Game Thread GAME# 1: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 23, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

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------- JERSEYS -------

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 12/23/2020

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

-- UTAH JAZZ --

CLARKSON , HARRISON , FORREST

ONI , HUGHES , INGLES

NIANG , MORGAN , BRANTLEY

FAVORS , AZUBUIKE



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES , KANTER



INJURIES
JAZZ
Udoka Azubuike (left knee soreness): QUESTIONABLE
Shaq Harrison (right hand): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Derrick Jones Jr. (back contusion): QUESTIONABLE
Anfernee Simons (sore hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Nassir Little (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (ankle): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

QUIN SNYDER --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL JAZZ'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers play the Jazz to tipoff the 2020-21 season on Dec. 23. It is the only meeting between the two teams during the First Half of the Regular season schedule. The teams will meet twice more in the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Jazz won the season series against the Trail Blazers in 2019-20, 2-1.

• Damian Lillard averaged 42.3 points (53.8% FG, 57.1% 3-PT, 89.5% FT), 4.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists in three games against Utah last seasson. He made 24 three-pointers (of 42) against the Jazz.

• CJ McCollum averaged 22.0 points (43.3% FG, 45.5% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games against the Jazz last season.

• In three games against the Trail Blazers last season, Donovan Mitchell averaged 25.3 points (51.8% FG, 41.2% 3-PT, 73.3% FT), 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Jazz lead, 104-88
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 65-31
AT THE JAZZ: Jazz lead, 73-23

 

[Darkwebs]

♫ Last Christmas, I gave the Blazers my heart. The very next day, they gave it away (by losing to the Jazz). ♫

If you recall, the Jazz gave the Blazers a heart-wrenching loss the day after X-mas last year, where Utah was dominating the Blazers pretty much the whole game and was up 20 at the end of the 3rd. The Blazers came roaring back in the 4th and was within 2 points with 15 seconds to go in the game, but couldn't get any closer.

This game needs to be a victory not only because it's the season opener, but because we need to avenge the post-Christmas loss from last year with a pre-Christmas win this year!

​

 

[Darkwebs]

​

 

[Scalma]

I’d be surprised if little wasn’t available. Doubt he’ll actually play, but will probably hear about him practicing soon.

as for the game, I expect the first 3-5 games to be treated as an extension of the preseason. That means a deeper rotation, lineup experiments and minutes for pretty much everyone except Elleby and Nas.

 

[Darkwebs]

I’d be surprised if little wasn’t available. Doubt he’ll actually play, but will probably hear about him practicing soon.

Good point. I will make the change to the OP now.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Utah’s bench is 13 deep. Why isn’t no one an option?

 

[THE HCP]

.......SIGH.........

 

[Darkwebs]

.......SIGH.........

Sorry, FAMS. I had to do it.

 

[THE HCP]

Sorry, FAMS. I had to do it.

I have reported this thread to the proper authorities.

 

[Darkwebs]

I have reported this thread to the proper authorities.

I know. I received the report and now it is lying in the trash.

 

[BlazerBeav]

♫ Last Christmas, I gave the Blazers my heart. The very next day, they gave it away (by losing to the Jazz). ♫

If you recall, the Jazz gave the Blazers a heart-wrenching loss the day after X-mas last year, where Utah was dominating the Blazers pretty much the whole game and was up 20 at the end of the 3rd. The Blazers came roaring back in the 4th and was within 2 points with 15 seconds to go in the game, but couldn't get any closer.

​

That's an interesting spin on the Blazers HAVING THE TYING BASKET STOLEN FROM THEM WHEN INCOMPETENT NBA OFFICIALS FAILED TO CALL AN OBVIOUS GOALTEND - made even more egregious by the fact that an all-NBA player and face of the league was the one who had taken that shot. Ranks right up there with that nonsense at the Moda with LA's perfect block of Durant - in short, f*ck Scott Foster.

 

[kjironman1]

I know. I received the report and now it is lying in the trash.

He'll learn.

 

[blazerkor]

If DJJ plays and is fully there, I think we will win this game. I know we haven't seen this team perform yet but that was the preseason and has no bearing on what they can do when trying to win. The Jazz don't have as good of a starting lineup as we do and their bench is not close to ours. Unless we're still trying new shit and not worrying about the win (which I think is highly unlikely) we will beat the Jazz.

As far as the poll question goes, I only picked the two LA teams to finish ahead of us. I don't think any of the other teams has a distinct advantage in their starting lineups but we have the deepest bench in the league (maybe tied with the Clippers) which in this fast paced season where COVID will come into play, will put us ahead of so many teams when we see the standings on the final day of the regular season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Jazz dont have as many changes to their roster, were a Conley 3 from beating Denver in the playoffs and Bogdan is healthy. They should be favorites.

But its close. I see us Denver Utah as the teams close to the LA favorites this year.

 

[blazerkor]

The Jazz are stupid... see around the nba thread.

 

[TBpup]

I have reported this thread to the proper authorities.

