This isn't about the last 10 games. This is about how to get an already very good Blazer team (over the last two seasons) to take that next step. And IMO eliminating unforced turnovers is a good place to start.
Every team will have unforced turnovers every game... there humans out there, mistakes happen.... Yeah its annoying... you can work on lowering the number of unforced errors but you will never eliminate them. and my point about the last 10 games is more about the fact that after every win or loss people bitch and complain because the Blazers are not perfect. were 1.5 games back on the 2nd spot... apparently there doing something right.
Blazers only turn it over 13.5 times a game forced or not. That's the same as the champs and less than the Warriors and Hawks. If we continue to turn it over 13.5 times a game forced or not and we win the championship, will you still be concerned?
So I did more research. Pinwheel- You said we have to turn the ball over less than 13.5 times a game for us to take "the next step." But guess what? The Spurs turned it over 14.1 times a game last season and they won the championship. So maybe "the next step" is to turn the ball over a little more?
This year's Lakers only turn it over 12.4 times. Maybe they're ready to take the next step? I'm so confused.
It is amazing that Warriors shoot all those threes and yet they are #1 in FG%. Houston, by comparison is #22.
I know I am nit picking, but I don't like the careless passes on the perimeter. Even though the Spurs shoot a lot of 3's they run a different type of offense than we do. They shot over 51% from 2 pt range. (Last year) I have no statistics to back this up, but usually when you shoot that well from the floor, you get a few extra turn overs forcing the ball down low. Same with teams who run a lot. They get more turnovers but they also get more easy baskets. So in those scenarios, yes we would be better off getting more TO's. Honestly I don't care about what the stats say because they can be mis-leading. All I know is the Blazers need to fine tune this issue because during the playoffs, every possession counts. And it is often just as much a mistake by the receiver as it is with the passer.
I think it's a team that knows what it's doing and what's going on. I think they are a highly intelligent, very laid back group. I think it starts from the top player LA and it works it's way down. Fortunately and Unfortunately, you see that at times on the court. The laid back part is the unfortunate part. I think it has a tendency to cause them to take some of these games for granted and maybe accept a view of 'It's not how you win as long as you get the win kind of mindset. What's interesting is I just listened to the Jimmy Graham conf call with the Seattle media. And the one thing that stood at was how surprised he was with how winning oriented they were up there. They are all about winning. He noticed that as soon as he stepped foot into the headquarters, he could feel that sense of urgency. More than likely, he was feeding off of Carroll. But I wonder Paul is taking a look at the things that have caused the Seahawks success in the last two years and measures that to what is going on down here in Portland. When he walks into the headquarters does he feel and sense the same stuff? Have they embraced similar practices they have in Seattle? And if not maybe there is something to what Graham said. Perhaps there should be an emphasis of replicating some of that down here if it's not in place already. I added this because I don't know if I sense a real urgency just by watching this team. Or if it comes off of them. When you're as laid back as this bunch is.,It's difficult to see.
I hate bumping this thread and for quote myself even more, but tonight's game is case and motherfucking point. We have not one but TWO fucking chances to inbound the ball from halfcourt and we failed to do so. This team drives me batshit crazy.
Honestly, listening to that inbound attempt, Wheels mentioned that they had a timeout, and I immediately thought, "they'll need it." After it was called, I had zero confidence that they could get the ball in. And after the turnover, I had zero doubt that the Heat would have no trouble doing what we couldn't. It's incredibly frustrating to see a team of professionals routinely not be ankle to perform one of the most basic tasks of the game in clutch situations. It would be one thing if it were just a one in a while thing. But this has cost us multiple games, and will undoubtedly rear its head in the postseason as well.
Inbounding the ball seems so simple. Apparently it is not. I would say that it is one of the few things that Nate did a better job of setting up then Terry has. I am not sure why this continues to be a problem, but he immediately needs to go back to the drawing board and draws some news ones up.
