Phoenix had only nine healthy players last night. They were missing their starting center, as well as Kelly Oubre, who has killed us in the past. They had lost four games in a row. They have a worse record than we do. And yet . . . they led by almost 30 points in the third quarter. Blazers are supposedly fighting for a playoff spot, but based on last night’s game, I’m not sure they want it that badly.
At least Little got a DNP. That's a no brainer. I'm anxious to see how Carmelo develops in the next couple of seasons with all this playing time. I bet he's going to be good.
Not sure why but I'll play along. I'm all for the Blazers making the Playoffs if they can make some actual noise, be a legit contender, and not get swept out of the Playoffs. Until then, they need a lot more talent and something better than their current (borrowed) defensieve strategy. In the meantime, if they are playing like they are, develop the heck out of anyone who might make any future contributions for next year.....as this year's group of Dame/CJ/Melo/Whiteside/Ariza isn't scaring anyone except high school and college coaches who can't believe that many wide open '3's are possible game after game.
2 things I see the reason why they won't make the playoffs there defense and there bench. Same defense has play here for to long that defense won't cut it majority of the time in this era of basketball. Then Bench right now you really got Trent is the only reliable player.
Since 3 starters are out I would say our bench is doing ok since they are starting. Last night though is pretty inexcusable even if 1 of our starters is trying to knock the rust off of being injured since before the all star break. I doubt if we make the playoffs but we should get a boost with Nurkic coming back on March 15 so we will see
The Suns actually benefited from Ayton not being able to play. Think he could have hit all those 3s that Baynes did? Baynes was hotter than hell and Stotts refused to adjust his defense to account for him. Whiteside blocked some 2 point shots, but he gave up tons of 3 pointers.
It truly is unbelievable that after all these years Stotts still has no decent game plan for defending centers who can shoot the 3 ball.
I swear we're going to get the fucking 9th spot. Win just enough to have a shit pick but just not enough to make the playoffs
I just can't see Memphis surviving that schedule of theirs they have the next 2 at home against Atlanta and Orlando, then it's this: @ Portland Trail Blazers @ Utah Jazz @ San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Thunder @ Milwaukee Bucks New Orleans Pelicans @ New Orleans Pelicans Boston Celtics Toronto Raptors @ Toronto Raptors New York Knicks Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder Philadelphia 76ers @ Houston Rockets right now, Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, and Justice Winslow are all out with injuries with no timetables on returns I see them with at most maybe 7 more wins and that would be only 38 wins. If Portland beats them twice, I see the Blazers passing them...or at least tied while owning the tiebreaker I view the Pelicans, Kings, and Spurs as bigger 'threats' and for the Spurs, Poltl just sprained his MCL and could miss the rest of the season. And the Pels will be missing Reddick for at least the next two weeks I think Portland will probably grab 8th seed, have the 16th or 17th pick, get stomped by the Lakers, & possibly suffer their third 1st round sweep in 4 years. Yeah, that's not a good outcome in my view
At this rate, if the Blazers somehow did make the Playoffs, someone like Alex Caruso would have a NBA Playoff record in '3's.
In this situation though the Blazers were not playing well without him and Hood got hurt after he got here. Plus they don't have to play him over 30 minutes a game either.