Game Day (Preseason): Blazers (0-1) @ Suns (1-1), Fri 10/05/18

[n4th4n]

Melton getting really frisky.

[O_Gardino]

Melton playing a very nice game.

[Danimal]

Ayton and king are the only guys with a net positive +/-

Probably cos everyone else has sucked royal

[Danimal]

Really wish Melton would have hit that 3rd straight 3. Would have been awesome

[n4th4n]

it's time to demote ryan to head scout and pay david griffin to run this team.

Maybe assistant head scout.

[O_Gardino]

it's time to demote ryan to head scout and pay david griffin to run this team.

Maybe assistant head scout.

Assistant TO the Head Scout

[iLLmatic]

Nice outbounds play. What did Igor draw up?

[Danimal]

Cannan is back in why?

[O_Gardino]

Josh with the nice stepback airball off the dribble.

[n4th4n]

King looked pretty damn smooth on that 3.

[n4th4n]

it's time to demote ryan to head scout and pay david griffin to run this team.

Maybe assistant head scout.

Assistant TO the Head Scout

[The Bobster]

Ayton through 3 games - 31.0 Min, 59.5 FG%, 77.8 FT%, 12.7 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 3.0 Blk, 1.7 Trn, 2.3 PF, 21.3 Pts

[The Bobster]

Ayton per 36 minutes vs. Joel Embiid's career -

Ayton - 36.0 Min, .595 FG%, .778 FT%, 14.7 Reb, 1.9 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 3.5 Blk, 1.9 Trn, 4.1 PF, 24.8 Pts
Embiid - 36.0 Min, .478 FG%, .774 FT%, 12.4 Reb, 3.7 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 2.5 Blk, 4.7 Trn, 4.3 PF, 27.6 Pts

[Cap]

Ayton through 3 games - 31.0 Min, 59.5 FG%, 77.8 FT%, 12.7 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 3.0 Blk, 1.7 Trn, 2.3 PF, 21.3 Pts

Not to mention +1, +7, +4, which is good to see when you’re 1-2. At least we’re winning Ayton’s minutes.

[AmareIsGod]

Wake me up when Ayton is putting up numbers during the regular season. Until then, it doesn't mean much.

[n4th4n]

Ayton per 36 minutes vs. Joel Embiid's career -

Ayton - 36.0 Min, .595 FG%, .778 FT%, 14.7 Reb, 1.9 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 3.5 Blk, 1.9 Trn, 4.1 PF, 24.8 Pts
Embiid - 36.0 Min, .478 FG%, .774 FT%, 12.4 Reb, 3.7 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 2.5 Blk, 4.7 Trn, 4.3 PF, 27.6 Pts

Well. You can't argue with cold hard stats.

[Mori Chu]

Saw about half of this one. Super relieved that Bender had a decent game. 10 points, 5 boards, even 5-7 on FTs (!). He has been horrible before tonight, but I am really rooting for the guy. I want all of our young players to get better, but if Bender becomes playable, that would be really huge for us.

Melton played well. But I don't think he looks like a PG. More like a microwave bench guard or SG. Nice scoring but 0 assists and didn't look like a guy who would run our offense.

I just don't know what to make of Josh Jackson. He makes me frustrated much more than he makes me happy. But when he does the right thing, he really gets me cheering. Like when he threw some great passes including a lob to Ayton. Seemed like Josh was one of the few guys who could figure out how to pass the darn ball inside to the big man. That was great! But then he shoots 4-19 and sometimes just isn't looking to pass and puts up a tough hitched shot that clangs off the basket or barely grazes it. Maybe I need to be more positive and optimistic about JJ. If he can learn to control these flaws in his game, what will be left is a really versatile small forward who can help us run our offense. But I don't think today's version of Josh Jackson is a net benefit for us on the floor.

This was another game where most of our "shooters" had really bad shooting nights. We are going to be a really bad team if we don't have anybody who can make a 3. (Josh Jackson went 0-7 on 3s. Why did he take 7 3s???)

I wanted to see Okobo play better. I see flashes I like from him, but he may not be ready for big minutes yet. Need time to develop him further I guess.

We really need Booker back. And then we need a real PG who can run the offense. And we probably need a PF who isn't an old corpse or a young wilting flower. Then we might be a decent team...

[bajanguy008]

I had to go out last night
Left home just before HT , I mean we weren't exactly playing well when I left but that 3rd quarter is head scratching.
I actually wish I could see it to make sense of the box score. Execution issues are clear but what bothered me is it seemed like alot of the guys were in a daze and the energy wasn't right when I was watching

[bajanguy008]

Ayton will make a fantastic fantasy play

Lol
Every game he plays I wonder who is going to make the Homer pick and snag him super early in our League

[ShelC]

In all 3 games I felt like we've been slow. It's like we can hardly run our offense because the other teams' defense has been right up on us making everything hard. I think the offense may be a little predictable and the spacing has been awful. With a PnR heavy offense you can really spread things out but we don't have the PG or the shooters for that. With our current motion offense, defenses seems to be overplaying and denying everything and we either aren't trying hard enough (Igor has said as much) or don't have the personnel to make the adjustments (shooters/dribble penetrators).

Ayton got his numbers but we're not really running offense thru or for him. The Jackson-Ayton lobs are nice to see tho.

I get the frustration with Jackson but I'm still encouraged. He's a legit ballhandler and can make some nice passes. I think he just needs more experience and also needs to play to with more urgency. He's too laid back out there. His shooting sucks and will always suck. He's got bad form. We need to accept this or move him. He'll play better with Booker and with a real PG who can get him easy looks.

Okobo looks the part but didn't really move the needle at PG. Needs more time and experience. Canaan sucks IMO. The fact that we're looking to him to steady things and play major minutes is a complete indictment on McD and his handling of the PG position. I'm not sure Canaan even belongs on a roster. Melton has the physical tools but also needs seasoning.

TJ is TJ. He's not and will never be a shooter. Anderson sucks. Ariza hit some nice shots but already seems kind of frustrated and also looks a step slow on defense. Bender played with some actual hustle when he got in the game. Igor must be lighting a fire under his ass which is encouraging. If he can maintain that, maybe he'll be playable.

My biggest takeaway so far thru 3 games - not crazy about the offense. Maybe it'll get better with Booker but in general, I'd like to see more PnRs, better spacing and more Ayton post ups.