Game Thread GAME# 65: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - MARCH 7, 2019 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

It's him but he is being much better this time and it's less obvious. Maybe he is changing his style?

 

1 - Yes
2 - Yes
3 - No
4 - Yes
I don't believe there was a single double-team. Instead Aminu let him get by on his first dribble every single time.

 

Lmao I'm feeding your thirst for power Sly! This is a layup! I dont know why you're Al-Farouq-a-fumblin' it away!

 

With these refs, I don't think I could handle it.

Free ZCO

 

Screwed by the refs? Maybe on the controversial calls, but newsflash. Blazers shot 47 FTs and the Thunder shot 32.

15 more free throws and you still blow the game, controversial calls and all. That's not on the refs.

 

I guess if you want to blame somebody for the loss you could find a scapegoat

to me, it looked like the same issues Portland has had for 4 seasons now, which is when the going gets tough, Portland goes iso. That's another way of saying it was a team effort, and that includes the coaches. Another way to look at it is that OKC is just a better team; they shouldn't be 4-0 better though

another thing I saw was that the officials didn't blow this game for Portland; check the points in the paint and the FT advantage Portland had.

another way to look at things is that it's just poor management that Dame doesn't have better help than he does right now, and I include coaching as part of management. Dame did enough in this game to earn a win if only somebody else was good enough to complement him, or the offense had enough diversity. This was a playoff level game with Portland having HCA and they couldn't get a win

and yeah, it was a pretty entertaining game. Chuck and Kenny doomed the Blazers at halftime though

 

But then again, PG missed a lot of shots, we just fouled him a lot.

 

Ok. We beat the champs this year.

 

Honestly it didn't look to me like they needed to double PG. But i can't say it would not have helped at times?

 

Collection of everything.

So much room for improvement. I remain hopeful going forward.

 

I think we shouldve dug a little more off the ball, and Aminu shouldve directed him towards digging help side. Make him kick the ball to have other guys hit jumpers instead of letting him get downhill and fouling.

 

Yes we did....but they are not playing at near the level they did the last two years. Still a good win though,

 

I understand that but any loss would have done that. The only difference from this one and any other was that Westbrook was on the winning team. Which i don't like but have to deal with.

 

What is the Blazers record in close games this year? It might just be recent memory but it feels like they are losing a lot of close games.

 

Apparently his shoulder has been bugging him and he's missed games due to it. Seems like that's a likely reason for him missing shots. As for fouling him - that's what happens when his defender can't stay in front of him. Dame kept Westbrook in front of him, and he only got 8 FTA.

I think it's time to re-write the book on Dame and Aminu's defense. From what I've seen lately Dame is a much better defender - he understands positioning.

 

Time to bring Collins Back in the Rotation and take Kanter out, he needs Minutes for Playoffs

 

The ones were winning is when were up and the opposing team almost comes all the way back (Cleveland).

We really struggle to win close games verse good teams.

 

Sad to see Kanter has become an automatic scapegoat for us not defending because our closeouts and perimeter defense sucks.