Game Thread GAME# 32: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - DECEMBER 26, 2019 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

Well I’m watching now so they’re going to get it down to a close game.

 

Now I understand your frustration. You value our roster much higher than most NBA folks.

 

Guess what! Teams get comfortable is you let them! We let Utah get comfortable by giving them numerous open shots. They got confidence, and now they're hitting contested shots too. After the game, the excuse will be "They hit shots". Rinse and repeat.

That's why you don't just let guys like Joe Ingles walk into 5 straight open 3s off the pick n roll without adjusting coverage. That's why you work on defensive rotations and scramble drills.

I rarely bring up my playing experience because the generic response is "That's not the NBA", but that adds to my point here... In college, we worked hard on defensive rotations, scrambles, and different pick n roll schemes. If we didn't rotate correctly, or messed up a coverage, we got called out or taken out of the game. We were held accountable. Thing is, we did a better job of positioning ourselves and rotating defensively than the Portland Trail Blazers this year. That's ridiculous.

That's why I get so frustrated by these things... Portland's defensive fundamentals aren't up to par. Not even close. They defend better than we could because they have length, athleticism, quickness, size, etc. Obviously there's a HUGE difference there. I realize that. But in terms of the things that aren't affected by those intangibles, my college team did a better job defensively than the Portland Trail Blazers. That's not a flex at all, that's just how bad the Portland Trail Blazers' defensive fundamentals are.

It's fucking frustrating.

 

The problem is nobody told him not too. #firestotts

 

The scoreboard?

 

Simons looks great.

 

That's kinda how we play...

 

Boy for Snyder being such a great coach he sure did wait a long time to call that time out?

 

Now this unit is playing some decent D. Now Stotts will take them out now.

 

I'm thinking Pop would keep Dame on the bench here..

 

We're playing harder than we did at the start of the game.

 

Creepy Grinch.

 

Utah doesn’t look too comfortable now?

 

So, who are the two guys who have been out during this run? Bazemore and Whiteside. I usually like Whiteside, but he hasn't done much tonight.

 

If he does, they'll complain, If he doesn't, they'll complain he didn't have our starters in down the stretch. Win Win!

 

I’m not out there so it isn’t we?

 

See, when this team does basic fundamentals, it has the ability to go on 10-0 runs against good teams. They have shot-makers... That's also why this is so frustrating. This team has the talent to play much better basketball! They COULD be a good team, even with these injuries.