Game Thread PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1, GAME 2: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - 4/20/16, WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT & KGW

I believe this would be Aminu hands down. Not just that but CJ can actually hit a 3 and create a shot.

 

This team needs a big infusion of good talent this offseason. No overpaying henderson, crabbe, harkless to stay mediocre and strap us with that cap.

 

Come on dude, when Damian shoots the ball the only person responsible for whether or not it goes in is himself.

 

If Mason Plumlee developed a jump shot he might be an all-star. He is a tremendous ball handler and passer for someone his size, and very athletic. But he gets over-shadowed in the middle because he's so small for a center. But he can't play on the perimeter because he has no shot.

But just compare him to Aminu. He's bigger, more agile, MUCH better with the ball...he just needs a decent set jumper and he could play Aminu's role. Then we get a legit center to defend the middle.

 

Asking Plumlee to develop a 30% 3 point jumper let alone a foul line extended jumper has probably about the same likelihood as Brian Roberts morphing into Steph Curry.

 

ugh. I had no expectations. I thought we would lose in 5.

Still painful to watch us get dominated like this. I at least thought we'd be competitive, but the discrepancy in talent is just so massive.

 

Maybe, but I think the problem is that Mason is better suited to be a big perimeter player when you look at his skill set. (aside from his absent jump shot).

 

Not saying you're wrong necessarily, but you can't be a perimeter player if you don't have a jumpshot and can't guard wings.

So where does that put him?

 

Spanked

 

We could give Whiteside the most money AND he still wouldn't decide to come here

What we need to do is find players nobody wants that's the way we build around here

 

Players nobody wants are players nobody wants for a reason.

 

The team with more allstars, all nba players and the higher seed and a championship coach held home court...are we really shocked? We have shot horribly on the road...our regular season we weren't a great road team. The Clippers shot an incredibly high percentage and played very good defense. We need to go home and protect home court. Making the playoffs was great...now the guys we have are getting an education in playoff intensity. I think that's the value in making the playoffs this season anyway. Go Blazers!

 

When talking about 3 pointers yes, because he's missing open 3s, what do they have to do with anyone else but himself? He also forces 3s, but he's done that his whole career. The looks he's getting from 3 aren't any worse than in the regular season, he's just not hitting.

 

I think he could guard wings. I think he'd be a better defender than Aminu actually, he's very agile and balanced. Of course, the whole point of my comment was to say that a jump shot is the missing piece in him being a perimeter player.

 

Ben Wallace on Line 1...

 

Mason was -7% at defending the 3 and Aminu only -2.5%.

 

For Portland to take the next step, they need players (at any forward/center position) who can shoot the ball from the perimeter as well as play defense. Right now, if they want to get better defenders like Plumlee, Kaman, Davis or (with some projection) Vonleh on the court, they're punting on shooting which kills their spacing. If they play their (few) front court shooters like Aminu or Leonard, their defense is going to suffer more.

They really don't have one killer lineup that can generate both spacing and defense. To be a top team, they need at least one 5-man unit that works really well together and then hopefully piece together some depth, even if it's flawed, behind it. They have a start with a great backcourt and good pick-and-roll players like Plumlee and Davis. They just need at least one more three-and-D guy who can ideally play forward (or center, but that's much rarer).

 

Mason's stat line looks for all the world that he's BY FAR our best player in the playoffs; it just goes to show how good his game was last night.

 

Mason played a redemption game last night...he sucked in game one really badly. Consistency is lacking across the board. The underdog Blazers are in the fire and it's time to man up big time or go home...either way I'm proud of the team.