Game Thread GAME# 80: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 6, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), KGW

No shit there's 2 sides to every coin. You just only harp on one side.

Coin flips tails: "Oh my god guys, it's fricken tails!!! Ive warned you guys, this coin comes up tails like a mothafucka! After that stretch of heads the coin had to go famine and go tails lately! It's a shiny coin though I'll give it that"

Coin flips heads: *silence*

 

Everything remotely positive or even nuetral that you say is conditional.

"She's a dumbass, an asshole, and a bitch. But hey she's beautiful" type of thinking

 

What's soft...?

 

What's more likely, getting a big name free agent because of making playoffs or hitting a "home run" in the draft? I'll take the free agent.

 

Not bad for a team with the lowest payroll in the league.

 

Me.... right now.... he killed my erection.

 

Great win. 4th in 5 nights is the hardest schedule in the NBA. Playing against the reserves we were almost makes it harder than playing starters; those guys were playing hard. OKC has good depth too; this isn't like playing the Pelicans backups or the 6ers. Kanter is as effective as Cousins on offense; not just against us he puts up huge numbers against the whole league. Problem is he's the worst defender in the game. We were to tired to take advantage.

Aminu has been a beast on offense at PF. He's a difficult matchup. Harkless is so physically dominant as a SF. They can switch on defense. Their so long it almost feels like we have a couple of Rudy Goberts out there on defense at the forward spots. Really stoked to see how our starting lineup plays in the playoffs. Still need a couple things to break right to clinch a date with the Clippers but that certainly seems to be our likely opponent. They are vulnerable. At the same time they have all the pressure to win.

Been impressed how Dame has taken a back seat a few of these games when his shot isn't falling. He needs to keep doing that; trust his teammates, find the open man, take what the defense gives him.

 

For those supporters of tanking, I've posted this before, but here's my take -

1. I enjoy watching the team win. I have a hard time rooting for them to lose for any reason.
2. Chip and a chair. If you don't make it to the table, you have no chance of winning. I enjoy the playoffs. Yes, that may mean getting our buts kicked, but I still enjoy rooting for my team.
3. I think building a winning culture outweighs tanking.
4. I think the positive news from this team making the playoffs this year will help attract better quality free agents.
5. We lose our pick soon either way. I say get it over with and move on. Yes, I'd rather have the pick earlier than later, but that's a minor factor to me since the development of a draft pick in the late lottery typically takes 3-4 year.

Many teams struggle for years doing everything they can just to make it to the playoffs (see Sacramento). We lose 4 out of our 5 starters, and we never dropped out of the playoffs. I'm excited to be a fan of this team.

 

Don't ask dude.....he might SHOW you!

 

I can agree with #1,2, and 5.

 

Funny thing is we did try to tank. Neil Olshey opted for more home back to backs when the NBA gives the option to have an easier schedule. We started Noah Vonleh for two thirds of the season. This roster and these coaches are too damn good for the tanking to take hold.

 

The best thing about a tank job is that, if you do it right, it's win/win: if you lose a bunch because you're putting bad talent out there, you get a pick. If you put talent out there and they thrive, you win games and get to keep the apparently good talent you assembled.

 

So what do you tell the guys? Hey, you've had a great season, but we really value an 18 year old late-lottery rookie over the hard work you've put in for the past 6 months, so we need you guys to throw it away because we need this kid and you guys are hopeless in the playoffs anyways?

You're so out of touch its insane. Your ignorance is really starting to piss me off.

 

You also claim to be the one to see the game fair as a "non homer" except you have immense bias in the form of "what have you done for me lately".

 

There are always lots of reasons to play well and make the playoffs. That isn't really my point. This team has played and earned the right to be there. Therefore i certainly hope they continue to have a winning attitude and play the best they can. I just don't see the way the team is built being very successful at this point.
For the most part the point for me is the fact that they made them in the first place.
Yes i will get to at least one of the playoff games and support them.

 

This is most certainly true. They have earned the right to be there and honestly not many felt they would do that. Certainly not me. I am seeing most possibly the Clippers as the first round opponent. That match up does not look real good but i do believe they can get a game if the shots fall and for some reason the Clips do what the Clippers do and melt down on occasion.

 

Well the way i see it they will be hard pressed to get a game. The match i see coming is the Clippers. They will have Jordan and Griffin with CP3 and of course the Blazers killers Crawford and Barnes, Paul Pierce and JJ Reddick. Too much fire power and way more experience. It's a terrible match up. I'm not claiming i am right about anything. What i am claiming is the Blazers simply did not instill any confidence in me that they can compete in the playoffs.
The one thing that they can do is score in bunches when the shots fall. So just like any prize fight they have a punchers chance to get a game. That is why they play them afterall right?

 

Matt Barnes plays for the Grizzlies.

 

CJ's 3pt shot is just automatic. He's in some sorta rhythm right now.

If he's open and has his feet set, it's over.