It's been said by more than one NBA observer that the Blazers are coasting this year, and just not playing as hard. I have to admit, however, that I can't tell who is guilty of that. Maybe that's my blind spot. So help me out, you more astute fans. Which Blazers are coasting this year? Let's name names.
Guys don't seem particularly connected on defense when I've watched them (about 30 of the games). Is that "coasting?" I don't know, maybe sorta kinda? I also think this team seems to play harder when they get off to a good start on offense. That's not universally true or anything, but when I think about what's different between this year, they look an awful lot like the struggling team we watched the first half of the 2015-2016 season. Maybe it's lack of confidence, maybe too many guys got paid and lost some fire, or maybe they just way over-performed in the second half of last year and this is more of their baseline?
Ed Davis....biggest disappointment for me....thought he brought benchmob leadership...seems to be more of a paycheck worker this season.... Allan Crabbe....he should at least be putting up double digits every game on offense and he's just not... Meyers Leonard....he's not lazy, he's just not clicking or making good decisions...5th year...long enough to make the leap...no leap there
@HCP has been coasting all season. Shows very few winning replays. Spends too much time in the OT section.
Ed Davis. Guy was energy and hustle off of the bench last season. This season he's just plain under-performing. Wonder if the 'Thing' that's going on behind the scenes with the team has something to do with Ed ? There has to be a reason why he hasn't seen the court hardly at all.
Why do you think there's something going on behind the scenes? So far, they seem remarkably tight-lipped for a team that has some mysterious chemistry problem.
Ed Davis for sure, i heard he bulked up a bit over the break, but he's definitely lost some of his energy and magic. i prefer lean n quick Ed Crabbe seems to be a bit vs. what we expected with resigning him - he should at least be putting pressure on Mo to be starting, him and Turner, both are unreliable. Not even gonna suggest Meyley as coasting would assume he should be doing better. He can't and won't. This is his best, its not coasting, its just common everyday garbage.
Neil Olshey. He paid out all those big contracts and got fat and happy. I don't see appropriate activity, energy or intensity. He should be mad. He should be chucking players this way and that, trying to perfect this roster.
We have 2, maybe 3 above average NBA players, that don't PLAY with chemistry on the court. On court and off court chemistry is two different things.
Their defense was horrible tonight, no doubt. And they all looked bad. So when that happens I tend to blame the defensive scheme vs players coasting. For whatever reason they did not look prepared. I hate to get rid of Terry, but unless their TEAM defense improves he will be the scapegoat. He is not adjusting on offense either. If Lamar is correct tonight about Terry getting mad at players like Aminu for not firing away from deep when they are open.......then Neil needs to either trade Aminu or fire Terry. Because evidently Terry needs 4 players on the court at all times who can shoot well from deep to be successful.
Lillard is our leader and superstar player. I think he is doing a ton, but he has to bear a lot of the burden and reason that we are under performing as a team. It comes with the position as team leader. He doesn't necessarily need to do more, but he does need to adjust his game in a way that will create winning basketball. And of course I don't know what that is besides better defense.
Neil, Paul, Terry and every assistant coach and player is on the list. The problem with trading players is...outside of Damian and CJ (and possibly Maurice), most of them aren't worth anything.
Dame - keeps saying the right things but it is in this monotone, worn down expression that feels like the fight in him is running low. CJ - tougher to read. Has a little attitude to him and occasionally fouls someone really hard from frustration while ignoring WIDE OPEN teammates. Crabbe - just not consistent enough and has regressed as a defender big time. ET - can do a little of a lot of things but not really good in any one area....which describes just about all but 2 players on this roster. Harkless - an activity guy that also can do a little of everything but then will get totally lost at times and make head scratcher decisions. Aminu - the most versatile defender but there is a reason teams leave him wide open night after night. Plumlee - very nice passer but no low post skills, not shot and while active, not a good defender....as the last line of defense. Davis - was so much better last year. Leonard - ugh. Where do start? Vonleh - tenacious rebounder at times but no confidence on the offensive end and never gets looks so won't develop that any time soon. What is horribley missing from this is defined roles for players. The big man rotation is a nightly mystery and you never know what you are going to get from the wing group of Crabbe/ET/Harkless/Aminu. Outside of Dame and CJ who score, is tough to pinpoint what anyone else really does?
