Game Thread GAME# 61: BLAZERS @ HAWKS - FEBRUARY 29, 2020 - SATURDAY, 4:30, NBCSNW

Memphis had lost 4 in a row, and yet with just 1 win, they are back to 4 up in the loss column.

Just end the frustration now and pull the plug. All that is happening now is the running up of alcohol (medical) bills.

 

Pulling the plug is for Bath Takers!!!

#ShowerCrew

 

Man I can’t wait for the lottery

 

I'm not sure there is a good metric because there are simply too many variables that would alter team equations. For instance, we're talking about the 2016-17 season, seeing the big jump in defensive rating, and attributing it to Nurkic; but he missed 7 of the 25 games after the all-star break. Let me suggest just as an important factor as the addition of Nurkic: because of an injury, Aminu missed 21 games before the all-star break, but played in every game after the break. I think Aminu always had an underrated impact on the defense.

so yeah, injuries can really skew defensive numbers over the course of a season

another factor, obviously, is strength of schedule and home/road splits. Portland had the 2nd or 3rd most difficult SOS pre-allstar break this year. And the 4h easiest after the all-star break. it's a lot easier to defend bad teams (although you wouldn't believe that after watching the game tonight)

 

that stat says it all. stoffense is doomed to fail.

 

I agree with all the variables you listed above.

I'm just looking for data that can confirm/disprove the claim that Stotts' teams don't improve on defense throughout the season. Defensive rating change throughout the season, over a large enough sample size should reduce the impact of injuries, trades, schedule, etc. as all those things should even out.

 

After every game, I look at the last page of the game thread, and there is Tince gamely defending against any changes in the team. Before clicking on the thread I thought, a couple of management's designated cleanup batters will be there in the last pages. And the usual suspects were there.

 

Nurkic's trade is responsible for 2017.
We had an easier schedule to finish the seawon in 2018.

Theres variance too.

Thats not the way to gauge it.

 

Yeah, those stats cant prove anything because of the the number of variables at play. If we bring in defensive minded players, we'll get better defensively without it being due to Stotts. If we have an easier schedule past the ASB, naturally our defensive numbers will improve without us actually improving our defense.

 

The eye test. People always try to find a stat for everything in order to explain whats hapoening but a lot of stats have noise.

 

No, you don't understand. We're not judging the overall effectiveness of the defense, we're discussing the overall improvement of individual players defensively. So acquiring Nurk improved our defense without any of our individual players improving due to the coaching staff.

This year, I'm making the argument that none of the players that are playing havent improved defensively due to our coaching (the only one who's improved said he did so because he watched a ton of defensive film on his own). It doesn't matter if we have Nurkic or not since it's not a discussion based on overall effectiveness of the defense, and is instead based on individual improvement.

 

Is Stotts of the belief that players such as Nassir Little in particular do not improve as efficiently with playing time as without? Of course I know the answer and it's why I can't watch.

 

The eye test is tough because we all see things through a different lens.

 

Don't you think over a large enough sample size that injuries, schedule strength, and roster make-up should average out and therefore make the average change in defensive rating from the 1st half of the season and the 2nd half a telling measure? Perfect no, but better than saying it's what I (or you) see?

 

Who are you referring to here? I'm assuming its Trent...
Where was that quote. I missed it

 

He was referring to Trent.

The logic that Trent gets credit for his improved defense because he said he watched film on his own isn't very strong though. I think it's safe to assume a lot of players watch film on their own and we have no clue who watches more film or the validity of their claims.

 

Do you really think the team or players have improved defensively as the season has gone along? I think Melo was better when he first played here. Same with Ariza. I think we've regressed.

 

What do you mean it isn't strong? It's exactly what he said. So what if others do? The point is that the only player who's improved noticeably on the defensive end said his improvement came through his own means, not because of help from the coaching staff.

 

Sorry, I'm not questioning that Trent said it, I'm sure he did. My point is that because someone says they did something:

1) Doesn't mean they did it
2) Doesn't mean they do it more than others
3) Doesn't mean what they did was the main contribution them improving

Self-assessments are often some of the most inaccurate.