[Post Game Thread] The Portland Trail Blazers (5-8) defeat The Minnesota Timberwolves (7-5) 106-98

35 comments

  4. Here are my thoughts on this game tonight:

    * Alright, as this subreddit’s resident Simons defender, I think I’ve seen enough. I still think he’s being misused on this team and will go on to have a great career somewhere else, but whatever his future is, it doesn’t look like it’ll be here. Which is a shame, but that’s where we are.

    * These last two games were the most fun I’ve had watching the Blazers in a very very long time. Probably since the Dame era. (although it kind of hurts because the Wolves are my second team).

    * That ref is so funny lol

    The positives:

    * That fourth quarter was absolutely magical with the defense, hustle, energy and effort by all the young guys. That was absolutely beautiful to watch – it wasn’t just the Wolves missing shots either.

    * Clingan with by far the best game of his young career so far. The rim protection was ridiculous, and I thought he did a pretty good job (by his standards) defending in space too. I also thought he was awesome processing on offense – he’s super decisive with both his passing and screening, and just knows where to be at all times. Plus, he was a monster on the offensive glass and made a few good finishes. You love to see it. That stretch at the beginning of the fourth quarter was SO incredibly fun.

    * Kris Murray is always doing good things (except when he shoots). He really deserves minutes, but it’s just hard with how deep our wing rotation is. That being said, if/when Grant gets traded I’m excited to see him play, because he’s always in the right place at the right time defensively. (also I think he deserves Rupert’s minutes going forward).

    * Sharpe was awesome to watch. Not too much to say here, but he’s soooo smooth. And he was aggressive today, which everyone loves to see. I loved see him take over to the game – shades of the tank game against Minny his rookie year. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.

    * credit where credit is due, props to Chauncey for closing with Sharpe instead of Grant.

    * I’ve been extremely critical about how much we press full court and extend the defense, but it works A LOT better when you have Clingan to clean up everything at the rim.

    The negatives:

    * Sharpe had a couple bad possessions in the fourth quarter where he was a little loose with the handle going to the rim. His handle holding him back a little bit when trying to get to the rim has been a bit of a problem so far in his career, and it’s definitely something he’s going to have to work on.

    * Scoot with a bit of an up-and-down game. I thought it was sort of a microcosm of Scoot so far this season – great first step, getting to the rim consistently, missing layups, and some wild turnovers. He had a couple awful turnovers that were about 10 feet too high, and had another one where he overpenetrated, got stuck and threw it away (which is something he’s had trouble with so far). I really like that he’s getting to his spots (much better than last year), but he’s just gotta work on his finishing. Also, him getting benched for Banton to close the game is not really a very good look (although I totally get why Chauncey did it). I guess if there’s one positive thing to take away, it’s that his bad games like today aren’t “holy shit how is this guy is an NBA player?” like last year’s bad games.

    * One thing I noticed Scoot doesn’t do very well is anticipate defenders sitting in the gap or the nail – a lot of times hell take a dribble and start attacking but pull it back out when he sees a guy start to help at the nail, even if he really did have a gap to attack. I see it a lot of times in semi-transition where he sees a guy sitting in the gap and he slows the offense down where he could really have attacked. Not sure if I’m imagining things or if anyone else sees it too.

    * Feels bad to say when he’s injured, but I’ve seen enough of Ayton.

  10. Ok. I can’t stop smiling. Clingan is the shit. So is Sharpe. Fuck tanking. Winning is dope.

  17. Scoot, Shaedon and Clingan are looking very promising as a core and I loved the effort I saw from Camara, Banton and Deni.

  19. Back to back wins against this Minnesota team that made it to the WCF last season is such a good showing. Especially because we won the game through hard work and just every player grinding.

  20. lamar said shaedon needed to have a “anthony edwards-ish” game and shae decided to flat out outplay him… and clingan outplayed gobert

    we might have a future after all?

  22. Holy shit man, I mean the question is where do we go from here? I am an Ayton and Ant fan, but we are obviously better without them. Going to be some awkward conversations over the next few days.

  23. Clingan was out of his god damn mind tonight. Sharpe and Camara with awesome games as well. Man when things click this team is FUN

  25. What a beautiful game. Shae is really him. Clingan is him. Toumani is him. Banton is him.

    Blazers are THEM.

  28. Donovan Clingan tonight:

    17 Points
    12 Rebounds
    8 Blocks
    60% FG

    Clingkong is gonna win 3 DPOY titles. Mark Eaton 2.0

  29. Joe Cronin has done an amazing job with talent acquisition, it’s not even funny. I trust the vision with Mike and I can almost see the light.

  31. Injured guard Anfernee Simons yelled out, “There you go! There you go.” Sharpshooter Dalano Banton gave a look of pleasant surprise. Guard Scoot Henderson yelled out, “We got an [expletive] squad now.” And before Cilngan hit the locker room door, former NBA great Arvydas Sabonis hugged him and said, “Y’all look so different.”

  33. Just a random UConn fan who tuned in for the 4th and loved seeing Cling Kong kill it tonight!

    Also, that Sharpe dunk was craaaaaazzzy good

  34. Better win than last night. They shot like shit from three but attacked the rim over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. And played the most annoying goddamn defense I have ever seen. You love to see it.

  35. If Shaedon’s putback dunk doesn’t make the ESPN top 10 plays of the night, this is number one bullshit

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