Kenny Smith went from Blazers not winning enough to make the playoffs

To not having enough experience in the playoffs. In fact, he admits that they may make it deep in the playoffs, even hinting wcf or finals.

Crazy how opinions change throughout the season!

 

I need to make a list of the progressive excuses over the course of this season from the "experts" who were dead wrong about Portland and then proceeded to keep coming up with reasons why they refuse to accept that Portland is one of the best teams in the NBA. Maybe a time-line up to when the denial phase finally ended too.

 

It would be soooo awesome if this team just rolled through the playoffs and win the title! It would be soooo sweet!

 

I don't know how they can use inexperience as a crutch. Half the team are seasoned vets at this point. Aldridge isn't young anymore. Mo is 31. I think these guys forget that Nic and LA were both in the playoffs against Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas. They know what a series is like. There's a few young guys, but there's a lot of experience as well.

 

Defense is definitely our biggest problem, which makes no sense to me because Wes and Nic are supposed to be really good defenders.

 

I don't know if this was sarcasm, because you've been doing that repeatedly already.

 

This team has not gone into a playoff battle together yet. Against OKC and SA it will be a factor. Even GS and the Clippers experienced it last year. It will be a factor no doubt. But we do have some mentally tough players. We just need to get out of the first round and let the momentum build.

 

Lopez was in the playoffs once for 17mpg the year Phoenix beat us. Mo is the only other player to win a playoff series. I think its a valid concern when talking about a deep playoff run this season but yes I agree there is a national misperception of this team being younger than they are because analysts aren't familiar with the players.

Nic is really overrated as a defender, he just physically looks like he would be an elite defender but thats not the reality. Durant and Parsons lit him up last week which is common when he guards small forwards. Matthews is probably our best defender but he's not an elite lockdown guy; he's just all around really solid.

 

If we had a defensive minded coach, I think that might change.

 

I have always thought that Nic is better at defending smaller quicker guards. He uses his length against them.

While Wes is better at defending SF's because they are not going to go around him as easily as a quick guard can. He can be more physical with them.

As a tandem I think they work well together because they can switch. They both have strengths and weaknesses though. No doubt small quick guards give Wes problems but he gives them trouble as well when he posts them up.

 

This has been Batum's forte, it is part of the reason Stotts puts him on the other teams main ball handler, it is hard to lose focus when your man has the ball right in front of your face. Plus it tends to give Lillard a break and allow him to focus on offense.

 

It is perplexing that we are not better defensively. Wes, Nic and Lopez are all supposed to be good defenders.....so is it coaching? Bench? We play very good D at times, just not for a full game.

 

IMHO, the bench is a big part of it. The starters are playing a lot of minutes and expending plenty of energy on the offensive end.

Coaching also enters into it. In his 3 stints as head coach, Stotts has clearly established that defense is not his priority/strong suit.

 

It makes sense that this statement is true if it was not for the fact that they play their best D at the end of the games. When they should be tired. I agree that they seem to be pacing themselves for the 2nd half though.

But I disagree that the bench is that bad. Individually they are decent. Last night they were playing well to start the 4th (with Wes in there as well) They got the lead back and then were pulled with over 8 minutes to go in the game. Not blaming Stotts here, just pointing out that it was not the benches fault. Not last night anyways.

 

Ya but he said after one year experience we are in the conversation of title contenders. I don't see what's wrong with what he said

 

Yes, yes, yes - a thousand times, YES! Good defense STARTS with good coaching. You can have good defense without elite defenders as long as there's a sound defensive philosophy that the players operate within. Take a look at the Top 10 teams in OppFG% - those teams aren't chock full of elite defenders. It's the coaching that makes their defenses work, and the coaching is only enhanced by the individual defenders.

 

Didn't Wesley make it past the first round with Utah, and then play here against Dallas the next year?

 

Have to stop the ball at the point of attack. Don't even let the PG have spacing to make a good pass. Lillard is not a good defender and Mo flat out sucks. They play too many minutes together. Our bench isn't very good on either side of the ball. Good defense in the NBA is a team game, but it starts at the PG position, anchored by a defensive big.