Game Thread GAME# 23: MAGIC @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 9, 2021 - TUESDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

I know I’m excited for him to come back. He was just hitting his stride when he got sidelined. I’d prefer him playing over Jones Jr.

It was just a random thought that popped into my head.

 

And so have Lillard, and CJ and Trent and even Anf! Am I missing anyone?

 

Well, how about REAL FUCKING BASKETBALL FANS!!?? Do they love watching him?

 

Can you think of another example of a guy who was so loved by his teammates, coaches, and front office, yet hated by the fans, as much as Melo?

I'm not on the love or hate side personally, but the extremes are jarring.

 

My only thought would be Meyers, but the coaches ran hot and cold on him.

 

Yeah, I never got the impression Stotts was too high on Meyers.

 

Most of these guys grew up watching him. He was a superstar for years. He has been an amazing teammate and tutor since Day 1. With my limited interactions with him, he i cool as hell. I know because he hasn't been playing well, people want to hate him or find a reason to, but it jut isn't like that with him. They all respect and love this dude and last night wanted to help him reach a new milestone.

 

for me, I compare the addition of Melo to when Portland added Pippen. Pippen was all about making the team better, and played that way. Way too much of Melo's game seems geared toward his own numbers and his 'legacy'. I don't give a shit about Melo's legacy, but the apparent fact that the Blazers do, to the detriment of the team, is what is irritating.

 

You’re comparing Pippen’s game to Melo’s? One is a scorer and one a facilitator. Totally different games.

 

Muscular injuries (due to the fact that muscles hold the structure in place and to the fact that they can lead to difference in the mechanics of player movement) definitely can and have led to many serious sports injuries. That being said, I'm not worried about Lillar's injury at all.

 

I don't blame the players for hero worshiping the guy. He's been their hero for a long time. I do blame coaches and the front office for doing the same. That's the problem with this team. There is too much attention given to how players feel, at every level of the franchise and not enough given to winning.

 

I think Elleby can ball

 

Ligaments and tendons hold the structure together not muscles. A bruise would not hold me out of a game. Never once in all the years I played organized sports would I have ever allowed my team to have to go without me because of a "Bruise". I'm even more certain that Damian Lillard would not either. That being said I'm not worried about his injury either.

 

You think Stotts loved Meyers? I always got the exact opposite feel.

 

Just so I undertand:

You think the less attention the organization gives to how players feel would increase our chances of winning? I would guess Olshey would say the exact opposite, but I don't have any real way of knowing his feelings. Has he said something about wanting to give attention to feelings?

 

to be accurate one is an inefficient me-first scorer, and the other was a team-first facilitator who played great defense.



obviously, Pippen had the advantage of playing on a better team, but the differences between their respective impacts is stark. The only knock against Pippen was turnovers

ratings differential: Melo -11.0....Pippen +6.0
winshares/48: Melo 0.37....Pippen .137
box plus/minus: Melo -3.3....Pippen +3.9

points added by Field Goals Attempts made above league average: Melo -40.7....Pippen +39.6
points added by True Shot Attempts made above league average: Melo -34.3....Pippen +20.1

to me, the flaws Pippen had were significantly offset by his strengths. The opposite is true of Melo

 

here's a radical idea: Dame isn't the GM and he isn't the coach. Dame should stick to his job. Conversely, Olshey and Stotts should do their jobs and should not be shielded from accountability by the "what Dame wants" narrative...although perhaps most of the shielding happens in this forum because invariably when somebody suggest some changes, some poster here will deflect by saying "Dame wouldn't like it". Discussion killing deflection

as a Blazer fan, I love Dame. But I sure as hell don't want him having any significant control over who his teammates are. I think the fact that Blevins is Portland's only TW contract is ridiculous