Comments on: Clippers vs. Blazers Game Preview

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 06:02:08 +0000

Bones and EJ’s long range bomb will be crucial in the playoffs.
Surround Kawhi with those two, along with the collection of T-Mann, Batum, Norm & Roco. Sprinkle in Zu & Plum and finish it off with Russ’s playmaking & his force of nature. And we are good to go.
Even without PG, those 10 guys list above will get us out of the 1st round. I guess he will be back if we are in the second round.
I still like our chance against anyone.
One team that scares me the most is the Bucks. But if we have to find the way to beat them, that would a great problem to have. 🙂
Ps: I still believe in Coffey and even Mook. Any match up needs the right personnel and we have plenty of them ready to go off.

By: lying dog-faced pony soldier

lying dog-faced pony soldier — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 04:43:14 +0000

Very helpful analyses and info, thanks. Love Plumsy’s (new name for him) back-to-the-basket dunks. For some reason I always want to call him “Miles.”

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:51:26 +0000

No. With PG out, they want us, not the Warriors, Steph running circles around CP3 making him work all game and all their motion offense. Might prefer us even if fully healthy. Absolutely zero incentive.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:48:27 +0000

Agreed. Would highlight Kawhi, Zu, Norm, Bones and Russ as key contributors in this one, with Batum being very solid. Same for RoCo who had some highlights but also the blunders with the turnovers, Nico just makes fewer mistakes. Plumlee solid, fewer highlights. Survived an off-night by EG, good. Mann not great but doing the little things as usual.

Fully agreed that Zu is the 2nd best player without PG. Others can overtake him and can have a higher ceiling, most notably Russ and Gordon. When they do, they help everyone on offense. But Zu is the consistent guy with the elite defense who helps everyone on that end every game – and does screen, roll, rebound and finish on offense.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:40:10 +0000

Cam Payne made pretty bad decisions vs the Lakers. An update on Biyombo yet? Bruised knee?

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:38:49 +0000

I would. Because Kings are easier, Warriors vs Suns eliminates one very strong team, then the winner vs Denver eliminates another. Second round Memphis is strong and a tough matchup but they will be without Clarke and potentially Adams.

What’s more, I expect PG to miss at least the first round – which is fine vs Sacramento but pretty devastating vs Phoenix and Booker. I’m not in favour of throwing it in general – even though I’m not afraid of facing the Lakers in the play-in. You want to go to that 2/3 bracket if 1/4/5/8 could be Denver/Phoenix/Golden State/Lakers rather than facing Phoenix without PG and then possibly a healthy Denver team instead of a good but not fully healthy Memphis squad. Or who knows, Denver or Memphis might lose, doubt it but possible.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:31:47 +0000

It goes by head-to-head record within the group then, afaik. NOLA 3-0 vs us, 1-3 vs Lakers, 2-2 vs Warriors, 6-5 overall. Lakers 0-4 vs us, 3-1 vs NOLA, 3-1 vs Warriors, 6-6 overall. Warriors 2-2 vs NOLA, 1-3 vs Lakers, 2-2 vs us, 5-7 overall. Clippers 4-0 vs Lakers, 0-3 vs NOLA, 2-2 vs Warriors, 6-5 overall. Tiebreaker vs NOLA goes to NOLA.

So Pels 5th, Clippers 6th, Lakers 7th, Warriors 8th in my understanding. Warriors gonna win out, they have to

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:26:17 +0000

Yeah. But vs the Lakers in all likelihood. Could be epic

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:25:46 +0000

Well, that’s up to the Wolves – Pelicans game I guess. And not only do we need a Wolves win, we need a pretty decisive win that’s clear early-on so we can afford to (try) and lose the Phoenix game. Very unlikely, looks a lot like 5th, a bit like 7th and very unlikely that it’s 6th.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:22:41 +0000

4th quarter:

Plumlee for Kawhi. After a long stint where Bones was huge for the second unit (Norm and Plumlee also helped the offense, very similar to what Gordon and Zu usually do for the starters), Blazers call a timeout down 16. RoCo with a steal and a dunk right after it. Defense still locked in but Portland still hits 3s. Then I felt that turnovers sucked the energy out a bit. A clumsy one by Plumsy, two inaccurate lead-out passes after steals by Covington and a bad pass by Mann keep the Blazers alive. But generally good offense otherwise puts them away.

Good quarter, great quarter by Bones and Norm.