Game 4: Portland vs San Antonio 5:30pm SNW

[PDXKnight]

Blew a huge lead then almost came back. Wild game

[monopoman]

This game feels like it's 100% a win if they weren't on a b2b, Lillard was insane in this game what a ridiculous 4th quarter from him almost willing his team to a win.

Road b2b are brutal if they are ever going to eliminate b2b games they should start with road ones. Biggest problem in this game seemed to be the bench every starter recorded a + we needed a bit more from the bench.

[zzaj]

Just watched it for a second time...couple more things.

Dare I say I'm already seeing a teensy bit more on court chemistry on both sides of the ball?

On second viewing I was paying closer attention to how the Blazers guarded the perimeter. Besides having a couple good/great shooters simply beating the defense (read, Mills and Forbes) the Blazers did a better job containing the perimeter than they have been.

I noticed a little less cheating back into passing lanes, less of two players running two cover a single player on ball reversals, and a little less of the whole team crashing the glass. To that last point, SA did a good job of crashing their defensive glass which cut down on Whiteside's rebounds.

Lastly, I think at least two of those fouls called on Bazemore fighting around screens were bogus. I understand that the league has purposefully given the advantage to the offensive team in those situations, but a defensive player should still be allowed to touch a screener with their body when going around a screen. It's basketball--players touch each other. On the play when Baze got called for the push, the SA player did the old impede with the hip without moving the feet move. IMO, in those situations the league needs to change that into an offensive foul (and actually start calling it) for impeding progress.

[Matt800]

Just watched it for a second time...couple more things.

Dare I say I'm already seeing a teensy bit more on court chemistry on both sides of the ball?

On second viewing I was paying closer attention to how the Blazers guarded the perimeter. Besides having a couple good/great shooters simply beating the defense (read, Mills and Forbes) the Blazers did a better job containing the perimeter than they have been.

I noticed a little less cheating back into passing lanes, less of two players running two cover a single player on ball reversals, and a little less of the whole team crashing the glass. To that last point, SA did a good job of crashing their defensive glass which cut down on Whiteside's rebounds.

Lastly, I think at least two of those fouls called on Bazemore fighting around screens were bogus. I understand that the league has purposefully given the advantage to the offensive team in those situations, but a defensive player should still be allowed to touch a screener with their body when going around a screen. It's basketball--players touch each other. On the play when Baze got called for the push, the SA player did the old impede with the hip without moving the feet move. IMO, in those situations the league needs to change that into an offensive foul (and actually start calling it) for impeding progress.

Yeah I thought so as well about the improved chemistry. Some of the defense was much tighter, both on an individual level and team rotation level. To me CJ looks more athletic this year, he was able to move his feet defensively and stay in front of capable spurs players on multiple possessions.

I'm generally optimistic for the season from what they are showing already. Before the season, I did not think they would be able to compete without Collins, Nurkic and Gasol. But Skal has been very playable. I think for the playoffs this team has a lot of options that could give them advantages. Their frontcourt size and versatility are really encouraging, assuming they have health. I don't love the low rate of success passing to whiteside. And I think they should find some other ways to keep him involved offensively.

Yeah some of those fouls on screens are frustrating because the alternative is basically not playing defense. If they call the game in a way that defense can't be played then that makes basketball a lot less interesting.

[monopoman]

Yeah I think Skal is definitely deserving of more minutes, he has shown plenty so far and looks to be a very nice piece for this team now and in the future. I think we could easily reduce Tollivers minutes a bit to give Skal more minutes.

Skal was kept out of summer league because of what he was showing in practices and he is even transitioning that to NBA games. I do like that Stotts did give Skal more minutes in the Spurs game he played 6 minutes in both the Dallas and Sacramento game. If Skal can continuously be a solid bench piece for us I think that will be another slam dunk trade by Olshey.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Skal for Biggie was definitely a Blazer win.

[Wizenheimer]

Skal for Biggie was definitely a Blazer win.

they needed something out of it because trading for Verajao, and adding a 5-year 1.91M/year hit to the cap, plus the resultant luxury tax, was a pretty high price to pay for a 26th pick. Skal could be costing 7M this season if Portland doesn't re-sign him....more than Hood

[monopoman]

Skal for Biggie was definitely a Blazer win.

they needed something out of it because trading for Verajao, and adding a 5-year 1.91M/year hit to the cap, plus the resultant luxury tax, was a pretty high price to pay for a 26th pick. Skal could be costing 7M this season if Portland doesn't re-sign him....more than Hood

I'm looking at the trade and I see it as just a straight swap Biggie for Skal. What does the Verajao contract have to do with it?

[dunlop212]

That's what we paid for Biggie.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya, Skal has been a pleasant surprise on offense. He has a really nice feel on that side. Still not sold on his defense, but his rebounding has been way better than I anticipated.

Biggie never was an NBA talent. Never bought into him.

[Wizenheimer]

Skal for Biggie was definitely a Blazer win.

they needed something out of it because trading for Verajao, and adding a 5-year 1.91M/year hit to the cap, plus the resultant luxury tax, was a pretty high price to pay for a 26th pick. Skal could be costing 7M this season if Portland doesn't re-sign him....more than Hood

I'm looking at the trade and I see it as just a straight swap Biggie for Skal. What does the Verajao contract have to do with it?

like Dunlop said, Biggie was taken with the draft pick the Blazers got for taking on Varejao. That wasn't Portland's own draft pick