Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 2: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 16, 2019, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT & NBCSNW

I don't think that was reason he took Zach out. I think reason they put Adams back in and Stotts rather have Leonard on him instead of Zach. That just might been the real reason.

 

yeah...I really want to like Zach and get enthused about his upside, but his play is making it hard to do either

 

I would have traded CJ for Paul George in a heartbeat.

There's a reason why people widely consider Nurk to be our second best player.

CJ is good for one thing and one thing only.

 

I like Zach and think he will be much better next year. ( I always said year 3 for him) But right now I don't trust his hands enough to "feed him" any more than we do. He is too inconsistent right now holding onto the ball to be the focal point of the offense. Let him concentrate on what he does best.

 

It's a good thing that one thing he's good at is the most important thing.

 

Scoring more points in combination with Dame than the other team's stars?

Doesn't seem like a bad thing to have in your arsenal.

 

Sure there are a couple scenarios like that where I would too. But too many fans act like there are lots of those scenarios. Was that one ever even proven?

 

Whoa bro. Things are clicking right now, why so rain cloudy?

 

A smaller guy who is a very good scorer versus a bigger guy who can really score AND play very good defense.

Seems easy. Overall I think George is better ....and put George with Dame instead of Westbrick and watch him get even better.

 

So, some person in a forum claims they saw Collins confused on one play in an NBA game and now he's clueless on offense? Wow.

The guy has game and all the tools to be great. I'll focus on the big picture with him.

 

Yeah I am puzzled: CJ clearly outplays PG and Russel in the playoffs. So why would you want to do that trade? All you hear, and I mean all you hear, is that playoffs are the only thing that matters. CJ delivers when it counts

 

Do we really need to write that horseshit while we're winning in the playoffs??
CJ was huge in winning us games after his injury, lets be fans and support the team, lets enjoy it while we can.

PG was never a possibility anyway, it's time to move forward.

 

This is a big reason OKC doesn't have a lot of success in the playoffs despite "two superstars." Paul George on the pick-and-roll isn't that dangerous because you can both trail and hedge without fear of other guys beating you, because their other guys can't hit shots. The pick-and-roll is supposed to put defenses into a bind unless you can switch everything--but it stops being a bind if you can essentially let both defenders on the pick-and-roll focus on George and let him pass it to the open guy. When that open guy clanks the shot, just get the rebound. Pick-and-roll solved.

 

Also, why arent OKC doing Adams\WB pick and rolls on EVERY possession? It's clear as day Kanter can't stop Adams or WB after the switch.

Why are they taking so many threes?! Charles Barkley: "it’s this thing... like all these dummies in the NBA now... I mean, Shaq, at some point it ain’t going!”

It's a good thing OKC lose 90% basketball IQ in the postseason.

 

Sounds like the same problems we have had in this iteration of the Blazers.

 

There are two parts to this analysis:
1) Yes, when CJ is hitting shots he is fantastic and helps the team. But, when he is off, he continues to take shots and doesn't add much else, which drags the team down. I love that he is playing well right now, but would also love someone with a more well-rounded game;
2) Dame's Defense: The Dame and CJ combo struggles when one or both aren't hitting, and when they were both poor defensively. Dame stepping up on defense makes CJ's lesser defense, less of a liability.

As long as Dame continues to defend at an average or plus level, I think Dame/CJ can work. If Dame's defense relapsed, then you are only relying on CJ getting hot or not in closely contested games.

 

This "iteration of the Blazers" is being set up quite nicely to have a shot at the WCF.

 

Notice the lips...somebody has had some work done...she's gone Angelina Jolie...