Game Thread GAME# 13: HAWKS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 16, 2021 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

If you think Gary doesn't have handles you should go back and watch some footage of Chief dribbling from the wing for a layup

 

This is the one scare of the night if CJ is out. We have to play Dame all game to win with this group and then that means he'll be done later in the season. If we end up losing a bunch of these games right now because we don't play Dame a lot, then we won't have a chance to make the playoffs. Double-edge sword.

 

hey phones these days like to auto spell

 

Id like to not go down double digits in most of our games, but I’ll take the win.

right now, I’m mostly worried about CJ. Him being out for any extended time is going to sink us.

 

Haha... he was bad, but Aminu can't be the bar for who's a good ball handler and who isn't.

 

hallelujah

 

You're changing the argument... Again. You said I don't want DJJ shooting threes and you've failed to indicate where I said such a thing.

What I'm advocating is more movement on the floor rather than standing still and watching Damian make a play. Cutting, screens, etc would all fit what I've said.

Expanding Gary's role doesn't mean he has to be a playmaker. He can put the ball on the floor more than he did tonight and still not be a playmaker.

 

I'll leave that for the people who are always angry and complaining... that's certainly not me!

 

Wait, you want DJJ shooting more 3's? Wow.

 

Yes, that career high 3 point % brings Melo's TS% almost up to Aminu's last season with the Blazers. Of course Aminu got 2x as many rebounds and played way better defense, but who is counting.

 

Couple notes.
Blazers are pretty lucky they have Kanter.
Giles didn't play bad. has some room to get better but i think he will improve.
Melo had another decent game.
Dame played too many minutes but Trent is a better option with Dame than with Simons.
I watched a couple things from Hood that looked a bit better. I hope we are on the way to getting him back?

 

* I know he's a flawed C, but for me, it's pretty easy to like Kanter. He had a great game tonight, and he's really dependable for points and rebounds

* fuck Olshey and his gawdamn stubborn refusal to add an actual competent backup PG. It's ego-driven mismangement. Tonight was the night, in his 3rd season, for Simons to actually demonstrate some value. He didn't even show G-league value

* Portland's starting forwards were 6-25 on FG's and 1-11 on three's; but they had 19 rebounds and 3 steals. Need a lot more production from that pair though if Portland is going to chase HCA (doubtful)

 

Also, John Collins need to GTFO. Dude had single coverage all game, much of the time, against Melo and Young kept chucking horrible jumpers. I can see why Collins called him out.

Young is shooting 29% from 3 this year. Why is he out there shooting 9 shots from that range?

 

I’m not sure Hoods inefficiency isn’t just him not getting enough looks. Kinda hard to get in rhythm on three shots per game. I’d like to see more of an effort to get him the ball. The second unit doesn’t need to go iso Melo every possession.

 

sorry, but I can't tell whether you're calling out Collins or Young?

 

Collins called out Young earlier this year for his decision making. John needs to get out of ATL. He should have dominated us tonight if his PG could have gotten him more than 10 FGs

 

Yeah, I watched the games. When they passed Aminu the ball and he was open, he shot the 3's, and lo and behold the ball went in over 35% of the time, just a few ticks below Dame's 37%. When they closed out he often took the ball to the rim and shot a high %, got fouled a lot, and made his free throws. He also played D and rebounded really well and hustled 100%. Yes it did work we were 53-29.

 

this was egregious, and i mentioned it here it when it happened.



Down 2, with 23 seconds left in the game and only Melo ahead of you, and you take that?! Even if DJ rotates to the rim to guard, it's an easy kickout to his man for an open shot. But he chucks a somewhat contested 35 foot shot when he's 1 of 8 from that range, prior. He's trying too hard to be Dame, but doesn't realize that Dame makes the right decisions EVERYTIME in these kinds of situations.

 

I get where you're coming from, but I don't buy this logic.

Same thing was said about Covington when he was going 1-5. Tonight, he went 1-13 and getting him more shots almost cost us the game.

These guy need to shoot 33%+ with limited shots before we try to get them more shots.