Game Thread GAME# 81: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - APRIL 9, 2019 - TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, NBCSNW

We have so much to thank Magic Johnson for.

Thank you for destroying the Lakers, Magic.

 

Just to add to this, we also don't rotate from the weak side to stop the lob either as we seem too worried about leaving a 3 point shooter. During GS's first title run it's something that really stood out to me was Bogut and Draymond were elite at simply being in the right spots almost every time. Bogut would rotate out on the pick and roll and there was Draymond in perfect position to guard against the lob. The rest of the defense was aware enough to recover quickly if the ball got swung to the opposite side too.

 

Seth made it happen. He shows up to play every night. I would like to see him with a multi-year deal. There I said it.

 

Two things to this...

1) My problem isn't that we don't have an aggressive hedge or that we use drop coverage, it's that we rarely mix it up or tweak it accordingly during the game. It's one thing if you're a great defense to use a particular style most of the time but in my opinion an average defensive team like the Blazers should be throwing multiple looks on their PnR coverage. I think it's tough to compensate for bad defenders when the other team knows what you will do every time.

2) The two teams you mentioned had/have two of the most amazingly unique athletes this game has seen. Garnett was a beast and was a perfect fit for an aggressive hedge defense. He also was a master at communicating the coverages like a QB out there. Giannis is just a freak. I've seen multiple times this year where he is out of position and his closing speed is just so unreal that he can get away with it. Their last game against Philly on one play he was somehow able to guard against both a lob inside and a kick out to a wide open 3 point shooter. It shouldn't even be possible, lol. Plus Middleton and Bledsoe (and Brogdon before getting injured) are all above average at navigating through picks.

 

Just to add to my last post.

The Bucks also aggressively help and give up a ton of 3's, but are also smart about who they give up those 3's to and its worked incredibly well. Terry could definitely learn something from that.

Interested to see how that philosophy holds up in the playoffs though.

 

Since we won can I complain about the officiating crew? Got I hate that group. That offensive foul on CJ felt dirty.

Regardless, how about having 4 Blazers going scoreless. Combined they were 0-14
Aminu, Hood, Jake, and Collins.

Thank god for Curry and Hark

 

Fair points.

I'm definitely more in the do what you do really well and less so in the switch it up camp...especially in the regular season. But I also understand that against the best players in the world in the playoffs, that's often not good enough unlesss you have elite personnel which we clearly don't have. But I'm not at the point with both this group or with Stotts that I'm ready to give up on the idea that they can't learn from their past failures and evolve (as crazy as that might sound after this many years).

We've seen it offensively. I think Terry has accomplished his goals of getting better results in semi transition and we've ran a wider variety of sets (with more purpose) that have done both a better job getting all players involved and producing higher value shots (look at our passing numbers post December...we're also 2nd in % of plays resulting in cuts).

There's also been less of a reliance on our thumb series which I felt the players got bored with last year, and overall just feel like the team has really made a jump in their overall continuity offensively.

 

52 Wins!!!!!!!

Who had us this year with more wins than teams like Boston, Philly, Utah, and OKC?

 

Thought we had top 10 on both ends potential, putting us in the mix with those teams. Both Philly and Boston we're overrated coming into the year.

Got there in a different way than expected, but it's been a really fun year with a group that's been really easy to root for. Only disappointment for me was Zach not getting as much of an opportunity to both play as the lone big or with our better players, but he'll get his chance eventually. Another big summer for him coming up.

Great year from Dame, Nurk's jump and Terry playing his best guys together more often were the biggest factors.

 

Can’t wait to read this thread! Plane taking off. I’m quite sure people were killing my boys during this one!

 

yeah...your guy Magic was getting roasted

 

Do whatever you have to do to avoid OKC.

 

Tell the team to tank if OKC wins at Milwaukee please please please

 

Yeah, I'm sure if HCP tell them that they will listem

 

Yes. HCP is the Goat!

 

Doesn't matter what Magic did or said. I don't care that LeBron wasn't playing. It's always good to beat the Lakers and do it on the road ripping their hearts out on a last second shot.

 

With Lavar's help Lonzo will be back next season to down every other free throw. The Lakers should just go full Kardashian and sign the the while Ball family and make a reality show of it. That would give them the top 3 goats and a championship for sure. Fuck each and every one of them. No Vaseline (for cube)

 

Its great that different guys are coming through each game. Props to CJ for that perfect pass to Mo!