Game 2 of the WCF was a major blow as GSW won 114-111 after we had a 65-50 halftime lead. The 2nd half was a different game, as the refs called a lot of fouls in favor of GSW and failed to call many fouls of the Blazers that in fact handed GSW the win. There were at least 3 major fouls of Dame, 2 of them on swish3 attempts, that would have very probably resulted in a Blazer win! But the 2nd half was a game in which GSW was allowed to be so much more aggressive that scoring was shut down and GSW ended up with 9 more FTA than we did, deciding the game. Dame was definitely fouled on a swish3 by Steph, and the refs ignored his request for a response, followed quickly by Steph faking a swish3 attempt foul called against Dame (a 6 point swing). There was also a crashing foul of Meyers that stopped a lob dunk by Draymond. The final play included Dre Iguodola grabbing, holding, and pulling Dame that should have been called a swish3 attempt foul that could have sent the game into overtime. But the refs failed to call any foul on GSW in about the lost 8 min of the game, proving the point that the refs handed it to GSW. Dame, CJ, Mo, Seth, Rodney, Chief, and Meyers all had a good game, and we scored 18 of 39 swish3s. But we were outrebounded 50-37 and outscored 54-32 on points in the paint. The active defensive game plan and better substitution plan was a big improvement over Game 1, but should be carried further in Game 3 with more swish3 attempts (at least 8 each) by Seth and Meyers, more min for Meyers and Rodney, and more aggressive play as the refs should allow us equal pushes and touches on our home court. With consistent foul calls, we will win future games. Let's keep our intensity higher than GSW and we can win the WCF and the NBA Championship!
Game 3 of the WCF was a win in the 1st half with Meyers starting at Center and running the offense through him in the high post, and we led at halftime 66-53. But then in the 2nd half, Blazer coaches allowed GSW to take away the scoring, passing, screens, and off-ball movement that facilitated swish3s, dunk2s, midrange2s, and rebounds. Changing the game plan for the 2nd half took away defensive intensity, floor spacing, and the chance to win this game. The Blazers should have won this game! Meyers scored 13 points in the first half, was hot with 3 of 6 swish3 shooting that should have led to another 3 swish3s scored in the 2nd half, gave Dame, CJ, Mo, Seth, and Zach good passes, and should have finished with 26+ points rather than the 16 that he finished with. Let's start him again in Game 4 but continue to run the offense through him on the high post to open several hot shooters for enhanced scoring. The major factor that beat us in this game is the severely flawed referee calls that allowed Dray Green to take over the game with strongly physical fouls. Steve Kerr called him the "wrecking ball," which he was, more than 18 times that I noted grabbing, pushing, pulling, hacking, and kicking several Blazers. Dray should have fouled out in the 3rd Q, which would have changed the outcome. On our home floor, Dame, CJ, Mo, Chief, Meyers, Seth, Zach, and Evan were fouled by Dray. And every screen that I saw Dray execute was a moving screen that should have been called a foul. This failure to have a game called consistently and by the NBA rules at the Moda Center is one that the Blazer coaches need to correct. It does not make sense to be passive about having a professionally competent job done by the refs on the Moda Center court. Often during this WCF series, Dray, Klay, Bell, Jerebko, Looney, and others have hard fouled us without being called. Looney landing on Dame causing separated ribs is an example where there was not even a foul called. The NBA needs to attempt to protect players in the Playoffs in general, and should be criticized for allowing anyone to act like a wrecking ball instead of a basketball player. If Blazer coaches will be assertive, rather than passive, about getting us quality consistent jobs from refs for the upcoming games, we still have a chance to win the WCF and NBA Championship!
Game 4 of the WCF was again a win in the 1st half with Meyers as starting Center, scoring 25 points with 5 of 6 swish3s and 10 of 12 FGA, setting screens, passing, and good defense. However, the Blazer coaches did not recognize the hot hand shooting by having Meyers shoot another 6 swish3s in the 2nd half, and continue to run through the high post. Even though Meyers did get some open shots for Dame, CJ, and Seth in the 2nd half, they were not falling. The swish3 dominance that allowed the 69-65 lead at the half could have been continued if the game plan had continued to feature Meyers in the high post to score another 25 points. Instead, Meyers, who ended leading Blazer scoring with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block only attempted 2 swish3s and only 4 FGA in the 2nd half. Rodney took 6 swish3 attempts, making only 1, Dame attempted 12, and CJ attempted 9. My suggestion since the Jazz win Jan 30 has been to have him shooting 6 swish3s per half. Those 2 swish3s in a row with about 3 min to go are the indicator of a scoring force that should be continued! This WCF Game 4 shows again the 80%+ swish3 shooting that we should be calling on every game. The commentators were forced to give Meyers major game dominater credits in the 1st half, and noted how Blazer coaches should rely on him in the 2nd half. I was disappointed that we again failed to call on him, leaving him open on the arc 3 times that were prominent, and maybe more. Meyers even made a swish3 in the last min of the 1st half. Meyers was hustling, moving, talking, and directing the offense from the high post, and really deserved the fan chants! Perhaps Blazer coaches can learn to recognize the hot hand, feed him, keep the off-ball movement featuring him in the high post, and win games like this next season, and win the Playoffs and NBA Championship that now seems much closer!
For better or worse, Meyer's career game tonight certainly supports your thesis. I hope he has a good off season, and effective start to the year since he and Collins will have huge roles while Nurk heals.
