Game Thread GAME# 29: BLAZERS @ WARRIORS - DECEMBER 17, 2016 - SATURDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), NBATV & CSNNW

He did play for the Kings, where he averaged 5.89 PPG @ 31.5%, 2.33 RPG, and 2.22 APG; but he has returned to Portland due to a family members illness.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/12/12/13931842/steve-blake-likely-done-in-australia-sydney-kings

 

Most lopsided game in the entire NBA season so far. can't say I'm surprised.

 

...Ian Clark pwns Lillard

 

Note to self: don't watch the first or second halves.

 

The good news is that when Aminu and Festus are both back next year, we'll be better defensively. Hell, that's only 11 months from now

 

Im coming around to the idea that we have no shot with Dame n CJ. That defense is pathetic

 

We have no chance at being better than GS when they have better players at the positions where we supposedly have the biggest advantage. Cj for Boogie. Work out the numbers, just do it.

Sigh

 

I'm so glad I didn't watch this game. My heart, soul, and blood pressure just can't take it.

As much as I want to fire Stotts.....I'm starting to come around to the idea that he may actually not be the problem. It may be a sheer lack of talent on this roster.

Mind you......if we had a different (better?) coach on this team, would he be able to get more talent out of this roster?

Therein lies the question. And I have no answer for that.

 

That was awesome. The keys to the game came in right before player announcement and I thought that was a perfect spot.

I have to say, all conflicts aside, I think it is pretty special to have @HCP here and have direct interactions with the fans.
I know he says he is just a fan too, and that's awesome, but to have the ability to discuss and offer suggestions/ideas, and actually have them addressed is something I am pretty sure is fairly unique among teams and their fans.
Thanks @HCP for being one of us and yet taking our thoughts into consideration when it comes to the professionalism of the Blazers and the fans grievances.

Truly standup considering the issues we have had in the past. My hat is off to you sir.

Now if you can just fix our damn defense.....

 

It was very easy to watch, because we were immediately far behind. The outcome was obvious early in the 1st quarter. It's the close ones which are stressful.

 

Chad Doing and I had this very discussion on the 5th Quarter last night. As long as your two best players and team leader are the worst offenders at defense, this team is going no where. There is no example set for the rest of the team to follow from a defensive standpoint. Dame has a large burden to carry offensively as well as leading the team but that's not working. I'd much rather see him play 4 minutes less per game and go all out on both ends of the court than lead the league in minutes and only be an offensive player....same with CJ.

If Stotts were to cut him back just 4 mpg, that would be the equivalent of ~10 games over and 82 game schedule. You would have a more rested player and perhaps a leader who by example, was playing both sides of the ball. If Dame/CJ were giving it up on defense. how could the rest of the team not fall in line at least from an effort standpoint?

They are lacking from a structural standpoint on defense which I can live with the but lack of effort is unacceptable and that starts at the top with Dame and CJ. Stotts has a part in this too as they are so soft on defense in their approach. There is NO physicality to their defense whatsoever and it is too easy for an opponent to get into a nice rhythm offensively which has been proven time and time again. Players or teams are setting season highs against the Blazers on a nightly basis and there is just too much talent (albeit flawed) and young legs on this roster for that to be the case.

Losing to the Warriors is no sin. HOW they lost to the Warriors (and the Nuggets) is inexcusable.

 

I dont think it's effort. They're just limited physically. Plus they don't have the smarts (yet) to compensate.

It's possible to hide one negative on defense. Terry managed as much two years ago when had Wes, Aldridge, Nic, and Rolo on the team. It's hard to hide two in the backcourt when your center offers 0 rim protection. I really like Mase but he too is physically limited.

 

It's been 11 years since we won or lost by at least 45 points.

won
http://bkref.com/tiny/rTKPw
lost
http://bkref.com/tiny/1MhIk

 

CJ may be a worse defender than Harden....I watched the whole game last night at work...unfortunate that this was a game I got to see start to end. Mason has no touch around the rim at all...how many alley oops did he brick last night? Turnovers.......terrible. It was an embarrassment to watch. We don't pass well, dribble way too much and try to force too many bad shots at the rim. If the 3 pt shot isn't clicking...basically we're fucked

 

The clippers game was a turning point lol....

 

This. It's not effort. That's a convenient excuse, because it's easier to say that rather than "you're just not good enough." The team is consistently getting smoked, the same way, every game. You're telling me they literally never put in effort? Please. Same with blaming the coach. He's been behind a good defensive unit before, so..did he forget how to coach? Of course not. He just doesn't have the pieces. He doesn't have robin Lopez. He doesn't have Wes Matthews. His best defender is injured. His centers are power forwards. The one guy that's built like a center is actually a shooting guard. His backcourt is undersized.

We need a center desperately. That's the first step.

I also think we need some veteran players. We need some old heads. It's easy to forget how young this team is. They miss Henderson and Kamans leadership. They weren't afraid to call out anyone. Right now our only leader is Dame. All the other voices in the locker room are either non existent, or a work in progress

 

Golden State's analysis of how bad we are (podcast).

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/18/warriors-all-82-podcast-recapping-the-blazers-blowout-win/

 

I don't understand why Stotts didn't rest our top 7 players in this game.
What can you possibly gain by playing all your key players at Golden State?

Alternatively, i would just foul the Whoriros on every possession, let's see what happens when ALL of our players get fouled out plus their crowd will have to endure the most boring game of all times. Even if the refs will whistle for techs on you they'll just serve the purpose of ruining the game even more.

God, i hate DaRat