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

you double luka, you get burned

 

My question/concern is when fully healthy, will Chauncey have the guts to bench Dame and Ant for possessions when we absolutely need defensive stops. Would he be willing to put a lineup of Nurk/Grant/Hart/Winslow/GP2 for late game possessions?

 

What do you expect? Sharpe is a rookie on a top 4 team in the west. It’s not like he’s a 2nd or 3rd option player.

 

I think if the Blazers are up, 8 seconds left, and the ball in the opponents possession , with a chance for that team to tie or win, Dame would gladly want the best defensive guys to be on the floor with a chance to seal the victory with defense.

 

Fair point, but teams have lucked out against the Blazers missing plenty of wide open 3's as well.

 

Yes.

 

We're good enough to win every game no matter who it's against. The fact that we were in this without our only rotation level big and our sixth man is a testament to how good this team is. We also aren't taking full advantage of the talent we have out there. Shae should be getting more touches and shot attempts.

I honestly think that Joe and Chauncey are really smart guys and there will be a trade made (probably near the deadline) that frees up PT and touches for Shae and upgrades our post play. That's what this team needs better depth/talent in the post and less redundancy on the perimeter.

 

First game all year I wasn’t able to watch. But from the highlights I saw enough. The right guy got hot at the right time.

 

The wrong fucking guy got hot at the wrong fucking time. Other than that, yeah a guy on the other team got really hot made a few threes and that was the difference.

 

If we had Nurk, Justise, GP2, Luka would've had a harder time and we probably win. Luka is simply amazing

 

Of course Dame can carry a team at times, but that had nothing to do with what I posted. And the Blazers were missing key players....which also didn't have to do with what I posted. With Dame/Ant, much like Dame/CJ, there were far too many possessions where 4 guys were just standing around not moving while one player with the ball would hold it, jab step, crossover multiple times and completely stagnate the offense and rhythm of everyone else on the court.

When they did move the ball, they got good, open shots. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't, but that is what you want. And it is MUCH more fun to watch as a fan regardless of who is on the floor.

 

Josh 0-9 and 2-6 from the free throw line. He cost us the game imo. Was out of control sometimes. Sharpe and GP2 should get some of his minutes

 

Sure. If they have a time out and can call it to get him back on in case they need a score. Without being able to get him back on the court for offense you will not be seeing Dame out in a close game at the end. We could talk about a thousand scenarios here but in the end you win or lose with your best players on the court.

 

It depends on a lot of things. What is the score and how much time is left? If the other team needs 3s then there would be no need for Nurk. I might want an extra clutch free-throw shooter in there in his place. But up 2 with less than 10 seconds Chauncey should have that line up in, but I am not sure that he would.

As for tonight's game..... that is the downside of the zone against good 3-point shooting teams, at some point of whipping it around the perimeter, someone will get open, especially at the end of the game and the end of the long road trip. The focus and energy were not good enough in the last few minutes. That happens to most teams. I will take 4-2 on that trip when most of us before the season would have killed for 3-3 or even 2-4

 

One more of the thousands of scenarios. Dame is pretty much automatic from the FT line at the end of a game.

 

Look, that game was totally win-able. Defensive breakdowns, bad passes, missed a few shots too. Hart had one of his worst games you will ever see from him. Doubling Luka isn't worth it. Put him on the line. Healthy Portland can more than handle Dallas. Adding either Nurk, Justise, and GPII, hell even Keon, are each significant help. Healthy and smarter, Portland should take Dallas in a 7 game series.

 

The zone wasn’t the problem in this game. The zone was right coverage this game. Dallas came into this game at 19th in 3P%. Before that barrage of 3s at the end by Dinwiddie, they were only shooting 10-39 (25%). And Portland was in man coverage when Dinwiddie hit those 3s. The problem was they were rotating off the WRONG guy. You need to stay at home on Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie was shooting 43% from 3 on the season. He just had a game where he hit 7 3s vs the Wizards. While all of the other Mavs on the floor at the time have only been shooting 29-33% from 3 on the season.

 

Looks like Winslow is our 6th man, our most important bench player.

 

@Chris Craig needs to open up the Spurs thread!