Game Thread GAME# 1: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 23, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Darkwebs, Dec 19, 2020.

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Predict the Western teams from below that will finish ahead of the Blazers in the standings.

Poll closed Dec 25, 2020.

  1. Lakers

    48 vote(s)
    94.1%

  2. Clippers

    41 vote(s)
    80.4%

  3. Nuggets

    38 vote(s)
    74.5%

  4. Warriors

    8 vote(s)
    15.7%

  5. Rockets

    6 vote(s)
    11.8%

  6. Jazz

    18 vote(s)
    35.3%

  7. Mavericks

    17 vote(s)
    33.3%

  8. Grizzlies

    6 vote(s)
    11.8%

  9. Suns

    9 vote(s)
    17.6%

  10. Pelicans

    7 vote(s)
    13.7%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Moderators: 7

Moderators

  1. BrianFromWA
  2. Chris Craig
  3. Darkwebs
  4. Ed O
  5. PtldPlatypus
  6. SlyPokerDog
  7. Strenuus
Page 39 of 41
  1. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

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    stampedehero, Dec 24, 2020
    #761
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  2. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Seriousy? Stotts coaching acumen is sadly wearing off on Dame's BBIQ. That is unbelievable.
     
    TBpup, Dec 24, 2020
    #762
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  3. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I think the most frustrating thing about this is that they keep saying stuff like 'we know we got to get better', and the team (franchise, etc) uses the excuse that they had less practices, new system and new players, etc.

    Yet in the last *5* games, they've had 1 game where they looked decent and 4 games where they looked like ass. And they keep coming up with excuses.

    Part of me wonders if they're purposely playing like shit on defense (and offense to be honest) in order to get the coaches to get their shit together...but at the same time I don't think Damian is the kind of person who would not be upfront with the team and GM (etc) and deal with this head on.

    Though his performance in last nights game was definitely weird.

    I think we can accept a few players being out of shape and that impacting their play (Nurk is clearly out of shape), but this is a team wide issue. Honestly, the only two guys who seem to be playing defense, are Covington and Jones, and even that's nothing to get excited about outside of the first 5 minutes of last nights game.

    As for their "changes in defense", fool me once...
     
    julius, Dec 24, 2020
    #763
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  4. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    It's like last year. Yes, there were injuries, but the injuries didn't explain away the lack of effort on defense and flat out dumb mistakes on defense.

    Stupid coaching decisions and "schemes". Like, if I'm playing basketball and I leave the guy I'm defending open and he hits a 3, I might give him one more shot to see if that was luck. And if he makes it again, I'm going to change my defensive plan.

    But Stotts? Nope. Let's leave the player open, what are the chances they hit 15 threes in the first half?
    I mean, it can't be that high, right?!

    If this season starts off like last year, lots of running in place, I hope they just tank instead of barely making the playoffs only to lose in 5 games.
     
    julius, Dec 24, 2020
    #764
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  5. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Honestly, I think the NBA's game has passed Stotts system by.
     
    julius, Dec 24, 2020
    #765
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  6. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    Charles Barkley does! :)
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Dec 24, 2020
    #766
  7. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    We will know more about the team once we've played 10-15 games. We went up against a top 5 WC team last night and it showed.
    We don't seem to have the continuity that we did even last year as yet, but it will come, the question is are we talented enough as a team to make the leap?
     
    Hoopguru, Dec 24, 2020
    #767
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  8. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    It's like Chip Kelly..... his offense at Oregon was ahead of its time and had the entirety of college football at a loss..... for like two years and then the rest of the game caught up, people figured out how to defend it, and teams stepped up their conditioning so it wasn't a massive advantage any longer. Now Kelly is basically just a name. He's no longer one of the best coaches in football.

