Game Thread 2022-23 Game #64- BLAZERS @ MAGIC - MARCH 5, 2023 - SUNDAY - 3:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

This might be a reasonable point if the Blazers had been losing when playing with a full roster, but when we've played the past month or more with 2 starters out, and a significant bench player out longer than that, it doesn't make sense to me. It sounds like Nurk is going to play at some point on this trip and Ant may as well. Getting them back is huge. I don't know what's up with Winslow, but obviously his availability isn't as important. People forget how this team started out the season. While Hart is no longer on the squad, I like the additions of Reddish and Thybulle. Get healthy and any team with Dame on it has a puncher's chance of winning.

 

So if Nurk makes it back healthy and Simons gets back and Winslow gets back and they beat a couple good teams and win enough games to be above .500 and make the playin or better and actually put a better team on the floor is Lillard getting the scoring title worthwhile? Is 42-40 a winning season because that is very much within reach still. Maybe not probable but it certainly is possible. 12-6 the rest of the way?

I know all about the tank and the value of the pick. I just will never back losing on purpose. Sorry it's my fatal flaw.

 

What the hell is going on?
I go away for one day and you guys screw up the tank!?
Gotta get back on track tonight.....

 

No, because I am Ok with fouling once under 4 seconds.

 

Technically you are correct sir, since one was at about 9.2 seconds, one at I think 6,2 and one at 1.6.

 

I get that... the math would indication that option would be more likely to fail than the strategy we implemented though. Got to give credit to the staff for optimizing our probability of winning (for those rooting for us to win).

 

I get this line of thinking. Every strategy has it's "what-ifs" and the fouling strategy doesn't guarantee a win. However, we fouled as the ball was being dribbled, far from the basket, so the threat of fouling a shooter was fairly minimal. The strategy of fouling on purpose near the 3pt line with under 5 seconds would have increased risk.

I recall this strategy being debated over a decade ago because the purests hated the idea. It took a lot of data to prove this is the optimal strategy. The scenario many people don't think about is the one where Orlando missing a FT and more or less ices the game that way.

I like the strategy because I like optimizing the odds of us winning, but I get why it's not for everyone.

 

What one at 1.6? I just watched it again to make sure. There was at 9.2 and 6.2....and that was it

 

This team can't even tank right!