Game 12: Portland vs Toronto 7:00pm SNW

[Epicurus]

BTW, in Little's final stint of 9.2 minutes of the third quarter, he collected three fouls, one and perhaps two of them were a ref being tighter on a rookie type of fouls. Perhaps that influenced why he got no time in the fourth (along with other conceavable factors mentioned earlier). He also got in that stint two of his shots stuffed underneath--the penalty for being a short PF. In brif, the refs and the opponents were leaning on his status.

[Epicurus]

BTW, whoever failed to keep Hollis-Jefferson off his offensive board is the real culprit of this game. His 32.1% obrate is ridiculous.

[d-train]

don't think we really valued Whiteside it was more we needed a center in the short term and Whiteside is an expiring contract so we either trade him or let him walk out the door at the end of the season.

I think we do value him and we might neither trade or let him walk. We most likely resign him to an extension, but all 3 outcomes are possible. Of course, the extension is more likely if Blazers can find some chemistry and is less likely if we don't.

[d-train]

I'd much rather start Bazemore at the 3 alongside Little at the 4. Energy and defensive effort is contageous. Hood and McCollum are too laid back on that end of the floor.

Bazemore ususally does finish games. I agree Hood is the weak link defensively.

[monopoman]

don't think we really valued Whiteside it was more we needed a center in the short term and Whiteside is an expiring contract so we either trade him or let him walk out the door at the end of the season.

I think we do value him and we might neither trade or let him walk. We most likely resign him to an extension, but all 3 outcomes are possible. Of course, the extension is more likely if Blazers can find some chemistry and is less likely if we don't.

Well he doesn't seem to fit the offense Stotts likes to run and there is a chance he gets a pretty high offer from another team I don't know if we match that.

If he blows up and has a great season here once Stotts adjusts the offense maybe we do offer him it but so far he doesn't fit this team very well. I think another factor is if Nurkic comes back and picks up where he left off, I doubt Hassan is interested in being a bench guy behind Nurkic.

So we need to see how Nurkic looks because if he comes back from injury looking great that makes Whiteside more expendable. You have to factor in what Hassan wants and while you seem to believe Nurkic is just a role-player this team has a MUCH better record when Nurkic is healthy and playing.

[d-train]

Stotts favorite offense is the one that works.

Nurkic was a key role player before his injury. The team is built around Lillard and nobody else. Even CJ's job is to facilitate and play off Lillard's action.

[monopoman]

Stotts favorite offense is the one that works.

Nurkic was a key role player before his injury. The team is built around Lillard and nobody else. Even CJ's job is to facilitate and play off Lillard's action.

A key player that helps takes our defense from pretty bad to good. I know you love to downplay Nurkic but you are dreaming if you think that he isn't the key factor in defense.

I am not talking about the offense sure on offense his job is to play around Lillard, but defensively Nurkic is the main man period. He is very adept at guarding in the paint and makes most players struggle to get good looks inside. I think as far as the media is concerned he is the most underrated defender in the NBA when at full health.

[d-train]

Stotts favorite offense is the one that works.

Nurkic was a key role player before his injury. The team is built around Lillard and nobody else. Even CJ's job is to facilitate and play off Lillard's action.

A key player that helps takes our defense from pretty bad to good. I know you love to downplay Nurkic but you are dreaming if you think that he isn't the key factor in defense.

I am not talking about the offense sure on offense his job is to play around Lillard, but defensively Nurkic is the main man period. He is very adept at guarding in the paint and makes most players struggle to get good looks inside. I think as far as the media is concerned he is the most underrated defender in the NBA when at full health.

I don't know why you think I downplay him. I have always been very high on Nurkic. I'm surprised by your comments. I have always compared Nurkic favorably with the top centers and people here say I'm a crazy homer. People suggest trades like for AD and I say Nurkic is better than anyone Lakers traded and people say I'm nuts. I don't know how you get the idea I'm not high on Nurkic.

[GEE]

It is why Nurkic's injury was so tragic. Not the shear site of the injury itself, but how good he was becoming, just before it happened. Iirc, he was having some huge games with monster numbers right before it happened. It was like a light switch got turned on, and the Dame and Nurkic duo was looking as unstoppable as Stockton and Malone.