Game Thread GAME# 8: PELICANS @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 1, 2018 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT

I am starting to believe(no not really, well.... maybe a little bit) that CJ is 'terrible' at passing so he can use it as a reason to shoot every time.

'Bad things happen every time I pass, I am hurting my team every time I do this, better hit a falling step back three over three defenders instead.'

 

Smh..

 

Quickest way to Terry's bad side is to not shoot threes at every opportunity, especially when it's your only skill.

 

I like Evan Turner driving to the basket from the top of the key MUCH better than Evan Turner backing his man down and shooting turn around jump shots. When he starts his drive facing the basket going downhill, good things happen. He either gets a layup (and he's been finishing really well), or if the help defense comes, he dumps the ball off to the open teammate for an easy 2.

Last year, whenever they had him backing down his man, the offense ground to a halt with everyone else standing around watching. Not only does he make a higher percentage of layups than turnaround jump shots, he also gets more assists and draws more fouls when he's driving to the basket.

This year, 35.8% of his shots have come within 3 feet of the basket. That is, by far, a career high. His previous career high was 26.3% his final season in BOS and only 12.8% of his shots, a career low, came within 3 feet of the basket last season. As a result, his FG% has increased from .447 to .507. His TS% is also a career high at .543. TS% doesn't just favor 3-point shooters, it also favors guys who shoot a lot of high percentage 2s (dunks and layups).

I like this Evan Turner much better than the one we've seen the past two seasons.

BNM

 

You hit the nail on the head. This team has been built around three point shooting. They are ok living and dieing by it. We even have Nurk taking them now.
Thats not necessarily a bad scheme as the whole NBA is leaning that way, however, come playoff time you better be able to get scoring from the post too.

 

Game note: After the Pelican game, Jake Layman's eFG% is up to .696.

 

Dame admitted as much postgame that they had a slippage in focus after finding out AD wasn't playing. I don't like this switch flipping thing they did in the fourth quarter. Defense just wasn't there the first three quarters.

The team isn't good enough to develop these bad habits and keep on getting away with it. Hope Terry harps on this before our next game. These last two games @ HOU and vs NOP have not left me too encouraged. The other team has been absolute shit. I think our record is a bit inflated right now.

 

In sports, one of the hardest things to do is not let up a bit when playing what is perceived to be an easy game.

What do you think is better for this team long term? Gutting out a win versus a very aggressive and scrappy team pulling away towards the end or if they came out crushing them in the 1st quarter and it was never close?

Dame only played 30 minutes. I'm not simply saying a win is a win, but I don't really think it's a horrible reflection of the team if you don't blow a team out either.

 

Was it after the game? I turned it off and went to bed. What did CJ say?

 

I think all teams 10-2 in the west records are inflated as they've been feeding of EC teams.
Wont be long and we start feeding on each other.

 

Except that the Blazers are 1-2 against the East.

 

That's encouraging!

 

CJ isn't stinking it up on offense. Jesus. He can play better, but to say he is stinking it up is hyperbole.

 

So what? It was our first game back from a road trip and we won by 13. There is no pleasing some people.