it was 17th after the Clippers game (Ive been watching). Since then, Portland has played 3 teams with a combined record of 13-17, and two of those games were at home yes, at this point, sample size does have an impact...no debate but the stuff about B2B and injuries is a real stretch because the Blazers aren't the only team playing B2B's, and they aren't the only team dealing with injuries. Last night, the Kings were without Fox and Bagley and Dedmon only played 7 minutes because of his ankle. Tonight, the Raptors will be missing Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, OG Anunoby, and Patrick McCaw...that's 52 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists they will be missing
The only thing I would say regarding the back to backs is that after tonight the Blazers will have played 5 home games vs 7 road games, and of the home games 2 of them will have been B2Bs on the back end of a road trip. Glad to hear that the Raptors are dinged up. The Blazers will need all the help they can get.
I've noticed so far that there's a lot of bench talent that I've never seen play at this level before....it's a great season as a fan because the landscape is nothing like we've seen in the NBA before in my view...teams are deep....draft picks are figuring it out. Guys are coming out of the G league hungry. For this early in a season a lot of games have gone down to the wire...not many blowouts...I've enjoyed basketball all season even though the Blazers are having their own issues early...a lot of guys getting first opportunities are having their Wade Baldwin or Nick Stauskas moments...whether it continues we'll see when scouting reports focus on them...some of those guys will be traded at the deadline as well.
Here is a pretty clear look at this season. As you can see. Portland overall for 82 games will come out fairly even with most every team. The problem is to this point (10 games) essentially 1/8 of the way through the season they have had a third of their B2B's and nearly half of their 3 in 4's with with 4 of 10 at home. Tonight will be the second of 5 home games on the Road to Home (Not Soft) B2B's . https://www.nbastuffer.com/2019-2020-nba-schedule-rest-days-analysis/
but...those SOS rankings I listed included only 1 B2B for Portland, and it was a Dallas/San Antonio B2B. after tonight, Portland's SOS will climb higher, but still, a 5-7 home/road imbalance is not egregious (although it will be the biggest in the WC), and only 5 of the teams Portland has faced have winning records. for sure, 21 games into the season Portland's SOS will likely be top-7 or so. That's 10 more games, with 7 on the road. But, if they are 8-13 or 7-14 at that time, that's a pretty deep hole to dig out of
I’m not arguing about SOS, which, like most stat-head stuff, is mostly BS because it doesn’t consider factors like injuries and resting players. I’m just saying that the Blazers have had a road-heavy schedule and aren’t getting full benefit of what home games they have had because of the B2B issue. That said, the losses are way more on the players than they are on the schedule.
I don't really get what it is you're trying to argue? You've seen the Blazers play...given that do you really believe a little easier schedule would have resulted in any more wins? I sure don't the season is only 11 games old...they have barely begun the grind of the season yet. These guys should still be fresh (except Dame & CJ), and to this point, 8 teams have played 11 games and 20 others have played 10. The Blazers get 3 days off before the road trip starts. Tonight's game is big; at this point there is a difference between being 5-7 and 4-8
The schedule has been rough, but also the real issue is Zach's injury. We all knew going into the season that the year was really going to be dependant on Zach and Anfernee, well that didn't last long and it turns out they don't really have a PF now who can provide really anything on both ends, and some of the options are providing nothing on both ends. Now the hope is they "gel" and Pau can play sometime soon. He's not a PF either but at least he's a very smart player who may help with on-court Chemistry.
sure....there was an obvious roster hole at PF. And at C. Portland could not afford an injury to either Whiteside or Zach and it happened. And now we see the massive miscalculation on basically having the backup bigs be Tolliver, Hezonja, and Gasol. When Portland signed Gasol it was only 2 months after he had surgery on a broken foot. Shades of Ezeli. And frankly, nothing about the careers of Hezonja and Tolliver suggested they'd be adequate, but my god, they are combining to average 40 minutes a game Olshey has a pronounced tendency to go after players he's targeted before, even after subsequent seasons and circumstances establish their value differently. He reportedly had Thomas Robinson rated just after Dame, and then went out and spent cap-space and essentially 4 second round picks to get him. He tried to sign Gasol in 2016. And Whiteside before him. And he tried to trade for Hezonja before. Maybe he should re-evaluate his value gauges
The coaching scheme doesn't seem to emphasize getting players in spots where they can play to their strengths...except for Dame/CJ. There are some guys that are much better in transition (Mario, Little, Ant, Skal, Baze)....but the Blazers won't run. Hassan is one of the biggest lob threats in the game....but the Blazers have thrown 2-3 to him so far? Skal is very athletic and has a decent mid-range shot....you don't see anything run for him to give him that opportunity. If Whiteside can't cover anyone in a 5-out offense, why not at least try a zone? There are so many different things that are fairly easy to spot from game to game that seem like missed opportunities that aren't rocket science.
I think it does but two things, one we don't make the bucket...Ant went 1-9 on wide open buckets against the Kings...we bricked layups and bunnies at the rim..and second point...the new guys are out of position within the offense way too many times...it's why passing has been hesitant in the pick and roll and paint...guys are thinking about where to be instead of second nature reading a reacting. Flow offense doesn't work without ….flow....Mo played way better with Chief on the floor with him...Chief was vocal with Mo every game and they had chemistry...our new guys aren't even close to that yet.
Agreed about the passing/flow aspect, but this offense has never been built on assists. It is built on the uncanny ability that Dame and CJ have to at times get hot and hit difficult shots. So it should get better as guys get more familiar, but in terms of passing to create high quality looks, that has never really been a Stotts thing.
Not sure if it is a coaching mentality or what but the Blazers miss so many wide open teammates. CJ is the most guilty but by far not on his own. Nassir, after playing great defense, busted his butt, passed everyone down the court, and was wide open for a lob dunk....Dame missed him. Later, Hezonja had a drive with Ant wide open for a kick out '3'....instead drove into 2 guys for a contested lay up....missed. And still no one will throw a lob to Whiteside who has lived on those for years. It's not like his wingspan got any shorter. There are wide open teammates on so many posessions where Blazers would get GOOD, uncontested looks but instead, they often ingore, pass it up or just completely miss it ofter for a much more difficult opportunity.
When things are a point of focus and attention, they get better. When they are not - there is no change. Based on the past several years, I'd say that's not a point of emphasis for Stotts. I did have to laugh at CJ throwing a temper tantrum because Mario missed him on the wing during the Kings game last night... he finally got to feel like to get ignored by a teammate
It's interesting (to me) how, when we get behind, I start thinking that either CJ or Lillard better get really hot if we want to get back in the game. I don't even bother wishing for better defense or getting everyone involved in the offense.