Game Thread GAME# 17: BLAZERS @ CAVALIERS - NOVEMBER 23, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 4:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

How ya feel about the lottery for this season ?

 

"Effin' A Cotton!"

Rice might have been a drunk uncle but at least he was "our" drunk uncle. Calabro and Hurd have about as much personality as Gil Gerard and Twiki in Buck Rogers.

 

Our 3rd string is better than theirs

 

Defense isn't that complicated, need to switch on the screens, close the passing lanes etc. Davis isn't a good matchup against a stretch 4, this is obvious. Harkless, Aminu, even Meyers, would have been a better match-up

 

Gotta start this home stand with revenge on the Pelicans and Rockets! Gotta find some defensive energy. I also think we need to play more agressive, not leave open 3s, and have our wings stunt more on the dribble drive. We should start having 4 guys crash with 1 of Lillard/CJ leaking out. Whichever guard crashes should be the outlet.

Also, let's try hedging pick n rolls! Nothings working right now so let's try soldering different! That'd go into the phasing more aggressive. I feel like playing conservative defense gets us in a bad mindset leaving us with less defensive energy and focus. We need to be locked in and aggressive!

 

But we should switch Davis onto guards? No more switching screens, we get burnt to much from that.

We need to hedge on ball screens which we result in less switches and less open shots, and we need to make note of an effort and take better angles to get through off-ball screens.

 

Blazers need to quit being bitter and get on the trump train. build de fence damnit.

 

I think switching on screens is the best way to defend. Even switch on everything. If the switches are done well it's the best defense. If Davis switches on a guard then our guard needs to switch back or mismatch on Davis' player (the player who set the screen) and do his best to defend against him. It's situational, if you can switch back effectively you switch back, it's important to have good communication and dedication.
Also on this topic, the challenge of defending against screens shows how effective screens are on offense. If I was ever a basketball coach I would have everyone on the team (including even point guards) screening on offense

 

Switch the screen, then switch back immediately? I'm sorry bout that makes 0 sense. Why switch in the first place then if the goal is to switch back right after we switch?

You're suggesting a matchup zone with extra switches to try and cover mismatches. I'm sorry but that's an awful idea. In the time you try to switch back it leaves openings and just teams will take advantage of the mismatch right away, not allowing you to recover.

When we can't switch back, we get burnt every single time. Nowitzki on Lillard, Curry on Davis, Wade on Vonleh, etc.

 

We need Donald Trump as head coach. Don't let them in!!

 

Yes but if you don't switch you need to get through the screen quickly enough to not allow open look or for the screener to roll. If you switch you may be mismatched but you don't leave the players wide open

 

Because we suck what do u want them to do??

 

Lol

 

Its gonna be a very hard game agaisnt the pelicans

 

Found another. People here bitch and moan about never getting mentioned on ESPN. Well folks, we are getting mentioned A LOT this morning.

 

Gee, who would have thought that MM would come rushing in with not one, but two snark posts in response to someone having the audacity to point out anything positive in an otherwise spleen-venting game thread? Oh , yeah. Anyone who's read the board for more than a week.

You're right about the ESPN attention. The lead article is about Oden, a historic draft bust and proof positive that your perennial insistence that the Blazers should tank for a lottery pick is hardly a sure fire recipe for success.

The second ESPN article is about Love's monster first quarter against the Blazers. Two games on this trip the Blazers were killed by agile power forwards who can shoot from deep, Love and Anthony Davis. Do you think, just maybe, that trying to cover those guys with a combination of Ed Davis and Meyers Leonard instead of the injured Aminu was a factor? Nah. The Blazers are permanently broken. Tear it all down.

What a load.

 

If you think no Aminu is the reason we rank last in defense then more power to you

 

The Blazers lost this one because of Love's crazy-hot start. That doesn't happen with Aminu on him instead of Ed.


[/QUOTE] Maybe I am wrong, or maybe the Blazers were also confused, but I thought that Love was Plumlee's responsibility.

 

Because that's exactly what I said, right? I think missing arguably the Blazers' best defender is a factor, but hardly the sole problem. The Blazers are never going to be a great defensive team as they are constructed. The Blazers' backcourt is an issue. They don't have a rim protector. That said, with their offense they don't have to be elite defensively. There's no reason they can't get back to, and improve upon, last year's level of defensive play. Maybe Ezeli will be able to play some this season and will help the interior defense. If not, Olshey has assets he can use in a trade. It's a long season and things can change for the better.