Game Thread GAME# 77: HEAT @ BLAZERS - APRIL 2, 2016 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

OK, I was glad to see the win, but this game was kinda boring. . . .

 

Quite right. Regardless of what he did, he had a DPoY type player behind him in Robinson, a versitile SF in Elliot and a veteran PG leader in Johnson....certainly not all by himself. Veterans Terry Porter and Steve Kerr, mismatch type Malik Rose. The cupboard was not exactly bare.

 

So much truth in this. The development of Harkless, Crabbe and CJ doesn't happen if you are telling them not to win, because they are playing their hardest and trying to learn. So you sacrifice 3 guys who are major contributors for a draft pick that may or may not turn into anything (and soon as you get out of top 5, it drops off dramatically in any year).

 

Wait?! Are you telling me it's NOT better to tank every year because it creates a treadmill of lowered expectations while reinforcing a potential losing atmosphere in the locker room?

 

Nice win tonight! Man, CJ is good.

My two favorite plays:
- Plumlee steal and breakaway dunk.
- Henderson's massive dunk.

41 wins so far, with 5 more games to play. Back to a season high 5 games over 500!

 

At one point after a time out was called, CJ took his time going to the bench and was waving his arms encouraging the crowd to cheer. I love seeing that from players. Engaged with the fans. After his performance tonight, he certainly deserved the applause.

 

Harkless is so awesome. His style really compliments CJ and Lillards. He should be the starter next year as well. Get a real center, another shooter and were set.

 

Man if Harkless just works on his open three, our starting unit would be so lethal with him.

 

That's the whole point. Duncan did more for Spurs and still played 82 games.

 

Lillard isn't doing it all by himself either. There is a lot of talent on our roster.

 

What do you have against Plumlee? He's the best center for our team.

 

By the way, don't look now, but we're the hottest team in the NBA!

 

Harkless is Jerome Kersey. Great comparison. Ed Davis is Buck Williams.

Been so impressed with CJ. Could make an argument CJ has been better than Dame. He picks his spots to take shots better as evident by his higher percentages. He doesn't jack up low percentage three's early in the clock 8 feet behind the line. He plays slightly better defense. He is more consistent game to game with fewer terrible shooting nights. He paces himself better health wise for the year. Been so impressed with him. Glad to see his critics eating crow who said he can't play PG or start.

It's his first big minute year and he likely keeps improving. If you give Lillard the nod this year still think you have to put CJ this year above Dames first year as a starter. Going to have some great friendly competition as our best guard in the decade ahead. Their both so unselfish and care for the other guy too.

 

So is Cj the Glyde?

 

[Study] At what age an NBA player reaches his peak?

• 27 Years & 2 months is the average age of a NBA player in his most productive season.

Lillard should still be a great player throughout his contract. But compared to similar players he's close to his peak now and will start to decline after two years. The notion we are 3+ years away from him starting his prime is false; historically speaking.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cj is much much much more consistent than Dame. Dame is just the higher profile player so obviously DESERVELY gets the attention.

But all in all like you said Cj is much more consistent than Dame and really barley has "famine" type of shooting nights where dame will have one every 4 or 5 games.