Game Thread PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1, GAME 2: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - 4/20/16, WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT & KGW

I have read what we should be doing but what I worry about is Stotts doesn't like make adjustment and the playoffs is all about adjustment to what the other team is doing. The next thing is can we be as physical as them and playoffs can get physical. Yes I know the refs won't let us be physical but do it anyway make the refs make adjustment I know they won't plus it might get the clippers thinking of something beside the game.

 

I do get that. But i worry about getting any calls in LA?

 

Harkless

 

If Stotts is going to hack a Jordan, he needs to pull our bad free throw shooters from the game during the stoppage in play. Of course, then we won't have anyone to rebound the miss. We miss Meyers.

Would Glenn hack a Plumlee?

 

I agree. Starting Kaman might not be a bad idea. Have him try to get in Blake's head a little, push him around a bit.

 

Can his mom hit a free throw? I know she works for free.

To the question though: Is Plumlee's free throw shooting improved enough? Jordan shoots in the mid-40s and Plumlee shoots in the mid-50s, so if we are trading free throws that's a slight advantage to Portland, but is it significant in that situation?

 

I just want us to make open shots tonight. That is a must.

 

We need Harkless to be more effective. He's our best option at PF, especially if Aminu is clanking open 3s. Griffin would be a tough assignment for him defensively but we can't just match-up with them, we need to play our game and make them adjust. Harkless at the 4 has been our most effective lineup and whenever we play just one of Dame or CJ, and don't play all three swingmen (Hendo, Crabbe, Harkless), we are too slow and predictable. Harkless is key

 

Harkless doesn't play 4. When Aminu and Harkless are out there Aminu is always the 4 unless they switch.

 

Fun fact.

Aminu from the three point line has shot 36.1% this season on 4.3 attempts a game.
Harkless fron the three point line has shot 27.9% this season on 1.8 attempts. Not much better as a starter either.

 

Harkless has one year shooting 38% on 2.8 attempts per 36 minutes.

The other three:

27% on 3.1 attempts per 36 minutes
18% on 3 attempts per 36 minutes
28% on 3.5 attempts per 36 minutes

More likely that second year was an anomoly. He is not a good, or improved shooter.

 

It's not much of a weapon. Not sure I've ever seen it really work. In fact it seems to make things worse more often than not. It takes the fouling team completely out of their rhythm.

 

Blazers got back into (and eventually won) game 1 against the Rockets two seasons ago because they went to hack a Howard.

Also:

http://espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=400579200

Blazers started hacking Jordan down 8 with 4 minutes left in this game, ended up coming back down 10 with 3 minutes left to send the game into overtime and eventually win. This is the infamous game where Jordan got an offensive rebound and let the clock run out instead of putting it back into the basket.

 

This is fantastic

 

Except I'm pretty sure he made that shot.

 

I never make predictions but I have a good feeling about tonight. Blazers by 7. Made every light on way to work, reserved The Revenant on bluray dvdxpress. Went and picked it up and a lady would have hit me with her car if I didn't see her and as she drove by her license plate read 720 NBA.

Went home to drop off the disc and see if my speakers arrived and the UPS guy was leaving the neighborhood as I drove in. Good day, go Blazers.

 

Yes he did, but I was talking about the closeup of them going at each other, showcasing the intensity of the moment.