Game Thread GAME# 47: BLAZERS @ PISTONS - MARCH 31, 2021 - WEDNESDAY, 4:00, NBCSNW

Blazers with another two full days off. Much needed and maybe they can work out some wrinkles in the offense/defense.
Go get this one Blazers.

 

It would be nice if CJ would come off the bench and let Powell start at SG.

 

I voted DJ. Mostly a matter of don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

 

I voted DJJ, then we can have a three guard line up of Dame CJ and Powell. Ant should only be playing in blowouts, his defense is so bad.

 

4 seed in reach.

If Lakers lose tonight and to Bucks
If Nuggets lose to Sixers

then we’re 4th with a win over Pistons

then we work on getting to 3rd

 

Dammit Otto.

 

Blazers with a chance to close out a disappointing 4-0 roadtrip!

 

Another game that we should win and I think we'll kick the Pistons' asses. I do wish that Terry had the balls and mindset to start Dame, Powell, DJ, RoCo and Nurk. Starting the game with four really good defenders around Dame that can all produce on offense is the best idea. I still think CJ should get over 30 minutes a game but just bring him off of the bench. Regardless the trade and having Nurk back plus playing a bunch of shitty teams has been fun to watch.

 

So many posters use stats to make their case on players that i decided to look deeper into the CJ vs Powell conversation. Came up with some pretty interesting numbers. I'm using this years numbers.
Per- CJ 22.6 Powell 15 (League Average)
Block% - CJ 1.3 Powell 1.4 ( I kind of expected this )
FTr - CJ .157 Powell .737 (absolutely blistering Powell is like one of the very best in the entire league. Even James harden is .428)
FT% - CJ 87% Powell 64% ( This is an aberration because Powell has been in the 80's most of his career) Not sure what is up here?
DBPM - CJ -1.9 Powell -.08 ( 1 point difference )
OBPM - CJ 5.8 Powell -1.3 (not even close full 7 point difference)
Win share - CJ 2.1 Powell 0.1
Feel free to bring up another metric if you think it will trump what i have here.

You guys I'm sorry but i have to go with Stotts here. CJ not only is the better player but he hands down gives this team a better chance to win. Please don't throw out there what CJ makes because mid season those things don't change and honestly from the looks of the numbers this season CJ is earning his paycheck.

 

Dame should not play in this game. Pistons are garbage

 

Dame is clearly not 100%. Rest his ass.

 

I would consider that as well.

 

I'll be interested to see how Terry handles the inevitable Melo+Kanter minutes with Nurk back.

Nick Nurse let us off the hook at the end of the 3rd having Stanley Johnson out there. Gave us a spot to hide Kanter. Was a key stretch in that game.

The all bench lineups with those two were a joke to start the season and having one of RoCo and DJJ helps, but one guy can only do so much.

 

One issue here is that CJ's advanced stats have seen a drastic improvement this year and it's not clear how much of that is real. If I recall correctly, before coming back from injury, CJ's TS% was at 0.620 and BPM around +6.0. Now he's down to 0.576 and +3.9. Still fantastic numbers but where will they settle? CJ's average for the past 3 years are 0.543 and +0.9. The comparison depends largely on how much of CJ's current year bump will sustain. To complicate matters even more, Powell's numbers have also improved quite a bit, but over a longer time frame with larger sample sizes.

Also I just noticed that you are using Powell's stats as a Blazer. That's way way way too small of a sample. Ideally you'd like to use at least one year of data though when players are improving it can be problematic.

 

Not a bad idea. I have often thought it was ideal for CJ to come off the bench. But now I am not so sure it makes a difference.
Either way, he is getting the same amount of minutes and we do need him to close out games. So maybe it is best to have DJ on the floor with Kanter and Melo? They also need his D.