Posted 11/29/2012 6:25 AM

Hickson is simply earning this team. HE is their leader now...Wesley not far behind. Like it or not, that's what is happening. Any Blazer who chooses to not follow their lead needs to find the door and not look back. Period. Can't afford cancerous elements around developing youth.

Posted 11/29/2012 7:32 AM

Posted By BDawg on 11/29/2012 6:25 AM
Hickson is simply earning this team. HE is their leader now...Wesley not far behind. Like it or not, that's what is happening. Any Blazer who chooses to not follow their lead needs to find the door and not look back. Period. Can't afford cancerous elements around developing youth.

Could not have said it better!

Posted 11/29/2012 10:03 AM

Credit to the Wizards at least. They won the game. We haven't played up to our capabilities on this road trip, sure, but there are things to be learned from every loss. One can only hope the coaching staff and roster make the adjustments and improve. 

Posted 11/29/2012 11:52 AM

Stotts isnt calling defensive plays. These guys only seem to fight after they've taken two to the chin and one to the gut. The defnsive intensity that got us a 16-0 run is how they need to start each game. Not wait until we're in a hole so deep that it saps our fourth quarter energy.

Posted 11/29/2012 12:33 PM

Common...the problem is, the starters are gassed and simply, physically not able to maintain that level of intensity for a full 48...or even long enough to beat a Wizards team on the road. Doesn't look like it will get any better any time soon in that regard either, with the team in the middle of the longest road trip in years. Lack of depth is to blame here, and I don't see that being addressed. More than wins, we all need to be hoping for continued health.

Posted 11/30/2012 2:55 PM

Defense wins simple as that it works in Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Football, and Soccer man up and play some defense simple as that. Portland needs someone like Tony Allen to lead by example and get this team playing hard every minute of every game. 

Posted 11/30/2012 6:46 PM

Wow now the third one on this board who speaks the truth besides myself and BDawg.

 

LA showed some Balls on offense tonight by playing on the Low Post.

 

Here is the thing.  If you look at all of the great teams in the NBA they all play tenacious defense as they realize that starts the Fast Break.  The tenacious defense starts with Heart and Desire. 

 

I hate to say this, but these guys are playing like the early Blazers when Roland Todd was thier Coach.  Basically the early Blazers suck and this Team Sucks.  Neither team put eveyting on the floor. 

 

People on this Board are saying be patient it will change.  I would be patient if they had a Pulse on the Floor.  This team is in free fall and cardiac rest from defense.

 

One of the best defenseive coaches of All Time was Dr. Jack.  Maybe it is time to bring him in as a consultant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted 11/30/2012 8:08 PM

Who the hell is Roland Todd?

Posted 12/01/2012 1:01 AM

We need a friggen bench spark player.. I just feel like our starters are too young to have the pressure of, "yeah it's all on you because there's nobody else on this team that's gonna do it" ... Are there still any decent free agent players for the bench that we can pick up to last us the year?

Posted 12/01/2012 1:37 AM

<p>You would be hard pressed to find a fan and/or follower of this team that would disagree with you.  The problem here is differing agendas.  The front office wants lottery, in an ongoing and continuing effort to rebuild.  Conversely, Stotts is more than aware he needs to win to stay in the active NBA coaches pool when the inevitable happens with him here in P'town...thus the excessive minutes on the starters to this point.  In Stott's defense here, I just don't think he's being given enough to work with.  Meanwhile, the players presumably all are wanting to win as well...who doesn't in competitive sports.  Coach has got to be frustrated, as are the players.  For me personally, it looked as if both fatigue and frustration were to blame in Boston.  I'm hoping not too much of the latter because things will only get worse.</p> <p> </p> <p>As far as available free agents are concerned, I'm not aware of any.  However, I did ask the question in another thread..."what ever happened to Chris Johnson?"  Besides scoring of the bench, this roster is sorely lacking a shot blocker/changer.  While not perfect, Johnson during his previous stint here DID provide a spark off the bench and did an effective job of deterring dribble penetration while patrolling the paint.  Most recent info I could find on CJ was an October 9th signing in Orlando.  I'm not sure whether he is still with the Magic.  I would give some STRONG consideration to bringing Stretch back.  Loved his contributions v Dallas in the postseason.</p>

I've read this morning where Toronto signed Mickael Pietrus yesterday, a 6'6" guard and 3pt marksman (.357 career %).

Posted 12/01/2012 7:13 AM

Posted By Curvychloe on 11/30/2012 8:08 PM
Who the hell is Roland Todd?

