Game 5 : Portland Trail Blazers (2-1) @ Los Angeles Clippers (3-1) - 10:00 PM

[TheNewEra]

Good garbage minutes

[MartinToVaught]

Oturu is nice.

[TheNewEra]

Jamie is thick THICK

[playaloc916]

Bench wasn't really scoring much, but at least they were defending so the lead didn't disappear. Good finish to the game.

[NickP]

I like the fact that when the bench comes in, even at the end of blowouts, they're still running the same offense that's been installed for the team and not a free for all.

Exactly what I was thinking. Very Spurs like.

[esqtvd]

Every coach in general wants their team to pass the ball, Doc definitely wanted them to do so, and they had their moments. Not every coach can get their team to pass the ball the way they want though.

There's both coaching and personnel aspects to it too, not having shooters or enough playmakers is one such problem. Defenses such as a great switching defense can make a passing team become an iso ball team, etc. Many fans will interpret this as the team just not passing the ball and not the offense getting disrupted.

Doc was not able to devise an offensive system that could adjust to playoff defenses well enough, and you can argue also didn't have adequate enough personnel, sure. Hopefully Lue can get the system right, but also hopefully personnel is good enough to do it.

Every returning player on this team is playing with more maturity, seriousness and professionalism since the asswhoopin'.

And the upgrade in basketball IQ

Ibaka > Trezz
Batum > J-Myke
Kennard > Shamet

is off the scale. Kawhi had it right about our low basketball IQ and it appears the FO made the best moves available to us.

And Trez also had it right last January when he went off on the team's entitled attitude, but unfortunately his low [nonexistent] basketball IQ was also part of the problem.

There was A LOT to like about tonight that had nothing to do with the score. You might start with Pat Bev--we talked a LOT of sh*it last year but now it's time to shut up and dribble and I think the entire Clippers org knows it.

[Kelphus]

1. Love it when Lawlers Law happens in 3d
2. Kawhi's face must have been throbbing all night, still scores 28= stud
3. PG13, Ibaka, Batum and Kennard.. oh and Jackson all looked great.
4. This was a complete game

[esqtvd]

There you go Reggie, drive it in there and get fouled

I think you picked a good longshot to back around here.

Age 30, 6'3", has all the skills and beaucoup experience---almost 350 NBA starts. If Jeff Green and Austin Rivers could do it year after year--albeit at the NBA minimum---there's no reason Reggie can't crack a playoff rotation too. I'm all for throwing developmental minutes at T-Mann for the time being, but if Reggie is earning minutes he should get them.

#NoScholarships

[Quake Griffin]

#NoMoreDocRiversScholarships****

Thanks for reminding me btw. I can get this guy out my sig now. IDC if he gives out scholies in Philly.

[MartinRiggs]

Theese 2 wins made me forget Dallas game. Good job.

I am a little worried about Morris though.

[playaloc916]

There you go Reggie, drive it in there and get fouled

I think you picked a good longshot to back around here.

Age 30, 6'3", has all the skills and beaucoup experience---almost 350 NBA starts. If Jeff Green and Austin Rivers could do it year after year--albeit at the NBA minimum---there's no reason Reggie can't crack a playoff rotation too. I'm all for throwing developmental minutes at T-Mann for the time being, but if Reggie is earning minutes he should get them.

#NoScholarships

I saw a few people say we should look at Derrick Rose... To me Reggie isn't far off from a D-Rose type player, especially the current D-Rose... Maybe not as good of a finisher inside, but a MUCH better 3 point shooter. I say we might as well try investing more into him, rather than waiting for the ever elusive "floor general".

And I saw someone say Mann actually plays more like a SG/SF, instead of a typical PG. Because Mann's game doesn't scream "point guard" to me, I think Lue should maybe experiment a little with giving him a few minutes at the 2/3. But that no-look to Kennard was nasty...