Game Thread 2022-23 Game #37 - BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 4, 2023 - WEDNESDAY - 5:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

Chauncey in the postgame:

Portland Trail Blazers ‘casual’ approach leads to loss at Minnesota: ‘We’re not good enough to do that’.

So for those questioning the effort and attitude, the guy paid handsomely to lead the team agrees.

 

Dame? Nobody lol.. he’s about to be 33. His prime is done unfortunately..

 

Hes good yes but hell no on all nba.. stop being a Homer.

 

Or...

1. He doesn't want to say the truth because it could put the team at a competitive disadvantage in future games
2. He, like people here, is unable to identify the root cause of the issues, and is taking the easy way out.

If coaches only spoke the truth, you would also hear them come out and say that their team won because their opponent had bad effort, focus, attitude, etc. However, you never hear that! Anyone who has been listening to press conferences for any length of time, realizes how calculated and meaningless the majority of the answers are.

Hell, Dame has been saying in press conferences for nearly a decade he thinks <<insert current group>> is special, has the togetherness, heart, etc. to compete for a title. It's been true once. Just because these guys are saying things to the media, doesn't make it true.

 

It's a long season and we're not even half way. He also had time missed. With that said, what guards are scoring more points than Dame? Luka, SGA, Mitchell and Trae of those guys SGA and Mitchell have less assists than Dame and SGA and Trae are stat stuffers on bad teams. I'll say again that Dame is playing the best defense he's played in his career and his offensive numbers are higher than his career averages. I'm not a homer. I'm not tripping right now because I didn't think this team as constructed would win 50 games, I didn't think they were likely to make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I'm also not a fucking captive of the moment and I know that Dame is playing some of the best ball of his career but he's been inconsistent after a year off and then missing some time already with an injury. So, give it some time Mr. Negativity. I'm a realist. I know that Dame's numbers will likely go up and some of these other guys who look like they're breaking out for the first time will level off a little lower than they are now.

So I'm predicting that Dame is on one of the three all NBA teams and funny enough, I don't think it's a bold prediction.

 

I missed that JailBlazers team. We all knew that we are going to win before the game starts it’s just a matter of how much.

 

This grown ass man said I made him “feel bad”
Because I don’t think my lifelong favorite team isn’t going to the finals every year. You can’t make this shit up.

 

EXAMPLE A - what happens when you go out and put money on a team with a rookie coach and that is playing rookies rotational minutes to win a Championship.

 

He's a rookie coach. I see some good things but he's still coaching his first real year. He also has Scotty Brooks as his assistant. Not a real fan of Brooks at all. I think Rogers is probably pretty good but he doesn't have a bunch to work with. I got to say he has done pretty well with Nurk and Drew.

 

That was unwatchable holy shit the foul calls

 

Ticky tack ish in the paint ruins the nba

 

took the liberty of correcting your typo

 

I didn't read the game thread until this morning over my coffee. Responding to concerns... final tally, Blazers with 30 fouls Timberwolves 30 as well. Portland 42 Free Throws Attempted, Minnesota 36. Portland had 16 Turnovers, 14 for the Wolves.

SOS with the most prolific posters here. Build up ridiculous expectations in the offseason, then meltdown when those expectations aren't met. Blame the player's mindsets, blame the coach, blame the refs. Along with the usual few realistic posters here, I sited a lack of talent on the roster and chemistry issues for what talent they do have to predict mediocrity. Talent is what wins in the NBA. While I said positive things about the guys they acquired, I also stated that they didn't have enough in place for those additions to add up to the Blazers being contenders in the short term to "build around Dame". That management seemed to be trying to take two roads (now & the future) instead of committing to one. Along with the usuals I was shouted down and told to wait and see... same thing I was told umpteen times during Soapy's GM reign of meh.

I take some solace in Cronin's/management's acquisitions. Shaedon looks like a great pick, heck Walker might prove a viable rotation piece as well. I think the guys targeted (Hart, Grant and Payton) are solid winning players. Management having an eye for talent bodes well for down the line. But the clock is ticking on Dame time and they need more talent in the rotation real soon if they're going to contend with him as the centerpiece. This obvious truth is even more clear today then it was this past summer. I hope they've been just biding their time to make a bold move and deal one of their two PGs for frontcourt talent that can balance the lineup, but until then my expectations remain tempered.

STOMP

 

arent BKN and BOS first year coaches?

 

Didn't you mean to say that his posts are douchebagish?

 

Which is one reason I have left this forum.
This, is NOT fun anymore.
But then again, neither is this team.
Till we meet again.
Peace.

 

I disagree but i can respect your opinion on this. The "Irrefutable" tag is outright laughable at this point.