Blazers last in the league in defense

Not that miraculous. We beat one team that has a record better than .500 who turned around and beat us by 40 the next game and the rest of the teams have losing records. So I guess the fact that we're not 6-4 is a little odd but hardly the result of witchcraft.

 

Given the information you have, what do you expect our record to be these last 26 games? 10-16?

 

Since Nurk returned, we are 20th in defense and we’re just getting started.

 

I want to see how the Blazers play against the Bucks first. Portland has 10 of the final 25 games against top-4 seeds (including Denver). They have only beaten those teams 3 times this season, and two of those wins came against the 76ers; the other win was 3 months ago.

if they can start showing more fight against the caliber of teams they'll see in the playoffs, I'd revise upward. Right now I expect them to finish about 10 games over .500

 

Stotts can coach defense with right players. 9th best defense in NBA in 2014-15

 

Why including Denver? They aren’t top 4 seed. Knicks are though and we beat them.

So losses 3 months ago matter but wins don’t?

 

If they can go .500 with what many are saying is a brutal schedule, that would make them a pretty good team.

 

Probably in less games.

 

Dead last in defense, any team can do that.

Dead last in defense AND assists, only Blazer fans have the stamina to endure that!

 

I like that we strive for excellence.

 

better than average for sure.

But it has been Portland's DNA to beat the .500 and below at a real good rate. It has also been in their DNA to put together a post all-star hot streak. That usually coincides with a soft part of their schedule though. Maybe that hot streak is now

 

Nah. Dame’s been nicked up and not playing up to his usual lofty standards the last five games or so. You’ll know when he puts it into high gear.

 

Collins is made of glass.

 

yeah, there's that. Those Blazer hot streaks always seem to coincide with Dame upping his game a notch or two. I wish he'd get 2 or 3 of load management games off, and the next three seem like the perfect time. Even without Dame the Blazers should win two. And that would give Dame 9 days between games

 

What's worse, is it is accepted and even defended. That I just can't understand.

 

Still last????....

 

Nobody likes the Blazer defense that I recall.

 

No, 2nd to last, with a DRtg of 117.6

Of course, that stat is influenced by the pace a team plays at and the Blazers play fast, with the 5th highest ORtg at 116.8. Still, the Blazers are below average overall at 18th if you look at NRtg at -0.8. A good team definitely should not have a negative net rating. If it weren’t for Lillard’s clutch performances in the 4th quarter, the record wouldn’t be what it is.