Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 3: BLAZERS @ PELICANS - APRIL 19, 2018, THURSDAY, 6PM PDT, NBATV & NBCSNW

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Darkwebs, Apr 17, 2018.

?

Do you believe the Blazers will steal (at least) one game in New Orleans?

Poll closed Apr 19, 2018.
  1. Yes

    67.9%
  2. No

    32.1%
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  1. rotary111

    rotary111 Well-Known Member

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    Spent the evening with friends at the Illani casino last night and only glanced at the screen when I could. Really not sure how I'm gonna watch this game but I know I have to. :dunno: I could feel everyone's pain as I started reading the game thread. Pretty sure I stopped sometime in the first quarter. Ugh.

    Hopefully nobody jumped off a bridge.

    I can't wait to get my hopes up next season....Oh wait we have to suffer through another game.
     
  2. Nhawz

    Nhawz Lickety Brindle

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    So this is what it feels like to have nuts on your forehead.... kinda sucks... imagine if boogie was in the lineup. GS would revive a set on their foreheads as well.
     
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  3. Nhawz

    Nhawz Lickety Brindle

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    It is clear that our backcourt is easily contained, and down right destroyed by an elite Defensive backcourt. This series has written the book, created a 60 min vhs, and a PowerPoint presentation that is currently being viewed by the rest of the league on how simple it is to smother Portland’s offense. I love the fuck out of our guys, other than Meyers Leonard. But since that power point, that was very precise and detailed when assembled, has been viewed by all, we have to make moves. Love Cj but if he could headline a deal for kawhi, done. Hope Neil can finally put something together soon, otherwise we’re moving on
     
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  4. Lukee

    Lukee Well-Known Member

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    I love Dame, my favourite player and it's not even close. But if he tryes to defend or start making problems because we might trade CJ or fire Stotts then he can fuck off too. He's loyal, that really great. But he's not bigger than Blazers. So, he better shut up and work over summer.
     
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  5. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Sooo...yeah... The way this team is playing, they're not worthy of a @Darkwebs game thread.

    Far as I'm concerned, go for it @HCP.
     
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  6. theprunetang

    theprunetang Shaedon "Deadly Nightshade" Sharpe is HIM

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    By the way, we have gotten our asses kicked in every game so far, and I'm not disputing that. But, have you noticed how many times the Pelicans are allowed to get away with kicked balls? I swear that half of our turnovers in game 3 were the result of kicked balls that weren't called. Like, at all. And we would do the same thing, and get called for it.

    With that said, our coaching has completely failed to prepare the team for the defense that is coming at it. We have deserved to lose every game so far. I'm not trying to make ref excuses, just so you know. But the calls have been shit when it comes to kick balls so far
     
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  7. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Funkee Human Being

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    I actually considered going to Illani last night too. But the hope of a Blazer awakening stopped me. How was it? Wasn't Hit Machine there for a free concert?
     
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  8. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    They do run sets that have cuts to the basket when they have players on the court that can do it. Pat does it all the time. Harkless does it on occasion. You watched Leonard doing it as soon as he got in the game with Napier. But the starters Aminu, CJ, and Nurk don't work like that. Not to mention Lillard seems to be more about trying to keep the ball secure.

    So your point that ANY TYPE of Personnel has the ability to run sets seems rather delusional at best. Sure they can but not at this level of play against these players. I can run sets that have cuts to the basket and have ball movement in transition. But that doesn't mean i should? How many times have we seen Aminu dribble the ball off his fucking knee? He is a three and D player at best. Spot up shooter and rebounding put back scorer. He is very good at those things but Nobody anywhere wants to see him put the ball on the floor and try to create or run a break. CJ seems to run a one man break every time he goes down the court. It can be 3 on 1 but he ain't gonna pass the ball. Bank on that. I'm not even gonna get into Nurkic trying to dribble a ball??? He does fine on a Pick and roll seems like he is finally starting to realize he is 7 foot tall and can actually dunk. There might be hope? He also seems like he can pass the ball pretty good and is getting better. But why did Leonard seem more dominant in his 10 mins of play? Because of the players he had with him, and the players he was playing against! Bones you know as much about the game as most posters on here. But there is a fundamental lack of respect from you for not only Stotts but the entire team when it comes to seeing what they are doing. You don't play at this level or against players like Anthony Davis. They are out of this world talented. Even guys you seem to bash day in and day out like Meyers Leonard would totally dominate in any league i have ever even thought about playing in. I feel some perspective is needed when statements that include "Any Type of Personnel" are made.
     
