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

Man is it time for a change. I feel bad for Dame

 

Nurk took 8 shots. CJ took 24.

Why? No one besides Dame and CJ and double digit shot attempts....in an overtime game.

This is an overt failure of the coaching staff, and has been for the longest time. Dame and CJ are too stubborn in tough games to give up the ball. And sure, Dame actually shot really well tonight, but we know there are nights where his shot is not falling. Sometimes it's CJ who is making shots and Dame taking a backseat but at the end of the day these two guards dominate the ball and the coaching staff gives them the freedom to do whatever they want.

It's like Stotts thinks imposing the slightest bit of discipline on his team is going to make them rebel against his coaching. At this point I've given up that he's going to change. 6 years of this is enough to convince me that we will live and die by his coaching philosophy. Unironically, if we had Harden I believe we may actually have a shot at the finals. Not that I would ever give up Dame for Harden.

 

Dame was impressive defensively tonight. Aminu definitely struggled and hes a good defender but not great like some people think.

 

Yeah i really miss Ed Davis.

 

Yeah, him not stopping every single straight line drive and allowing dump off passes when he did really did kill us.

Smh.

 

The sooner that Terry Stotts realizes that Nurk is now the 2nd best player on team the better the chance of amazing past the 1st round...

 

Nah, outside of some really odd officiating... They lost because no one on the team could consistently hit open shots and the offense stalled into Dame hero ball.

 

Five years of plus minus says he is - Point differential while he’s on the floor adjusted for who else is in the floor.

There’s only one thing worse than acquiring bad players (you don’t have to play them) and that’s getting rid of your good players.

 

Honestly, it's not like this is anything new. He did have a few 'better' defensive stands tonight but for the most part, it has been a yellow brick road to the rim when he is in.

 

Yeah that would have at least made him work harder or have to decide to get the ball out of his hands.

 

Bro, give it a rest. Yes, our wings and guards are not good at keeping their man in front of them, but that's why your center is supposed to be the second line of defense. With Kanter, it's get by your man and score. It's literally the reason why guys like Kanter and Greg Monroe can't get roles on teams even though counting and advanced stats are insane.

Apparently, Stotts noticed it too since he played Nurk 34 minutes in regulation (>34 minutes in regulation has only happened twice this season). He couldn't have Kanter play any more minutes.

And it was magnified by the fact that Kanter couldn't even make a layup today. If he's not mitigating his deficiencies on the other side of the score by scoring he's literally unplayable.

 

That argument would be more impressive if the Thunder hadn't come into the game on a 2-6 streak. A team at home against a team playing poorly should not need excuses. I expected the loss, but that doesn't justify it.

 

He really isn't though. I still remember Gallinari coming back from knee surgery and he blew by Aminu on the first dribble all night long. It happens all the time. Aminu has arm length and that's it. If it weren't for his arms he probably wouldn't even be in the NBA. Offensive players attack him with impunity.

 

Is this true??

 

He’s gone after this year so enjoy him

 

^^^^Before the deadline? Otherwise, that makes little sense.