I agree. Lack of transition defense and second chance points was the Blazers downfall last night. Bummed with Aldridge not having a strong game. Ended up getting to the Moda Center really early yesterday (drinking plans fell through). Aldridge and Wright were out there early getting their shots in. Aldridge was money and could not miss (Wright made a lot of shots but nothing like Aldridge).
I'm always amazed at how much smarter posters here are than actual NBA coaches. Ya'll are undefeated!
He just had 6 assists the previous game, and many open threes originate from LMA passing out to the perimeter when double-teamed, and then the ball rotates to the open shooter. Get the fuck out of here with this weak shit. It's nonsense.
they have certainly not been very inspiring with their games against high end competition the last few months. not sure how overmatched they will be in the playoffs, but i can still see them winning a series or two, they just need to believe. when they are playing loose i think they have a great chance in a 7 game series or four
Phoenix wanted last night's game more than Portland did. They were playing for their season, to some degree, and Portland just needs a win or two to make the playoffs. After 4 straight wins, it was a letdown game. It happens, and I know this is hard for some posters to believe, but even good teams lose games at times.
Phoenix is a really good defensive team and they shot the ball well. They deserve some credit for the win. We missed a lot of shots and couldn't get to the rim and finish most of the second half.
Stotts needs to adjust for specific teams. Even if its a 4 minute spurt to start the second half. Throw something other teams havent scouted. Im hoping he does this in playoffs.
As a basketball fan, but without much technical knowledge of the game, I'll still make the following observation...it seems the moment that Portland becomes "expected to win", they have the most trouble. And when the odds are stacked against them, with people spewing negative comments, they perform better. It's as if the "chip on the shoulder" drives their performance as much as the x's and o's that everybody writes about. This all comes back to the "mentality" of the game. When the x-facor is there (call it what you will, confidence, mo-jo, swagger, belief)....the Blazers are unstoppable. They can literrally beat anyone when this side of the team is present. But, when they get spooked, or when they have their lead contested (what was it, 10 points last night???)....it turns off like a light switch. Like a switch. This is mental. How do you fix mental? How do you teach mental fortitude in the face of adversity? Yes, all teams lose from time-to-time, even good ones. And yes, a true fan needs to remember the good wins, as well as the bad losses. But how do you fix mental? How do you prevent the switch from flipping during the playoffs, when you can't even prevent it from being flipped late-in-the-game-with-a-10-point-lead in your home court (which we won't have in the playoffs). Here's hoping for one hell-of-a-chip-on-their-shoulder to be placed soon!
I would say he's probably average for a power forward, but do you really think he's a good passer like a Sabonis, Vlade, or Walton? I'm merely saying he doesn't have the best passing instincts.
So why is it that the players are saying that having LMA back opens up space and creates better ball movement? Because they know he's a shitty passer?
No, he's not one of the best passing big men in history. If you are basing him on that expectation, that's on you, not LMA. I find the part about his teammates not thinking he's a good passer to be nonsense that you are making up in your head to try and justify your opinion.
It opens up space because teams actually have to defend him. Even as an average passer, when teams double it's still going to create opportunities. He also plays in the post, while Wright did not. They could single cover Wright while he just spotted up on the three point line. Did I say he's a shitty passer? No, but I think he's probably average for a power forward, which is to say that he does pass but not always at the right time and he doesn't always see the open man. I don't think he has great passing instincts. He's better than Zach Randolph ever was. It's funny because Thomas Robinson has actually displayed some real heady passes in his time here.
Okay, so you offer up an explanation for why everyone stands around like statues when he has the ball in the paint. I highly doubt it's because they're lazy. It's either on Stotts or it's on LA.
Fixing mental is easy. Make them work a fucking dead end job for 2 years they can barely scrape by on. Maybe then theyd appriciate they get well payed to play a fucking game and all fans want is 48 minutes of your best when youre at work.
It's because The Big Decoy attracts the defense away from them. Of course they know he's a shitty passer. I answered this post because it's your only post in the thread in which your goal isn't to critique posters instead of the team.
Because if he's doubled, the shooters are already spaced to reverse the ball and get an open look. You've watched this team before, right?
