Game Thread GAME# 59: BLAZERS @ PISTONS - FEBRUARY 28, 2017 - TUESDAY, 4:30 PM (PST), CSNNW

Caught the end of regulation on the Radio. Nice subtle tank job by Dame missing that technical free throw.

 

And giving Ish an open free throw by going under the screen. I don't give Dame enough credit. He knows what he is doing.

 

If you're going to put the blame there, you should also put it on Stotts.
The gameplan for every team is to go under the pick and roll for Ish Smith, the guy has an EFG of 45% this year.
Literally anything outside of 10ft he shoots under 40% from the field. He also had a bunny from less than 10 feet late in OT that he all but airballed.
Portland turned the ball over too much, and gave up key offensive rebounds. These two things had more to do with the loss than Morris going for nearly 40, and Ish Smith hitting a couple jumpers.

 

But rim protection is what we were missing on D. LOL

 

I watched the game this time. We looked good most of the game but then kinda threw it away. There are some things I think we could have done differently but mostly it was the attitude, the lack of confidence. we are better than our record but we lose games we should win, forefit big leads, the players just don't seem to really believe in themselves.
Oh well, I guess it just isn't our season

 

Who said that about last nights game?

 

He meant in general what the theme has been this team needs.

So in reality it's really Dame atrocious defense that's the biggest problem

 

Cippy. Post 32

 

CJ lost some focus last night, and our P&R d with Nurk needs some work.

Still, that scoop finger roll thing Nurk threw up off @ 1:00 of Dame's pass was so sick. So much skill. Don't care about wins anymore, only development.

 

It's crazy. He has yet to play a home game.

 

Wow. I didn't realize that. But ya, that is crazy

 

I am not a big +/- guys but I could not help but notice that Vonleh was a +18 and no one else was even close.
All the other starters were + 1, 2, or 3.

On the flip side our bench got worked. Aminu was a -24.
Crabbe (-23) played well with the 1st unit (in the 4th) but not well with the bench.

 

Yeah, I saw Nurk get caught in no mans land a lot defensively on pick and rolls, but that's not all his fault. Our guards need to step up and stop being afraid of screens. It leaves our bigs out to dry. That being said, Nurk still needs to do a better job of staying back. It'll come with time.

I also think we should play through Nurk down low early in games. Get him in a rhythm. I've also noticed when he backs down with patience it usually ends with two points, or a foul(not always called btw, which is aggravating.) Get the opposing center in foul trouble. Dame likes to start games by deferring anyways, so it wouldn't be a bad idea. Same with Vonleh. Post those boys up and set the tempo.

 

Our start was terrific last night. I swear, we have the most losses in games in which we led by double digits.

 

Thank god Stotts rewarded him with crunch time minutes ...

 

Yeah at some point he has to, just to see how he responds. But Terry has always favored small ball when we are down in crunch time. Harkless at the 4 and Crabbe at the 3 did hep bring them back last night. But in a 53 minute game, Vonleh should have played more than 19 minutes.

 

We're only 2.5 games out of the #4 slot for the lotto. .

 

Crabbe played well at the 3. When he plays the 2 the team struggles, no matter if it's Dame or CJ as PGs. In the game Stotts used Napier as Dame's backup, usually playing him with CJ when Dame sits. He tried a bit of Dame with Napier but then subbed him out. I think it's a better lineup than Dame and Crabbe, even better is Dame, Napier and Crabbe. Crabbe is a 2/3 but when he plays the 3 he's more effective, his talent is better utilized. I've said in another thread, we should go smaller in the backcourt (Napier playing with both Dame or CJ) and bigger in the front court with Vonleh or Leonard at PF and Ed Davis should also be getting a chance. Even though he had a very slow start of the season, he could be helping us right now

 

2.5 from the playoffs........ 2.5 from the #4 pick............ Interesting