Game Thread GAME# 64: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - MARCH 5, 2018 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM, NBCSNW

Yes they do struggle. All teams do after 15 days on the road.

 

He's a badass, don't get me wrong. I just think the Rose Garden will be loud as hell to welcome the team back. I am hoping Nurk dunks in Adam's face and Dame/CJ drop 30 each!

A man can dream!

 

Out of 531 games in his career.

 

It's just the same trajectory as past few years. Late hype, buzz, 1st round exit. Rinse, repeat

Only difference this year I truly believe ONE more 1st round exit this team will be VERY different next year. It’s just time for a change now..

 

To be fair it's all about how many games you win at the end of the season. Moving up a game tonight or not means very little in the big picture. If they win 5 of the next 7 again where will they be? So yeah. Winning 8 more games gets them 50 wins. That was on very few peoples radar at the beginning of the season. Winning 10 more games gets them what seed?

 

My god Stotts is ass. Game was going great in the 1st quarter. Game turned in the 2nd quarter. Stotts does nothing all game long. We lose. Fuck Stotts - I hope he chokes on his COTM awards.

 

Kick him in the Tunchi!

 

This Curry/Hood/Kanter and Curry/Hood/Turner shit needs to stop - let alone playing all four of them at once. Playing all four of them with Jake is doing Jake a major disservice - he's a bit of a chameleon: playing him with shit will just get you more shit, but playing him with players who are worth a damn pays huge dividends.

 

When asked about his putried defense, "they hit a lot of shots."

 

I don't know you guys.
I watched a team come out on fire and show they were a more dominant team but then they went "Tired Legs" really really bad.
I watched Stotts try a number of different looks but players simply didn't have the energy or lift to make shots or stay crisp with their passes.
By midway through the second the shots were hitting the front of the rim and they just didn't have the defensive tenacity they can play with.
Weird touch fouls were being called and the team dropped their heads a few times. (Classic Tired Response)
I watched Turner come in and try too hard to make a big difference. He needs to play much more controlled. Not only did he not score he committed 3 TO's.
From three point - Aminu 1-5 , Mo 1-3, Nurk 0-1, Lillard 3-10, Layman 0-2, Curry 0-2. You are not going to win shooting like that. (More Classic Tired Legs)
I'm not even going to say the officiating was bad. The Blazers were slow and lethargic on defense and they were reaching as well as trying to make up for being a half step slow.

I would say that i agree Stotts might have had better luck going deeper into the bench for some energy? Collins and Leonard might have been worth a shot. CJ was working pretty well into the fourth but even he started to look pretty tired.

 

Actually in the 1st quarter they were moving the ball effortlessly getting easy baskets. From then on they went away from Nurk in the high post and went primarily iso and pick and roll heavy playing right into the strength of the Memphis defense. That has nothing to do with tired legs. Most of our baskets when we jumped out to an early lead were lay-ins and dunks.

 

Its a disapointing game to lose, but as long as it doesnt become a season defining loss, like send them spiraling for a week or two, its just an L. All teams, no matter how good or bad they are have a few losses at the end of the year that they look at and feel like they should win. This loss would be much harder to stomach if it wasnt the 7th game of a crazy long road trip.
They still come home 5-2 which is pretty good.

 

That type of coaching brilliance is amazing.

 

I disagree. I believe the "Effortlessly" part was not being tired and then things got tougher. The Grizz started playing with more energy and the game changed. Like i said. i watched way too many tired legs plays. Just the way i see it.

 

Actually i was was supporting both of you.

 

"You gotta give Memphis credit." WACK OUT!

 

well @PtldPlatypus Kanter had the worst +/- in the game.

 

And they lost the game!

 

I was just responding to a much earlier post exchange we had. I just cant seem to beat a platypus, he always wins.