Which game is more likely the norm?

I think we'll have more game two's than game one's. And everything in between.

Oh, no! That means the team and the players won't have identical games every night! Consistency, dammit!!

 

Thats the thing about the NBA, when you are winning it seems like no one can beat you and when you are loosing it seems like you can't beat anyone. I think the last game just showed what we are capable of. I don't think it will be the norm but I expect to have more of those nights than game 1 nights.

 

I'm still waiting for this year's team to show it's identity. The first two games seem to me to still echo last year's patterns: if only two out of our "core 4" have good games, we lose; if they're all playing well we can beat any team in the league. Don't get me wrong, the bench is night and day better than last year, but I think that a little more balance in scoring between 1st and 2nd stringers will develop as the year goes along.

 

This will be interesting to watch. We do know they will shoot a lot of threes. That's a given. But working out the team chemistry, figuring out how all the pieces work together, that's going to take a bit.

 

way too early to tell, especially as chemistry is a big unknown with 7 new players, how well that does or does not develop will be a big key to this season

 

Yep. I'd say it's going to be the end of December or early January before this team hits its stride.

Last night wasn't a bad step in the right direction, however.

 

This is a great post.

It makes me wonder of we will even have an identity. I feel it's sort of Batman & Robin and Nic too.

 

LOL

Phoenix was definitely the Cliff.

 

I think game one was an anomaly. We will still have games that will look like that, but I think it's gonna be rare. I also think games like last night will be rare too. There is absolutely no way this team can keep a 65% from three percentage.

I think we will be a top rebounding team though, with a dark horse rebounder every night (batum, Matthews, T rob or even wright). I think Lopez will give us at least 6 rebounds per game, while Aldridge will eventually break the single digit rebounds.

Whatever the case, rebounding needs to be our major consistency. Like I've said so many times in the past, if we can average +50 rebounds a game, then we are assured a top 4 spot. Our players need that embedded in their brains. Muscle memory for rebounding!

 

Apparently the Blazers are going to be a 3 point shooting team again this season.

So far they are averaging 24 attempts a game. Game one they hit them at a 31% rate.
Game two they hit them at a 64% rate. Two different results.
However, if they shoot the three ball right in between, at a more normal pace of 4x%
they have the same record, just tighter games.

I think we have seen the normal Blazer game that you can expect to see this season in both games.

 

I disagree about the "living and dying from three" philosophy. If you are hitting them, then keep shooting. It deflates the defense when they score two and you score 3. I expect a much improved defense as the season progresses; which will keep us in any game, regardless if our outside shot isn't falling.

I also think our 2 point percentage will not be 35% and will normalize as well.

 

I think the Denver game is slightly closer to the norm. But we did not have to play there on the second of a back to back, and I expect Denver to be a far worse team this year. They are missing their two best players in Iggy and Gallinari from last season and their coach. That team will be far out of the playoffs so its not as impressive of a win as some people think right now.

This Blazer team will struggle on the road at times and have some games like the Phoenx game, but over the course of the season I expect more performances as in the Denver game. That won't always be enough to win against the best teams though, other teams won't give us dozens of open looks from deep or miss easy shots. There were a half dozen times Denver couldn't put the ball in the hole from 3 feet out.

 

I was very impressed by Wright last night, I'd like to see him get some more minutes. Wes and Nic would be better in the 32min range than 40 range. Freeland has been shockingly adequate. Mo Williams is the biggest disappointment off the bench, if he can just play in the flow of the offense and hit his career %'s it will really help balance out those groups.

 

I am not exactly sure if I can tell what you are saying. But I do detect that you expect "emotion" to influence play of the team. Get hot, shoot more! Go cold, play D!
Perhaps it will happen, you are well suited to urge them on in that sense.

 

I went back and watched the first half again. The 40 pt 2nd quarter was a thing of beauty. The Blazers were out running on every trip. It was not all three's they got to the basket as well. But it really comes down to the style of play by our opponent. Not sure San Antonio will let us run like that. Not sure why we didn't against Phoenix. But when we do, we have the shooters to make it work.

Anyone who suggest that LMA take a few steps back to make his long 2's into 3's is crazy. He is not even close to the 3 pt line. You guys just are not used to seeing a mid range jump shot anymore. Anyways he played great last night. Two very aggressive blocks where he punished the opponent. Both should have been called fouls, but it was still great to see.

I still like Mozgov. Not much of shot to speak of, but for his size he is very coordinated and moves very well. He makes his presence felt. I am convinced Denver hid him last year. They did not want to lose him in free agency, and gave him no minutes last year. I remember New York not wanting to include him in the trade. I see why.

 

Going off of pre season, I would say the Denver game was closest to the norm.

However, Denver is much more of a mess than I thought they were. At least at this point.

 

I'd love to think it's more like the Denver contest, but you can't count on the three point percentage they put up in that game. My guess is that this is going to be kind of a Jekyll and Hyde sort of year, especially since I think they've really only got two guys who can reliably put up 20 points per game and I still have big questions about their ability/commitment on the defensive end of the floor (particularly giving up points in the paint and letting their turnovers become fast-break opportunities for the opposition).