To win the Playoffs and the NBA Championship, the Blazers need to optimize use of talent from the starters and bench. We need to aim for getting open shots from the highest % shooters in each game, and must be prepared to make substitutions frequently to keep the FG%, screens, kick out passes, drives, cuts, dunks, and in the paint scoring as it was in those many recent quarters when we achieved 12+ point leads. Surely, we must avoid low scoring quarters (less than 26 points) by using team work, screens, assists, active talking, and precise passing. And we must consistently maintain defensive intensity enhanced by enough substitutions to keep fresh legs on the court at all times. To allow maximizing the scoring power of the Dame and CJ back court, we must count on front court talent to score, space the floor, open the paint for drives, defend the rim and paint, and distribute scoring. We have seen success and disappointment in the last 10 games that shows what I think we should do and not do. When the Blazers score 15+ swish3s, we win. When we have 130+ points, 26+ assists, 36+ Center points, rebounds lead of 10+, and consistent determined defense, and we will more probably win! Running the offense through Nurk, and in the Jan 30 UTA game through Meyers, leads to excellent offense, defense, and wins. We need to plan for play through optimized vision and passes from the Center from the start to the finish of these games. Observing the role that Enes is playing, especially in the OKC and MEM losses, with decreased performance of Chief, Mo, Jake, and Rod, and the defensive debacle, I believe that Blazer coaches must be ready to instantly bench him, even after only 4 min (his usual last 4 of the 1st Q time) if he is missing short range shots, weakly rebounding, losing the ball, or fluffing on defense. For example, in the OKC game, 12+ of his min should have gone to Meyers to make 3+ swish3s that would have won the game. And with Meyers, Jake, and Zach in the game to relieve Nurk, Mo, and Chief, we have the talent and team chemistry to score points (perhaps 30+) that we are now leaving silent on the bench! For the success that is possible this year, Blazer coaches need to get out of the paralyzed passive substitution behavior exemplified in the OKC game to place our best scoring and defensive talent on the court. Blazer coaches apparently will substitute Enes for Nurk at about the 4 min to go mark each 1st Q. If Enes is playing well, hustling, scoring, rebounding, and defending, OK. But if not, switch to Meyers for those min the 2nd and 4th Q. Enes plays the low post, in contrast to the Nurk and Meyers high post. And Meyers offers the Blazers most efficient swish3 scoring. Meyers is enhancing the effectiveness of the front court, but Enes is not. The decisions that Blazer coaches make for the 2nd and 4th Q to optimize offensive and defensive talent offer the potential for winning the Playoffs and the NBA Championship.
Got tired of your other thread because people stopped responding. Therefore you felt you needed to make a new one and talk about the same stuff? Ha okay, you do you.
The point is that Blazer coaches need to optimize the offense, defense, teamwork, intensity of play, and make substitutions as necessary. These points were demonstrated in the OKC loss and deficiencies were again evident in the PHO win in the 4th Q. Meyers attempted only 2 swish3s in his 9 min, and Enes played better offense in this game scoring 12 points in 17 min, but notably poor defense. There were no passes to Meyers in the corners and no apparent plays looking to pass him a catch and shoot, again ignoring the opportunity for scoring with the Blazer who has the highest 46.5 swish3 %, leading 65.2% eFG, 128 ORtg, and 1.47 points per FGA. Meyers will lead scoring improvements to win when used in combination with Jake, Seth, Rod, and Zach as the 3rd Center option. In the Mar 9 PHO game thread, the disrespectful and furthermore hateful comments of certain anti-Blazer members of RipCity2 are a force against the Blazers winning the Playoffs and Championship. Blazer fans need to recognize the BasketballReference statistical facts, seek constructive criticisms, and eliminate the cheap shot comments if winning is their objective. Some of the openly hate containing, mean-spirited thoughts in this PHO and other Game Threads damage our chances and have no place in this forum. Let's keep our focus on winning.
Mrs Leonard might be a member of this board. You just called her a lush. Prepare to be blocked on twitter.
Meyers was the reason we almost lost the game. My only question I have for You, swish3, is where will you be when we finally get rid of Meyers?
Let me summarize. To win in the playoffs and championship, we need to trade CJ and replace him with a SF, so we have multi level attacks. Also need better perimeter defense. Oh, and your best player shouldn't be your pg
Yeah GS's problem has certainly been there best player is the PG. I agree for the most part you either need your best player to be a wing or one of your best players.
swish3 never insults anyone....and rarely starts threads...there's absolutely room for a swish3 thread around here...just because it's optimistic it's not like there aren't two hundred doomsday threads around here to find company in...Go Blazers....I'm with swish 3....I want Meyers to help us win when he plays. After all these years, swish3 and BigGameDamian have the thickest skin for insults around....respect….they are very tolerant posters..being a Blazer fan shouldn't be treated like a character flaw around here.. @swish3 even though Meyers has improved he blew his first possession last night on a fast break fumbling it on the run...he's done this several times in limited minutes and is why I think he's lost some court time....that and Kanter has to build some chemistry with the second unit going into the playoffs..we're deep and I like the entire roster
well, many would consider me a pessimistic poster so it there's room for me there's room for swich3 too, and you're right, I haven't seen any antagonistic replies from him after all the flak he gets...although most of that seems good-natured in that vein, reading the OP made me wonder if my browser had been re-directed to The Onion