Game Thread GAME# 79: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - APRIL 5, 2018 - THURSDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

This is gold!

 

It was obvious sarcasm.

You don't speak objectively my man, every take on every Blazer is positive. That's fine, but you should stop giving those who are objective crap for not matching your unconditional positivity.

 

A few things about this game...

I went back with a stopwatch and timed the Rockets last possession. It takes 5.1 seconds for Paul to throw the ball in. It should have been a 5 second call and the Blazers should have gotten the ball back with the score tied. The ref counting it was a full second behind with each of his arm motions as he counted.

CJ is a really good player and a vital part of this team. Some of you seem to be forgetting that this team was 5-2 without Dame earlier in the season. The Rockets whole game plan was to stop CJ. Yes, he had a bad game as he does sometimes and his shot seems to be off recently but I'll take my chances with guys like him that can create their own shot in a league where not a lot of players can. There is a reason why a guy like Durant says he is one of the toughest guys to stop. He does over dribble and forces shots but that is something he can work on. Keep in mind he's not a true PG.

I love the peskiness of Baldwin's defense. I also love the fact he was pissed they didn't win and that he got in Harden's head. I definitely want to see more of him on the court. I don't really want to lose Napier for nothing (which is why I wanted to trade him at the deadline) but Baldwin could show that he is expendable. Baldwin's length makes it much more likely he'd be better for this team going forward. Keep in mind Napier has had some pretty nice games this season too though. Maybe they can find a way to keep both, we'll see.

Caleb Swanigan is only 20 years old and is a rookie. I don't get how anyone can write him off as a non-NBA player. He isn't the prototypical new age NBA big man who is skinny and athletic but he has skills. He can develop post moves. Some of you were calling him stupid, I don't see a stupid player, I see someone making mistakes because he's trying to hard to make the most of his minutes. He'll settle down with more minutes.

Lastly, I don't understand why this team doesn't play more "chaotic" especially when Dame is out. Take more chances on defense. Get out and run. PC, Baldwin, Layman, Collins, Leonard, Turner, Napier, and Harkless are all better players in a more uptempo offense in my opinion. I think Dame would be good either way, same with CJ. That is 2/3 of the team.

 

And pretend Papagiannis was an undrafted FA.

 

My apologies, I thought it was one game, not two.

Still....now I want to see him do it consistently. And if that means CJ has to ride the pine for a while, then so be it. Tired of his bullshit bricks and turnovers anyways.

 

With Swanigan, I think he'll always be a defensive liability and I dont see how his offense will ever outweigh that.

 

Sure, he'll never be an intimidating shot blocker but a key part of being a good defensive big is simply knowing where to be on the floor. I don't see why he has to be pigeon holed into not being able to do things like double team at the appropriate time (which he did a couple times tonight), know when to help and when to rotate on the back side when someone else helps, and use that wide frame to keep other teams off the glass. I'm not saying he will become a defensive stopper but a lot of it is mental. Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut aren't the most athletic guys but one game against the Blazers there was a sequence where it was a good 10 possessions in a row that they both made perfect reads on when to switch and the other one would rotate and be in the right spot and I remember thinking man these two just get it on defense and anyone can be a good defender if they are smart off the ball. I think Swanigan is big enough to be an okay post defender. Obviously we don't want him switching out onto guards in pick and rolls but Nurk doesn't get caught on an island very often so it is possible.

 

Draymond is athletic on defense in terms of being a quick jumper amd sliding his feet, amd Bogut is a 7 footer, so neither are good comparisons. Caleb can't move his feet fast enough to stay in for of perimeter players, is too short to defend against shots out of the post, and is too unathletic to provide good rim protection. He can be mediocre at best if he's always in the right place. You need told as well.

 

Is that why things have been running so smoothly?

 

This message endorsed by @PtldPlatypus

 

I watched the game again and CJ misses so many wide open teammates, specifically on pick and rolls, that it’s actually impressive how tunnel visioned he is. I would hate playing with him.

 

How about Baldwin's gimp? No aliteration I realize

 

Stotts did something!

 

I'm not a Stotts hater and actually really like him, but if you watch his post game conference, it seems like that defense wasn't as much planned as it was just Poison IV making that happen.

 

I did notice that. Then he actually tweaked it mid game. Came off the top but with different players.
Then he realized that the kind of energy to do it was not there with the starters. Or maybe it was just Turner not quite being as quick as Baldwin. CJ was getting pounded on offense and many times he was still getting up on the other end as the play evolved. The bench guys simply had more energy and it stands to reason that doubling off the top took more of it. I also noticed that the Rockets starters wore down as the game went on. The passes were not so crisp and the shots started to fall just short.
Yeah Stotts didn't quit with his strategy and he almost pulled it off.

 

Stotts had to put him in and recognize it was working well. He found something that was working. That is what coaches do. Got to give him credit.

 

I can't get over how good Baldwin looked. Why the hell did MEM just let him go?

 

I give Stotts credit for sticking with the lineup that was playing hard and making things happen. You know he only played Wade because we were short handed though.

With that said, the post game reactions from Stotts and Lillard lead me to believe that we will see Poison IV with minutes very soon.


He looked like Tony Allen with a jump shot.

 

6'11 1/2" wingspan with a 38" max vertical. The kid has talent and if he has matured, you have to like what he has the ability to bring.

Our Draft this summer is looking better because basically you can treat Baldwin and PapaG as Draft picks. Who knows if we are able to get anyone any better or more ready to contribute.