Game Thread GAME# 2: SPURS @ BLAZERS - OCTOBER 20, 2018 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), NBCSNW

I was thinking about some of things the Trailblazers are doing differently this year and it reminded me of something that was published somewhere within the last year and discussed briefly here. Does anyone remember that it was rumored that the Blazers had a hired a small group of outside consultants to look at what the team could do better? (I cannot find any reference to it, but although I think I do have mild cognitive decline, I know it happened). I am wondering if the idea of Turner playing a more prominent role as playmaker, the idea to use Zach more and wasn't there also talk by Olshey to use him closer to the basket? And the idea to not be so rigid in defensive play? Did all these ideas come from that group? Didn't it seem strange that it was Olshey and not Stotts who talked about some of these changes? I wonder if this wasn't Paul Allen's last gift to the fans; it seems more likely that he would suggest this outside analysis than for Olshey. Did even the idea we needed more shooters come from those guys? (I just wish they had noticed we might need a real big man coach. )

 

We all do. Years on s2 takes a toll

 

Best things about the Blazers through two games:

1) We've won both with room to spare and I don't think we've come anywhere near our potential in either game.

2) Everyone is playing within themselves. As much as many of us got on Olshey for not making a splash acquisition in the offseason, the cohesiveness and familiarity these players have with each other, I think, has been a big benefit. Guys have looked very comfortable filling their roles, whatever those roles might be. Evan hasn't tried to become Dell Curry yet, and Chief hasn't done the Marques Haynes dribbling spectacular. Has a very Utah Jazz feel to me from when the Jazz had Stockton, Malone, Hornacek and Eaton -- just guys doing what they do very well.

What really made me appreciate this was watching the Rockets and Lakers last night. Entertaining game between two flawed rosters. On the verge of overtaking the Warriors, Houston committed subtraction by addition by bringing in Carmelo Anthony, an aging player who doesn't play defense, doesn't rebound and kills you offensive flow by milking the shot clock every time he touches the ball. The Lakers put LeBron on a team devoid of shooters to open up the floor for him and devoid of rebounders to keep him from getting worn down over the course of the year essentially playing like a 4 on the defensive end; they'd have been better off signing Stauskas and one Rondo-like vet to serve as a player-coach and letting their young guys develop.

 

I disagree. From giving undeserved development minutes to Vonleh (9th pick in the draft), I expected a good long-term result: substance not gimmick . I expect no such long-term substance from Layman (47th pick), so it doesn't bother me if his role is just a gimmick.

 

Really? Collins was a foul machine when he guarded anyone his own height, like Gasol. At each foul I was thinking, Davis wouldn't be getting this foul.

 

Even though Stauskas stats were sub-par I thought he played a good team game. He's active when he doesn't have the ball and looks to hit his teammates every chance he gets. He's had a couple instances already where he dived out of bounds to throw an errant pass back to a teammate to save a play. We all knew he would come back to earth, I'm just happy to see that he doesn't just pout or keep chuckin until he hits a shot. Guy's like him are going to be the difference in the second unit's success. I couldn't be happier with the bench so early in the season...and Trent and Simons are just sitting there licking their chops to get their chance.

 

Lol. No. Collins has been great on defense. He got absolutely screwed on a couple of calls yesterday. Even then, he's still been better than Davis. Has Ed ever blocked 6 shots?

 

Ed Davis was -1 in 19 minutes yesterday against the Pacers.

Zach Collins was +11 in 15 minutes yesterday against the Spurs.

I like Ed a lot, but there is no question that investing in Zach Collins was the right thing to do.

I will give you that Zach got 4 PF where Ed only got 2 yesterday. But, Zach scored 11 points (vs 4) and I think it is pretty clear that Zach is someone you can build a defensive presence around, Ed is a great complimentary player, but will never be the kind of Defensive anchor Zach can be.

 

At least one Zach foul was offensive too.

 

I believe Stotts is rewarding him for his good play from summer league and practice that why is starting. Due to Turner playing SF with the 2nd unit and Harkless can play the stretch 4 on both ends and looks like they might think Layman maybe can't do that might be another reason he is starting. Plus you got Curry and Nik playing the guard rotation for the 2nd unit. So to get Layman to play he has to start and you have Dame CJ Nurk Aminu your going be 5th option on offense.

 

Paul Allen ask for that last year when they was struggling but I don't know what there doing now came from that idea. It might been a good ass wiping in the playoffs might been the reason the coaches has took different approach how there going to do things this year.

 

In the short term, it would have been nice to have both. The issue isn't really Collins v Davis - more like Davis v Leonard/Swanigan.

 

Then dont play him at all.

 

Another thing I asked for. Maybe he just read my posts?

 

No, he'd just be getting dunked on. Ed was never very good at guarding bigger guys. He'd give good effort, but he was too small and would just get worked by guys like Gasol (both). Zach appears to be in a good position to defend them well once he learns the nuances of how not to pick up fouls. Even without his offense, Zach will be SO MUCH better than Davis.

 

Ehhh, it's about Zach playing PF or C too.

 

Yeh, they could have saved a lot of money.

 

Plus after the first 3 fouls in the 1st half and he only pick up 1 in the 2nd and still play good defense.

 

http://bkref.com/tiny/Y8QEe
http://bkref.com/tiny/4rgGt

Blocks in a game, career
Collins
6 blocks: 1 game
5 blocks: 0 games
4 blocks: 0 games
3 blocks: 1 game

Davis
6 blocks: 0 games
5 blocks: 4 games
4 blocks: 4 games
3 blocks: 44 games

As you see, one game does not prove your claim that Collins' untried talent already exceeds Davis' experience in this season.

 

Collins defense is clearly better than Ed's. If you can't see that, then I don't know what to tell you.