Game Thread GAME #46 - BLAZERS @ RAPTORS - JANUARY 23, 2022 - SUNDAY - 3:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

I could be wrong, but it feels like scoring is down league wide compared to last year

 

You're not wrong. Scoring is down about 3.5ppg league wide - Portland is down 8ppg. Also of note. Portland defense is giving up 2.3ppg less this year than last year.

So in comparison to last year, we're worse on both ends when you factor in league wide changes.

More passes, more assists, worse offense, worse defense, and a worse winning percentage.

 

For those wondering the impact passing is having on wins this year. Here's the chart with the trend line decreasing. 6 of the best 8 teams in the NBA pass the ball less than the league average.

 

These fuckers are ruining our draft position!!!!!

 

Disagree. And they are in rebuild mode it sounds like anyway. Siakam can play any which way. He'd be a great fit.

 

4-2 on this last road trip. It would seem, short term, it's bee a net positive. Can't remember a the last time we went on a 4-2 road trip with so many main players out.

Also, this is a different type of ball movement. Passes before that were often short hand offs, are now quicker, longer passes requiring more defensive movement and involving more than just a couple players passing/handing off to each other.

Shot selection is more evenly distributed, and it is certainly more pleasant to watch.

 

Trent grabbed Roco's hand as Roco contested a shot. Foul on Roco and a dislocated finger.

 

what about per possession?

 

this kinda stuff was not happening earlier.

 

Portland is back to doing what they have done for several season. That is generally lose to teams with winning records and generally beat most teams they play who don't have winning records. The two losses on the road trip came against good teams, and they lost those two games by 22 points/game

against teams with winning records, Portland has had 1 win this season when Dame hasn't played. Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago.

 

Six of 9 Blazers players finished with scores that were prime numbers! That has to mean something, right?

 

nerd

 

Come on, man, I know you want to tamp down expectations, but this post is pretty hard spin on the negative. You average the two losses to Denver and Miami to come up with 22 points per game losing to the two "good teams"? Never mind that the Denver loss was a 32 point blowout and the Miami game was competitive until the final minutes. And the wins over Boston and Toronto count as bad teams because they currently sit at .500? Toronto had a winning record before the Blazers beat them. The Celtics had a winning record the game before they played the Blazers. Winning on the road is tough regardless of opponent records. Going 4-2 with a roster that's missing Dame, Norm, Nance and Zeller? That's a pretty good sign that the Blazers are starting to put things together. Should Cronin see that as a sign that all is well with the Blazers roster? Of course not, but it doesn't mean nothing either.

 

Takes one stat one to know one.

 

please show me where it was I said "bad" teams. I didn't. I said teams with winning records vs teams without...no? And please show me where I said the wins meant "nothing"

as I said, the Blazers recently have been doing what they generally do, and that's beat the teams they are 'supposed' to beat...teams at .500 or below. The big problem has been that those aren't the types of teams they face in the playoffs

 

I put quotes around 'good teams' because you used that phrase to characterize Denver and Miami (Denver currently sits two games above .500, but they've been under that mark at various points in the season so I don't know how much better they are than either Boston or Toronto). I didn't put quotes around 'bad teams' because you didn't say that. You just lumped Boston and Toronto, both .500 teams that have been "winning teams" at various points this season, with the non-winning record losers.

 

this is next level cynicism.

I'm waiting for your weekly "Ant isn't that good post," now.

 

ok...so then?

not trying to be combative here I'm just not sure what it is you're objecting to...the 'tone' of my post?

 

remember when I was cynical about CJ's start to last season being sustainable and you weren't?