Game Thread 2022-23 Game #5 BLAZERS VS HEAT - OCTOBER 26, 2022 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

If we win tonight and the Bucks lose to the Nets then we will be the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA this regular season.

Idk why, but this game has me a bit worried. Heat have underperformed this season. Underperforming teams hungry for a W are often times the toughest opponent you’ll face.

 

Actually if the Bucks lose we will be the last remaining undefeated team, period. The Bucks play at 4:30.

In that scenario; a Blazers win determines if we are the last remaining undefeated team for a few hours or multiple days.

 

Ay, good point!

 

Super stoked for this game. I think we will win especially with Ant's confidence restored. We need to contain Herro and at least slow Butler. Nurk will likely get locked up by Bam, but if he plays decent defense and rebounds we should be fine. Beat the HEAT, Beat the HEAT, Beat the HEAT!

 

the naysayers are correct: it's way too early to jump to any substantial conclusions about the team; or even about the roster

that said, one conclusion you can reach is that this current team plays differently than any other version in the Dame era. Speaking of which, with Grant and Hart, Dame may have the best set of complementary forwards he's had since he's been in the NBA. I think Portland is playing the most entertaining brand of basketball since the Rasheed/Pippen years; or maybe what Portland flashed a little of in the Roy/Aldridge years when Oden actually played

obviously, that entertainment factor has been ratcheted way up because of the 4 wins. Portland has been cooking; They are 10th in FG%, 6th in 3ptFG%, and 1st in FTA. That has made them 5th in TS%. I'm optimistic about the team but I just don't believe they are that good a shooting team; I anticipate a regression. It's also a case that Portland has played 3 games that have been even or within a point in the final minute, and won them all. History tells us that even good teams are only going to win about half of those games. It sure helps having Dame but it's almost certain that close game record will even out

anyway, it's going to be a real challenge for the Blazers tonight. A team like Miami usually comes out determined and aggressive in the first game of a road trip

 

Portland hasn't played a bump and grind physical team yet. (Jokic was not very animated)
Miami will provide that. Lets see how they fare against it.
It will be a great challenge.

 

I'm sure once we go on the road the refs will stop calling fouls in our favor and we'll lose a bunch of games because of it.

 

Drive for Five! Let’s Go

 

I was amazed by the calls in LA. I thought they would get cooked.

 

You don’t know why? The heat are one of the best teams in the east. That’s reason enough FAMS.

 

Can we all vote on who we are going to absolutely destroy early in this thread, and wish we could trade at halftime because they are so washed up and then kills in the 4th quarter and leads us to victory NOW so I am ready?

 

They seemed to be bad in the first half, but then they evened out.

 

Spo worries me. This a copycat league and if Spo scouts our new system well and it works, other teams will implement it as well. Doubt we have had any practices to build counters yet.

 

HCP looks washed. It looks like he has no burst left at all (aside from at the seams, which are actively bursting). I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not liking what I see so far.

 

he over-dribbles too, but that can be mitigated with adult diapers.

 

Nurk out worked by Bam tonight?

Could be one of those “someone else’s turn” nights. Hart?

“Why are we starting Hart instead of Nas?” Which could spill over to good ol’ “blame the coach”.

Then there’s always the refs. For when you’re happy with your team but still upset.

Or we could handle business from start to finish and it’s just good vibes all around.

 

When is GP back?

 

Pretty sure @DDolla will proclaim the blowout is on once the Heat get a 8 point 1st qtr lead.