  9. rotary111

    rotary111 Well-Known Member

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    Not sure if they were there or not. We just met for dinner. I live right around the corner from there so it's great for dinner/drinks and a show. Plenty of big screens in the bars to watch any sport on the tube. If you haven't been, you should. It's a nice place if you ask me.
     
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  10. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    I think you're identified the symptom, but not the cause, at least not entirely. Yes, Stotts hasn't shown much ability to make adjustments, but this is also a roster that leans very heavily on two small guards to create offense for themselves. Sometimes Nurkic shows flashes, but he's not a consistent weapon on offense and when panic sets in, it's all hero-ball, all the time with Damian and CJ because they don't believe they can rely on their other teammates to produce points. A harder-nosed coach than Stotts might be able to curb that, but I'm betting that it would take somebody of Popovich's stature to demand that kind of accountability, because both Damian and CJ would have to really trust that giving up the ball and passing more would lead to success.

    This team needs roster changes and coaching changes.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2018
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  11. DDolla

    DDolla Well-Known Member

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    The home court advantage got us 4 more extra embarrassing games lol... believe me, that’s just sad.
     
  12. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Do you think Dame has had a chance to see something he has not seen and learned from it? How about the rest of the team?
    Point is no experience is a bad experience if you don't die and you learn from it.
     
  13. tester551

    tester551 Well-Known Member

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    So far, it doesn't appear that the correct lessons are being learned by Dame or Stotts.
     
  14. DDolla

    DDolla Well-Known Member

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    Check Dame stats before and after he became a father. The last time he played well was on the road against the Pelicans. Maybe he don’t get enough rest... just my opinion.
     
  15. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Well i guess it could be? But really that isn't even an issue because he ain't gonna not be a father any time soon.
     
  16. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Learn something every day bro. That's life. Learning is a life long process. Three most basic needs to be successful are reliability, good work ethic, and a positive attitude. Dame and Stotts have all three. They will be just fine.
     
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  17. hoopsjock

    hoopsjock Well-Known Member

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    You're forgetting the Utah game.
     
  18. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    I also don't prescribe to the tired because of the kid thing. Dame lives with enough family. His mother his sister and his girlfriend are all over that. Dame gets plenty of rest at home. Kid or no kid.
     
  19. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    I can only speak for myself but....what a difference a day makes! The fact that that day is 420 has helped to soften the sharper edges of my disappointment. I highly (okay, okay, strongly) recommend it......hey, whatever it takes.
     
  20. hoopsjock

    hoopsjock Well-Known Member

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    Yo KJ, my problem with it is that after Game 3 we shouldn't still be hearing Dame talk about it like the first two games didn't happen. I'm not trying to bash Dame but he just doesn't look right mentally out there. I think he's getting okay looks for playoff basketball he's just really struggling. The turnovers are the thing that is killing me though. He's usually pretty careful with the ball. That is why we get away with virtually no fast break points or easy baskets. That is also why we can still compete in games where we shoot poorly because at least we get shots most possessions.

    Dame has to learn how to play without the pick and roll. Stotts (or whoever is the coach) needs to design an offense that can counter if a team takes that away. You know what's not a good idea? Running pick and roll over and over again with Dame as he gets blitzed and turns the ball over. How about playing Dame off the ball? How about letting him go at his defender without a pick? He's gotten decent shots in those situations (for him at least) but he hasn't been making them. After the team turned the ball over 6 out of 7 plays in a row last night there we were running another pick and roll with Dame and Ed Davis. Then after the game Quick says the players seem like they can't figure out what the problem is just like pre-Nurk last year. It's called the playoffs. You have to step your game up or the season is over.

    I'm not trying to knock Dame, he's an amazing player and I hope he spends his entire career in Portland. Honestly though after all the talk about being snubbed for All-Star games and not getting the recognition he deserves this is why he won't be a lock for that in the future and probably won't ever make 1st team All-NBA again (if he gets it this year). People remember what you did in the playoffs. He can have another MVP level season next year but the voters will remember that he didn't perform when it mattered. One of the reasons I love Dame though is that he is the type that will fight instead of run away like Aldridge did. After being in the playoffs 5 straight years though there is no more excuses about the talent around you or that they focus their defense on you. I can maybe see that excuse up until this year but he has to be better.
     
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