Game Thread GAME# 64: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - MARCH 5, 2018 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM, NBCSNW

I have been hearing this argument for years all the way back to Adelman who was labeled too rigid, won't change rotations and doesn't make adjustments. It's the same story for every coach the Blazers have had. No coach is perfect, not even Pops as his team has struggled the last few years since Duncan left. Unless someone in this forum is at all the practices and in the huddles, pregame planning and halftime discussions nobody can say what changes or adjustments aren't being discussed.

 

Bwahahahahahaha!

 

I understand what you are saying, but I don't entirely agree. Case in point: Nate was inflexible about the offense, but you can't really say that about defense. We can't know what schemes are discussed, but we do see what schemes are implemented.

 

Jerking your chain?

 

Their scheme has now changed on the O side has changed with the additions of the new players, rather than just locking down Dame & CJ we now have some lethal options.
On the D side we are a bit better than last year.
The West is so competitive that right now it looks as if a number of teams could contend and maybe give GS a series.

 

Nate's issue was playing his starters into the ground regular season and being injured or burned out come playoff time...we don't have to do that anymore with a bench...the bench isn't consistent yet at all but has looked great in short sample sizes. I like that we can win without Dame or CJ needing to score more than half our points and there's some hesitancy to share the ball but that's getting better these days...I see improvement and think we are way better built for the playoffs than we have been in a long while. Personally I don't think "schemes" is our issue in losses...it's lack of execution ...turnovers, bricked free throws, ticky tac fouls, etc....disclaimer....riverman is a fan, not a basketball expert by any stretch and as a fan, I like what I'm seeing...Pops would lose several games every regular season just in order to give his bench players big minutes and prepare them for playoff time...smart coaching. He'd sit Duncan, Parker and Ginobli and make Danny Green the go to guy for a night...people knew why he did it....

 

The issue to me is that the Blazers are now 2-6 on the road against non-playoff teams in the West. That includes 0-4 against the 13th and 14th teams in the West, Dallas and Memphis.

That simply isn't good enough.

 

Playoffs is a new season and Dallas and Memphis won't be in the playoffs.

 

That's just a glitch in the Matrix....

 

Suns beat the Warriors early in the season too

 

And we're also not in the Eastern conference so we won't get to pad our playoff record against them.

If we can't beat non-playoff teams on the road it doesn't bode well for the playoffs when we face better teams.

 

We’ve beaten some decent WC playoff teams on the road as well.

 

Like i said, it's a new season when it comes to playoffs and we have a top 10 record on the road. History is nice but come playoffs just like a new season everyone starts off equal. Too many people dwell on the negatives.

 

It's always BonesJones. Wonder why it always includes the same dude?

 

We had a poor stretch during those losses...seems to me that the staff has probably addressed the film of those losses and we've improved since. I think it's difficult for some folks to see the value in a players coach approach as opposed to a Stan Van Gundy or Thibs approach to a game where they berate players for 48 minutes and lose their voice at the end of a game.....I'm not a fan of that style and think Stotts is actually refreshing with his trust in the players...he doesn't yank a guy just because he's missed a couple of shots in a row or turned the ball over

 

So you honestly think the coaches and all of the support that goes with it doesn't get tired also? @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsTheHCP i bet would disagree with you wholeheartedly.

 

considering the conduct, you should have BM'd

 

timing is everything

 

You guys are obviously missing my point. We are making the same mistakes that have plagued us in the playoffs. It's not about berating the players, it's about continuing to play a style that falls apart when teams take away Dame on the pick and roll and a failure to try a different pick and roll scheme on defense when an opposing player is going off hitting shot after shot in his comfort zone.

How many playoff series do we need to see before realizing the current approach isn't the best for post season success? What leads you guys to believe this year will be different?