Game Thread 2022-23 Game #37 - BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 4, 2023 - WEDNESDAY - 5:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

Not a single contending team has the assets Portland would want for Dame. Only option is the Lakers.

 

Wolves won tonight but they’ve struggled more than us.

 

So...isn't that a not-good thing?

 

At least we blow out the Pistons

 

No ball movement, no offense run. Just one-on-one iso ball. Just gross.

 

GP2 would have been helpful !

 

Yeah, for me it's not a question of if this team needs to make big moves, it's what way do you move. Some in here want to "blow it up" and move away from Dame but we can't. Dame is on this team for the rest of the season because of when he signed his extension and the type of extension it is.

So for me, we need to trade Ant, we need to trade whoever else we have to in order to get support for Dame and JG. That's who we build around now. We have some good role players but some of them will have to go in order to get where we need to get.

 

The glaring thing I saw tonight is that while I love Hart's hustle when he doesn't have it he can't play that many minutes. He had so many wide open shots tonight as crucial points thst he miseed. He played a lot of minutes, 33 for 1 point and 2 rebounds.

As others have said how we handle the deadline will say a lot to me.

 

That’s the way I see it. Hurt losing both centers and small ball only really works if you can get some quick hands on the ball and turn those into points.

 

LOL....let all the bile out.

Hart was 0-4 and scored 1 point. Nurkic scored 10 points on 10 shots and spent the night making ugly turnovers. Simons scored 7 less than his average, but dribbled a lot more than normal, and the Wolves spent the whole game searching for Simons and giving his man the ball and saying "go to the basket he can't stop you". Nurkic and Eubanks combined for 12 fouls and scored a combined 4 points from the foul line. Grant didn't score in the second half. Simons got in foul trouble by committing stupid fouls so Dame had to play 40 minutes. And Chauncey seems to have a lot of trouble lately adjusting to what the other team is doing. Blazers are running Dame off the ball but still not creating any opportunities for him he doesn't create himself...they are just leaving him less time to create

but yeah, this loss is all on Dame

chuckleheads around here

 

That is the one he missed. And that was our defense that couldn't get stops. Dame didn't have a terrible game 27 points on 18 shots, 6 assists and 2 turnovers both in the first half. He was getting mugged the whole game while trying to get to the ball. I know we like it when Dame hits both of those threes instead of the second one, I know we expect that out of him. 2 of 9 from three isn't good enough for Dame if we want to win. That being said, he's not the problem.

The narrative that Dame has fallen off is bullshit. Dude is averaging 27 points and 7 assists, he's playing better defense than I've ever seen him play. Both his field goal percentage and three point field goal percentage are above his career averages. The only complaint I have is that he's making lazy passes that I haven't seen from him in the past but that isn't him falling off that's him needing to be held accountable, which I think will happen.

 

Ya can't call yourself the best shooter behind Curry and not produce. He is the superstar, right? 50mil a year, right. You think he is still a top 10 player? Think again. He is paid like one. Luka, Ja, Steph, Tatum, KD, Zion, Leonard, Giannis, Young, SGA, Lebron, Jokic...
Those are the ~Superstars. Even Irving is outplaying Dame and you have no idea how painful it is to type that.

 

I think I might quit on the season. Not interested in watching a team with no chance. I wouldn’t be upset at all if we tank. Pull Dame and Simons. Roll with Keon and Shaedon. I’m done.

 

Young? Lol.

 

This is what bothers me a little. I thought that Billups' strength would be his persistence in getting the team to play the way he wants. Getting the ball up court quickly, more passing, more cutting, attacking the basket. And it's just not happening.