Can somebody sabotage the Blazers' Covid tests so that Dame tests "positive"? I want him to sit at least until the play-in. He's in a funk, and the only reason the Bubble was fun last year was because he was fresh from the break they'd had when the league shut down. "But we might miss the playoffs altogether!" Oh well - it's not like we're getting past the first round anyway, and I kind of want Stotts to be forced to expand his rotations. And hey, remember this?
I think he should sit so we can just end this horrible season and move forward with getting rid of Stotts/CJ/Olshey.
The ONLY chance the Blazers have in the Playoffs is with a rested, and as healthy as possible Dame. That is not the case now, so for the betterment of the team, that should be remedied. However, it is my experience that Stotts doesn't do thing in the interest of long-term results or succes.
Blazers are going to have to run Dame into the ground just to try and keep 6th seed or to stay within the play-in bracket. He won't get any rest going into the playoffs.
Not sure that will make a difference just due to the schedule. Stay at #7 or #8 and you only have to win 1 game. I'll take that with a rested, healthier Dame than with a ragged, tired and injured Dame. Retreat in the battle to have a chance to win the war. Doubt the Blazers will do that though.
I think this strategy would produce the exact opposite outcome you're looking for: Dame sits - Olshey and Stotts say - "We lost Dame last year, so we feel we're heading into the 21-22 season adding an all-star to our roster." Everyone being healthy for an entire season and the end result being bad is the best chance for change.
I mean they really already have that excuse with CJ and Nurk not being healthy for such a huge chunk. If they're not going to fire Stotts, they're not going to fire him. Anyone can see the flaws with the team.
I talked to Olshey. He said some experts were predicting this to be the worst blazer team in their lifetime at the start of the season, so he feels they've overachieved and are ready to run it back one more time. Thanks a lot!
A bunch of other teams star players are sitting out extended periods of time. I agree Dame should look into sitting a few games here and there going on a minutes restriction. The Blazers have the personnel to handle dame sitting against certain teams. Two options. Either sit him against lesser talented teams and let Ant come in and take some minutes or Sit him against teams that are looking like a tough matchup and take a loss where a loss is likely? Either way you get a better version of Damian Lillard by the end of the season. A couple of 4 day stretches without a game with a game in the middle would do him wonders.
I'm glad that you recognize that your obsession with me is unhealthy. Are you doing something to address it?
I’d like to see Dame sit a couple but knowing how much pride he has, and how much it will mean to beat the good teams, I’d rather sit Dame against crap teams. I know that’s not the current strategy but I think it’s the strategy that Dame would be more willing to do. snd if Dame sits for 3 or 4 crap teams, and the Blazers lose, then the argument to trade CJ becomes more clear, if the Blazers beat the crap teams without Dame, then we will be stronger and healthier heading into the post season. And it gives Dame a chance to force the superteams to deal with a rested, healthier- put-some-respect-on-it Dame.
Stotts doesn’t coach so without Dame his complete lack of a game plan gets exposed. That’s why he runs Dame into the ground playing him 36+ min every game and never gives him a ‘load management’ day.