Game Thread Blazers VS Warriors OCT 4th, 7:00 PM

https://theathletic.com/2868844/202...plays-off-the-ball/?source=emp_shared_article

Lillard, who spent a week in Utah this summer working out with Little, said this type of night is part of the learning curve for a 21-year-old entering his third NBA season.

“Nas is super-talented, super-gifted,” Lillard said. “He just needs more time on the floor. I think it’s clear he is going to get more opportunity on the floor. It takes time to get comfortable. He’s looked good all summer, all September, all training camp, and you know you want to play well so bad that you get out there and you speed up … anxious. You want to do well and press. You’re trying too hard.

“I think he will relax more and more as each game goes by,” Lillard said. “He’s had a great camp, he’s shot the ball well, he’s making good decisions, he’s been good defensively, but when you get in a game, it just takes time to get comfortable and have those things crossover from practice to a game. And I think it will.”

Little’s night was part of an up-and-down debut for Billups and the Blazers. There were some encouraging signs, some concerning moments and more than enough evidence that with only a week of practice under their belt, this is a work in progress.

“You don’t want to put too much into the first preseason game,” Lillard said.

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Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic both indicated they saw progress in the Blazers defense, particularly how they defended the pick-and-roll.

“Everybody can see that we will be better,” Lillard said. “Having our bigs at the level of the screen, knowing where help is coming from, the rotations. The whole scheme — we all understand it will give us a chance to be a much better defensive team with how aggressive it is, with how detailed it is, where we know what everybody’s job is. Obviously, it’s a work in progress.”

The defense that Billups is using is similar to the one the Blazers tried to implement during training camp last season, after former Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen spent three weeks in Portland consulting Terry Stotts and his staff. However, Stotts abandoned the new schemes after the Blazers were torched in the preseason, most notably by Denver.

“We have to continue to work at it and get better, and get more comfortable with it, and we will do that,” Lillard said. “Tonight we probably played against the best shooting team in the league and they were hitting shots. As the game went on, I thought we ran them off the (3-point) line a little better, rotated a little harder … and that’s what it has to be. We have to get better as the game goes on.”

 

This is why I was asking who our 3rd string center is…..They will start 30 games for us this season. I still believe we will miss Kanter.

 

For a player that everybody in the media is doing backflips over…..I wasn’t happy with what I saw out of Nas. Basically in a glorified summer league game, he should be better. I do like Dennis Smith Jr.’s game. Not sure what his numbers were last night, but I think he could help us this season.

 

A lot of new pieces to get working on the same page. In no way should anyone be pulling the fire alarm. Utah, got destroyed & played most of their starters too. I doubt their fans are up in arms throwing a tizzy. The turnovers were the worst thing i saw when it was starters vs. starters. A lot had to do with running new sets, and over thinking.

 

"I would love to be off the ball more and get more catch and shoot opportunities."

"We gotta a lot of sets where I can be off the ball and the intent is to get me an opportunity but if not, there are other actions to follow."

ahem..... paging Ben Simmons.

 

I keep what I'm looking for pretty simple at this point, and, in general, I was pleased with what I saw.

I thought we scrambled well on defense. That was the most important thing, from my point of view.

I felt, in general, we involved everyone in the offense, we got decent looks. Yes, the number of turnovers was high, but this team still is getting a feel for a different tempo and style. I'll let that percolate a few games into the regular season before I make an assessment whether they get it or not. Same with how the new players are fitting in; like I have very little concern that Nance is going to be a liability.

 

I was joking but yes I agree I’m waiting probably more like 40 this year. New coach new players and a very tough beginning of the schedule.

 

I'm not as concerned about the starters right now. The concern is the bench. That has been the concern since we first heard that our big signings were Zeller, McLemore, and Snell. The bench was relying heavily on Ant and Simons taking a step forward. That still might happen, but we haven't seen either of them really take a big step yet.

 

You think other teams fans don’t overreact?

 

12-18 after 30 games.

 

why are you predicting the lakers record after 30 games? we're talking about the blazers.

 

We will miss Melo and Kanter’s ability to put points on the board regardless of what people think about their D. At least they scored. Not sure I feel the same about our current bench.

 

I wonder how much they are concerned about their regular season record. They are deep enough to give the old men some nights off. Probably main concern is health once the playoffs start.

 

well they should be concerned since they were below us last year even with all OUR injuries.

 

nurk is trash, id trade him for anything

last nights game was not a good sign

 

Blazers were much deeper than the Lakers last year in my opinion. They had nobody to pick up that slack when AD went out.

 

right, and melo and deandre will do that this year.