Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 3: WARRIORS @ BLAZERS - 4/22/17, SATURDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), KGW & ESPN

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Darkwebs, Apr 20, 2017.

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Besides this one, which series is the most compelling?

Poll closed Apr 27, 2017.
  1. Spurs-Grizzlies

    4.3%
  2. Rockets-Thunder

    6.4%
  3. Clippers-Jazz

    27.7%
  4. Celtics-Bull

    29.8%
  5. Cavaliers-Pacers

    4.3%
  6. Raptors-Bucks

    27.7%
  7. Wizards-Hawks

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Yeah, I also witnessed him missing several shots. Strange
     
  2. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    I think the logic of 1 PPS being good is that a 50% field goal percentage is considered great and, at a basic level, 50% means 2 points per 2 shots, or 1 PPS.

    Of course, if you're shooting 50% from the field with no three-point shots or free throws, you're not actually being that efficient. 50% is nice if you're also generating free throws and firing up some threes.
     
  3. Blazer4ever

    Blazer4ever Finding a Way BANNED

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    They have no real Centers at least not on the same level they had last year when Bogut and Ezeli were healthy.
    If Durant plays they're forced to play Steph, Klay, Durant and Draymond (their best players) and that's not counting Iguodala. That's small ball which suits us and is a lineup with too many shooters that want the ball in their hands. They prefer playing without Durant, they're more happy without him, so hopefully he plays.
    Their biggest strength is in the backcourt, so is ours. They play most of their offense on outside shooting and guards going to the basket, us too. They have Draymond which we don't really have (maybe Aminu) but if Nurkic plays we have the strongest inside player on the court.
    They may be better than us on paper but they're not 30-point-win better than us. We lost game 1 on making mental errors in the 4th. I didn't watch game 2.
    What we lack against them is self-confidence and believing in ourselves and if we win we win with team-basketball and the role players making real contribution. Maybe no-one can check CJ but it would be nice if he gets his teammates involved.
    We can lose this 4-0 and go home or we can fight for every possesion, play with real passion and then, even if we lose, even if we get swept, we'd at least get to keep our heads up
     
  4. PDXFonz

    PDXFonz I’m listening

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    Ewing theory is real with Durant.
     
  5. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    I don't agree, I think their "lack of centers" is being overblown. Pachulia has always been a solid player, even if he's not a star. He gives them a lot of what Bogut gave them on offense--smart screens and passes--plus a little bit of shooting range, which Bogut didn't have. Obviously, he's not the rim protector that Bogut was, but he's a decent positional defender. That matters when we're discussing whether Nurkic would swing this series--Pachulia may not be erasing shots, but he can battle with Nurkic. Nurkic is better, but it's not like the Warriors have no one to defend him.

    I think McGee is better than Ezeli. Or, let me rephrase that--he's about as good as Ezeli, with a similar skillset, but he's healthy and thus actually available more. Both McGee and Ezeli are athletic rim protectors who can rebound and finish lobs on the offensive end. McGee can also defend Nurkic (again, Nurkic is better but that's very different from the idea that Golden State has "no real centers" and Nurkic would basically be uncontested).

    The Warriors finished #1 (by a wide margin) in blocked shots. So on top of having guys who can credibly defend true centers, they do all right on erasing shots (most of this is thanks to Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, though McGee blocks quite a few shots given his limited minutes).
     
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  6. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Ya, it was in the locker room post game on a 50+ point night and somebody asked him why he shot 35 times and that was his answer. Always remembered that. If his Airness believes this, I ain't arguing.
     
  7. Blazer4ever

    Blazer4ever Finding a Way BANNED

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    McGee is more Leonard than Ezeli and Pachulia having Bogut's offensive game minus the defense means he lacks Bogut's biggest strength.
    Anyway, they're not a perfect team. If we give them too much respect than yes, they'd win. But if we play hard start-to-finish, don't get in too much mental breakdowns (keep playing hard even when they score, even when they make a run) then yes, we can win
     
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  8. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    50+ points on 35 shots is very efficient. If he took 49 shots to get to 50 points, I'd argue with Jordan. ;)
     
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  9. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    Not according to the stats.

    McGee's per-36 stats: 11.9 rebounds, 3.3 blocked shots, 23 points (.642 TS%)
    Leonard's per-36 stats: 7.0 rebounds, 0.8 blocked shots, 11.8 points (.507 TS%)

    McGee's Offensive Rating: 120
    Leonard's Offensive Rating: 105

    McGee's Defensive Rating: 100
    Leonard's Defensive Rating: 112

    McGee's PER: 25.2
    Leonard's PER: 8.9

    McGee is about 100 times better than Leonard. In both games 1 and 2 of this series, McGee came in and had a big positive impact for the Warriors. Leonard can't dream of having a similar positive impact for the Blazers.

    He's not "minus the defense." He has positional defense (i.e. guarding his man), which is pretty important if we're talking about how the Warriors would deal with Nurkic. The Warriors have tons of shot blocking around Pachulia, as I also pointed out.

    The Warriors aren't the "perfect team," but they're also not supremely weak at center, as some here are suggesting. They have an average-ish starting center and a good backup center. They also have Green, who's a fantastic small ball center.
     
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  10. Blazer4ever

    Blazer4ever Finding a Way BANNED

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    Ok, maybe you're right. But that wasn't the point. The point was they're beatable if we believe in ourselves. If we explain to ourselves why even Javale McGee is a great Center then might as well call it a series.
    If we show up to play, not according to the per36 stats or the PER but make it on who has the biggest heart, who wants it more, then we have a chance. In per36 stats McGee already won
     
  11. BlazerCaravan

    BlazerCaravan Hug a Bigot... to Death

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    Ezeli is more Leonard than McGee.
     
  12. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    The power of the home crowd compells you, the power of the home crowd compells you
     
  13. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    Well, I don't think McGee is a great center (he plays limited minutes for a reason), I just don't think Golden State is as weak at center as people are suggesting. I think Portland has tons of work to do to get to Golden State's level--that's not a huge knock, most teams are in the same boat. I think with Nurkic, Portland could be a 4 seed. They need a further infusion of talent (more along the lines of good complementary players) to really have a decent chance to beat the Warriors in a series, IMO.
     
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  14. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    :biglaugh:

    This isn't space jam.
     
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  15. Blazer4ever

    Blazer4ever Finding a Way BANNED

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    Yes but at some point you need to go to war with what you have. What moves to make in the summer, what's our window and how we can get better, these are all important questions but not when you're in a win or go home mode.
    I don't think we're realistic contenders, we can find many reasons why we don't stand a chance against the Warriors. But at some point you just take the floor and do your hardest, outhustle, fight harder, play each possesion, stay focused and try to make something happen.
    If we do that and lose I would tip my hat to the Warriors, but heading to game 3 at home, down 2-0, you just have to play your heart out, give all you have, that's what I'm expecting. I would accept it if we lose but I wouldn't accept anything less than 100% from everyone on the team
     
  16. -Ace-

    -Ace- Mostly lurking

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    This is all we need.
    [​IMG]
     
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  17. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Don't know about the rest, but Pat missed a shot exactly like that near the end. (At least, I thought it was Pat?)
     
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  18. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Yeah, game 2 was a major bummer. I'm expecting some electricity at the MODA.
     
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  19. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    That's how I had it penciled out.

    :cheers:
     
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  20. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    Ezeli destroyed us last year in the playoffs in a very similar fashion that McGee crushed us last night. And this was with the Plumber and Big Ed playing as well.

    Our problem has always been size, but not just size, size that can actually play the game.
     
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