Game Thread GAME# 37: BLAZERS @ HEAT - JANUARY 5, 2020 - SUNDAY, 3:00 PM, NBCSNW

I'm aware the players aren't where their supposed to be, but considering for a lot of them Mario and Whiteside, and Tolliver, and Melo they've been bad everywhere else maybe it's them. Miami, Orlando, NY, Minne, Houston, OKC, don't seem to be missing any of those guys. Whiteside especially puts up these numbers and no they aren't hollow stats they mean something, but he's never been a high IQ defender that's good in space and anchors the defense like you'd expect from a shot blocker. Miami who has Spoelstra doesn't seem to miss him.

Sure fix the coaching, but the issues aren't all on Stotts, or even close at this point. Also some of the problems you keep pointing out are because of who's out there too. Tolliver has never been asked to play Center before, Dame and CJ have always had wings / bigs they could funnel offensive players too. Bazemore is always out of position cause he's a risk-taker, if you take that away from him he's not really a good one on one defender.

Especially in the paint where their getting wrecked, guys do go right at them, because out of whiteside they don't have a single defender in there who can do anything about it. Whiteside can't play 48 minutes a game...

 

Again, this isn't a record or results based argument I'm trying to make so bringing up another team's record isn't disproving anything.

Pop has 5 titles and has changed his offensive and defensive philosophies several times in his tenure in SA. By winning Game 7 in the 2nd round the Blazers are acting, playing, and coaching like they've accomplished something similar.

The grit and edge isn't there this year. Last year everyone was trying to prove that the Pelicans sweep wasn't who this team was. This year they don't have that.

You can keep blaming the IQ of the new guys but Dame and CJ are up there with the defensive lapses too.

 

Definitely but Dame and CJ have always had defensive lapses and been covered up by better players around them. Also, except Dame and CJ no one is even left from last year's team (that's playing anyways). It turns out the guys they brought in, or in Simons case they expected production from, just aren't good, and they can't overcome the scheme. I'm not absolving Stotts, but I am saying that you put a bunch of bad defenders (do they have even one good team defender left...?) and coaching isn't going to magically make up for the fact they can't stop anyone. Coaching may be able to mask some of the deficiencies a little bit, but they just don't have guys, guys are playing roles they weren't mean to play.

Dame and CJ have gotten better (especially Dame - the last few years), but no one is saying they are high IQ defenders...

 

Let me try explaining this a different way. I have believed for years now that Stotts' systems on both ends of the court is predictable and lacks the ability to adjust to what the other team is doing against it.

Having better players and more talent does indeed make the results better or at least seem better. In my opinion, we are seeing how bad the coaching staff is because of the injuries there aren't good enough players to mask or compensate for that lack of talent. With how this season has gone it's more important to have good coaching.

And I don't believe the same things you do that a team with one of the best back courts in the NBA can't still beat teams of similar or lesser talent levels.

 

I think the coaching's bland at best and has a weak defensive scheme too. So sure new coaching is fine.
The Blazers backcourt is what top 3-4 in the NBA, unfortunately, the rest of the roster right now is like bottom 10... Maybe with health, it'll be better, but saying oh they "should" beat teams of lesser talent levels, there aren't many teams out there with lesser talent levels. Even if they have the best player in Dame the other team usually has 7 or so of the best 10 players on the court. Also like you mentioned part of the problem is defensively the Blazers backcourt isn't doing anything special.

edit:

I think the end is what we disagree on, you seem to think the backcourt and surrounding talent is better than I do and the coaching is putting them in a bad situation.
I think the back court is good (but flawed defensively), and the surrounding talent is just bad. Overall talent with guys available I'd have them like bottom 7-8 in the NBA, and not that far above most of the teams below them. Yes, Dame is great but the next closest on the team is just good... and then after WS and CJ there's a huge dive between them and everyone else available too.

 

I agree with you here. Stotts isn't a great coach, but this isn't his fault.

The roster construction was a massive mis-calculation by NO. I understand that there were some massive financial constraints (caused by his own prior decisions), but at the end of the day the talent level on this team just isn't there.

 

I believe that Olshey looks at the offense end for guards not how they play defense. Due to the offense is really stucture around guard play. But this year supposed he brought in shooters like Baze Toliver. He probably thought Mario could fit in for Turner and Whiteside for Nurk. The problem only Whiteside has actually pan out. The others are hit or miss each game they play. Baze to not the defender as Harkless and Toliver majority hasn't been able produce not much. Mario seems like he doesn't what step on any toes but lately he been aggressive on offense but let's see if that continues.

 

Of course, it is, but it's still the NBA if your team just doesn't have talent, you're not going to win a lot of games.

 

The Blazers "patchwork" starting lineup includes 2 hall of famers...a top defensive rim protector, and, statistically the best mid range jumpshooter in the league....
And yet....they suck.
Go figure.
No, really...try to figure this out...because I've stopped..

 

Yeah, I agree with this, well worded.

After the 1st preseason game this season @BonesJones mentioned that the 2nd unit would have to get out and run to be effective because no one in that unit was particularly good in our half court offense. Since the bench has struggled mightily this season why not at least try to push the pace? We here it from the team every media day that they're going to try and run more often and it never really happens consistently.

When a team is horrible defensively, why not double team and trap more or just pressure the ball harder or further down the court? Even if it only works occasionally at least every once in awhile you'd generate a turnover that could possibly lead to easy points on the other end. When it doesn't work it can't really be worse than what we're seeing now.

I totally get @TorturedBlazerFan's stance as a fan, even though I don't agree with it. From my perspective it looks like the team is being coached with that mindset too and that is why I get so upset. It's like "what can I do about this when my team is injured and not very talented." When things like having ONE practice focusing on defense and one time where Stotts made them watch an entire quarter of film after a loss seem like a big story it leads me to wonder if this team isn't being prepared correctly. Even Rondo said it during the Pelicans series that Dame and CJ obviously don't watch much film.

 

I'm trying Jennifer.

 

and here I was saying that okc should fire their coach...they are kicking ass. no all stars at the moment on that team but CP is killing it.

 

trying what? impersonating a Blazer coach? Good luck with that as I haven't seen a single poster bite.

 

I'm just at peace with it. They aren't having a good year, there's a lot of things that go into it. I turn the game on watch for a couple of hours sigh and move on. I stopped expecting wins, expecting them to do different things, I just kind of got to the point where it's like sure I understand the complaints about the coaching, but I just don't think they're that good. If I thought they were greatly underperforming I'd be much more upset I just don't think that.

 

Donovan is a very average coach. Having CP3 (as much as I don't like typing this) is basically like having a coach on the floor. He doesn't need good coaching at this point in his career to be successful on the court.

 

Pretty much my take exactly.

 

But Dame does.....I see.

 

Nah, Dame's been carrying his coach for 7+ seasons now. Stotts literally wouldn't still be the coach if it wasn't for Dame wanting him to be.