FanPost

Overreacting to Game #66: Portland 127, Phoenix 120

SOME TIMES THE SAME SHOTS ARE HARDER THAN AT OTHER TIMES. True. This is a description of this game, a continuation of our discussion from last game, as well as a look at the rest of the season. We talk a lot about shooting percentages, who can shoot the 3, who can create their own shot. But we don't often discuss as much the various forms of pressure that placed on each shot. Sometimes it is defensive pressure. It can be game situation pressure. It can be career altering pressure. And in a couple of months, it will be play-off pressure.

Phoenix is a case in point. Obviously this is yet another nowhere season for them. But Portland applied some solid defensive pressure and took the Suns out of the game. They harassed Booker. Shots were contested at the rim. Phoenix had trouble scoring, and they grew frustrated. Phoenix countered with about 10 minutes of decent defense of their own, and Portland struggled. Nothing was coming easy for either team. Shots were coming hard.

Then Phoenix reverted to be Phoenix. They would try and outscore you but they would stop playing defense. Portland scored 42 points and raised their early 30% shooting to over 50% by half. The shots were easy, and it continued that way through the 3rd. Finally the Blazers emptied the bench, abandoned the defense themselves, and Phoenix went nuts for a 43 point 4th.

Remember Nik Stauskas? Portland brought him in and committed to making him a focal point of the 2nd unit. He responded in a big way early on. But when his shot faded, the pressure snowballed. Oshey and Stotts gave Nik a chance to resurrect his career, but the shots got harder and harder and he's gone.

The point from the OKC game, the Celtics game and looking forward to the play-offs is that Portland needs some players to make shots and plays when shots get hard. CJ and Dame want and need help. But it became the dynamic duo and little else in the Thunder game. Besides the possibility of Nurk, who can Stotts trust in April?

Hood learned a lot from his time in Cleveland. He has a brashness to his game that should translate. Kanter should be a guaranteed 10+ points a night. Curry exploded for a huge 22 point game tonight. Layman showed some good moves tonight on the way to 9. It is good to see these guys score well tonight, but will we see the same things when shots are hard? When the consequences of missing get bigger? We still don't know.

FINAL GRADE: There is not a lot to discuss about the game itself. Portland was able to create good offense without a lot of assists because beating the Suns off the dribble is so easy. Zach Collins looks lost right now. Even low post moves against a smaller defender go awry. He is nearing the point of disappearing for the rest of the season. Disregard the contract and money: Who would you take? Layman or Oubre? Jake had a couple of massive blocks. Simons had a couple of nice shots. I hope he is studying Curry's game. Because of the contract situation, Oshey has high hopes that Anfernee can fill that role as soon as next season. Hood left with an injury that did not appear overly serious, but the Blazers need as much time with Rodney as possible. Stotts stuck with the bench, even as the rout evaporated to just a solid win. Sloppy at the beginning and end, but a very necessary win. B