There was no crunch time last night. We won by 16. Most web sites that track Crunch Time or Clutch stats use games that are within 5 points in the last 5 minutes. Last night, we were up by 8 with 5:00 left, went up by 10 at 4:41 and Orlando never got closer than 10 for the rest of the game. BNM
Then why not nickname him Cotton Candy? He could grow out his hair in a Lopez-like 'fro and dye it bright pink or light blue. BNM
It was a single digit game and he was in place of Lopez when we normally have all our starters on the floor. After the losses this team's had in the previous 8 games those were important minutes!
I'm not saying they weren't important minutes, just that they don't meet the generally accepted definition of crunch time. From 82games.com: Clutch Statistics (4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points) Thomas Robinson has played 6% of the Blazers clutch time minutes in games played through 1/5. I don't consider a guy who is on the bench 94% of the time when the game is on the line to be deserving of any nickname that implies he is a clutch, or crunch time performer. BNM
Yea it's been a very welcome improvement. But still very annoying. Rudy Gay the other night was ridiculous, crashing in with no control and getting FT's.
The rule is very simple and easy to call. The rec league I play in has had a video call the Principle of Verticality on their web site for a couple years. Basically, if a defensive player jumps straight up, and keeps his arms extended straight upward, he is not the one initiating contact and not responsible for a foul. Freeland showed this improvement in summer league and preseason. It has become second nature to him. Leonard has also been going straight up a lot more. It looks like he still has to think about it, but hopefully it will become second nature to him as well. Blocking or altering a shot in this way isn't as spectacular as swatting the ball into the 10th row, but it's more effective (fewer fouls, more likely for the defense to recover the blocked ball, etc.) BNM
My favorite and least favorite part about all this is Clownzano's video take on Robinson last night calling last nights performance the BEST of the season. If he's going to write about the Blazers, it would be cool if he remembered more than the current game and didn't try so hard to pander to an already turned-off fan base from his incredulity and garble. Robinson vs Phx @ the Rose Garden Team high 15 pts, along with 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 1 stl, 1 blk in a 1 point victory
Yeah, Wes doesn't have exceptional height for a SG, but he has a lot of upper body strength. I really like the way he's been posting up lately. BNM
It's not as sexy (see E-Spin highlights) but it is far more effective. I really am blown away by the improvement of Freeland, and of course the addition of Lopez, and even LA in that respect. Fewer fouls and hgh chance to create a turnover.
I'm not a fan of calling any player on the team "crunch"....it sounds too much like something's breaking.
I love Wes. He knows his strengths and improves his weaknesses every year. Robinson is very interesting to me. 6 feet whatever doesn't matter if you have talent and a motor. He has both, just needs a little refinement.
Yep, Roninson needs to harness that energy and cut down on the mistakes at both ends. That was the best part about his game last night - all of the energy, none of the mistakes. BNM
Yes, there is nothing good in NBA basketball that has ever come from the nickname "crunch". It's easily one of the dumbest, and most extraneous names I've ever heard. No surprise, Clownzano didn't bother to Google "NBA" and "crunch" and "nickname" BASKETBAWFUL The All-time Worst Basketball Nicknames Captain Crunch: Jalen Rose got this nickname when he was leading the 2004-05 Toronto Raptors to a 33-win season. How many games would they have won without his crunch-time heroics? Probably around 27, which is how many they won after he was traded during the 2005-06 season. The name is also synonymous with a cereal that turns to goop in milk and tastes like soggy cardboard. Blech.
