Game Thread GAME # 2: TRAIL BLAZERS VS PHOENIX SUNS - OCTOBER 23, 2021 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM, ROOT SPORTS, NBATV

Knee injury

 

This is going to be a pretty crazy "Game Thread" year i can see. Not just this site but pretty much every Blazer site.
Seems people around here over react a bit? Gonna win the Finals when they win and are wondering if they can keep their draft pick if they lose.
Relax a bit maybe? Losing the next game will not end the season.

 

Yep

 

He always seems to get hurt after good performances

 

Nope. But it will likely result in an @THE HCP ”I tell you they aren’t that good” post.

 

yes sir, pushing the pace is key and last night CJ push the ball up some while Dame played off the ball. Also, Norm push's the ball.
Smith is another guy thats comfortable pushing fast and even Nurk tossed a couple quick outlet pass's.

 

no way. The parade is a lock!

 

I'm not sold on him in this scheme yet; sometimes he seems to be quite slow in recovering back to the big. Hasn't seemed to hurt us much so far, maybe teams are just getting used to what Blazers are doing?

 

I think it's super important that the guys actually see some results from what Chauncey has been teaching. Even if you believe it, actually seeing it in person makes it seem tangible.

 

My favorite part: "And they played with a great deal of pace and their screen setting was the best that we’ve seen, it’s a short season but those guys were intent on getting the ball open and downhill tonight. Those were sacrificial screens that they set."
He also mentions we have two screen setters; I assume that's Nurk and Zeller?

 

Yeah Nance was good too, Billups mentioned him playing stretch five this season.

 

Absolutely love the part I bolded.

 

maybe it's just my computer, but looking at the format of your post on my screen, I was thinking you had composed some kind of poem. Kind of like a Haiku that Edgar Allen Poe and landed in when trapped in a fever dream about Jabberwocky. Quoth the Raven: Blazers in 6

 

It's one game and the Suns were coming off a back-to-back flying from LA to Portland, so I'll temper my enthusiasm.

However, lot to feel good about from what I've seen in the preseason through the first two games of the regular season when you look at the halfcourt defense with the way they scramble and close and just the energy -- there was a shot I think Booker made inside last night but it not only was contested in front but two guys were trying to swipe it from behind. Also, reasons to be happy with the offense in terms of a lot of guys are touching the ball, we're setting good screens and using them well and generally getting pretty good shots ... you have to make them but I'd rather get open looks then having our stars have to invent something every possession. I think (hope) we'll see even more ball movement and involvement as the players become more and more accustomed to the offense.

The other thing that stood out to me is Nurk's play. When he's mentally engaged, we are really efficient offensively. He cleans up defenders with his screens.

Things to work on: Transition and secondary break defense. Also, we're a bit slow on the recover after hedging or blitzing the small-big high PnR. Kings caught us recovering a few times for easy shots. Suns caught us twice but I thought they missed a few chances ... could be attributable to the Blazers forcing the ballhandler into position where it was tough to see the open roller or just making it a difficult entry pass.

 

Yes, it was a back to back for Phoenix and that played a part. But Portland dominated the second half without a starter...

Paul was awfully cranky last nite, jawing non-stop with Chauncey. Coaches talk to opponents, but Paul was just non-stop out there with,what I presume was trash talk, to Chauncey. He was not smiling. I assume they go back a ways and have a good relationship ???

Portland has a lot of firepower, on any night CJ, Norm, and Ant should combine for 60+. Ant will eclipse 30 pt a game this year, I would wager. And we have yet to see Dame go Champagne Supernova, not even close.

DSJ got some good minutes and is a true PG, he stepped up nicely for the second unit. Interested to see how Snell looks. What will he bring to the rotations?Chauncey's rotation is so much different than Stotts'. It's as if he actually thinks about it.

 

you’re clearly new here…

 

Stat of the game for me is that we blew out the Suns and Dame only played 24 minutes and CJ 30, don't expect that too often however I hope we can keep Dame and CJ's minutes down a decent bit from previous years, most enjoyable Blazer game I have watched in a long time - I really like how much more they are trying to push the pace!

 

Tried to tell some of you...

 

Yes, but to figure that out, you'd have to use subtraction... you damn analytics guy!