Game Thread GAME# 62: BLAZERS @ RAPTORS - MARCH 1, 2019 - FRIDAY, 5:00 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

4 seconds is more then enough time to get your back to the basket and turn around and shoot a ball over a guy, especially when your 6 inches taller. Its not like Moe had stopped Kawhi either at that point.

Also I said I thought they would put length on the court while Dame was shooting FT’s and they didnt. Stotts obviously thought Nurse would call a timeout. In fact Nurse not calling a timeout probably had something to do with Dame and CJ both being out there he knew he could get match ups he wanted.

 

Again:

 

Kawhi in this goes to a postish type turnaround shot. Starts his move at 7.1 seconds ball is out of his hands aat 3.5 seconds. I dont know really why they obviously planned to switch, but they did plan to switch. Not sure why they didnt blitz Kawhi and try to make him give up the ball, but hey I bet both teams could think of a dozen things they wish they did differently in that game.

 

Thing is he didn't have a side clear against us. Even then, switching off a 6'9 for a 6'3 defender to guard against a postup doesnt make sense.

 

Correct, but once against this is another example of Stotts sucking at situational basketball, especially defense.

 

Well my point is he had plenty of time to do whatever he wanted in order to get a shot off over a player 6inches shorter.

I also think Stotts really thought they were going to call a timeout and he could put in his defensive players. I dont think he made any substitutions during the ft’s, I cant imagine he wanted Dame and CJ in for Toronto’s last play.

 

That's terrible on Stotts if he thought that. He couldve easily made a substitution during FTs.

 

Not excusing it. Just making observations because it seemed like the Blazers as a team thought they were going to call time out.
Honestly I hate losing, but in terms of losses, this one didnt sting all that bad for me. I was actually surprised they mustered the energy to even come back and make a good game. When they were down in the teens, I was like well its the 5th game of a long road trip their next game starts at 10am (home time), maybe they should think about letting the starters rest.

So I dont know, lots of things could have happened differently that would altered the game. Nurks foul trouble was a huge reason why Meyers got all the minutes he did in the 1st place.

Maybe I should be more annoyed about it, because they couldve won.

 

CJ was great tonight. It always hurts when a key cog misses late in a tight game. But CJ carried the team for a lot of the night scoring wise. He just needs to stop those no look passes that go to no one but the courtside fans.

 

I wouldnt say all-around great. His scoring was great, but some of his turnovers and decisions on offense were ridiculous, and numerous. His off-ball defense was very bad too. It sucks, if he was simply mediocre in those areas to go along with his tremendous scoring night, we would've won.

 

Not at all.

Dont think you're dumb. Telling me "HS and NBA are different" was dumb though. That's the same as me telling you "night and day are opposites".

 

@BonesJones

Why can't we just respectfully discuss basketball? We can disagree without attacking each others knowledge of the game.

I know I'm at fault here just as much as you, but I really don't like how most of our exchanges end up being like because I honestly respect your opinion and enjoy discussing basketball with you (most of the time).

 

Again, the comment was not meant to insinuate that you didn't know the difference, but sorry if it came off that way.

 

I just get annoyed with you (or anyone) pointing out obvious stuff that we both know is already true, mostly. Often times its like, "Does this dude really feel the need to explain to me that HS and NBA are different levels? Seriously?"... Im using experience to explain my opinion and it seems like you're trying to discount that with quotes like those as if "You didnt play in the NBA so your experience brings you no insight". That's how it comes across to me.

 

That's fair. I agree on those turnovers. They seem to happen every game. He's an integral part of this team, but he also needs to understand the big picture. Sometimes he seems to go into this "Harlem Globetrotters" mode. Yes, showtime is a part of making the game we all love entertaining. But it can't get in the way of the ultimate goal, winning the game.

 

I hope they do. It would mean they won three series and made it to the Finals.

 

Ain't gonna happen. Many have tried to no avail. "Stotts Sucks!" is all you will get. Doesn't ever account that his HS experience might not equate to trying to guard a player on the NBA level like Kawhi Leonard or maybe Kevin Durant or even Steph Curry. You can plug in whatever top five MVP player you like. Lebron would work also. Harden? They make shots and get advantages because they are the very best at the very best level. Kudos for trying but you will eventually give up.

 

This is the classic shit that gets me trying to set people straight and gets others saying "Bones" always argues.
Bones: From my experience, you should be able to be prepared for specific situations and should have specific schemes to guard in those specific situations.
JDC: HS is different from the NBA.
KJ: Yeah, he doesn't realize his HS experience isn't equal to guarding NBA players. (You know this isn't true smfh).
Then I'll respond, and then someone will come in here and somehow blame it on me with "You argue with everyone!!!"

Maybe if people didn't respond with such bullshit. Smh. Ridiculous.

 

So apparently you can't be prepared for specific situations through practice in the NBA. Why? Because I did it in HS and college and that's not the same as the NBA, obviously.

#logic

 

Never going to happen since the memorandum from the league to the refs telling them to screw us every game.