Game 11: Portland vs Charlotte 4:00pm Root,Root+

[BlazersBroncos]

Is it just me or is this team trying to be too unselfish at times?

I see so many ill-advised passes that it's just unreal, especially from a team that in the Stotts era took care of the ball pretty well. Even when not being pressured by a tough defensive team they still love to throw passes that can easily be picked off or that are thrown between 2-3 defenders.

I have no problem with turnovers that are trying to push pace, or that are actually forced by good defense but tonight they made a trash team look good defensively by stupid passes.

I love the passing game. For years now, we've watch Lillard, CJ, and more recently Simons dribble the clock out and jack up shots. I don't mind seeing that here and there, but do not want to go back to seeing that for 48 minutes. However, there was a lot of mishandling the ball and simply throwing the ball to the other team. Turnovers are going to happen, but half the turnovers last night did not need to happen.

I agree we need to iron out the TO's but I think that will come with time. If we can keep winning, keep moving the ball like this and incrementally improve on TO's thats an ideal scenario.

This team is very fun to watch and easy to root for. All the guys seem to have 'bought in'. The effort is always there, they dont roll over, they seem to have a unselfish / next-man-up mentality and there is trust amongst the coach, the players and the FO. Its shaping up to be a pretty special squad.

My biggest surprise is how mature Sharpe's game is - he rarely forces the issue, scores within the 'flow' and the game speed has required like no adjustment for him somehow. He is going to be a special, special player. Cronin gambled and while early its looking like the payoff may be tremendous.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Not that it really matters at this point, but I dont understand why Phoenix is ahead of the Blazers in the standings with identical records. The Blazers beat them 2 out of 3 times. I assume they are ahead of Denver because they beat them, as well. What am I missing?

[monopoman]

Not that it really matters at this point, but I dont understand why Phoenix is ahead of the Blazers in the standings with identical records. The Blazers beat them 2 out of 3 times. I assume they are ahead of Denver because they beat them, as well. What am I missing?

It's some weird tie breaker rule, since it's a 3 way tie it doesn't make head to head the primary tie-breaker.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Not that it really matters at this point, but I dont understand why Phoenix is ahead of the Blazers in the standings with identical records. The Blazers beat them 2 out of 3 times. I assume they are ahead of Denver because they beat them, as well. What am I missing?

It's some weird tie breaker rule, since it's a 3 way tie it doesn't make head to head the primary tie-breaker.

Bah! But thanks

[BNM]

Is it just me or is this team trying to be too unselfish at times?

I see so many ill-advised passes that it's just unreal, especially from a team that in the Stotts era took care of the ball pretty well. Even when not being pressured by a tough defensive team they still love to throw passes that can easily be picked off or that are thrown between 2-3 defenders.

I have no problem with turnovers that are trying to push pace, or that are actually forced by good defense but tonight they made a trash team look good defensively by stupid passes.

I love the passing game. For years now, we've watch Lillard, CJ, and more recently Simons dribble the clock out and jack up shots. I don't mind seeing that here and there, but do not want to go back to seeing that for 48 minutes. However, there was a lot of mishandling the ball and simply throwing the ball to the other team. Turnovers are going to happen, but half the turnovers last night did not need to happen.

I agree we need to iron out the TO's but I think that will come with time. If we can keep winning, keep moving the ball like this and incrementally improve on TO's thats an ideal scenario.

This team is very fun to watch and easy to root for. All the guys seem to have 'bought in'. The effort is always there, they dont roll over, they seem to have a unselfish / next-man-up mentality and there is trust amongst the coach, the players and the FO. Its shaping up to be a pretty special squad.

My biggest surprise is how mature Sharpe's game is - he rarely forces the issue, scores within the 'flow' and the game speed has required like no adjustment for him somehow. He is going to be a special, special player. Cronin gambled and while early its looking like the payoff may be tremendous.

This team also seems to be developing an identity of a good 4th quarter team. They really seem to get after it at both ends in the final stanza. For the season, their NetRtg is +1.8. but in the 4th quarter, they have only been outscored twice, so far, and have an average margin of +3.3 in the 4th quarter.

These guys play hard all the time, but they also execute well and don't get rattled under pressure. Part of that is the leadership of Dame and the other vets, but it also says a lot about our young players that they remain calm and stay focused with the game on the line. I thought it was pretty telling that Chauncey had the confidence to play the young guys in the 4th quarter last night. Sharpe (19), Walker (20), Little (22) and Watford (22nd birthday) all saw significant PT in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. They also all delivered and all had a positive +/- for the quarter (Sharpe +6, Warford +5, Walker +2, Little +2).

Sharpe and Walker, our two rookies and two youngest players, were +30 and +22 for the game - and that was in meaningful minutes in a close game, not stat padding in garbage time. So far, I'd say it's looking like Cronin nailed this draft.