Game Thread GAME# 71: BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - MARCH 20, 2016 - SUNDAY, 1:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

I just hope we don't pull a PHX and make a bunch of questionable moves to try and get better next year, this team still has a lot of growing to do and playoffs this year is cool but we need to realize that its best to wait another year and miss in FA then overspend on mediocre talent that doesnt' lineup with our team or clashes with our best players.

 

When you are that cold, that shot just is not a smart decision. It's what I've been talking about with inconsistency. When he's on #LillardTime, that shot is fine because he is in such a good rhythm. When it's not #LillardTime, that is just a bad shot period.

Haven't we been here before? What was the previous game where with like 8 or 9 seconds left it was just ISO Dame, dribble....dribble...dribble....hoist up step back 27'er. If that is as good as it gets at the end of games, anyone can coach.

Exactly right. Dame was not in a good rhythm at all. That ISO, hero, step-back jack from 28' is just not a good shot unless you are on FIRE...and he wasn't even close to being on fire.

 

I thought we were 99% locked into the playoffs? I'd be okay with getting the pick still too.

 

8 for fucking twenty six is not last shot hero three time....damn damn damn ok well we get another shot with these guys wenesday

 

This year it hasnt' been great but he is also 12th in the league in % at that time, and its a down year for him in that regard. Your making it sounds like it was a god awful shot but he got a nice shot off, just go rewatch it, it was on point and barely missed. You can say "we should work harder to get a different shot" and I wont argue with you about that but you make it was the very worst thing that could have happened.

 

Made no sense to me.

 

The problem is, we have the replace or upgrade on mediocre talent that won't improve much over the rest of their careers. Specifically Aminu and Plumlee (who's a good bench big). We can't bank on Aminu becoming an average starter or Plumlee becoming a rim protector.

 

I'm just not okay with rushing it, if we can get a guy thats a good upgrade and isn't a horrible overpay sure then do it, but a horrible decision would be something like "we made the playoffs now spend tons of money to try and get past to the secound round " like paying Dwigh 120m. I'd rather bring in some bargains and maybe one big FA in Lillards window then talking ourselves into some big idea that we can take a big step next year and challenge the Spurs/GSW and end up giving DWight or Al Horford 120m when they dont' lineup with the rest of the team.

 

I mean... we're only a half game ahead of the 8th spot, and only 3 games ahead in the win column against Utah. The way we're playing, I could see us falling out.

 

But it was a god awful shot. Please tell me anyone anywhere that thought that was a good shot to take right there. It's not how close it came it is the selection and the fact that it came out of a TO with over 13 seconds to take a better shot. Maybe even leave enough time for a rebound. Doesn't matter if you leave 3-4 seconds on the clock. You then rely on defense to win the game for you. That is what good teams do. Teams that don't believe in their defense run the clock down to the last second and heave a prayer.

 

8 of 11 at home with 6 of those being playoff teams and 4 of them we play at home. Thats not a bad schedule to end the season on while Utah has 13 games left 7 away 6 at home while they have 6 playoffs teams to play 4 of those at home but its against Thunder/Spurs/GSW are 3 of those.

 

I won't speak for anyone else, but my problem is that it was a tie game. If we're down by 2, go for the win from 3, sure.

Default strategies:
If game is tied, drive when you have a defender isolated.
If you're cold, drive - dish or shoot.

So, for multiples reasons he shouldn't have shot the 3. That being said, I had far more problems with the refs than with Lillard, or anyone else.

 

How is it god awful when he got room took a nice looking shot and it didn't go in, yea he may hit that at a 25% clip this year but shots at the end of games are a lot harder to even get a good look at then at any other time, I doubt any team shoots over 40% in that situation. When its the situation like that any shot that you get off that looks good is a good shot.
I would have rather tried to find a different shot but with how they were hitting and the fact that allows us to run all time off the clock and not let them get a game wining shot i'm okay with that shot being taken.
edited because I misused the NBA miner tool.

 

If we don't overpay or trade for a problem child.... how will we ever challenge anybody? You need at least two or three All Star quality players to build around and we have one. If this year proves anything its that you can only over achieve with underrated talent for so long. The ceiling isnt high enough to win more than one playoff series. The Blazers HAVE to acquire a premium talent this offseason. I'd they don't, then the exodus last offseason will start to happen all over again.

 

Stats that will make your skin crawl ...

Over Portland's last eight losses, they have allowed 122.6 points per game. In comparison, the NBA-worst Kings allow 109.6 ppg.

Deron Williams has two 30+ point performances this season (in 60 games) ... Guess who was the opponent in both of those contests? Portland.

With the way this defense is playing, I would really rather miss the playoffs than get embarrassed by OKC, SA, or GSW.

 

Al Horford doesn't lineup with the rest of the team? He is a perfect fit for us. Id live to have a starting lineup of Lillard/McCollum/Parsons/Davis/Horford

 

Apologies if this has been discussed, but why did Portland call timeout after Dallas missed both of those FTs in regulation? Push the ball up the court and attack. Don't call a timeout and let the defense regroup. Dallas is an aging team who is not known for their defense ... I'm just not seeing the logic in the timeout with the game tied. You're essentially playing with house money with the game tied, so why not put the pressure on them? There's also a better chance of getting a mismatch out of the transition defense than a set play out of a timeout.