Blazers vs Rockets Game thread

When I watch Lillard I find myself saying, "He needs to do this and this like Brandon Roy used to."

This beats the fucking tar out of the thoughts I used to have about guys like Babbit or Webster or Outlaw or Bayless. Lillard is going to be our second or third best player this season.

 

I'm surprised more hasn't been made about the complete non-existence of Leonard in this game. The guy was completely ineffective on both ends of the court, whether it was blocking/altering shots, offensive boards, scoring...it was like he wasn't even there. Very, very disappointing night for him.

 

I wasn't disappointed by his performance. He had no help down low.

 

It was a bad game for sure. They don't involve him on the offensive end at all outside the occasional P&R. He has a lot of work to do and finding him a big-man coach is extremely important.

 

Have you ever watched SL before? That's often how it is for big men in SL. Not always, but by far most of the time...

 

Thanks Tince for taking the time to respond. You too mook!

 

There's definitely some truth there. But he just seemed demoralized out there. He wasn't hitting guys like he did in the first game. I mean, watch that first game again and you'll see him running down the court and then just shove a PF or C at times just to let him know he was there. He was a goddamned bully out there.

Tonight he was just a guy out there next to Luke Fucking Babbit. Sure he was pretty much fucked, but he didn't rebel much against his lost cause.

He showed a little heart toward the end when Lillard tried to take over. He got a nice pick and roll, and a couple of strong boards, and intimidated a few shots. You could just kind of feel that he wanted to believe. But it was too little too late.

Houston definitely had more size and talent at the big positions than the last game. So maybe that was a big factor. He was completely exposed on that break pump fake from the skilled Euro center. But I still felt like he could have done more to assert himself. I had higher hopes. I guess the ups and downs that we're going to see in this guy are why everybody calls him "raw."

 

...it appeared as if Leonard got a little too wrapped up in "Vegas", dude looked hung-over to me. At one point during an in-bounds play he wasn't even looking at/for the ball...very lackadaisical and not in-tune with he game. I'm hoping this is not the norm from him...stud one game, Houdini the next

 

Leonard was going up against 3 talented big men on Houston most of the night without help. It was a pretty impossible situation for him IMO.

 

Impossible to play hard? No, not really

 

The only thing that really worried me about Leonard is after he got beat by a ton of pump fakes the second half of the game he just kind of stood near the basket with his hands raised not even jumping just making them shoot around or over him. Seemed like he got his confidence killed in the first two quarters.

 

Thankfully the Blazers have a veteran coach to teach him the proper mechanics in the paint on defense.

 

Leonard did look tired (hung-over/whatever) even in the 1st half. I actually thought the team played very well. Basically we lost by 9, but were outrebounded by 19. Our little guys killed their little guys, our bigs got killed by their bigs for the most part.

edit: it was disappointing though that our starting guards each had more rebounds the Leonard. If he can't rebound, he won't be able to play next to LMA.

 

Despite all the praise he got after the first game, Leonard is very raw.

He appears to be lazy at times or go for the swipe block when he would be much better served getting his feet in proper position. His offensive touch is very lacking, but he has some strength when he has clear vision of the rim. He needs some work from a skills and from a mental standpoint and the opposing vets will make him look silly and play with his emotions next season.

 

So, he was hung over? That's a pretty serious accusation. Any proof, or just your expert opinion?

 

It happens on this board sometimes that people use colorful language over explicit meaning to express thoughts and opinions. I don't really think he's accusing anyone of actually being hung over, but he was "out of sorts" in some way or another. Similarly, MM and others haven't actually had sexual relations with Mrs. HCP.

Let's see who can't control themselves and make some lame joke about this....

 

Oh, come on. You're better than that.

 

It's unfortunate we didn't get to see much pick and roll from Lillard, but considering Leonard is the only player on this team capable of even setting a pick, I don't blame him.

I would be incredibly happy if Babbitt didn't play in the rest of the games. He's got to be one of the most one-dimensional players in the NBA. Watching him try to play defense and rebound is painful. When he's missing his threes like he was vs. Houston, he looks like a shitty high school player.

 

He is actually an above average rebounder at the SF position. Asking him to rebound against 3 bigger and stronger players who all they did was clog the lane is a bit much. He can shoot the three and rebound (on both ends) but that is it, his defense is horrible and watching him try and stay in front of someone is like telling Felton to NOT supersize his meal.

 

I think he plays equal minutes at the 3 and 4, if not more at the 4. He's not good at finding a man and boxing out, in the same way he's not good at team defense.