Game 53: Portland vs Miami 7:00pm SNW/NBAtv

[Norm2953]

I am really getting tired of watching unimpeded drives to the basket, wide open jump shots and wide open three point shots to good teams. Does the team not practice defense anymore?
How does it happen when you add two pretty good defenders (Powell and DJJ) and one very good defender (ROKO) to a team your defense actually gets worse??? What the heck is going on with this team?

agreed with most of this but i don’t regard powell as a good defensive player nor do his career stats back up that image. Used car salesman NO thinks he can defend but the 22 year old he dealt away is a superior defender

That 22 year old player was our future, who would have been our best player by no later than 2025. He's not there yet
and perhaps doesn't fit all the constant harping about maximizing the remaining years of Dame's prime but we traded
away the 22 year old version of Wesley Matthews who in his age 24 year was averaging 15.9 ppg, and was a great fit with
his solid all around game in Portland. Great trade for the Raptors

[Epicurus]

I am really getting tired of watching unimpeded drives to the basket, wide open jump shots and wide open three point shots to good teams. Does the team not practice defense anymore?
How does it happen when you add two pretty good defenders (Powell and DJJ) and one very good defender (ROKO) to a team your defense actually gets worse??? What the heck is going on with this team?

I am sure if you check, you will find no more open shots between the teams or shot quality differenes last night. Last night the problem was not the defense, but the lazy passing and Lillard believing he could dribble through three defenders at around the 20ft mark on the court. I think the point differential was 21 points on points after turnovers.

A defense is generally, if not always, anchored by a rim protecting big (or two). Collins out and Nurk comes in not ready for the season and then get a long injury. No actual replacements for that function.

[BlazersBroncos]

Nurkic is struggling to score, and still turning the ball over, but his defense is really coming along IMO. Its night-and-day between him and Kanter out there on the defensive end. We all knew that though, and I cant disparage Enes as he is an elite backup C who would be on a team starting if he could play defense so you take what he gives. But we need Jusuf to stay out of foul trouble and round into shape on offense to be more than R1 fodder. And even then, it doesnt look good. I am so disappointed in this team so far this month.

[JasonStern]

Nurkic is struggling to score, and still turning the ball over, but his defense is really coming along IMO. Its night-and-day between him and Kanter out there on the defensive end. We all knew that though, and I cant disparage Enes as he is an elite backup C who would be on a team starting if he could play defense so you take what he gives. But we need Jusuf to stay out of foul trouble and round into shape on offense to be more than R1 fodder. And even then, it doesnt look good. I am so disappointed in this team so far this month.

Team started dropping off after Dame got hurt. Even when the team was winning, there was always the feeling that the only way a win was safe was if he put up 40+ points. Just shows you the difference between having an elite player and complementary players like McCollum and Nurkić.

[monopoman]

Nurkic is struggling to score, and still turning the ball over, but his defense is really coming along IMO. Its night-and-day between him and Kanter out there on the defensive end. We all knew that though, and I cant disparage Enes as he is an elite backup C who would be on a team starting if he could play defense so you take what he gives. But we need Jusuf to stay out of foul trouble and round into shape on offense to be more than R1 fodder. And even then, it doesnt look good. I am so disappointed in this team so far this month.

I mean Kanter with good D is basically a top five or at worst top ten C in the league most likely. I will give him this he never makes me think he isn't out there trying to play good D, he is like the antithesis of Whiteside who seems like someone hunting for stats and could be far better if he really cared. Meanwhile Kanter seems like every night he busts his ass, and always gives full effort.

[whatchaknow]

I enjoy watching this Blazers team trying to figure out their way. We don't have a top 5 player, or even a top 10 player. We don't have 2 top 15 players. Blazers are trying to build a contender without having any of the leagues best players. The odds are strongly against Blazers being successful. Watch if you find it an interesting endeavor. Don't watch if you aren't interested and are of the opinion that a NBA team must start with a top 5 player, or a couple top 15 players. If you believe the Blazers are on a fools errand, than don't watch. Watch the Lakers or whichever team fits the profile you are looking for.

I am watching the Blazers and enjoying it.

It’s not even just trying to find a top talent like you say. It’s just like running into a wall year after year and not doing anything to break through it, climb over it or run around it. It’s just continuing to do the same thing. This construction of the team has ran its course, personnel and coaching needs to change. None of us want to watch the lakers like you are suggesting, we want to see the blazers win but are sick of the same old story