Game Thread GAME# 8: SUNS @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 8, 2016 - TUESDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

So glad that game did not go into OT. I knew it would not be a comfortable win when the Blazers started off hot. It's always better when they surge in the 2nd half.

Once again, the refs call BS fouls on the Blazers, then swallow their whistles when obvious stuff is commited against us. That total bs call on Harkless on the Bledsoe 3, the phantom call on Ed Davis, the obvious flop they called on Dame, then on the other end, we get whacked and no call.

 

I'm not a fan of Noel at all. A super skinny big with no real offensive skills outside of running and jumping is usually not a good recipe. So he's a more athletic version of Plumlee who doesn't pass as well? We've already seen a million examples in this league of guys who have ridiculous athleticism but aren't really basketball players, and they almost always fail miserably. Please try to sell me on him.

 

We need some interior defense and rebounding in the worst way. Glad we won, but there are some trends I'd like to see shored up.

 

We've had much more balanced teams in Portland where one guy didn't have to be on fire for us to win.

 

So when do we start talking about Ed Davis? Did he forget how to play basketball?

 

Yeah I'm worried; is he hurt or something?

 

He's been playing like Meyers Leonard without the three point shot. That's not good at all...

 

I can see that, too. The question has to be "why?"

 

He looks out of shape

 

Another observation: defense clearly worse without Aminu. Offense clearly better.

 

No, he's much more than a more athletic version of Plumlee. He's an elite rim protector and the only player in the entire NBA to have at least 100 steals and 100 blocks the last two seasons - and he did it at the ages of 20 and 21. He would be a huge upgrade to our defense.

And, he's over 4 years younger than Plumlee. I love Plumlee's energy, but he's not a great defender and not even close to an elite rim protector.

BNM

 

Yep.

 

Not the most convincig of wins and I expected better, but nice to be 5-3 after going 2-3 in the first 5. Will probably go to 5-4 tonight with well rested Clippers but still good.

 

I'm still not sold on a defender who weighs 218 pounds and plays Center.

 

I'm not sold on anyone on our team over 6'5", except may Harkless.

 

It's a different era. He's actually perfect for the modern day game defensively because his athleticism means versatility.

 

We should try Plums at power forward when Festus is back.

 

Both NBA.com and basketball-reference list him as 6'11", 228 lb. Marcus Camby was 6'11", 220 lb. when he won DPOY a decade ago, when there were still big, dominant centers like Shaq and Yao Ming in the league.

BNM