Very First caoch of Portland in 1970!

Posted 12/01/2012 7:20 AM

Posted By BDawg on 12/01/2012 1:37 AM

You would be hard pressed to find a fan and/or follower of this team that would disagree with you.  The problem here is differing agendas.  The front office wants lottery, in an ongoing and continuing effort to rebuild.  Conversely, Stotts is more than aware he needs to win to stay in the active NBA coaches pool when the inevitable happens with him here in P'town...thus the excessive minutes on the starters to this point.  In Stott's defense here, I just don't think he's being given enough to work with.  Meanwhile, the players presumably all are wanting to win as well...who doesn't in competitive sports.  Coach has got to be frustrated, as are the players.  For me personally, it looked as if both fatigue and frustration were to blame in Boston.  I'm hoping not too much of the latter because things will only get worse.

 

As far as available free agents are concerned, I'm not aware of any.  However, I did ask the question in another thread..."what ever happened to Chris Johnson?"  Besides scoring of the bench, this roster is sorely lacking a shot blocker/changer.  While not perfect, Johnson during his previous stint here DID provide a spark off the bench and did an effective job of deterring dribble penetration while patrolling the paint.  Most recent info I could find on CJ was an October 9th signing in Orlando.  I'm not sure whether he is still with the Magic.  I would give some STRONG consideration to bringing Stretch back.  Loved his contributions v Dallas in the postseason.

I've read this morning where Toronto signed Mickael Pietrus yesterday, a 6'6" guard and 3pt marksman (.357 career %).

BDawg, I would agree to bring Chris Johnson in.  He was waived by Orlando on October 27, 2012

 

He may be ugly on offense, but he does play good defense.

 

Posted 12/01/2012 12:02 PM

Our offense has been really off. Stotts was suppose to be a offensive specialist. I thought we wouldnt have any more ugly offensive possessions. 

Since we are 29th in the league in rebounding and in points allowed- we cant run fast breaks. We are letting up offensive boards and having them score easily on us. 

But our offense last game was 1-2 passes a possession. We just passed it to LA or Hick or someone on the perimeter would just run in the paint against 3 defenders.

If we cant defend or score we are going to have problems

Posted 12/03/2012 9:04 AM

 

There was a great article today in Oregon Live about making a comparison between this win and the win against Memphis 5 years ago when Travis Outlaw had a game winning shot that started a 13 game winning streak.

Biggest whole in the argument was 5 years ago that team new how to play defense.  They were young and hungry and tenacious.  I do not see that with this team.

Read the article and make your opinion known.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2012/12/blazers_rundown.html

Blazers rundown: Can Nicolas Batum's game-winner turn season the way Travis Outlaw's did 5 years ago?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted 12/03/2012 9:39 AM

I think it AS likely, if not significantly more, that Nic's dagger three does to the Cav's season what that now infamous goaltending call did to the Blazer's season last year.

Posted 12/03/2012 9:44 AM

30 games in we'll know more about the chemistry of the team. Truth is pretty subjective when it comes to opinions but with our half rookie team, defense is coached, not improvised. We have Triano, Hughes, Caneles on the bench. Great teams have great defensive coordinators. Boston thrived under Thibs as the defensive assistant. Stotts is our offensive, rotation coach. Said it before, we need an upgrade at assistant defensive coordinator. Baseball, Hockey, Football and Basketball all work this way. The Oregon Ducks have Allioti as a defensive coach. We need that guy. My biggest complaint is that Kaleb Canales is mostly responsible for one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Stotts has us in the upper level on offensive production. Last two games I've seen bench improvement but there's no substitute for coaching. Kanales has spent after hours in the gym with Nolan and Luke for a couple of years and we see the results. Not a stellar resume and I know he's well loved by the organization but my "truth" is that Canales may not be a great defensive coach

Posted 12/03/2012 12:43 PM

Without knowing all of the variables that may be in play, it certainly looks on the surface as if this organization could do better than Canales.

Posted 12/03/2012 1:33 PM

If only JJ would defend and not just rebound.  Why does he rip the ball out of his team mates hands fighting for the rebound stats anyway?

Posted 12/03/2012 10:19 PM

JJ defends,rebounds,blocks shots,he basically just an all around Baller

Posted 12/04/2012 6:50 AM

Posted By Curvychloe on 12/03/2012 10:19 PM
JJ defends,rebounds,blocks shots,he basically just an all around Baller

Agreed, JJ brings an intangible to the team that other than Wes seems to have, that he is willing to lay everything on the line to win.  Last night he had an off night and it was great that some of the bench came through.

