Game Thread 2022-23 Game #13 BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - NOVEMBER 12, 2022 - SATURDAY - 5:30 PM (PDT) ROOT

He's been really good most of the season and he has so much room to get better. Going after him and questioning his role after losing without arguably our three best defenders.

We're a much better team. While I'm frustrated that we lost, every indicator from today's game tells me we're much better.

 

Is the team not getting Sharpe the ball enough? Seems like he is a perfect guy to take advantage of a defense keying in on other players.

 

Ant and Hart ignored Sharpe

 

What's going on with that? That's bad basketball.

 

Lack of passing is usually due to tired players. Shaedon is definitely getting the rookie treatment.

 

Really missed Justise tonight.

 

It's not just Ant and Hart. This will be considered sacrilege to some, but how the Blazers played tonight reminded me way too much of Dame/CJ. A couple of players taking most of the shots, having 'good' games, while not getting their teammates involved. One thing about Dame being out, the ball moved more and everyone was involved. Dame is incredibly talented, but nothing irritates me more when the ball completely stops, 4 guys are standing around watching, and it becomes Iso ball. That is a good way to lost. Dame and Ant put up a lot of points, but were a combined 15-36 from the field. Sharpe, Little and Watford, were a combined 6-9...but couldn't get any shots. Grant was at least efficient when he was shooting a lot of shots....big props.

Ant and Dame seem to just take turns when they are in the game together....to the exclusion of the rest of the team outside of Grant. Win or Lose, tonight's style was not as enjoyable as many of the games have been so far this year. No one on the Blazers will be able to out-Luka Mr. Doncic. It will take a team effort....and the Blazers didn't really get a chance to do that tonight.

 

Ball movement wasn't great but it makes sense. Tired players drop focus and stop passing.

 

Bad defenses lead to disappointing losses for both Ducks and Blazers. Oh well, at least the Blazers' season isn't over.

 

he scored plenty...29 points on 16 shots is great. His role has been changed to more off-the-ball action and that will result in fewer shot opportunities, at least compared to the Stotts offense

 

This is incorrect. I watched it again. He gave up 2 pts to Dinwiddie on a transition layup. Luka had a nice spin move on a layup. On the barrage of 3s he didn’t miss any rotations.

The first Dinwiddie 3, he was on Dinwiddie and left him to help Grant on Luka. The 2nd Dinwiddie 3, he was on Luka in the post. Eubanks missed the rotation. The 3rd Dinwiddie 3, Dame was slow on the rotation. The 3 by Finney-Smith, he actually did a good job of rotating cross court but Dame missed the rotation.

 

Dame felt like an "assist machine" tonight.
I think we are struggling to see Lillard in such a "defer to this guy" role.
He may be struggling with it too, but it is the right way to do it, especially with a team who can produce a different hero every night.
Hell, it's already won a couple games for them
Tonight, for most of the game, I actually thought he was too passive..
Just goes to show......

 

Yep, I really wanted to see his physicality with Luka. He would have fouled out but he would have worn him down a bit.

 

Luka is just on a different level. It takes serious teamwork to beat him but we seemed to try to go mano-a-mano too often. When the ball move quickly, we got good looks. When we stagnated and went hero/Iso ball, the shots were much more contested.

 

Dame wasn't on shooting wise, but he can , carry the team as well as anyone in the league, when he's on. Doubt if you will, but i've seen it too many times to think otherwise. Plus they were healthy, the Blazers were not. Depth WAS an issue tonight.

 

One thing that bothers me: we don't set good screens!

Everybody always sleeps giving our ball handler zero advantage against the defender

 

Blazers can go mano-a-mano with the Mavs. But with a lack of depth tonight, they wore down. Nurk could have dominated in this game against their smallish front court. And Winslow's frantic effort, and strong body whould have been very helpful on the glass, and on defense. Not saying Luka isn't amazing, but his constant whining gets old. Hats off to the Mavs. They made their open shots, but in NO WAY, do i think they're a better team .

 

I think Nurk sets great screens, but the rest so - so.

 

The wide open threes at the end that put this game away were concerning.

Was it just bad effort and laziness on our part? The wrong scheme? Or the wrong players to execute the scheme?

I feel like we’ve been getting lucky with a lot of open threes that have been missed against our zone the past few games and now I wonder if it’s balancing out.

A bit more concerning than “oh it’s just the end of a road trip, no big deal” imo.