+>The success starts with the coach and the failures are blamed on the coach. I see Stotts outta here if we get booted.
I sure hope so. Lillard has all the tools to be great, but his confidence seems to be shaken. One of the alarming things about last night's game was how off his shooting was. Usually when he misses a shot it's just barely off, but last night he was often way off.
He also can't seem to get the ball to Leonard on a pick and roll when the two defenders stay with Lillard and Leonard slps to the basket. Not an easy pass but he needs to figure out how to do it.
Aldridge definitely needs to step it up on defense. Saw a national commentator call him out for taking plays off and it's true; with his length and skills he should be a monster on help defense. If they need to play him less minutes so he can play two way, then do it.
Lillard is struggling for sure. He's over relying on just jacking shots, or he's over relying on getting calls. He hasn't gotten the calls all season he needs to stop waging this challenge on the refs and just start playing smart ball again.
Agreed. So many times he breaks down the defense and all he needs to do is pick out one of the many open teammates, vs. jacking up a contested layup.
He's a hard worker, conscientious, seems to love the game and he's not 30+. All of that tells me that with some time to heal and to reflect and "get in the lab" during the off-season, he should be well positioned to get through whatever caused his second half swoon this season. If it looks like this same time next season, then maybe you can hit the panic button a little bit.
I think they'll chock it up to injuries and he'll be back next year, unless LMA leaves, then blow it up and get a young up and coming coach.
Stotts refused to appoint an assistant as defensive coordinator and I think that's a mistake. We need an elite defensive asst coach to straighten out the efforts on both ends. I was hoping Wes would be that guy while he's injured but I'm ready to bring in a Laimbeer type guy to assist Stotts
Was it about the time that Mathews got hurt that he started struggling? I wonder if it could be as simple as there is no one in the backcourt to help. I wasn't paying too close attention to him specifically but I don't recall seeing much defensive scheming against him, he just looked really passive. What do you guys think needs to happen to see more success in game 2? How has CJ been playing prior to the playoffs, could he be used to let Lillard work off ball and get some shots coming off screens? Seems like they need to force his involvement a bit more without, you know, forcing it.
They have one even if they don't give him the title. http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...llard_and_his_defense_make_a_playoff_vow.html
I don't know if you guys watch the pregame warm ups Dame does before the game. The PR staff posts them on facebook. Anyway, he is swishing jumpers from the center court logo. I don't think this has anything to do with his injury because he's draining them before the game. It seems this is all mental and we need some Buddhist monk to ward off any negative energy!
Born October 14, 1930 Pottstown, Pennsylvania Died March 12, 2012 (aged 81) Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Either that or Memphis is pulling out all the stops to deny him any open look from deep, while smothering him at the rim inside. It gets to a point where fighting the straight jacket will only make it tighter. IMO, Dame needs to drive and kick, move without the ball, and pray his teammates start hitting shots so the ball will come back around his way once he's open.
