Game Thread 2022-23 Game #14 BLAZERS VS SPURS - NOVEMBER 15, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Damian Lillard Anfernee Simons

Josh Hart Jerami Grant

Jusuf Nurkic



Tre Jones Devin Vassell

Keldon Johnson Jeremy Sochan

Jakob Poeltl


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WHEN: NOVEMBER 15, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT)

WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND OR



TV BROADCAST



RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Gary Payton II Nassir Little

Justice Winslow Drew Eubanks

Trendon Watford Shaedon Sharpe

Keon Johnson Jabari Walker

Greg Brown Olivier Sarr

John Butler Jr


SPURS


Zach Collins Josh Richardson

Doug McDermott Isaiah Roby

Gorgui Dieng Malaki Branham

Keita Bates Diop Dominick Barlow

Charles Bassey Romeo Langford

Blake Wesley


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COACHES

Chauncey Billups


Gregg Popovich


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INJURIES

BLAZERS

Jusuf Nurkic - Adductor - Questionable
Justice Winslow - Illness - Out
Gary Payton II - Condit. - Out
Keon Johnson - Hip - Out
Olivier Sarr - Wrist - Out


SPURS

Zach Collins - Fibula - Out
Blake Wesley - Knee - Out

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NOTES
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• This is the first of four games this season between the Blazers and Spurs
• The two teams will meet again 12/14 in San Antonio, 1/23 in Portland, and 4/6 in San Antonio
• The Spurs swept the 2021-22 season series against the Blazers 4-0
• This will be the first of a three game homestand following a 4-2 road trip
• Zach Collins was taken by the Blazers in a draft night trade in 2017. He played for Portland from 2017-21 before leaving as a free agent
• Drew Eubanks started his NBA career with the Spurs and played there from 2018 till 2022 when he was traded to the Raptors who waived him. The Blazers signed him after he cleared waivers

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​

 

[blazerfan11]

The trail Blazers are only three and two at home so we need to start discussing this game. To secure a win.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

It’s there just still locked?
Maybe a mod? Any Mod? Can unlock it?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Woof!

 

[Chris Craig]

Woof!

Wasn't finished Sly. Jeez. Oh well. I'll finish it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Wasn't finished Sly. Jeez. Oh well. I'll finish it.

Oh shit, sorry.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Okay so here are a couple tidbits.
First off this is the first game back after a road trip. Typically a tough game because it’s essentially another road game. Good news is they get a couple days off before playing and they should be rested.
Next the Spurs will be on the 2nd of a B2B after playing GS the night before.
I’m assuming the nagging injuries or load maintenance will not apply and we should see a full roster?
Is Nurk out much longer? Is he actually done for the season again? Would not surprise me at all to hear he is out once again.

 

[blazerfan11]

What are keys to the Blazers victory over San Antonio?
I think one is to keep Jacob Poeltl off the offensive glass. He can be with a beast under the basket giving them extra possessions.

Although Jeremy SoChan is not shooting the ball well you always have to watch him running the court because he gets to the hoop very quickly and his teammates are always looking for him running out.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Wasn't finished Sly. Jeez. Oh well. I'll finish it.

It’s good enough for now. A bunch of injury changes can happen between now and Tuesday.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

What are keys to the Blazers victory over San Antonio?
I think one is to keep Jacob Poeltl off the offenses glass. He could be with a beast under the basket giving them extra possessions.

Although Jeremy SoChan is not shooting the ball well you always have to watch him running the court because he is down the court very quickly and his teammates are always looking for him running out.

A full roster would help.

 

[PDXFonz]

The trail Blazers are only three and two at home so we need to start discussing this game. To secure a win.

Feel good about this one being a blazer thumping of the Spurs.

Idk what the odds will have us at, but I’m thinking Blazers -8.5 in this one.

 

[blazerfan11]

Feel good about this one being a blazer thumping of the Spurs.

Idk what the odds will have us at, but I’m thinking Blazers -8.5 in this one.

Yes I think the psychology of the game favors the Blazers in this one. They are unhappy after a loss in Dallas and hopefully will get some of the players back that missed the game there.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Okay so here are a couple tidbits.

First off this is the first game back after a road trip. Typically a tough game because it’s essentially another road game. Good news is they get a couple days off before playing and they should be rested..

Finally. I absolutely hate it when the league makes them fly back after a long trip and play with only one day off. They already have it tougher than most due to our location. Having the one extra day off is huge. Like you say they normally struggle that first game back for various reasons. I remember one year they had a long east coast road trip, flew home for 1 game, and then had to fly back out for 1 road game, and then fly back home. That was ridiculous.

 

[blazerfan11]

It feels like this is chapter 2 for the Trail Blazers season.
Will they show Home Court dominance in the next 3 games,
and continue winning on the road similar to the rate they have so far?

