Game 14: Portland vs Houston 5:00pm SNW/NBATV

[d-train]

We are getting our ass kicked on the boards.

[Moonbeam]

Man, Dame can't find a bucket these past 3 games.

[d-train]

Hood's defense is so lame

[d-train]

Blazers should throw in the towel. Rockets beat us in 3/4's of a game.

[Brandon-Clyde]

4th quarter GLB pic

Spoiler:

[DaVoiceMaster]

How many shots right at the basket did the Blazers miss tonight?

[Case2012]

LILLARD TIME??

[Ainosterhaspie]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

[Case2012]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

The coaching is garbage, injuries, and weak bench.

[Moonbeam]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

I think there are a few factors. One is that there is not a lot of continuity with outgoing players like Aminu, Harkless, and Kanter, and Curry as well as injuries to Nurkic and Collins. The players who have replaced them are either getting used to each other or simply struggling. Only Anfernee Simons has emerged as a bright spot. CJ has really struggled this year as well, though he has picked it up of late. However, his uptick has coincided with a slump from Lillard, who has shot 10-46 over the past 3 games after playing very well to start the season.

Add it up and Portland hasn't really looked good in a single game this year.

[Epicurus]

Bright note---Skal efficiently contributed--good shooting, offensive rebounding, and passing (two assists and Bazemore totally messeed up one more). Too bad another backup center does not exist, as Skal would do better without battling weightier bigs.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

The coaching is garbage, injuries, and weak bench.

Coaching seems to be an odd complaint. He's been there for all their recent (regular season) success.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

I think there are a few factors. One is that there is not a lot of continuity with outgoing players like Aminu, Harkless, and Kanter, and Curry as well as injuries to Nurkic and Collins. The players who have replaced them are either getting used to each other or simply struggling. Only Anfernee Simons has emerged as a bright spot. CJ has really struggled this year as well, though he has picked it up of late. However, his uptick has coincided with a slump from Lillard, who has shot 10-46 over the past 3 games after playing very well to start the season.

Add it up and Portland hasn't really looked good in a single game this year.

You think they'll turn it around, or do the problems look to be too big. What you're describing seems like they may just be out of sync and/or unlucky right now which I would think could change.

[Epicurus]

Lillard had a bad game again. I don't know if he was worse offensively or defensively. I know that someone will point out his 11 assists with only four turnovers; but that point ignores the many times he failed to find the open man. Still waiting for lIllard and McCollum to put together a good scoring night, at least.

[PDXKnight]

Yikes. Melo isn’t gonna help this team much I don’t think but it’s not like we will be worse

[d-train]

Lillard had a bad game again. I don't know if he was worse offensively or defensively. I know that someone will point out his 11 assists with only four turnovers; but that point ignores the many times he failed to find the open man. Still waiting for lIllard and McCollum to put together a good scoring night, at least.

I saw some bad defense. Tonight is the worst effort of the year.

[Moonbeam]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

I think there are a few factors. One is that there is not a lot of continuity with outgoing players like Aminu, Harkless, and Kanter, and Curry as well as injuries to Nurkic and Collins. The players who have replaced them are either getting used to each other or simply struggling. Only Anfernee Simons has emerged as a bright spot. CJ has really struggled this year as well, though he has picked it up of late. However, his uptick has coincided with a slump from Lillard, who has shot 10-46 over the past 3 games after playing very well to start the season.

Add it up and Portland hasn't really looked good in a single game this year.

You think they'll turn it around, or do the problems look to be too big. What you're describing seems like they may just be out of sync and/or unlucky right now which I would think could change.

Nurkic and Collins are out for a long time, so I think Portland will struggle to be a balanced team unless they make a trade. I do expect some better cohesion going forward, but they have the look of a .500 team to me at the moment.

[d-train]

Melo can help if he improves our ability to move the ball and get shooters open for better shots. The loss of Collins is really big because of his defense, but also because he could be our high post playmaker that could give Whiteside a chance to be closer to the basket. Our offense, defense, and rebounding would be better if we could fit Whiteside into a comfort zone closer to the basket. If Melo can be the high post playermaker we are missing, we could completely take Whiteside out of the playbook, which I think would benefit our offensive flow. Bad offensive flow is killing us. The bad effects contaminates everything.

[Matt800]

Can someone explain to me what's going on with the Blazers this year. I've not paid much attention to them in recent years, but they've come to be a team I expect to always be around a fourth seed every year. Seeing them struggling so much is a surprise to me. What's the problem?

I think there are a few factors. One is that there is not a lot of continuity with outgoing players like Aminu, Harkless, and Kanter, and Curry as well as injuries to Nurkic and Collins. The players who have replaced them are either getting used to each other or simply struggling. Only Anfernee Simons has emerged as a bright spot. CJ has really struggled this year as well, though he has picked it up of late. However, his uptick has coincided with a slump from Lillard, who has shot 10-46 over the past 3 games after playing very well to start the season.

Add it up and Portland hasn't really looked good in a single game this year.

You think they'll turn it around, or do the problems look to be too big. What you're describing seems like they may just be out of sync and/or unlucky right now which I would think could change.

They need more defense and rebounding in their C/PF rotation. Also if they had more options off screens in that rotation, and/or 3 point shooting that would help a lot.

I think the biggest hope is Gasol, he could fit the need. But with him being ancient and injured it may not be enough. Carmelo and Little could also help but Carmelo isn't exactly known for defense, rebounding, or efficient 3s. And Little needs to get better. Or maybe Moses Brown somehow emerges as helpful. If I remember correctly guys were saying he improved really fast in the offseason, so it's possible.

They do have some time, but if we aren't seeing any improvement over the next 10 games, especially if Carmelo and Gasol aren't helping then I think it's really unrealistic that they'd turn it around. Especially because Lillard is having to work harder and it's unlikely to be sustainable. But it may take less wins to get into the playoffs this year, due to the increased number of decent teams. It may be only a few games over .500 which could be possible for POR if they find ways to improve.

[d-train]

You think they'll turn it around, or do the problems look to be too big. What you're describing seems like they may just be out of sync and/or unlucky right now which I would think could change.

Blazers will turn it around and win 50+ games again. We have had bad stretches every year and this is probably the worst, but our team will get back on track.