Game Thread GAME# 9: LAKERS @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 2, 2017 - THURSDAY, 7:30 (PDT), TNT

I confess I turned off the game in the 4th after watching the inept offense dribble into double teams three times in a row and look like a rec league offense. I don't know what happened to our ball handling and movement, which I thought were strengths, but we looked slow and unprepared. Blazers didn't deserve the win IMHO and got outplayed by the L@kers and luck won the day. It kills me to say that, but it was worse to watch it.

I tend to overreact, but I would be very tempted to split up the backcourt, give Layman a shot at SF, try Biggie as a starter, and anything else I had to do to light a fire under that team. UGLY. Over the last several games this team looks like 10-12 in the West.

 

I've given up on Harkless. It's year 6 for him and he still isn't even a threat. Aminu for all his faults at least tries and looks like he gives a shit. Same with Turner.

Getting Collins/Caleb to become something on offense would go a long way. And if we aren't going to address this in the short term with a trade, we need to play these guys and expedite their development.

 

Harkless was surrounded with 3 offensive players, I think most of all he looks confused. The even more interesting player is the one out of the picture to start the play, at first I thought he was guarding a player one-on-one but then you see all Lakers players are in the frame

 

I don't know? I watched him keep tabs on his man. Locked Brewer down and Hart was pretty much kept in check. Problems were coming from Ingram and Kuzma. Forward positions.

 

Number 1 Ingram should been call for illegal back screen on Dame on that play.

 

I hear ya about keeping expectations in check, it can get out of control. However, is it "unrealistic" to expect the team to hold a team such as the Lakers to less than 55% shooting? Or keep Ricky Rubio from dropping 30? I think that's where a lot of the frustration is coming from. Seemingly reasonable expectations are falling short, so it's not all unrealistic IMHO.

 

Harkless is who he is and we should trade him while he still has some value and age on his side. His effort pisses me off. I've payed more and more attention to him recently and it's really pathetic. I wouldn't even care about his offensive struggles if he just played hard like he did that first game against Phoenix.

Maybe while he's still here we should get him engaged more. It could just be a mental thing where he needs to feel involved. Feed him in the post a couple of times early and see what happens. I don't know, but he needs to step up.

 

You know what, I was half asleep when I posted that, you are correct. I did ask and he said Lillard time.......I like DameTime better.....trying to change his mind.

 

I got give Dame credit for his defense against Ball last night he basically shut his ass down good job Dame.

 

That it isn't in the L column. April 17th this will count just as much as the opening night Suns win.

 

Wow, I didn't think real true fans would ever NOT watch a game or turn it off. Surprising.

 

But stuff like this happens every now and then during a long season. If this team was as jam packed with talent as most think (or did a month ago) we would be able to withstand 30 from Rubio for example. Plain and simple this team is playing about where they should in my opinion. I actually feel like The HCP was the only one on here who enjoyed Dame's clutch game winning shot. It ridiculous. There were some on here last night who actually complained about the shot selection of a GAME WINNING SHOT!

 

Because the dame haters will continue to bitch about his shot selection even though that’s just his shot. I actually would of rather him take the same shot the other night against Utah as opposed to challenging gobert. I don’t think dame is perfect obviously but he seems to be the one keeping the team alive every season when people criticize him the most

 

Dame is the reason we overachieve every season.

 

I believe fans are taking Dame for granted. We would never be in 3/4 of our games without him. I'll live and die by Dame. Kid has more heart than any player I've been around. he cans shoot whatever shot whenever I feel.

 

I am very curious to see if the most critical members on here that blast our players and coaches the most, are the ones that predict the highest wins before the season starts? I don't have time to look, but pick out the 10-15 guys on here that bitch and complain no matter what and see where they thought we'd finish. Or the people midway thru the game thread talking about trading so in so after a bad game. Those seem like the people who will just never be happy if we don't win 60 games.

People crack on me saying how can you be so negative when you work for the team. How can you post this crap. You will never see me blast our players and coaches and it's NOT because of who signs my checks, it's because I feel I look at our rosters over the years realistically. I know people hate that term, but thats how I feel. I have never in my life EVER felt there was such thing as a bad win, as a player or fan, that fucking crazy talk. A W is a W.