Game Thread GAME# 73: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - MARCH 24, 2016 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), CSNNW

Man, if we only handled our business in late-game situations this year, we'd be fighting for HCA in the first round.

1 - 11/8 vs. Detroit || Blazers blow 20+ 3rdQ lead, lose by 17
2 - 11/13 @ Memphis || Blazers fail to secure offensive rebound, lose on last second outback by Z-Bo
3 - 11/18 @ Houston || Blazers up multiple possessions late, lose on a 30-ft prayer by Corey Brewer off of one foot
4 - 12/1 vs. Dallas || Blazers up 7 with 90 seconds to go, lose in overtime
5 - 12/7 @ Milwaukee || Blazers fail to inbounds correctly, give up game-tying possession before losing in overtime
6 - 12/12 vs. New York || Blazers blow a 10-pt lead after Q3, get outscored 36-24 in Q4
7 - 1/16 @ Philadelphia || Not a late-game meltdown, but how do you lose to the worst team in the league by 25?
8 - 2/25 vs. Houston || Blazers blow a 21-pt lead in the 3rd Q, lose by 14
9 - 3/20 @ Dallas || Blazers have chance to win in regulation, miss and eventually lose by 12 in overtime
10 - 3/24 @ LA Clippers || Blazers up 7 with 3 minutes left, decide to intentionally foul and eventually lose on a JJ Redick game-winner

We are 37-36 right now. If we just do what we're supposed to, we win those 10 games. 47 and 26 sounds awfully damn impressive right about now and would put us in 4th place right now. And, it's not like we're losing to good teams. Of those 10 games listed, only TWO have records above .500 (Memphis, Los Angeles).

 

Happens to young teams. Our late game execution has just been trash. Tend to think it's not Terry related considering how good we've been in similar situations the past three years.

 

I can't totally ignore the possibility that it's an experience thing, but I still say it's due to the badly imbalanced roster. We have too many duplicate players at various positions, with no clear cut closers outside of Dame and CJ, who are among those duplicates. We're choosing between offense and defense at every position, totally lacking in 2-way players. It makes us relatively easy to guard for a big possession or two at the end of a game, and it makes it very difficult for us to guard the opponent.

 

It'll make beating them in the playoffs that much sweeter.

 

Yeah experience and a two way player would really help. Its a struggle with many teams though how many years have the Thunder been looking for a 2 way SG?

A big part of it is offensive execution when burning clock. We get a lead and Dame stands at mid court dribbling, there's no player movement, and the defense gets everyone in ideal positions to stop us. We wait until the clock is around 10 seconds, Dame starts driving, the defense overplays all our options, and we end up with terrible shots. Meanwhile the opponent is rested from standing around on D and attacks us in a flurry on the other end.

 

They actually had a pretty good 3-and-D one in Sefolosha. He was probably nearing the end of his peak play, but keeping that starting lineup together should have been very successful for several years if not for injuries and acquiring stiffs like Perkins.

That definitely doesn't help, but I think it's the secondary issue behind the roster problems creating limited options. All the defense has to do is load up on Dame and CJ. The other three guys on the court, you're basically encouraging them to shoot. We've got a few decent slashers, but it's too easy to pressure our guards into not being able to find them. Hopefully, Crabbe can become the floor spacer to keep the D honest.

 

Here's the reffing report for the game against the Clippers on 3-24-16:
http://official.nba.com/nba-officiating-last-two-minute-report-march-24-2016/

Summary of Incorrect Calls in the last 2 minutes of the game:
- 1:47.0, Incorrect Non-Call (favoring Clippers). Crawford (LAC) is in the paint without actively guarding an opponent for longer than three seconds.
- 1:04.0, Incorrect Non-Call (favoring Blazers). Plumlee (POR) is in the paint without actively guarding an opponent for longer than three seconds.
- 0:45.1, Incorrect Non-Call (favoring Clippers). PXP shows that Jordan (LAC) extends his arms into Lillard's (POR) back affecting his ability to defend.
- 0:18.4, Incorrect Non-Call (favoring Clippers). Jordan (LAC) extend his arm as he sets the screen on McCollum (POR) without giving him room to avoid the contact.
- 0:02.4, Incorrect Non-Call (favoring Clippers). Rivers (LAC) makes contact with McCollum (POR) that affects his rebound attempt.

Sucks that we lost. That was one we could have gotten. With that said, the character of a team is shown by how they respond to adversity. I have faith they'll bounce back and make a good push to finish the year off strong!

 

This is Stotts fault.
He fouled DJ when the Clips had no offensive momentum and the Blazers were ahead, then he didn't foul DJ when the Clippers had offensive momentum.

worse of all : he didn't take a timeout on that last broken play where Harkless had to make a crucial decision even though he is not equipped to take one.

+That Lillard three was a bad decision even though it went in.

Most of us think Stotts is a good mid-tier coach, but to be honest, he is making way too many mistakes to be considered as solid as Hornacek or Erik Spoelstra for example.

 

In Europe that's the right thing to do.

 

-His players got injured.
-Suns management is trash, they fired all his assistants,dealt his players and set him up for failure.
-Horny owned Stotts in most of his meetings with the Blazers.
-Coaches like Rick Carlisle and Thibodeau who are clearly a tier above Stotts got fired too.

Your argument is invalid.

 

And that fact was irrelevant.

 

Lillard's three wasn't a bad decision. He is our go to player and he took his go to shot and drilled it. He wasn't off balance. It's a shot he has made throughout the season. It's basically the same shot JJ took to win the game, coming off a screen.

 

Taking a moving 3 point shot from a tough angle and a hand in your face is not a good decision.
Sure, everyone are happy if it goes, but i don't like that casino mentality.