 

[blazerfan11]

Also going into the next phase of the season unfortunately it looks like constant injuries are something that the Blazers will be dealing with. Maybe for the rest of the season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It feels like this is chapter 2 for the Trail Blazers season.
Will they show Home Court dominance in the next 3 games,
and continue winning on the road similar to the rate they have so far?

They just need to go 3-2 every 5 games and they will win 50. So yeah they need these next 3.

 

[Chris Craig]

Oh shit, sorry.

No worries. Finished now.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

It feels like this is chapter 2 for the Trail Blazers season.
Will they show Home Court dominance in the next 3 games,
and continue winning on the road similar to the rate they have so far?

Rule of thumb I use is 75% home court wins and if they can get 50% on the road they are doing well.
Breaks down to 50+ wins.
I certainly did not expect to talk about 50 wins and this team this season.

 

[oldmangrouch]

When rotation players are constantly out, it has 2 negative impacts. First, it increases fatigue for those still standing. Second, it disrupts continuity on the court.

How long can the Blazers struggle through this before all the good Billups has accomplished starts to erode?

 

[Strenuus]

When rotation players are constantly out, it has 2 negative impacts. First, it increases fatigue for those still standing. Second, it disrupts continuity on the court.

How long can the Blazers struggle through this before all the good Billups has accomplished starts to erode?

They have no control beyond preventative measures to harness the injuries, so I'll just say there's really no good answer cause it's out of their control mostly.

 

[blazerfan11]

The wizards are shooting 19-40 on three pointers against the grizzlies. Lead by 13 with 4 minutes left.

 

[blazerfan11]

Cleveland will lose to Minnesota and go 1-4 on the west coast (edit: western conference) portion of their 6-game road trip that started in Detroit.
Donovan Mitchell is sitting out todays game.
(After tweaking his ankle against Golden State, it's been lingering which will leave him unable to go against Minnesota. Expect Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro to take over Mitchell's vacated minutes.)

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The wizards are shooting 19-40 on three pointers against the grizzlies. Lead by 13 with 4 minutes left.

Wizards just be Dallas, Utah, and Memphis in succession.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Wizards just be Dallas, Utah, and Memphis in succession.

Playing better with Beal out?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Playing better with Beal out?

I don’t think getting Beal back will hurt them.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Payton probable? If so will be nice to finally see him.

Be good to get Nurk back. A couple games of Eubanks is fine, but he is clearly a tier below a starting quality center. If Watford can make some improvements I'd almost prefer to start small with him or another of our wings at center when Nurk is out.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Seven players right around or above the league average PER of 15.0.... very good;

Dame 24.5
Grant 17.8
Nurk 17.8
Simons 15.3
Walker 15.3
Little 14.9
Eubanks 14.5

The others could contribute just a bit more and get to that average level; still good to not have any duds below 10 dragging down our lineups;
Winslow 11.8
Sharpe 11.8
Hart 10.9
Watford 10.7

Thats 11 NBA level quality rotational players plus Payton gets us to 12. Loving having a year with actual depth so far if everyone is healthy; or useable options if a couple guys are out.

 

[Wade Garrett]

When rotation players are constantly out, it has 2 negative impacts. First, it increases fatigue for those still standing. Second, it disrupts continuity on the court.

How long can the Blazers struggle through this before all the good Billups has accomplished starts to erode?

It is the depth of this team, which allows for so many rotational players to be out, and that's a good thing.
I highly doubt, some of the games missed this season, would have been missed in years past. The talent just wasn't there.
They can afford to sit guys who have nagging "ow-ees" this year, and in the process, develop the 8-12th men at the middle/end of the bench.
They are doing this. And winning.
It is not a problem. In fact, it is a strength of this team.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It is the depth of this team, which allows for so many rotational players to be out, and that's a good thing.
I highly doubt, some of the games missed this season, would have been missed in years past. The talent just wasn't there.
They can afford to sit guys who have nagging "ow-ees" this year, and in the process, develop the 8-12th men at the middle/end of the bench.
They are doing this. And winning.
It is not a problem. In fact, it is a strength of this team.

I agree with everything you said. But I also agree with the old grouch.....it does affect the continuity. However, for the long-term success of the team, I think Chauncey has done a good job so far in building the depth for the long season. There has to be a compromise in order to obtain both depth and continuity.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I agree with everything you said. But I also agree with the old grouch.....it does affect the continuity. However, for the long-term success of the team, I think Chauncey has done a good job so far in building the depth for the long season. There has to be a compromise in order to obtain both depth and continuity.

Usually, rotations tighten up significantly as the playoffs approach.
But, I am so far, torn as to whether Chauncey will abide by tradition on that.
Continuity, is subjective, when you're winning.
It's such a long season....Long way to go.