Game Thread 2022-23 Game #39 - BLAZERS @ RAPTORS - JANUARY 8, 2023 - 12:30 PM (PDT) ROOT

Just Win the next 15 games at home

 

Our opinions on how he looks physically are opposed. He doesn't look right physically. I think that is playing into the mental mistakes and frustration he's showing, too. I see a lot of pre-taking-time-off Dame in the last couple of weeks.

 

Yeah, I feel like there is a major trade or two that is just waiting for a week from now. I know the common thing to do is to wait for the trade deadline but if Cronin thinks he has a trade or trades that will save the season for this club then he should pull the trigger as soon as possible.

 

Ladies and Gentlmen...let me introduce your new Portland Turnovers!

 

If the Blazer bench shot 100% from the floor, they would have 14+ points depending on '3's. They just aren't getting a lot of attempts.

 

That's really weird because he is moving great laterally on both ends. He's exploding to the hoop. He's hitting long threes. That's nothing like what we saw early last season. He was a shell of himself and this season he's not. He is making stupid passes we've never seen him make (that's not physical) and he's missing free throws more than usual (also not physical) maybe it's him missing entire defensive possessions because he's arguing fouls with refs (nope that's not physical either).

Just don't get where this is coming from.

 

Our obligatory winning streak against the dregs which will mean absolutely nothing in the Playoffs?

 

Portland's bench shooting the ball:

 

I think people will want Hart if they are trying to compete and may send back a piece that we need. I think the league has to be really intrigued by Ant. If someone wants the most physical big in the league playing for a decent price, they'll give us some value for Nurk. I don't know if JG has said something to the FO about not being here next season but if he has then we could get a lot in return for him and his bird rights.

There are valuable and movable pieces on this roster. Also, I'm not saying we will or should even be thinking about it but Shae would fetch a hefty return. We have more than garbage.

 

Gary Payton didn't play in this game and yet I still think the issues with his acquisition haunt this team.

He's a good player who would help us. Except that we don't have minutes for him to make a big impact at the position he plays, and, if we put him in, he's just another guy that doesn't provide the offense we need -- he's going to play with a group of guys who are complete non-entities on the offensive end and we have to take out either Ant or Dame to play him or go exceptionally small.

Meanwhile, we're playing Eubanks and Watford decent minutes ... we HAVE to play Eubanks and Watford decent minutes, and I can't for the life of me think what they offer in-game that makes us a better team. Eubanks jumps well, but he doesn't score, he doesn't shoot, he's not a particularly good defender although he does block shots emphatically here and there, he's not a particularly good screen-setter or rebounder and, hey, that pretty much describes Watford, too, except he's a 6-7 guy that can dribble.

We needed a guy about 6-8 to come off the bench to do what Payton is going to do: Play really good defense and be a bit of an offensive threat.

 

We are all laughing at the Lakers now see what are record is: 19-20.

 

Yeah, this roster makes no sense. So maybe there will be a trade or trades that make it make sense before it's too late to compete this season but I don't know if that's possible in a meaningful way. We'll have to see.

 

I'd rather that guy be in the starting lineup.

 

Is this really something you want to make an ongoing conversation? Is my eye v your eye that important that we're now going to Round 3 or Round 4 on it?

I don't think he's moving well. I don't think he's as explosive to the hoop as I've seen him when he's healthy, which is why his shot's been getting blocked or he's been getting caught with no idea what to do and throwing the ball away.

That's where it's coming from. He doesn't look right. You can accept that or choose not to accept it, but it's not going to get us anywhere to try to diagnose it for you beyond telling you that's what I see and it isn't what you think you see.