 

JJ is what you want in a Blazer uniform.

Posted 12/04/2012 10:00 AM

Hell yes,he's the best thing about the 2011-12 season,and to be honest i'm really disapointed they didn't offer him a better contract,I mean just cause a guy doesn't have alot of takers cause sacramento cut him,doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it for how he's played since putting on a blazer uniform. He coulda been a Vagina Like Crawford or felton and just tanked it untill he got outa portland,but no he got out there and started banging and throwing down and any blazer fan is gonna respect that.He's a True Blazer and needs to be a Blazer 4life!

Posted 12/04/2012 11:26 AM

I think we have 7 players that need to be Blazers for life

Posted 12/04/2012 12:46 PM

Yeah that many? Who

Posted 12/04/2012 12:48 PM

LA, Lillard, Batum, Mathews, JJ, Barton, Leonard

Posted 12/04/2012 4:39 PM

How did Barton make the list?

Posted 12/04/2012 4:50 PM

I think he's a future 6 man, that's how he made the list.

Posted 12/04/2012 8:34 PM

I would have put Barton there too.. The exact list I would have put River

Posted 12/05/2012 5:51 AM

I like the seven river but would caution that "life" is a long time

Posted 12/05/2012 9:35 AM

yeah will barton 4life is a bit of a reach,i think we'd trade him yesterday if we got the right offer

Posted 12/05/2012 11:14 AM

yea my honest opinion is send barton to the stampede to develop

Posted 12/05/2012 12:16 PM

The kid has played 18 games and unlike most rookies is getting to play. Come April he will have a lot more experience and chemistry with this team and with the salary cap pending this offseason..he's cheap. I see him as an Allen Iverson type scorer but taller and a better rebounder. He's got the talent to be a natural 6 man. Nolan makes a lot more money and he's my candidate for Idaho right now

Posted 12/05/2012 12:22 PM

Yeah will I'll take your word for it

Posted 12/05/2012 8:04 PM

JJ rebounds, scores and scraps but his defense is not stellar. Opposing teams get to the rack over and over against him. He doesn't take charges and misses rotations on double teams. He could be a great defender but that's the only real area he needs to improve. Meyers Leonard has the same problem but isn't on JJs rebounding or scoring level at all. Our paint defense is horrible this season.

Posted 12/06/2012 6:08 AM

Posted By riverman on 12/05/2012 8:04 PM
JJ rebounds, scores and scraps but his defense is not stellar. Opposing teams get to the rack over and over against him. He doesn't take charges and misses rotations on double teams. He could be a great defender but that's the only real area he needs to improve. Meyers Leonard has the same problem but isn't on JJs rebounding or scoring level at all. Our paint defense is horrible this season.

Our Total Team Defense is horrible this season. I should have titled this Blod "LACK OF TEAM HUSTLE & HEART ON DEFENSE"

Posted 12/06/2012 11:33 PM

Posted By BDawg on 11/29/2012 12:33 PM
Common...the problem is, the starters are gassed and simply, physically not able to maintain that level of intensity for a full 48...or even long enough to beat a Wizards team on the road. Doesn't look like it will get any better any time soon in that regard either, with the team in the middle of the longest road trip in years. Lack of depth is to blame here, and I don't see that being addressed. More than wins, we all need to be hoping for continued health.

Nailed it. +1

Posted 12/09/2012 7:56 AM

The entire team for Paul Allen down needs a major Heart Transplant!

 

They did not even show up to play last night.  There attitade was, well we are home now and we can win just by being here.

Lets review that last couple of week Highlights:  We give the wizards their first win of the season and we give the kings thier first road win of the season.

Yes we had two great comeback wins on the road and wow get a clue Blazers, it started with great Team Defense.  The all starts from a coach who knows what defense is.

Looks like we are headed for a lottery pick this season. 

Got to love Wes Matthews, he gets a hip pointer and keeps playing.  Pretty impressive that he has not missed a game in his NBA career.  We need more players like him on the team who will show up and play every night.

 

 

 

 

Posted 12/09/2012 9:38 AM

Kings beat us last night..simple. half our starting roster was hurt and we can't survive it when that happens. For once I'd like to see and opponent not have a career night at the 3pt line against us. We just never seem to run guys off the 3pt line anymore. In all our losses, role players on the other team seem to have career stats..DEFENSE rules! I don't know why Nic was even on the court last night. Babbit had a first half spark but disappeared after half time. We'll get them next time!