Game Thread GAME# 40: PELICANS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 18, 2021 - THURSDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

I would expect it to be up to SVG to come up with the change. Stotts made an adjustment. It's now up to the Pels to either try to shoot lights out again or do something about what the Blazers know worked against them.
Terry will push Ingram further out and hit him with traps and doubles. They will collapse on Williams when he gets the ball and try to keep him from getting the first step. This will leave a shooter open but they will have to rotate and move to try and disrupt a shot. If they can make someone other than Ingram and Zion beat them they will win this game.
The Blazers also will need to shoot better from all over the court and get some offensive boards if they miss.

Edit- The Blazers are lucky Redick is out.

 

This guy would disagree with you about Kobe:
"Kobe Bryant has not made a single clutch shot in the final five seconds of a game in almost three years. Thirteen straight misses, which if you like sound effects goes something like BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG. BONG.

If you expand the definition of clutch to include the last five minutes of a game with the margin at five points or less, it does not help. This is generally referred to as "crunch time." Some announcers have been known to call it "Kobe Time." In "Kobe Time," our protagonist is shooting 35 percent this season. That is the fifth lowest figure among 22 high-frequency crunch-time shooters. For comparison's sake, Monta Ellis is at 56 percent on such shots this season."
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/1/3/7485611/kobe-bryant-clutch-lakers-data

Also: "In the final 24 seconds of the game, in shots to take the lead, Kobe is a career 36/115 FG (31.3%). This seems to prove the fact that Kobe is indeed not clutch.Jun 20, 2017"

 

we had one of the most flukish wins ever, so terry gets to take another day off? noted

 

So you don't buy this Dame is responsible for 90% of our wins business I'm guessing?

 

The win was a Fluke yes but it was also earned.
The Blazers did indeed do things that not only changed the momentum but ultimately the outcome of that game.
Sometimes you Make your Breaks.

 

I'll take a stab at guards I think are better than CJ. Positions according to basketball reference.

LBJ
Curry
Dame
Doncic
Harden
LaVine
Beal
Young
Kyrie
CP3
Simmons
Jaylen Brown
Mitchell

Ball?
Murray?
Gilgeous Alexander?
Holiday?

Does the 14-18 range seem reasonable?

 

Right like an 88% ft shooter missing 2. Or them forgetting how to catch the ball, or us going 31-31 from the line. Those things?

 

Just Win Baby!

 

Yeah, in the playoffs where it mattered Kobe made some of the biggest shots/plays ever, during the Shaq days. That's when I'm counting it from but without Shaq drawing so much attention in the middle and Kobe having to carry all of the weight himself like Dame and MJ have had to do... Kobe wasn't able to deliver.

 

I agree with you the NOP choked a handful of aspects.

The last 6 minutes of the game had a totally different lineup than the start - I believe only 2 starters for most of it. According to some, our defensive pressure on Ingram changed (I'm not sure I agree). Certainly adjustments were made and the game finished much differently than it started. The 17 swing wasn't just due to one turnoverand 2 missed FTs by Ingram.

 

How about this game tonight? Vegas has us as a one point favorite so they're counting on it being really close or at least convincing fans that they are betting on whoever wins the game instead of an actual spread. The over under is crazy high, like 244 points. That means a helluva lot of offense or since these are the fourth and fifth worst scoring defenses in the league maybe a lack of defense. Shit we're seventh in the league in points scored per game and they're fourth. This all adds up to a ton of scoring and IMO, another Blazers win. Go Blazers!!!

 

Well i can actually make some case for two of those things. Ingram missing two free throws though was almost eerie. Also remember, The Blazers had to secure that rebound as well and call the time out.
The inbounds play can be contributed a bit to the pressure Trent was putting on the the play.
The 31 free throws says the players made their shots.
They made some breaks for themselves by being in the position to capitalize on the mistakes.
Dame has missed free throws before. He's even missed two that were pretty darn important.

How about we credit the coach for making them work on free throws and for putting in the right players to defend the inbound play?
Nah.... That can't be right.

 

Trent was all over that inbound play.
The free throws were weird but they still had to secure the rebound.
Stotts, like him or not, had players in the game that responded to the situations well. That is what a coach does.
Then he drew up and inbound play that got Dame the ball and an open shot that the Pels happened to foul him on. It was a good call to. Dame got fouled and they fouled him because they knew he was a threat from that position.
You guys act like Stotts should not have given the ball to Damian Lillard in that position. He isn't relying on Lillard? He is playing his best player and going with the best chance to make a shot. Again what did you expect him to do. If he pulls Lillard and goes with Trent or Simons or CJ what do you say about him then? How about if he goes with Melo and Melo misses the shot?
I can just hear the collective SCREAM across the entire city if that happens?

 

Credit the coach for players making free throws or playing basic in-bound defense? Mighty low bar there.

 

This is a simplistic comment. Players need to perform. Players need to be in the game to perform. Teams win and lose as a team. That team hit 31 free throws. That is one of the things the team did to win the game. Take it or leave it.

 

Harry Giles now listed as PROBABLE for the game.

 

If I was him, I would ask for one more day of rest, rather than go up against Zion.