Game 26: Portland Trail Blazers (9-15) @ Phoenix Suns (11-14) Mon, 12/16 7PM, MST

[Saberestar]

I understand what you're saying, but if you're to have the ball in your hands in the final moments, you have to be able to hit shots, guys aren't always going to be able to flash free, and the other team will make him make a shot at times.

Also, there's the last play in the Spurs game when he had the final turnover. Also where mills stole the ball away from him late in regulation. So there's evidence there as well.

We shall see in the long run.

And that's my point, if the ball finds it way into the hands of Diallo in the final moments and were expecting him to hit a 3 then that's on us (the team) for the ball ending up in his hands. You don't expect Diallo to hit that shot because he's not a 3PT shooter (even though he's 1 of 1 this season).

In an ideal scenario the final shot in the game should *always* be your from your best or 2nd best shooter but sometimes it doesn't end up in their hands. Like tonight, I'm pretty confident the final play wasn't for it to be a Rubio 3 but sometimes it plays out that way and to then expect Rubio to be a clutch 3PT shooter when he's never been that guy is a little preposterous.

If we're talking about clutch playmaking, Oubre's last few clutch shots was delivered by Rubio IIRC. He also hit some clutch FT's at the end of the win over the Hornets

That's a bad point then. Come on man, you can't compare your pg having the ball in his hands, coming up with no play, just a 3 point shot for himself (down by one no less) for a clank- to chieck diallo, a backup center, who's never going to be calling a play or dribbling, or even be in the game, hitting threes.

And he's supposed to be making plays, that was not a good play.

Objectively my posts pertaining to the issue would not lead me to believe that he's clutch. I like Rubio, and of course I want the sun's to win, so I hope the trend doesn't continue.

The last play was designed for Oubre, but Blazers defenders stop him and he passed back to Rubio.

Obviously we did not want to shot a three (losing by one), by it is what it is. The play was broken.

It was a low percentage shot because Rubio is not good shooting threes, that is not a secret. Blazers were happy about allowing that shot for sure.

[hollywood6964]

And that's my point, if the ball finds it way into the hands of Diallo in the final moments and were expecting him to hit a 3 then that's on us (the team) for the ball ending up in his hands. You don't expect Diallo to hit that shot because he's not a 3PT shooter (even though he's 1 of 1 this season).

In an ideal scenario the final shot in the game should *always* be your from your best or 2nd best shooter but sometimes it doesn't end up in their hands. Like tonight, I'm pretty confident the final play wasn't for it to be a Rubio 3 but sometimes it plays out that way and to then expect Rubio to be a clutch 3PT shooter when he's never been that guy is a little preposterous.

If we're talking about clutch playmaking, Oubre's last few clutch shots was delivered by Rubio IIRC. He also hit some clutch FT's at the end of the win over the Hornets

That's a bad point then. Come on man, you can't compare your pg having the ball in his hands, coming up with no play, just a 3 point shot for himself (down by one no less) for a clank- to chieck diallo, a backup center, who's never going to be calling a play or dribbling, or even be in the game, hitting threes.

And he's supposed to be making plays, that was not a good play.

Objectively my posts pertaining to the issue would not lead me to believe that he's clutch. I like Rubio, and of course I want the sun's to win, so I hope the trend doesn't continue.

The last play was designed for Oubre, but Blazers defenders stop him and he passed back to Rubio.

Obviously we did not want to shot a three (losing by one), by it is what it is. The play was broken.

It was a low percentage shot because Rubio is not good shooting threes, that is not a secret. Blazers were happy about allowing that shot for sure.

And that would also be part of my point- there is always a play B, not that schmoz that we saw there.

[LesGrossman]

With some of those late posts i wonder if guys are serious. No shame in just saying you were wrong, and your assessment of a player was just based on misleading numbers, and now that you saw him play you changed your mind. At least its not as embarrassing as stretching like that to find a problem when its really not there.

[bwgood77]

Oubre can make some great plays, and some clutch ones at important times. I couldn't understand last night why he kept driving inside with Whiteside and/or Skal in there. I wonder how many times he got blocked in there. It's frustrating enough when he does it in other games, but last night with those shot blockers, particularly Whiteside, you'd think he'd learn that he has little chance with those guys. At least some of the other guys were creative, like with Cam's beautiful reverse with the spin and Rubio using the glass to avoid the block.

Can't you simply accept it's a style of play ? Obviously you don't like it, but you are going overboard by pointing it out on EVERY opportunity. Everybody on this board should know by now you don't like Oubre. Some of the times he got blocked he didn't even drive, but received inside passes from Rubio. For what it's worth your beloved, high BBIQ Mikal got blocked by Whiteside on one such drive and once more by Melo inside. If Oubre was consistent there would not be any debate who's the better player between him and Mikal. For now two different coaches chose him to start despite what your advanced stats show.

I like Oubre. He seems like a very nice guy. And I love his energy, clutch plays, etc. He provided us with a spark last year. I think with Mikal's hestitation at this point, I might hesitate starting him, though I think it does make a lot of sense to start him than Oubre based on their style of play. Bridges is more of a glue guy and focuses on the little things, team D, and with Booker and Ayton, you need a defender and a team guy more than an individual player. Oubre is a little bit more of an energy do his own thing guy...and I think that would be great off the bench. I don't really want him taking like 15 shots and seeing Ayton get 12 or something. I think with Bridges in there Ayton would get more like 17-20 shots.

They are just different players, and Oubre has his strengths. I don't think of him as a high IQ player, but that was known since the draft. But he can be an electric player and has shown he has no fear and can be clutch, which are good qualities. Of course with him I with he would drive into multiple defenders less...the Josh Jackson specialty....and play a little more team defense and less gambling, though of course sometimes those gambles pay off.

I know Mikal makes mistakes. It's his second year (I know they are the same age), but he is unlikely to completely shut down a star like you've said you wanted to see, because no one really does that (it's very rare)...he makes things difficult with his length...but yes, of course people will still score over him.

I am pissed at how many 3s Mikal passed up last night. I thought that was getting better. He clearly just needs to launch them with no hesitation. It seems like several players were doing that last night. Of course the minute you start thinking about not taking it, you're probably going to miss whether you take it or not.

I honestly wouldn't mind trying Cam as a starter, just to spread the floor, and his defense is ok, and play both Mikal and Kelly together. I just think that starting lineup needs more of a glue guy.

[Dual]

Cam Johnson has been fantastic, even on defense, and yesterday layup in traffic was unthinkable 2 months ago, he is improving things day by day, I'm very impressed.
I hope injuries dont bother him.

[Mr Puddles]

I highly doubt we go 34-22 and finish 45-37 for a playoff berth. But as KG says " anything is possible". Right?

where do you get this stuff that it will take 45 wins to get playoffs. There's a bunch of trash team fighting for the last 2 seeds. Currently 7 & 8 are both sub .500 teams and it's been so most of the season. OKC is likely to trade vets. Spurs may do the same. Kings are as much of joke as us and the rest of the lot.

Suns and Kings have had lots of injuries. Neither team should be considered “jokes”

I'm not just saying this because you're a Kings fan, I've consistently been saying this throughout the season: I consider the Kings to be the favorite among all other teams in the playoffs hunt. If both teams had been at (or close to) full strength there is no doubt in my mind both the Suns and Kings would be battling Utah for the 6th spot right now.