SUNS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 4TH, 2014 - FRIDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW

Bah... sorry for my outburst here.

Lets win some more games. This one feels like an anomaly.

P.S., someone tell KS I sent him a PM.

 

Let me guess, We lost because of Mo?

 

And the lack of rebounding. lol.

 

I am glad we won't have to face them in the playoffs. They have our number worse than the Kings of the early 90's.

 

Maybe you are right. But every game, usually the other team's guards just blow our guards up.

Even the Lakers did it, but we had Allstar performances from Damian and LMA to offset it. Tonight we had no answer, and against Houston, we generally suck against their guards... I mean I could almost pick any other team in the league and you'd get the idea..... it's a problem that needs to be fixed.

And I am not just saying this because we lost, I was thinking it the other night against the Lakers too.

 

and what is our record in the last 15 games? we are terribly inconsistent

 

7-8 in our last 15. Blech.

 

Do you understand the concept behind a team that has our number? Some teams match up favorably against other teams. It wouldn't matter if we had won 20 in a row or lost 20 in a row, we don't match up well against Phoenix. There are adjustments that can be made, but outside of acquiring guards that can keep their man in front of them, there's not much we can do. Bledsoe and Dragic abused us.

 

As LA goes, the Blazers go. Where was he tonight?

 

The Blazers didn't play. They sat back and watched tonight. Or alteast in the second half of the third and fourth.

 

I think Lillard is passible on D. Mo is more of a sieve on D than Lillard. The issue is when Stotts plays them together for such a long period of time. That is my least favorite lineup....

 

Either Stotts' defensive scheme is awful, or Olshey has built one of the most unbalanced rosters in the league.

It doesn't help that Stotts must be a horrible motivator. Other coaches get their teams to play hard for 48 minutes, so what is the Blazers' malfunction?

 

Really pay attention to the defense next game. Remember matthews was considered a defensive specialist under sloan and mcmillian? Matthews wouldnt have been playing for sloan unless he had good defense. Now watch the next game and watch him invite the dribbler to the basket. It has to be stotts system either the players still arent playing it right or the system sucks huge inflated cock. Dame really isnt THAT bad in one on one situations but stotts system tells him to go under picks and give the guard a lane. Its like he thinks he has hibbert and howard down low. Lopez is decent but aldridge blows at help defense. Plus when you force lopez to help you are relying on aldridge and batum to rebound. His system sucks and he needs to adjust to the players strengths. How often have we seen a good zone this year? Just switch it up mid game fo fuck sake. And let guys like matthews and batum play some passing lanes. And for fuck sake stay between your man and the rim. This funnel him for a shot blocker is stupid

 

Really, you think it's just Phoenix? how bout understanding this:

Blazers are actually 4-17 vs Western Conference playoff teams since late January

@ Houston Rockets L
@ Oklahoma City Thunder L
@ Golden State Warriors L
Memphis Grizzlies L
Toronto Raptors W
@ Washington Wizards L
@ Indiana Pacers L
Oklahoma City Thunder L
@ Los Angeles Clippers L
San Antonio Spurs L
@ Dallas Mavericks L
@ Houston Rockets L
@ Memphis Grizzlies L
@ San Antonio Spurs L
Golden State Warriors L
Washington Wizards W
@ Charlotte Bobcats L
@ Miami Heat L
@ Chicago Bulls W
Memphis Grizzlies W
Phoenix Suns L

but they are 1-13 over their last 14 games against WC playoff teams. Unfortunately, Portland 1st round opponent won't be an eastern conference team

 

Blazinaway...thank you for the sad, but true reality check. With Aldridge or without him, it has been about the same in terms of beating quality opponents. Too much outside shooting and not nearly enough defense has not boded well historically no matter how much we support or love our team.

 

Hey I wish it was different and we could just say "Phoenix is a bad matchup", but the FACTS say differently, we have played awfully vs the WC playoff teams for a good while now. I would love to see these guys "turn it on" in the playoffs, but their track record and what I am seeing with my own eyes do not make be very hopeful. And teams like San Anton have already "turned it on" and are playin outstanding ball. To think we can all of a sudden change how we are playing when the playoffs come is IMO viewing things is simply not being realistic.

 

Yeah, what you say is definitely true. Wes was definitely better back then. It just seems that like you say we constantly go under the picks and then never hustle back towards the guard driving. It's like when Damian gets picked he just looks and throws his hands up type attitude. IDK, just stuff that I notice a lot when I am watching. Between bumping Damian or Mo off w/picks and them going under it's a constant "catch-up" to the guard driving sort of thing.

I honestly can't remember the last time we went zone. Does Stotts even do zones?

 

That fourth quarter was appalling. Moreso than the technical stuff, I hated the attitude. Guys were just resigned to the fact that they were going to lose the game and did absolutely nothing about it. Where's the fight?

 

I attribute that to the lack of LA's real vocal (and body language) leadership & Damian giving up after he gets no fouls called for him on repetitive drives to the hoop.

 

Thats where the refs come in imo. They call incosistent and constantly fuck you everytime you put together a run. Its mentally draining. They should be able to rise above it but at some point when you see youre being cheated you say fuck it. That out of bounds play was a 4 point swing that stopped our run dead in its tracks. There was absolutely no excuse for refs to botch that call as one clearly saw what happened but the guy on the other side of the court over ruled it for no reason other than grand design. The league must need pheonix to make playoffs to further worship hornachek