Game Thread GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - DECEMBER 28, 2020 - MONDAY, 7:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

I'm going to stand on the decision to play Simons last game as i think he needed a little run. I also think it was a great decision to play Gary Trent this game as the matchup was better for it. Simons would not have held his own tonight like Trent did. Kuzma and Pope are too big for Simons.
I'm not sure why on the third game of the season people are having a problem with plugging different players in and seeing what they bring? Isn't that what every coach in the entire NBA is doing right now? Isn't that what coaches with deep rosters do for entire seasons?
I don't get the rub here? Even if you don't agree with the substitution isn't a coach allowed to see how his players perform? Oh and why didn't Giles play tonight? Could it be because the small ball was working and playing Giles would have been a bad decision? I mean a number of people figured Stotts would go with Giles before the game started but matchups didn't really work out that way. maybe next game?

 

He can’t bother a penetration shot for the life of him so you need some good defenders around him but he does a good job grabbing the defensive rebound. The extra possessions are huge. Plus he’s smart - he doesn’t force the post ups that go bad he kicks it back out valuing the possession.

 

Their defense was fantastic, loved it. However, in the playoffs, teams will make DJJ and Covington shoot even more and they can't go 0-11 from 3 and expect us to win a playoff series.

 

There is a poll on it somewhere; I think we can find out exactly who did and did not.

 

I'll own it. I thought we needed a scorer off the bench, a guy who could produce his own shot opportunities, and I thought he fit well last year.

What I didn't foresee was after accepting his role coming off the bench, he instead seemed to chafe in it and just thought he was going to go for his in his 16 minutes per night. I really thought he learned his role. Maybe when he's on the court with Dame, he respects him enough to let him shoot. But he doesn't seem to feel the same way about the other bench guys and acts like every time he gets the ball it's his right to fire it up.

 

This game. They’re not always gonna defend that well. But clearly they are better defenders, but probably quite a bit worse shooters. But hopefully their 3’s improve. If they can both get it up to 35% they will be huge assets.

 

I don’t expect them to. The Lakers were doubling Dame the entire 4th and we did quite well.

But even defensively, these two are way more disruptive than Harkless and Aminu were.

 

Barring no major trades and retaining our 2 RFAs and Jones opts in I can see this next year...

Dame/Simons
CJ/Trent
DJJ/Trent/Nas
RoCo/Zach/Nas
Nurk/Zach

Solid 9...

I see Kanter, Melo, Hood, Giles all gone. Why would Giles stay with zero PT, don’t see Hood’s option being picked up.

My one concern is would we match big money for someone who didn’t start(Trent)?

I know it’s only game 3.

 

Nurk is the better passer.

And, it's not close. I like Damian off the ball more especially when you have a guy who can find guys like Nurk.

 

Agreed. They were big as hell defensively, and got huge playoff contributions. I can see why on paper Schroder and Harrell seem like upgrades but its very possible the team won't perform as well. Might not matter when they have LeBron and AD, but this assumption the other players will for certain be better is flawed.

 

I don't think anyone should take heat for being ok for us signing a guy to a minimum contract, who was key to our success in the bubble, and his teammates love. The issue should be if there were promises made that restrict our ability to succeed. Were promises made, who made them, who were they forced on? That I dont' know.

 

Respect your opinion, even if I don't agree. I can assure you other teams would prefer Nurk has the ball in his hands vs Dame as well.

 

it’s not a matter of touches. He’s no good.

 

I don't see Jones opting in. Also we'll be way into the luxury tax if we keep all of those guys you've got up there. I hope we can keep all of those guys too, I just don't know how realistic my hopes are.

 

I always thought in post season they let the D get away with more.

 

Lmao Covington is the best off ball defender I’ve ever seen. He’s like Ed Reed.

Jones is so explosive good lord.

 

I love what Jones brings. And most definitely think he should start against LBJ. But I still like having the extra 3 pt shooter to start the game. We are starting off slow to begin games. Start Trent at the 3 as we did in the bubble.

 

I will admit that I want Melo to work with this team somehow but unfortunately that's completely up to Melo he is already trying to deal with not starting.

 

If they can hit 35% that’s good enough especially if our defense is good. So they need to not hesitate during the regular season to keep taking those open 3’s no matter how they are shooting.