    Stotts can't seem to figure out how to adapt to the new NBA so his answer is to just give the ball to Dame and CJ and let them carry him, which is just good enough to keep him from getting fired. He's the Doug Collins of our team, except the Bulls fired Doug and we for some reason keep on using Stotts.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 24, 2020
    #768
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  9. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I was thinking it was like when the Raptors fired Duane Casey. He had taken them as far as he could. Won COTY, was canned. New coach, and new system (albeit, Leonard helped). But even losing him their system worked well last year.

    As if maybe having a decent coach makes a difference.
     
    julius, Dec 24, 2020
    #769
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  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    The team just looks checked out. You can see on their faces that they're tired of watching Dame/CJ/Melo go 1 on 5 every time down the floor.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 24, 2020
    #770
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  11. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    What if we could just play non-top 5 teams in the Playoffs?
     
    TBpup, Dec 24, 2020
    #771
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  12. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Wow. Reading this thread is crazy.
     
    kjironman1, Dec 24, 2020
    #772
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  13. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Agreed. And I don't necessarily think it's about Dame, as much as it's about CJ and Melo. There's such a thing as being too much of a players coach, and I think that's what we have with Stotts.

    What's the point about complaining about double teams/traps when even given players who can help you, you still don't pass to them.

    I made a point of watching Trent last night (when Melo was in the game). He looked like the guy who is a team with 3 other guys at the park, and there comes a new guy who needs a team and he joins them. But instead of being the team player and passing the ball around (even if it doesn't lead to points, it keeps the defense on it's toes), he just chucks shots all the time, and ignores you when you're open or have a missmatch.

    I'd check out too if I was them.
     
    julius, Dec 24, 2020
    #773
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  14. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Were you expecting sunshine and rainbows in a game where we were down by nearly 30 points for the fourth game in a row?
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 24, 2020
    #774
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  15. AldoTrapani

    AldoTrapani Well-Known Member

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    I love it
     
    AldoTrapani, Dec 24, 2020
    #775
  16. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Haha, true... kinda. I thought he said he wanted to bet on us winning the West; not sure if he was factoring in the odds or not.
     
    Tince, Dec 24, 2020
    #776
  17. AldoTrapani

    AldoTrapani Well-Known Member

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    Thank you!
     
    AldoTrapani, Dec 24, 2020
    #777
  18. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    After watching the last 4 games, all with the same outcome, it's apparent that starting Jones Jr. and Roco ain't gonna work. Neither of those guys can guard the PF position, and it leaves Nurk on an island, reducing his abilities on many levels. Being out rebounded by 19 was a kill shot. No second chance ops at all. Nurk had only 3 rebounds. He can't do it all. Time to put Carmelo(a good rebounder) back in the starting lineup. Jones Jr. is NOT a starting caliber player yet. Just isn't. I don't care if Melo's defense isn't great. He may give up 15, but atleast he scores a potential 20. YOU HAVE TO GUARDDDD HIM. Jones Jr. on defense is nothing special so far. He lost his man most of the night. He's a nice bench addition. Melo will free up Nurk to facilitate more, and get in quality positions to rebound. Melo will help get more second chance points with rebounds as well. Jones Jr., and Roco on the floor at the same time will allow teams to throw 2 to 3 guys at Dame nonstop, because neither has an offensive game, good enough, to make anyone worry about them. If you're not gonna start Melo, then start Giles next to Nurk. He is a REAL PF. Roco is a nice SF.
     
    tykendo, Dec 24, 2020
    #778
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  19. Blazinaway

    Blazinaway Well-Known Member

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    I think you may be right, in addition Melo just tries to do it all by himself in the second unit, he did not do that as much last yr when starting. Also that second unit with Kanter at C is just is horrid defensively, we may be better balanced with Melo starting. What I saw last nigh and preseason confirms my worries of a really bad start.
     
    Blazinaway, Dec 24, 2020
    #779
  20. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    The season is to get ready for the playoffs and obviously we aren't ready and maybe we wont be.
    Its the Barkely curse! and if Dame wants to be MVP he needs to lead this team in a big way!
     
    Hoopguru, Dec 24, 2020
    #780
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