Lock me up, I don’t think it’s all that bad.

Life is busy. If they're not going to bother, then I've got better ways to spend my time. Unfortunately I've already purchased tickets to the remaining 36 home games.

 

They are giving a degree of effort....just that on many nights, it is quite obvious the other team is giving more. I see MAD effort out of Little but not the same out of the rest of the team. Win or Lose, as a fan, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect that out of your team. Then if you lose, that is just what happens sometimes and have no problem with it.

 

What games have you watched this road trip?

 

How can anyone who watches guys like Whiteside/Melo/Tolliver/etc say that they're playing with effort?

Hood called Saturday a must win,CJ echoed that desperation, but the team showed no sense of urgency whatsoever. Ultimately, it becomes about pride-- and this team has displayed none of it this whole season. Watching Tristan Thompson and Jordan Clarkson destroy this squad was the last straw for me. Did you catch that wide open look JC got for his 6th three after he hit his five prior ones from out there? oof, that shoulda gotten the coach fired.

 

Changed it to 'a degree of effort". They are giving some or wouldn't be out there at all. Just that others are giving more.....and it shows.

 

What caught my eye in Cleveland was repeated 50% (slow jog) by Hood, McCollum, and, I know he's hurting, but even Dame.
This coupled with body language of the coaches and it just isn't very inspiring.

 

And those of us out of state have forked over $$$ for league pass. Can't just throw out terms like "fair weather" around when it's more accountability and frustration than anything. The casual fan, sure. But not here.

 

If this team makes the playoffs they'd have to be playing really good basketball for long stretches of the remaining season, likely had some sort of trade, and got at least one if not both of Zach and Nurk back and playing well. That means the team would be much more prepared for the playoffs than they are right now and because of that I am not scared of that scenario.

What's probably going to happen is they're gonna finish around 10th in the West and get like the 13th pick. To me that is a much worse scenario than making the playoffs and getting say the 18th pick. Despite being the 4th worst team in the NBA right now they're only 1.5 games away from being in that 13th spot. I don't believe they're bad enough to stay down in the bottom 5. Even finishing with the worst record now can lead to getting the 6th pick with the new lottery rules.

 

You know what it is? They said it was a must win because they thought they could just show up and win that game. Even into the 2nd half it looked like they thought they could just flip a switch and eventually come out ahead.

It's one thing to play like that when you're winning but when you're struggling and the effort isn't there that is troubling.

 

I am more interested in seeing our rookies and 2 way guys develop than the draft now...Nas, Moses Brown and Hoard....nobody thought Nas would play 2 minutes this season ...he's been great..reminds me of Gerald Wallace alot

 

How many wake up calls do these guys need? I'm going into every game now thinking we're gonna lose. They should be thinking the same thing... well, cuz they are. Maybe that will make them try harder? I dunno if they realize how hard it is to get wins back after losing to the likes of GS/CLE/etc.

 

We seriously need to go home and get practices and film in with the team at this point...our road schedule has been brutal and CJ was in Ohio where his very close aunt just died....I think I'll cut him some slack for the Cleveland game....Melo hasn't even been to Portland yet

 

I'd rethink that myself.....it's why I can't hang in game threads....2 minutes into a game people are throwin in the towel.....I think we'll play better brand of ball moving forward but part of me says some guys know they are already on the trade block and that doesn' t pump a player up usually.

 

Don't think I've ever seen CJ this angry

 

Every game.

Okay, well now you are talking about the stopgap rentals. Not the core of our team. Not concerned. When I see Simons and CJ and Dame not caring or looking like they are not giving effort, then Ill get concerned. If you think im going to give up on the team because the rentals aren't going all out,, sorry, we will have to agree to disagree. For that matter, I think Tolliver is giving everything he can, but is just limited.

 

See I think CJ and Hood are victims of an unclear game plan. Sometimes hesitation or lack of sprinting is due to not actually knowing exactly where you should be.

Poor coaching.

 

I agree with your take on this but I also feel if it’s lack of effort that Dame needs to step up and be the leader by voicing his concern.
I’ve been on many a amateur teams over my life and when the team leader voices his concerns over energy and effort the team will respond to some degree. I’d like to see Dame be more vocal with some of the vets.

 

See the guys want to win, they want to give maximum effort. Sometimes not everything pans out and sometimes its not one thing at fault, but as combination of things. I just dont see giving up on these guys who are such good guys overall. They deserve our support even when times are down. The measure of a friend is not if they stick with you during good times, its if they stick with you during the bad.

 

Sad. And Frustrated. Quick inserting himself in the story per usual.

 

CJ probably is grieving over his aunts death this week and she lived in Ohio.....I'm sure it was a tough game for him all around...