Game Thread 2022-23 Game #21 BLAZERS VS CLIPPERS - NOVEMBER 29, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) TNT

What happened to the Blazer team that at the beginning of the season was pushing the ball up the court and running teams out of the building. They stopped running and back to slowly bringing the ball up the court and letting the other team set their defense. They need to get back to running.

 

Yep, Hart basically even confirmed it (less creation opportunities) during media day interviews.

 

He has a game last season where he shot 5/9 from 3. WTF? Two of his made baskets tonight were at the end of the clock when he had to shoot.

 

Beginning of the year we were successful with a zone heavy defense and getting out in transition more than any other Blazer teams in years.

Both of those things we’ve gone away from.

a quick way to lose a big lead is to “heat check” bad shot attempts 6 times in a row leading to easy baskets.

 

Grant staying on the court, getting 2 FTs, etc. would be a great outcome, if it were a realistic one. Which is wasn't.

The reality was it was a clear charge. Even look at the Blazer players reaction when it happened. Usually on a close block/charge, you'll see a lot of teammates freaking out over the call. Not on this one though. They saw it. I'm a Blazer fan, I wanted the block but even with my red/black glasses on, it was an easy call.

 

Tired and injured. Most of the guys playing 30+ MPG (Grant, Ant, Nurk, Hart) are also nursing injuries they're just playing through them.

 

the first and third quarter the blazers had 0 turnovers and outscored the Clips. The 2nd and 4th the Blazers had 11 turnovers and were outscored. This team needs to value possessions if they are not going to run and gun.

 

Not sure if you saw it but Jackson's feet were moving and he slid into Grant's path. Actually looked like a pretty wretched call.

 

This. Josh has to understand that when he's involving everyone on the floor that he's one of "everyone." He's a capable offensive player who, right now, doesn't have to be defended in the halfcourt because he refuses to take shots any average NBA player would take, and he's at least an average NBA player. I think he'd make enough of them for it to be worth it -- I certainly trust him hunting shots more than I trust Justise. He makes a couple of it opens things up that much more for the really big scorers.

 

Yeah, I didn’t see anything egregious enough to change the call.

It has to be conclusive.

 

I was at the game. Wretched calls all night. Luckily left for the fourth.

 

This is a funny tweet, because the Blazers started the 4th with Nurk on the floor and Clips going small. Clips switched everything and Batum/Morris were able to guard Nurkic because we are truly awful at getting Nurkic the ball in the post.

Team also wants to post Grant/Nurk a lot to get easy points, but the problem is they are just godawful at getting the ball in the post. Plus they just run direct postups and allow those guys to get doubled immediately on the catch. It's a futile effort.

 

Especially when Lillard’s out.

 

Very much disagree. Dame, even without Ant's athletic ability, strongside drives and gets to the rim or the line constantly.

 

A player does not need their feet to be set to take a charge. Ant had one earlier, where his feet weren't set either, and he took the contact on the outside shoulder. Both very similar plays, both called offensive fouls (one for Portland one for the Clippers), both correct calls.

I wish it happened in the last 2 minutes we could the NBA's 2-min report on it.

 

I'll take it a step further: Had it been called a block, I think there's a high probabilty the Clippers challenge, and win it.

 

Isn't the 2 minute report only produced in games closer then 5 points at the end?

 

I've seem Dame games where he drives to the rim on every possession with 4 guys in the paint and usually in a losing effort. You have to realize you can't just simply "drive" to the rim and get to the line on every possession. Those last two possession Ant actually broke down his defender but there were 3 other players waiting for him there because none of those guys cared about guarding their man. Those are not going to be high quality possessions, even for someone like Giannis, let alone Simons.

 

I think this is accurate. It's why just trading Dame beacuse we had Ant, never made sense to me. Dame is elite.

I will say, even Dame probably wouldn't have got to the rim tonight with Nurk, Winslow, Hart, and Watford on the court. No space.