Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #67 - BLAZERS @ PELICANS - MARCH 16, 2024 - SATURDAY - 4:00 PM PST - ROOT

throw pillows are you new avatar? or are those hot pads?

 

Billups throws in the towel, puts the Remix in

 

14 turnovers from our three point guards.

 

the angry pumpkin was throwing people off. I'm a soft and gentle Blazer fan

 

Good 1st half for Blazers. Halftime adjustments didn't pan out. Portland shot 5-20 from distance in 2nd half (25%)

 

4th quarter stats:
CJ McCollum 13
Blazers 15

 

One interesting thing about that game: between the two teams, they only shot EIGHTEEN FTs! Is this how refs are working to stop the scores being too ridiculous? If so, I approve!

 

How much would people be freaking out if Scoot had been playing like Banton has lately?

 

Not a terrible loss. NOP is very good team and it showed in the second half. Ant is passing a lot more cuz he is seeing the double teaming and I like that. DA continues to roll. Maybe Benton is a legit contributor. Rookies still looking like rookies though. Scoot needs time but the flashes of greatness are there. Not sold on Kris. He needs to get fired up! Tumani is solid.
DA is the teams star for now. That much is crystal clear. Then Ant. POR has some pieces but would be really nice to see Shae develop and this year was a ????

 

This team has an identity crisis as far as whether it wants to be a winner or not. Don't forget Grant and Brogdon... Grant has been the best player at times, and the team is borderline play-in tourney caliber when Brogdon is on the court. If those two were ever suited up at the same time as Ayton, Ant, and Sharpe, it's hard to imagine it not being a playoff team. (Assuming any cohesion were to develop between the five guys who apparently have barely met.) And yet, here we are, sort of tanking toward a top pick in a draft with little established worth going for.

 

The “identity” is tanking.
That has been it for three years now. The team sucks.
The management is sub par. Ownership doesn’t seem to care. The coaching is adequate for tanking.
The culture has changed.
There is little chance they get a game changing pick this year so assume next year they will tank once again.
This rebuild is looking like a decade in the making.

 

Sort of, but I'd say the identity is indecision. They want to be bad enough to tank, but can't quite commit to it. The players have shown they're good enough to be competitive, but half or more of the should-be starters are held out every game. One or two of them start playing well, then it's their turn to watch from the sideline.

 

we should make a cue card for how to respond to disgruntled Blazer fans:
_________________

A) Cronin inherited a bad team. Rome wasn't built in a day.

B) Look how good OKC is, just give the Blazers rebuild some patience

C) I like watching young players grow. Billups seems like a great mentor.

D) this team is dealing with injuries. When X,Y,Z players return, the Blazers will look incredible

E) Portland is not playoff ready, the best course of action is losing for the lottery

* go ahead and freestyle, bring up Lillard's ridiculously huge contract, McCollum is wearing out, Josh Hart can't shoot. Former Blazer bashing can be an enthralling coversation. It can also be helpful to explain how any team that doesn't win the championship sucks. Except for Tyrese Haliburton. Everyone loves that guy.

if grumpy opinions still transpire...
nuke the Blazer fan with, "If all you care about is winning, then go root for a different team."
__________________

 

Pretty much sums it up.
You did however forget that no good players want to play here and there is no valet parking.

 

Man, once that #1 on the Pels stops being so fat….he’s gonna be tough!