Game Thread GAME# 21: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - DECEMBER 3, 2019 - TUESDAY, 7:00 PM, TNT

I have to agree. I mean, it did start out ok (and the score actually showed that). Then it just went to shit. Me, Me, Me...... Rarely do I get into the dynamics of the plays, coaching, and such. That ISO crap has to go though. Period.

 

I have been elated to see good ball movement replace the weave and one-on-three basketball. Does every action have an opposite reaction? In this case, it's like five games worth of positive action was followed by five games worth of negative reaction, all in one game. Did they learn anything from it? Did Stotts? We'll see. I'm not placing any bets on it.

 

Can we just watch the tape on the 1st quarter of the OKC game? And they intel seemed to be able to do it for one quarter even in the same game.

 

You see this is the kind of thing i'm talking about. And this is nothing. Griffin simply pushes a little and steps over him. next thing you know Khris Middleton and Wesl Mathews are in his face! The Blazers don't have any fire when they get Punked!

 

That's not getting punked. Middleton looks like a fool for his overreaction.

 

Totally disagree. That was the 2nd time in the game that Griffin pushed/shoved/nudged the league MVP when the ball was dead. He didn't do much here on this play, but him stepping over him isn't cool. Some might think much of it, but you step over somebody like that (Iverson style) in the parks, guys will throw down. Blake knew what he was doing. Not a big deal though......and I think Middleton did exactly what I would want him to do if I was their coach. Pat Beverly does that to Dame, you damn sure know Whiteside and Melo would have stepped up. There's a code out there.

 

I don't think what Griffin did is that bad...but he knew what he was doing for sure, just like CJ knew what he was doing with his elbow against Ariza last night. Just examples of the nudge-bump versions of trash-talk. Not so subtle mini-aggressions. I remember my playing days and that my elbows, hips, and knees sometimes found their ways into the guys I was guarding or who were guarding me; accidental of course...(I'm winking now)

 

No he doesn’t. He stood for his teammate. Blazers need more of this. Seriously I just can’t figure how someone didn’t get a little testy after Harrell took Melo down like that. Big or little doesn’t matter. Be the guy that pushes back. You could see Wes was in there too. If he was on the court for the blazers right then Harrell would have heard about it.

 

Well I would hope so. I’m waiting to see it at some point. Blazers seem way too timid.

 

That was “barely” a step over. No people in the parks are throwing down over that. Thats so mild for “in the parks” type stuff. Seriously it was a total over reaction, and guess what they arent in the parks. What Mario did to Giannis was a step over, what Blake did wasnt unless you’re really, really looking to start something.

 

I'm not sure where you grew up playing basketball. You try that shit when we were playing it would have got ugly.

 

North Portland, but that wasn't a step over, that was like a step side. That was about as close to nothing as one could get.

 

Star player gets knocked down/bumped TWICE after the ball is dead. It won't be tolerated. I'd call my team out if they didn't step up for him. 2 times.

 

Why its the NBA, they aint gonna do anything except blah, blah, blah. All they do is chest bump and go sit in the corner. “Enforcers” in the NBA are a thing of the past.

 

You never saw me use the term "enforcer". Team sports is about being on the same page with your teammates. Thats just it, nothing is going to happen.......Ant's teammates needed to step up and they did. Now walking back to the bench how do you think that makes him feel. Pumped because he knows his brothers have his back.......that goes a LONG way. Now imagine had they NOT stepped up.
I'd be fucking heated if I was Dame and nobody hopped up in his defense.

 

In fact, I remember hearing stories about Jordan paying technical fines for guys like Bill Cartwright , Joe Kleine and Will Perdue for incidents in those Detroit series coming to his defense. Not comparing these incidents whatsoever, but its' the same concept of team camaraderie. Players create that bond that's invaluable.

 

I think Bruce Brown hitting Giannis up near the face and then giving him a push on his way down was worse than what Blake did.

 

Ya I don't think what Blake did was that bad..... it just so happen to be the 2nd time that game. Can't allow your star to be treated that way. You can tell a lot about how teammates feel about each other when stuff like this happens or when the star get's knocked down. Notice when Dame gets laid out on a drive, usually 3 dudes run straight over to help him up. I remember seeing when Westbrook would get knocked down last spring in the playoffs, that wasn't happening.
Mason Plumlee was great at running over and helping his guys up.....or when some shit was going down, he was usually the first to go back his teammate up regardless.....Ed Davis as well. Dame is said that's why Ed Davis is one of his favorite teammates ever. Said he always felt Ed has his back.

 

Couldve just went and helped him up instead of the fake stuff were really mad right now stuff. Like sure you want guys to know youve got each others back and all that but, Blake could do that 20 more times and just laugh at Middleton the whole time cause nothings happening but his jaws flapping.
To me though, that was a really “weak” step over, like if thats Blakes version of im showing my dominance over Giannis, Alpha stuff, then he isnt an alpha, Id laugh, least Mario had the balls to do the full thing.