OK Honkicracker, thanks for the clip. When Meyers is on the court for enough minutes to shoot, the 60% probability of swish3s that he showed in early season competition can return. He must play determined defense, and is improving. I think that he can contribute 3-5 of the swish3s needed to beat the Rockets. To respond to the idea that making shots are guaranteed, please note that I have never said that shots are guaranteed. I have only pointed to the statistics, which are probabilities of the best estimate of what to expect given past performance. It is not valid to twist what I have said into "guarantees". The Rockets shoot more swish3s than anyone else in the NBA, and will need to be countered by swish3 scoring by the Blazers on Tuesday and in the Western Conference Finals. When the spread court, passing strategy is working, Meyers will have swish3 shots from his sweet spots on the court that can add to power (swish3) scoring and beating the Rockets. Using the optimized combination of players, that should include Meyers and Zach on the court in the 2nd half, the Blazers can keep scoring 15-20 swish3s per game.
The Blazers lost the swish3 contest to the Rockets which made 19 (of 36) swish3s to the Blazers 11 (of 28) for a swish3 scoring deficit of 24 points. This was a game lost due to the swish3 contest as noted by Terry, Dame, commentators, and fans. What I think can be learned from this loss, and how to beat the Rockets in the upcoming games (including the playoffs) is that in the 2nd half, the Blazers shooting the swish3s need to be those with the hot hand. In this game, that was Chief, Mo, Shabazz, and Pat. It would have made more sense and possibly have allowed the win if the 4th quarter shots had been taken by Chief, Mo, Shabazz, and Pat--not by Dame and CJ who were cold--to score the additional points. Only 2 more swish3s would have won this game! In the next Rockets encounters, the Blazers need to go the swish3 shooters with the hot hand, who could have countered those 4th quarter swish3s from Harden to allow the win. Jusuf had another outstanding game, and the front court was a delight, especially in quarters 1-3. The mistake is in who was taking the shots in the 4th quarter, and this flaw can be fixed. End of game scoring need not always come from the guards. The Blazers need more swish3 scoring to win the Championship, and need to carefully analyze who should be taking the shots based on who has the hot hand. This can still be the year!
The Blazers again lost the swish3 contest in the loss to the Celtics, shooting only 8 swish3s (33 attempts) while the Celtics scored 11 in 18 attempts. The Blazers did not find the hot swish3 hand, and did not even make a swish3 in the 2nd half. This Celtics 2nd half game is a good example to illustrate the need to substitute the leading scoring talent, particularly in the last 2 quarters of the game which is when the Blazers show weakness and lose it. In this game in which Ed scored only 4 points in 17 min and Zach scored 0 (shooting 0 for 3 FG and 0 for 2 FT) in 15 min, I would have called on Meyers for at least 8 min during which we might have scored the additional 2 or 3 swish3s in the 4th quarter. The Blazers have to come up with a new strategy for substitution in the 2nd half that increases powerful swish3 scoring by the best players and at the same time keeps the energy level up and the defense aggressive for the end of the game to finish with wins. The Blazers should be scoring 29+ points in the 4th quarter to be competitive in the next games and through the playoffs. This Celtics game was one in which the Blazers won the first 3 quarters and then lost the 4th quarter allowing 38 Celtic points (while scoring only 23)! Evan (0 for 2) and Pat (0 for 6) should not have been taking those swish3 attempts when other Blazers are more probably able to make those 3-4 additional swish3s in the 4th quarter that would win the game. It should be solvable to ramp up at this time in the season to averaging 29 points per quarter, and making 4 or more swish3s in the 4th quarter, to win these games, and the Championship.
The obvious way to increase swish3 shooting is to add @BonesJones and @KingSpeed to the active roster. @KingSpeed is 3/3 all time with swish3s at the Rose Garden. @BonesJones is 5/5 lifetime swish3 shooter at the Rose Garden as well. Both players would help us get the 15 swish3s needed for victory.
The Blazers won over the Thunder today making only 9 of 34 swish3s which was 1 better. This 26.5% swish3 shooting is very weak, and coupled with the 8 point deficit in free throws, was dangerously close to a loss. The Blazers need to be scoring at least 12 swish3s per game, and making 4 or more in the 4th quarter. The only Blazer to shoot swish3s well was CJ (5 of 9), but Evan, Ed, and Pat should not have been attempting swish3s. In the 4th quarter, when Jusuf and Ed were slowing down, I would have played Meyers who remains the Blazers leading swish3 statistical percentage shooter. I remember that up to mid February, before he was being limited to less than 8 min per game, Meyers led all scoring categories, with 9 of 17 (53%) swish3 shooting and 60.6% FG. With those real numbers, Meyers should have taken at least 10 times as many swish3 shots by that time. In situations when the team leading swish3 scoring is needed, especially 4th quarters, it makes sense to play the best talent.
The Blazers scored 10 swish3s of 32 to beat the Pelicans who shot only 4 of 24 (16.7%!) with hot shooting by Shabazz and Evan. That is great, but the first half swish3 shooting was weak. It is great to see Dame hot in the 4th quarter and good determined play by Jusuf.
Blazers were 5 swish3s short of the target of 5 three pointers. Additional 10 attempts from Meyers would have added extra 5 swish3s and got us to 122-103 which would have been a clearer separation between the two teams. When Blazers are not hitting the swish3s they should be putting their best shooter ever and the best shooter in the NBA, Meyers, on the floor.
Ugh First, you'd have to get him open by a country mile. This takes everyone else out of their game. Besides, it's literally impossible to get him that open all game long. Ain't a' gonna happen.
Swish3 hasn't taught you this yet but Meyers is guaranteed to shoot 50% because he shot 9 on 17 until February.
The undeniable fact is that Meyers is a talented swish3 shooter who can add points when needed to win close games. This Blazer asset can be especially important in the 4th quarter of high intensity games at the end of the season and in the playoffs. The potent swish3 scoring force can add the margin to win the Championship. It is not a given that other teams are likely to stop Meyers deliberate accurate shooting. In fact, there are no blocks of Meyers swish3 shots that I remember this year. This objection now represents a negative bias from previous seasons. It is important to focus on the positives that can be used strategically to maximize wins. The discussion of why I am not saying, and have never said, that probabilities are "guarantees" of made shots has been productively explored in the thread, Current All-Time Standings that reference the important scoring efficiency that Meyers can contribute to reaching the Championship. I emphasize that we should value our strengths and look for the steps to the big win that appears now in reach.
By the way, Meyers took no field goal attempts in the Pelicans game tonight. Is it possible that you are faulting Meyers for misses by other Blazers?
Why should people read your posts if you don't read theirs? We've all said multiple times we're HAPPY Nards isn't playing. Therefore no, we're not confusing him with other players.
You who would say that you do not recognize and value the excellent team leading pre-March statistical achievements of Meyers are not in the right mode to maximize probabilities and promote possibilities for the Conference and NBA Championship. If you agree that Championship is within reach, it makes sense to look for and strategically utilize the strongest elements available. To me and others who can acknowledge achieved high percentage shooting, there is a place for contributions of Meyers to the Championship run that lies ahead.
You who would say that you do not recognize and value the fact that a rookie has beat Nards out are not in the right mode to maximize the talent this roster has.
