Game Thread GAME# 49: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - JANUARY 31, 2020 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

Laker fans are PISSED!!! LOLOLOLOLOL

 

Dame is legit the best player in the NBA right now... this is a historic run he is on. It’s exactly what this team needed... plus the development of players like Trent. I was very down on this team but am starting to get excited again. I think we take tomorrow’s game vs Utah as well.

 

I thought we would get annihilated tonight, but i am extremely happy to say i was wrong! Its a great day to be a Blazer!!!

 

Lillard is Jordan slash Kobe. Best player on planet. And hezonja is worst player in nba. Never seen a worse player than him

 

Obviously surprised. I really thought with everything going on we'd get boat raced.

Great effort

 

I'm not concerned with our starting lineup when Melo comes back. I'm concerned about our rotation from our bench. It changes from game to game which is a really shitty way to instill confidence in your guys come playoff time. If this could get fixed, I'd feel much better about our long-term prospects this season. Nassir, Trent, Gabriel should be getting minutes no question. Biggie does good things at times as well. Simons... we're all waiting to break out.

No to Mario forever. I don't know why Stotts is obsessed with the shittiest players on his team. Tolliver, Mario, Meyers, etc.

 

That was such a great game guys, I hope I can download it somehow.

 

They're short-changing him. He's got five games in a row with at least 36, 6 and 7... and at least 6 threes. Amazing.

 

Great win despite Stotts playing Mario for whatever reason

 

Uh foul trouble as Gabriel fouled out in a short timr, Biggie was close behind and no Melo. Maybe you didn't notice but the lakers are very big on the front line.

 

Deep down most of us thought they would get annihilated. But there was one who called it! @Neil O. Shyster showed no fear whatsoever!

 

Maybe you didn't notice Mario got his ass cooked and bricked shot the whole time he was on the floor (while also gifting free points with and ones and fouling jump shooters) while Nas was sitting his ass on the bench. Playing Nas and Mario the same number of minutes is criminal.

 

Man, Wenyen's stat line looks TERRIBLE but I mostly liked what I saw

 

Hey, Dwight still thinks he needs that for the dunk contest!

 

I can't believe Dame did that. On that stage, given those circumstances.

Ridiculous.

 

Neither Wenyen nor Ariza had a good looking stat line....but their were a lot of contributions that were very postive.

For Gabriel, imagine your first ever NBA start...against the best PF in the game today. And he showed no fear.

 

Yeah but Little was sitting there available. Now here is the thing. Mario is getting roasted but he did have two WIDE OPEN looks from three that were right there. They didn't fall. If those shots fall the Blazers blow that game open in the fourth and Stotts looks like a genius. Also Mario is a decent FT shooter at 83%. No reason to believe he could not have hit both his free throws. Possible 8 points turned into 1 point. If he gets 5 nobody is roasting Mario or Stotts decision to play him right now.
You kind of have to look at who was in the game. While Kuzma was in Stotts decided to go with Mario after Gabriel fouled out. Kuzma is 6-8 and a bit slower. It was a mismatch in the Blazers favor as Mario was able to get open looks. The Lakers went to Daniels and Mario then was able to draw that foul. Unfortunately he missed one.
I wonder if Little would have worked better all around? I personally would have gone with the rookie because at this point giving him a chance to explode in a game that big could have huge benefits to his entire career. Just think if he gets those looks and drops them!