A. I wouldn't call it "great". The Blazers have certainly played great in spurts, but they've also been abominable (3rd quarters), and most of the play-in games were against teams that didn't really need to win or (Memphis) were supposed to be worse than the Blazers. B. The theory was that the Lakers were playing possum. Obviously that doesn't apply to the first playoff game, but you've got to think that the dominant Lakers team of this season is going to make an appearance SOME time. You're not telling me that the Blazers' Mighty Defense has put them in their place...
Yeah, some of the media hype is a little over the top. Not sure they even believe what they are saying. And yes it makes a difference....not in how the Blazer play but in how LeBron and AD respond. I hate to dwell on our depth, but I just can't see it not being a problem as the series goes on.
Age, I suspect. But it has been going for a while - he was subpar for most of last year with the Raptors as well (he did start excellent, but it fell down after that)
The main problem is that people who have a reputation as a good defender seem to get away with murder on Dame. The refs won't call jack shit.
He cant do that anymore, he cant dominate his man one on one, he cant finish inside as he once did with Whitside blocking the shit out of him 3 times. He has to expend energy on defense, setup their entire offense, and play over 40 mpg. Lebron is still amazingly effective, but hes not a one on one elite scorer. We had more trouble guarding caris lavert one on one.
I like the national exposure. Overrated? Hell, look at what Dame and this team have done recently. They're playing at a very high level. They deserve this praise. And listening to Dame's post game comments, and just looking at their reaction after game one, they're focused. They're not out to win just one game.
Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! Some peoples takes... best defense in the 2020 playoffs.... Hahahahahahahaha Oh man. The comedy is gold!
I repeat myself....the power of negative affirmation raises it's head again....call me superstitious but this buzzkill thread cursed the game damnit!
Nurkic ,Whiteside, Mello and Gabriel were out- hustled and must box out and rebound. Second and third shots by LA killed us.
Whiteside is Soft and Nurk seemed to let the early physical play of Howard throw him off his game a bit. The thing this team has missed for years is an enforcer. Zach is as close as we got to someone who won’t take any shit and who will get in there and mix it up.
