Game Thread PLAY-IN GAME# 1: GRIZZLIES VS BLAZERS - AUGUST 15, 2020 - SATURDAY, 11:30, ABC

So in other words you've been wrong about McCollum for several years.

It's not the trading CJ crap as there is plenty of hate spewed about McCollum that's not related to trading him.

 

CJ showing why he would probably be more universally loved if he was the 3rd option on this team. Gets hot - ride him and he can win a critical game for you in beautiful fashion and win a lot of love. Not feeling it - no problem - work thru Dame and the reliable number two. Between Nurk, Melo's turn back the clock energy, and Trent's bombs maybe we can survive CJ off and on nuclear winters.

 

Ha! I was thinking among the competitive teams LOL! Yeah, those were same bad benches for sure, although I wasn't exactly comfortable with the starters on those teams either.

 

If they happen to lose in the first round the narrative will be much different than if they happen to dispatch the Lakers and go on to the conference finals or better.
Why not discuss it now when he just fit very well and pretty much sealed a win in a critical win? With a broken back no less. Are you simply waiting until your view can be validated?

 

Our defense would be a lot better if we would just focus on staying between our guy and the basket and less focus on taking away the 3 from the ball handler. We play too close to the ball handler, end up getting beat, giving up layups, fouling, or giving up a more open three. Our defense gets broken down which leads to offensive rebounds to boot.

In the first quarter our starters played the defense I’m talking about for once. We never returned to it till late in the 4th. We will give up 3’s this way but our defense is not talented enough to take away everything. We have to pick our poison.

 

I know this is a time to celebrate and I see so many positive things about this game and our team going into the Lakers series but Hassan was atrocious today. We still won the game and we know from last game and many other games that Hassan can be very effective so maybe him getting it out of his system and us seeing that we can be good without him means we will be great when he plays to his capabilities. That being said, I'll say it again... really bad game by not so young Whiteside.

 

I would love to see CJ in that "Vinnie Johnson" role, as early as next year.

 

I think my favorite play of the game was when Trent goes for the loose ball doesn't grab it just slaps it ahead to Melo for a open court Jam. We need more heads up plays like that.

 

I like the respect and response of the Grizzlies after the game. They all stayed on the court, shook hands and wished the Blazers well. Many of them made a special trip to find Nurk. Also a number of Blazers went to Morant and gave him a bunch of props. The kid is worthy no doubt. Blazers are gonna have to deal with Ja Morant for years to come.

 

Yeah Melo already moving towards the basket was a veteran move also.

 

I'm not playing games. I just said a week or two ago that I'm not discussing personnel moves while we're trying to win with the guys that we have. This game is a typical good CJ performance, with the exception that he played much better, but still not great, defense than he usually does. CJ is a really good player in this league and if he were on another team I could see him making an all-star team or even two. It's been discussed ad nauseam the ways in which CJ does and doesn't compliment Dame and the team overall. I have made my opinion clear, so many times and haven't wavered in my stance in 4 years. I'm really glad that CJ came through for us tonight and will discuss what I think we should want to get out of CJ going forward when our season comes to a close. I'm not trying to hedge my bets, I promise.

 

Wonder if Aminu or Harkless would have hit some of the clutch threes Carmelo has?...
Or Trent.....Or even Nurkic..?

 

POST OF THE YEAR NOMINEE!!!!!!

 

If things start going too fast for him; it's difficult for him to keep up. He likes it when our defense gets back, faced up and in position. Then he has a little time to see where the threat is coming from. Unfortunately that doesn't happen a lot. On the bright side, it might happen with the Lakers.

 

Bump

 

Stat of the day......Dame’s ONLY 2 point shot that went in was that dunk!!!

 

Ah, I see you subscribe to the Slypokerdog school of social media self promotion

 

well, that starting C for that team was JJ Hickson....uh-oh

I remember that off-season and it was when I had my first doubts about Olshey. To start with, he made a max offer to Roy Hibbert. I hated that offer and was praying Indiana matched. When they did I was looking forward to which free agents Olshey pivoted too. Well, he pivoted to Joel Freeland, Adam Morrison, and Ronnie Price.....wut?