Game Thread 2022-23 Game #58 - BLAZERS VS WIZARDS - FEBRUARY 14, 2023 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

He got snubbed for rising stars so fuck them. The league doesn't deserve to have Sharpe to save their show.

 

Then the same thing happens on the other end and they don't call it.

 

Compared to the last game vs the Wizards, it's almost as if not having 21 more points from Kuzma, 17 fewer points from Watford, and 19 fewer points from the starting 5 makes a difference in the outcome.

On the plus side, Shaedon is showing growth in the variety of his offense and his aggressiveness. Now we just need consistency from him (which I believe they will see from him), i.e., rebounds, assists and defense.

Overall, the teams defense is strange. Even with a borderline great defender in Thybulle, they looked lost at times. I think some of that can be chalked up to a few things. For starters (no pun intended), this is almost a brand new starting 5 from just a week ago. It will take time for Matisse and Cam to get into a groove. Imho, Matisse last night is more likely what they'll get out of him vs what they got out of him vs the Lakers. But they didn't lose because of his lack of offense. They lost for a few reasons, most noticeably is that the Wizards couldn't miss and the team still is massively undersized and plays defense like they're 8th graders vs the Duke Blue Devils.

KP and KK are both listed over 6'9". No (healthy) Blazer is currently listed over 6'9" other than Drew (at least no player who isn't a project), and as much as Drew is good at times, he's never going to be a threat on offense like KK or KP are. Put Grant in the starting 5, and with the team having gelled a bit (i.e., Dame, Simons, Thybulle/Reddish and Grant have had a chance to get to know each others tendencies, etc), and I think the outcome of this game changes a bit. NOT saying it's a guaranteed win, but I think they wouldn't look like a deer in headlights as much as they did.

But that's kind of to be expected, all things considered (still a bad team, young, a starting 5 with 2 players playing their 2nd and 3rd games). There were definitely some negatives to take from the game though (I think we all know what those are).

It'll be interesting to see how the team handles Simons injury. I.e., who starts in his place, IF the team is better (as some think) with a taller SG/less ball dominant/better at D, vs how they perform with someone who is a threat at the SG spot offensively.

I shouldn't post so much info (trying to be reflective before 6 AM).