I'm So SICK & TIRED of Neil Olshey

“I’m just out there, and that’s frustrating,’’ Harkless said. “I’m just out there playing defense, which is cool … running back and forth. Out there running track.’’

This Harkless quote says it all... it’s a result of McLillrd ISO ball

 

In the words of coach Pop....if you want the ball it's right there...go get it

 

The perfect response to a whine from Mo “Mr. Passive” Harkless........

 

I think CJ does get at times a little hyperfocused on scoring, he admitted he needed to get better at it.
The problem with Portland's "role players" is there is no movement, way to much standing around waiting for Dame and CJ to do something special. Yes GS has incredible talent, but what I still don't understand is why teams don't cut, set screens off the ball going towards the hoop, like they do. Portland's "assist" problem is that almost all the assists are to jump shots mostly 3's, and there isn't a whole lot of attacking the basket from the role players. Now the topic of NO, well he drives me nuts, he's all over the place, he reminds me of the sales people I met when I bought my first car as a 18 year old. Moe wasn't getting the ball because he'd go stand in the corner. Wasn't because Dame was being a ball hog. NO needs to get players who are going to be good targets, for Dame, who are going to attack and not stand and watch.
Though I will admit I feel like this was the 1st year Dame visibly got frustrated by his teammates, it seemed like there were games where he stopped passing and did the Hero Ball thing, because passing wasn't working.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ut-cj-mccollum-is-another-story?share=twitter

 

Its a result of Stotts...

 

I’ve said before Dame is my favorite Blazer of all time... and I like CJ too... I just don’t like the combo together... too much dribbling, not enough size... CJ needs to be traded now before his value starts to diminish

 

It’s funny how Stotts was the architect of the Dallas offense that won an NBA championship but it’s his fault there is no movement in offense... he does deserve blame, not because he is a terrible coach, but because he doesn’t hold Dame and more specifically CJ accountable for their ISO ball... he lets McLillard do whatever they please

 

He's regressed as a coach, and Carlisle had some impact on the offense. Even then, the under consisted of many Dirk isolations.

Your last part is right, and I think both are coachable. So it's on the coach.

 

The problem is I don’t think anyone will get CJ to change his game at this point... he is 27 years old next season and has not achieved the personal accolades he thinks he deserves... he will keep going 1 on 3 in Allen Iverson mode

 

Players can adapt. He said he knows he needs to which is the first step.

 

I wouldn’t want to bet on him changing the way he has played his whole life at 27 years old and miss an opportunity to maximize his trade value... wait another season and his trade value dramatically decreases... you know deep down in your heart this team is going nowhere... Warriors, Rockets, Pelicans, Jazz... this teams is going nowhere with McLillard

 

The problem we have isn't Dame or CJ or Stotts….it's turnovers from bad passes....you pass into traffic and give up possessions, you'll probably start hesitating to pass or thread the needle next time down the court...we just are not a great passing team....this is an area where a Kevin Love helps you...Mason Plumlee was another excellent passer...a lot of that is youth on the roster...Nurk could become a great passer but he also will hesitate after a turnover from a lazy pass....we should bring somebody like Rod Strickland, Jason Kidd or Steve Nash in to work with the guys on this....Stotts got coach of the month a few times this season...you don't get that by regressing and he was the offensive coordinator for Dallas...Rick was a defensive minded head coach.

 

I don’t think trading CJ is a terrible idea, but it depends on a lot of factors. Biggest of which to me is how valuable is CJ? There is a good probability that the only packages available make the Blazers make worse in which case, wel you don’t trade him just to downgrade.

Sure it sounds good trade CJ and the 24 for Kawhi - which if he leaves gives you some cap space, if he stays you have Dame , Kawhi and Nurk. The question is, would the spurs do that?
I do not like the idea of trading CJ just to say we made a trade. Yes I’d like to see some significant change, but honestly I’d rather NO or Stotts go than CJ. The other part about CJ’s game, is he’s only had one NBA Coach. I think a new coach could do the Blazers some good.

 

Disagree. Harkless has a history of mental fragility. There’s a reason Orlando (besides their stupidity in general) basically gave him away for nothing.....

 

Sometimes you have to take one step back to move two steps forward... rolling with the same core and hoping things get better and other teams don’t improve is insane... we were one fluke win streak away from not making playoffs... you can’t avoid reality as much as Neil is trying to avoid it... they had full training camp together and fewest injuries in league... there are no excuses... McLillrd as the core/foundation is flawed... couldn’t even win 1 playoff game against mediocre Pelicans team

 

Lillards not a part of it. Almost 7 assists a game in an offense set up to isolate him without shooters around him or off-ball movement. That's pretty damn good.

CJ can change what he looks for in a possession and make better reads. That's not completely changing the way he plays. Pelicans and Jazz aren't going anywhere either, if we're not. Nobodu is, except GS, HOU, and wherever LeBron goes.

 

While i think CJ / Lillard have their flaws. I’d like to see them with a different coach. I think the Pelicans series especially showed that Gentry was able to basically coach circles around Stotts. When the other team is trapping you at half court there should be a lot of room in the paint to exploit but not the Blazers it was let’s stand and watched Dame and CJ get double / triple teamed while we stand and hope for a 3 pointers.
CJ’s such a good 3 pointer shooter and able to create his shot, they could do much, much worse at the 2. So sure trade him if the package will make you better, but I don’t know if that package exists.

 

I dint really disagree.. But the ISO ball is a result of Stotts and there's no doubt our offense is isolation heavy.