Game Thread GAME# 1: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - OCTOBER 25, 2016 - TUESDAY, 7:00 (PDT), KGW

He wasn't especially bad. He was typical Meyers, just sort of there, not contributing much unless he's making 3s, and I think he got like one shot off. Other guys just bring more to the table

 

It can be said that Meyers is a game changer.
He may have set an NBA record for quickest bone head move after entering a game. There was an illegal D call about 3 seconds after he entered the game, not sure if he was the culprit.

 

One of the few things I can criticize Lillard/CJ for last night is missing Nards wide open on the pick and pop at least 5 times.
Granted it's Nards so wide open means he's going to pump fake and not shoot...
But still I'm 100% positive Stotts will mention it in the film session.
Gobert had no idea what to do against the pick and roll with Nards in the game. So it is what it is.

 

Yep. Meyers was open a lot and they didn't pass to him. He was covered on the one shot he did take.

 

And it's funny how more people talk about Damian's efficiency, but when it came to LaMarcus, everyone just wanted to kiss his ass and look at his average, and Damian at his worst efficiency was better than LA.

 

Ok, that's an exaggeration. The wait staff there is very slow. You can't rush a $9 aluminum can of Bud Light.

 

A recurring theme carrying over from previous years. Other team has very hot player (Johnson) and Stotts doesn't seem to have an answer.

 

Has it been asked whether we set a record for most consecutive made 3's (7) by one team to start a season?

How often have two teams shot 100% from the FT line in an opener?

How do we never lose home openers in the new millenium, and what does another such win tell us about the rest of the season?

Statistically, Golden State is exactly as bad as New York at this point in the season. Thanks Durant!

 

Meyers played 9 minutes. I am not totally sure they were even going to play him until Mason got into foul trouble.
So when he entered the game it was during an important stretch. He came in cold off the bench while the others were not. I prefer they let the guy get warmed up before they start force feeding him the ball. They had other options.

 

Except that he did call a bunch of switches at the end of the game that shut Joe down at the most critical point of the game. And, when a guy like Johnson is "on", it can be pretty tough to shut him down for an entire game, just like it was impossible for the Jazz to shut Dame down.

 

Every change factors in something new. It's easy to think you win this going away if you add Favors and Hayward into the equation. However then how many looks do Johnson and Hood get? The Jazz certainly don't run the ball through JJ as much as they did in the second half where he had 27 points. Don't get me wrong you guys wouldn't have been worse off with your injured players healthy, but there are too many factors in sports to claim you would have won this in any fashion with your usual roster.

Fun fact - Many thought that adding an MVP in Durant to the Warriors would make them unbeatable. Well the Spurs put that to an end real quick when they beat them on the road by almost 30. Simply put you cannot assume that having more talent on the floor = greater success. Doesn't work that way in a league where players like Sundiata Gaines hits game winners on a 10-day.

 

Dame made Gobert his bitch.... again!

 

Thomas/Dumars/Johnson

 

Not saying it was wrong not to pass him the ball. Just saying he was open and he didn't get it.
As I said it's about the only thing I could criticize Lillard & CJ for. Missing an open teammate several times.
@julius asked how Nards did and I mentioned he could have done better if he got the ball and didn't attempt to pump fake Casper.
Especially considering Nards is about as good as Harden or Curry on defense. Will never be useful on that end of the court outside of the off-chance he does well against Cousins again.......
Personally, I'd rather Lillard/CJ take the easy layup with Gobert looking lost the whole game.
Still though, I'd bet my paycheck Stotts mentions how open Nards was in the film room. Or actually... I bet Lillard/CJ mention it.

 

He actually made an adjustment or the players did on the fly. Which forced ISO joe's first miss after he got so hot.
But being that I saw this same adjustment in the pre-season once or twice. Can say they've at least spoke about it.
Certainly did not happen fast enough ~