Nurk will cost us the series, that was very evident last night. There’s just no defense.

It would also be nice if the players would pass to each other rather than the other team, the crowd or to nothing in particular.

 

[Chris Craig]

I really don't even think the refs were that big of a factor. For all of the touch fouls and flopping that Jokic got on us, Dame did quite a bit to Denver.

Dame attempted 13 FT
Joke attempted 12 FT

I think we just didn't like it because Jokic didn't really have to work for his FTA or points, while Dame had to bust his ass to score 39. I thought the reffing was much more balanced than it was against OKC.

I was speaking more on the Blazers interacting with the refs being upset with missed calls rather than the officiating itself. The Blazers just weren't focused and that was part of it...a smaller part of it, but part of it. It allowed Denver to get down the floor 5 on 4 several times.

 

[dviss1]

Really quickly tho...

Did you even watch the game?

Because you never do....

 

[dviss1]

You want me to look up his plus/minus numbers or do you trust me watching the game?

I never trust you watching the game.

 

[illmatic99]

Really quickly tho...

Did you even watch the game?

Because you never do....

Not sure why everyone is jumping on him in this thread. He's not exactly wrong. Kanter contested exactly 0 shots in the game. He scored a bunch and was vital on that end of the floor, but we are losing the game on defense.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

What needs to change is simple. A lot less turnovers and Aminu and Harkless need to play a lot better.

 

[Cugel]

Yeah Amino and Moe didn't impact the game. I don't know why. They have to bring it tomorrow. Hood brought it which was nice to see.

 

[hoopsjock]

Not sure why everyone is jumping on him in this thread. He's not exactly wrong. Kanter contested exactly 0 shots in the game. He scored a bunch and was vital on that end of the floor, but we are losing the game on defense.

So your solution would be to bench Kanter too?

 

[milona]

I almost forgot why I hardly post here anymore, try answering the points I make instead of trying to insult me, because you don't.
Bottom line, we couldn't get any stops, we surrendered 120 in a playoff game, our two starting forwards had the worst plus minus on the team, Milsap scored on them at will and they gave us nothing offensively. Kanter didn't give us even one stop against Jokic, not even one. We can try to outscore them but they don't say defense wins championships for no reason. We need to make major adjustments before the next game or all the geniuses here would prove me wrong until we're swept out of the playoffs

The starting five simply isn't working. If we had a coach who is inept enough to make adjustments he would notice that. Having Zach in worked until they inserted Plumlee and played with 2 bigs but as long as Milsap is in the game we need Zach there as well.
If Enes Kanter who is already a very poor defender can't lift his arms above the shoulders maybe it's even better for the team that he doesn't play at all.
I wish I could think that Stotts could see some of that and make adjustments but he's fucking worthless, best case scenario: we lose in 5

​

Sorry, here are the answers to your points.

If we had a coach who is inept enough to make adjustments he would notice that.

Inept people can't make adjustments, because they are inept. I believe you meant adept. This a concern that is raised every single game by forum experts -which has some truth- , when things are not going right, yet here we are in the second round of playoff. I am sure I heard we were going to be swept by OKC. Adams was going to destroy Kanter.

Having Zach in worked until they inserted Plumlee and played with 2 bigs but as long as Milsap is in the game we need Zach there as well.

He had flashy moments but he was not a monster. "Worked" is a relative term. His offensive deficiencies and silly mistakes take away most of what you see "working". Sure I would love to have everyone's best attributes on the field all the time but we are allowed to have only 5 players at a time.

If Enes Kanter who is already a very poor defender can't lift his arms above the shoulders maybe it's even better for the team that he doesn't play at all.

Some things stick. Someone you know very well may be seen as a horrible forum poster. But every now and then, he may post logical things.
Enes is doing a respectable job before and after the injury on defense. His defense is not a strong suit, but not bad considering what he brings on offense, you just need to be a competent and fair observer to see that he is improved rather than gushing over his potential replacement aka Collins. He may become as decent as Kanter in a few years, or he may not. He is not now. Anyone who is not blind or obsessed can see that.

Bottom line, we couldn't get any stops, we surrendered 120 in a playoff game, our two starting forwards had the worst plus minus on the team, Milsap scored on them at will and they gave us nothing offensively. Kanter didn't give us even one stop against Jokic, not even one. We can try to outscore them but they don't say defense wins championships for no reason. We need to make major adjustments before the next game or all the geniuses here would prove me wrong until we're swept out of the playoffs

​

No one denies we had a horrible defense as a team and forwards were unbearable to watch but we write that as an off night. CJ should and would get better. Aminu and Harkless are not known to be offensive juggernauts. When your injured replacement of the third (second?) best player on the team can shoot with a much higher percentage than the All Star best player of the other team, you don't complain about his defense. You cheer for him.

This game came down to two things. Outside Dame, Enes and Hood we shot very poorly and defended even worse and still lost by single digit due to a late meltdown. Otherwise, we would be talking about sweeping the "trash" Nuggets right now.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I'm not sure what might work, but I have to imagine that Denver is going to be tired in game 2. They played a long series. They played with ridiculous energy and emotion in game 1. That is tough to sustain. NBA is probably wanting this to be a long series and I think that makes the refs more on our side if we earn the calls. My thought is running the offense right at Jokic. Get him tired and more likely to foul. Shooters got to make open shots. Defensively, I'm not sure what we can do to help contain Jokic. He looks like a tough guy to guard right now. Particularly with how the whistle was being blown last night. I worry more about Millsap, Murray, and Harris. I think you cut Turner's minutes. Like, not sure how he is going to help in this series. Maybe give Layman a shot?

 

[illmatic99]

So your solution would be to bench Kanter too?

No. I would put him on millsap and let Aminu try to wrestle with Jokic. As I said in the other thread.

But I would also try to go super small for some possessions with no center and speed up the game and get super switchy.

 

[THE HCP]

Get rid of @SlyPokerDog first..... oh, should have read the thread before I posted huh?

 

[hoopsjock]

Not sure why everyone is jumping on him in this thread.

In his original post he actually suggested that maybe it would be better if Kanter didn't play at all. Then you wonder why people are jumping on him instead of recognizing his points? C'mon man, even you just said you wouldn't bench Kanter.

The Thunder scored 120 and 115 in two of the five games but the other three games we held them under 100. I don't think Kanter did that bad on Jokic inside. It was more about poor decision making when Jokic was involved in pick and rolls by everyone including Kanter. If that isn't cleaned up it doesn't really matter who is guarding him. This is a correctable problem, we'll see if it gets better in game 2. I think Aminu on Milsap is fine if he just stands his ground. Milsap uses the art of pump fakes spin moves to get his shots. Aminu needs to make him take jumpers with a hand in his face instead of falling for those pump fakes.

 

[calvin natt]

Correct me if I’m wrong but they lost 1) to a higher seed 2) on the road 3) in a close game. So let’s panic and blow it up.