Zombie Fire Olshey

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Fez Hammersticks, Dec 26, 2016.

  1. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    there was a debate going on about Portland's playoff futility over the last 3 playoff series and if Portland had done enough to suggest this season was going to be different. The point was actually to define the futility as it needed to be defined. It hasn't been some minor futility...it has been borderline abject futility. Deep and abiding

    so then, what reason is there...."Really"...to expect that the team has improved enough to have a different result? What reasons are there to expect this season's playoff result to change from a 1-12 first round record to a 4-2 or 4-3 record? Has Nurkic improved enough? Layman? CJ? Well, what I saw just 3 days ago was a Miami team come into the Moda and do exactly what the Pelicans did in last seasons' playoffs. They sold out to stop Dame...they jumped him - blitzed him - doubled him constantly and they took him out of the game. Meanwhile, CJ played great and scored 33 on good shooting, just like he did against the Pels; Jake scored 25 on great shooting. But Nurkic was dominated by Whiteside (like he was by AD) at the same time Dame was struggling...and Portland lost

    you could see it happening...the same damn strategy the Pels used to great effect, the Heat used; and Stotts had no answer after months to prepare an answer. It was either like Portland was completely surprised by seeing a defense that had shut them down before...or...they still didn't have any tools in their toolbox to counter what the opponent was doing. What I saw in that game, and in the playoffs, is that Dame is the engine that drives Portland and if a team monkey-wrenches that engine, Portland sputters. Is there any reason to believe that every potential playoff opponent isn't aware of this defensive strategy and how well it has worked?

    so yeah, I really hope Portland has 'fixed' what has ailed them in the playoffs for 3 years. I'm just skeptical, like many others here, if they truly have
     
  2. oldmangrouch

    oldmangrouch persona non grata

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    You do understand that there is a lot of wiggle room between championship and getting swept in the first round?
     
  3. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    Nurk does seem to struggle more against long and lengthy centers.

    Luckily there is only one team in the west that has a player like that in Gobert.
     
  4. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    Hey, screw you man!!!
     
  5. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    For me the end of year 4 of the rebuild is critical going into year 5 and changes are possible if we didn't make the playoffs or get to the second round. If we finish this season strong and do get past the first round, Id say we are on course to take even another step. The problem for all teams not just us, as now and maybe the next couple years, is nobody likely will de-throne the Warriors as built.
     
  6. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Minimal moves, just survive...

    Just making the playoffs = job security

    Neil hasn't been held accountable under PA and Vulcan.

    This method wouldn't fly under an owner like Paulson.
     
  7. Propagandist

    Propagandist Well-Known Member

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    hoopsjock likes this.
  8. Labinot41

    Labinot41 Well-Known Member

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    "Jake Layman played 28 minutes off the bench and scored 17 points off seven shots and had a career-high four blocked shots. He’s looking more and more like a starter but Stotts just doesn’t seem willing to make that move.

    He sticks with Al-Farouq Aminu for his defense but often gets little offense from him. But lately whatever he gets from Aminu is more than he’s getting from the other starting forward, Maurice Harkless.

    “I liked the way we competed in the second half,” Stotts said. “I wanted to keep Chief out there with Paul George.”

    For the record, George recorded a downright next-level triple-double, getting 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Good thing they had a quality defender on him, right? The guy might have gone for a hundred."

    This is making me sad because it's so True.
     
  9. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Say maybe Fire Stotts?
     
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  10. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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  11. Labinot41

    Labinot41 Well-Known Member

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    Both
     
  12. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    sure...and the person firing him needs to be the interim GM
     
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  13. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Nah, we don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
     
  14. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    Any coincidence that ownership changes are weighing on the team and staff at this point? Dame is visibly troubled about something which is clearly out of character for him
     
  15. CupWizier

    CupWizier Well-Known Member

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  16. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Dame is just troubled about the team's play as well as his own. I don't think he's concerned about ownership at this juncture.
     
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  17. DDolla

    DDolla Well-Known Member

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    If you can’t improve the team Neil, just trade Dame. That boy deserves a ring like Clyde Drexler.
     
  18. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    I'm on the fire Stotts train. His coaching is driving me nuts.
     
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  19. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    Who are you going to bring in?
     
  20. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    BigGamePopovich
     

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