Game Thread PRESEASON GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - DECEMBER 16, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

This team isn’t winning shit with Stotts.

 

Agreed... those teams had better options, we don't. Miami had better options on thier bench than we have to start. We're on the same page.

 

Ouch. That hurt. Nearly a seventy point half. Looks like an all star game out there for Denver.

 

Wtf was this half?

 

Dame just chased Porter Jr.....and then didn't put his hands up on D to even try and contest the shot. Sadly, it's those little things that speak volumes about coaching and accountability.

 

Well this sucks.
Nuggets pretty much showing the Blazers are nowhere near being a contender this year.
Quite a bit different than playing the Kings huh?

 

The defense looks bad, but its not because of Stotts at all. I love what Stotts is trying to do. Players just aren't in sync yet and theyre rotating slow and overhelping. The execution isnt there, and that's too be expected with a new philosophy in the preseason.

Now if that doesnt improve over half the season, then you could blame Stotts because good coaching should help increase proper execution and fix some of those issues. However, there will be some growing pains, and that's okay.

 

Defense was miserable against Sac as well outside of some stretches in the second half last game

 

Well want can you say about our defense how many layins by them moving without the ball that's impressive. But honestly we got one rim protector on this team right that's Nurk. Positive side we had only 8 turnovers that half. But only 11 assist to there 22 assist and they control the boards.

 

22 assists vs. What 11??? Stotts will never learn from his mistakes. Hubris man.

 

Nowhere near contender this year? Box they're showing us the things we need to fix. Contending teams have duds like this, so I'm not gonna write this team off because of a bad half in the preseason due to some fixable issues.

I'm discouraged by the way the offense is functioning but that's the only thing I'm discouraged about, and hopefully that'll improve.

 

Were not giving up those layins because of a lack of rim protection, were giving them up because our backside rotations suck.

 

Stotts is who he is and isn't going to change.
CJ is who he is and isn't going to change.
Melo is who he is and isn't going to change.

If those 3 persons are part of a big 5 including Dame and Jurkic, things are not going to change with the addition of a couple of G-leaguers made good. It is the culture (which to be fair also has some good parts to it), style and tendencies that are ongoing and allowed.

Until some of those pillars change, I don't see the results changing either. Sad to watch....year after year after year.

 

Let the offense go through Nurk, there is so much more movement.

 

is giving up 54% shooting and 22 assists in the first half a sign of the improved defense?...asking for a friend

 

I’m feeling a little negative. Thanks for bringing me off the edge so to speak.
The frustration was real watching that last three go down,

 

I but the problem is he putting in new defense with short amount of time for this team to catch on how to play it properly. I am not saying I don't like what he trying to do but how many lost are we going to give up before he either pull the plug on all together or when they actually going to excute properly.

 

Those teams options werent much better at all. Given Jones age, he should be better this year, and his playing level this year could be high enough where he wouldve gotten regular playoff minutes last season.

Kanter literally started on a WCF team and now he's not good enough to be a backup C just because the Celtics had Thies and RWIII, both of which would be great backup Cs?

Or is what you're implying not what you mean? Seems like you're vague on purpose so you have some wiggle room.