Game Thread GAME# 22: KINGS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 4, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

This was a weak call, but Ariza's dance moves were impressive

 

I was counting for a bit last night. They do get a better look with three passes no question but it's not just one player. CJ takes a bunch of blame but Dame also seems to be a culprit. The Blazer guards could drive and kick a bit more. I understand why they don't. They got used to Aminu and Harkless missing wide open looks. Hood, Melo and Baze have been hitting those shots so it's got to change. The Guards need to continue to find open shooters. Also Whiteside is starting to see the floor a bit more and get used to where shooters are.

 

Guess you weren't paying attention.

 

It should be noted that it's easier to "move the ball around" against an injured Kings team or a young Bulls team than it is against a skilled defensive team like the Clippers.

Let's see how much we're going to "get everyone touches" against the Lakers, while Rondo is yelling Terry's playbook to his teammates on every possession.


And another thing - We need a tough PF who gets rebounds and can switch. We needed it for 2 years now. Maybe we should chase Tristan Thompson.

 

Yes, I've seen a bit of early in the shot clock contested 2 from Dame and I was shaking my head at those too. There's no point.

Also we seem to do some drive-kick-shoot, but never something like drive-kick-swing-swing-shoot which could potentially result in a better shot. All of our starting lineup except whiteside is a shooting threat and we need to take advantage of that

 

So, you mean that rondo is silent for the whole game ?

 

I'd rather we collapse the defense by passing the ball to the interior rather than driving, but that requires a package of good, creative, and different sets that we don't quite have. Dame and CJ aren't going to be able to consistently break down the defense, draw multiple defenders, and then complete the kickout pass, and our ball movement shouldn't be reliant on them having to do that, which I think it is. Look at the Clippers game and how we didn't move the ball at all.

 

I honestly think the reasons are pretty obvious. Dame has been making passes, but watching open look after open look clank off the top of the backboard year in and year out gets old. Lillard is human. He wants to win. To do that you have to stay in the game. Look at the Clipper game. There was easy 5 mins or more where wide open looks from three just didn't fall. Then they couldn't contain Harrell. As the lead got bigger and bigger Dame started pushing. Next thing you know "Hero Ball"!
This is where i do blame Stotts. He has got to call a timeout and rally the team. Draw up a play and get the offense a bucket. I don't care if you have to call two TO's in a minute. Get something to work. Even three???? Who cares? If you go 20 or more down in the last 10 mins of a game you are done anyway when its against a team as good as the Clippers.

 

They do draw multiple defenders but yes i agree. We also watched the beginnings of another set of plays i hope Stotts starts to use. That is Melo posting up and looking for an open shooter or a cutter. Maybe we will see more? I hope so?

 

The Clipper game was indeed a textbook on what they need to work on for sure. I think they have the weapons but it's gonna take some time to get better at using what they have?

 

What makes the Clippers so tough this year is their extremely deep bench. We would likely be a serious contender with the Clippers bench.

 

The problem against the Clippers we they didn't even try to move the ball.

 

I factor Clippers defense for a lot of that. We did a decent job in the first half but Clippers stepped up their defense in the second half and they are able to match up with length and size against our two better players in Lillard and McCollum to make it more difficult to make the entry pass and get the ball moving.

 

Yeah against garbage teams, i'm not saying that he should go James Harden and take 40 shots, but we can not afford our best best player being passive for long stretches. You a Superstar Dame, so play like one

 

When a defense is really good like the Clippers it's even more important to have crisp ball movement. Otherwise you're going ISO against guys like Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Patrick Beverley. Unless that seems like a good strategy to anyone?

 

The corner three is the hardest shot to hit because you don't have a backboard to bounce the ball off of. It is a sound strategy.

 

This is such a horrendous take.

Dame having to score like 20 points in a quarter to beat bad teams is going to result in both more losses and Dame getting more worn out. The dude scored 60 points in a game and they lost.

If Dame consistently got 10 assists and 24 points on 12 shots he'd not only be the most efficient star in the NBA but the team would be true contenders for a title.

 

This explains a lot, lol.

 

I don't think he hit him in the nuts; looked to me as way above; Ariza sold that as a dirty play.