Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #49 - BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - FEBRUARY 2, 2024 - FRIDAY - 6:00 PM PST - ROOT

we got comfortable with wins.
probably a bad idea
The trade deadline is in 2 weeks.
Portland's record after Cronin accomplishes his goals are not worth looking into.

 

the Nuggets had 20 more assists and 11 more rebounds. That's a tough combo to overcome

massive mismatch between Jokic and Ayton; expected, but yeeeeesh, Jokic had 19 more points, 19 more rebounds, and 11 more assists. Yikes!!

Scoot's best shooting game and his pacing has really improved

 

actually, it's in less than 6 days. IIRC, it's noon next Thursday

 

next step that absolutely HAS to happen is to play him completely on the ball. offense looks tangibly better when he initiates it compared to Ant or Brog. his pass first mentality will allow us to play much faster than we are right now. (another indication of why malcolm has to be traded next week).

fact that he dropped 30 on just 15 shots while largely playing off ball with low usage is eye opening for me.

 

No, Einstein, you leave them in because the game is out of reach and you know they’re not going to injure themselves trying to make a play—and because giving the bench 35 seconds of meaningless court time isn’t worth doing.

 

Every coach in the league would laugh at you. You don't know what could happen. Too many variables. Derrick Rose injured himself without contact with another player.

Give it a rest. You have no idea what you're talking about. You don't risk it. And every coach agrees. But go on, you know better...

 

Considering our leading scorer was out I thought we gave the Nuggets a good run

 

Scoot Wagon taking out all defenders.

 

And yet Portland played their starters in most of the games they tanked the last two years. Odd. You’d think if you were trying to lose games you wouldn’t take a chance on injuring your starters.

 

that old Volvo is still running after the mega RV jump. Those little wagons are beasts.

 

If you're tanking first you don't want to get caught. Do you follow the NBA at all?

 

Ayton had 2 looks halfway through 3rd quarter, then never got another shot the rest of the night. I'm glad the Blazers kept things entertaining, but for goodness sakes give the big guy a few more touches.

 

The "High" life?

 

I tried to get the Mods to change the name to "Bust-a-Scoot" but they won't do it unless we pony up. This inflation thing is out of control.

 

Well, it’s obvious you don’t. If all of us on this board know the Blazers were tanking the last two years, the commissioner of the NBA surely knows it.

 

Or this?

 

Scoot had 12 of the Blazers 30 free throws and made 11 of them.
That another big reason for him to have the ball in his hands.