If the jinx is REALLY true, then please let @Darkwebs make every thread this season. I'll take Cade Cunningham as the reward.

https://nbadraftroom.com/p/2021-nba-mock-draft/

 

[blazerkor]

If the jinx is REALLY true, then please let @Darkwebs make every thread this season. I'll take Cade Cunningham as the reward.

https://nbadraftroom.com/p/2021-nba-mock-draft/

If we had a disastrous season and came away with the #1 pick I would hope that we would trade it along with whatever contract(s)/player(s) it took to bring Dame some immediate help and bring this team a championship ASAP.

 

[TBpup]

If we had a disastrous season and came away with the #1 pick I would hope that we would trade it along with whatever contract(s)/player(s) it took to bring Dame some immediate help and bring this team a championship ASAP.

Love that idea, but at this point, I'm willing to take a chance on the next possible superstar. Until Stotts/CJ go, no matter who you bring in, isn't going to make a difference.

 

[blazerkor]

Love that idea, but at this point, I'm willing to take a chance on the next possible superstar. Until Stotts/CJ go, no matter who you bring in, isn't going to make a difference.

Yeah, I'm not CJ hating but if the season was that big of a disaster I would just assume that Stotts would be out and CJ would be the player/contract we would be trading with the first pick for the star to come in and really help Dame.

 

[James lamphear]

Win or loose I want see better effort all together. Last game they just stood there flat footed on rebounds and hardly no effort on close outs. They look like they was in quick sand.

 

[illmatic99]

5/205 extension for Gobert. You better believe Nurk is going after a similar deal next yr. Obviously not as high, but not too far from it.

 

[TBpup]

Yeah, I'm not CJ hating but if the season was that big of a disaster I would just assume that Stotts would be out and CJ would be the player/contract we would be trading with the first pick for the star to come in and really help Dame.

I'm not hating on CJ either....he is a very gifted, creative scorer. But at the same time, just accepting he is who he is....and has been for years, and that isn't suddenly dramatically changing at 29 years old. Same with Stotts. A career 'players coach' who doesn't hold players accountable, isn't very defensive oriented, is slow to make adjustments, if any, and when it comes to the Playoffs, has a career .344 over what is not exactly a small sample size.

 

[tester551]

5/205 extension for Gobert. You better believe Nurk is going after a similar deal next yr. Obviously not as high, but not too far from it.

No way. Nurk isn't going to be anywhere near that. I could see Nurk at ~$25M/yr (and MAYBE up to ~$30M/yr).

No way will he command $40M/yr. Nurk's MAX possible contract will be 30% of the CAP for an 8-yr vet. At $115M cap, his MAX would be ~$35M/yr.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Jazz dont have as many changes to their roster, were a Conley 3 from beating Denver in the playoffs and Bogdan is healthy. They should be favorites.
.

Bogdan plays for Atlanta. Bojan plays for Utah.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

5/205 extension for Gobert. You better believe Nurk is going after a similar deal next yr. Obviously not as high, but not too far from it.

Even if Nurk turns it around and starts to look like the player he was preinjury, that would be a mistake. Utah is going to rue the day they signed that deal.

 

[AldoTrapani]

If we had a disastrous season and came away with the #1 pick I would hope that we would trade it along with whatever contract(s)/player(s) it took to bring Dame some immediate help and bring this team a championship ASAP.

Meh I’d rather start over with that pick as the new beginning. Dame isn’t young anymore

 

[SharpesTriumph]

5/205 extension for Gobert. You better believe Nurk is going after a similar deal next yr. Obviously not as high, but not too far from it.

I think thats way to much to pay a center.

Nurk is basically unplayable when Anthony Davis is at Center, or other matchups with speed at center. Teams have repeatedly done that to Gobert in the playoffs as well where he gets played off the floor. See all the years Houston beat the Jazz. Or The Warriors with Draymond, Bucks with Giannis, etc.

I agree Nurk should get a raise, but if he's earning over $20 million I start to wonder if cheap centers like Collins/Kanter/Giles along with the large money going to a wing is a better way to construct a roster.

Traditional centers (even all star ones) are sometimes only 25 mpg roles against a number of teams.

 

[Scalma]

I think thats way to much to pay a center.

Nurk is basically unplayable when Anthony Davis is at Center, or other matchups with speed at center. Teams have repeatedly done that to Gobert in the playoffs as well where he gets played off the floor. See all the years Houston beat the Jazz. Or The Warriors with Draymond, Bucks with Giannis, etc.

I agree Nurk should get a raise, but if he's earning over $20 million I start to wonder if cheap centers like Collins/Kanter/Giles along with the large money going to a wing is a better way to construct a roster.

Traditional centers (even all star ones) are sometimes only 25 mpg roles against a number of teams.

if teams started judging players on wether they could guard AD or not, no one would get a contract. He’s an anomaly, you can’t just bunch him into the “small ball” argument. Those small ball matchups have a give and take. For example, Nurkic averaged 20/10 vs Draymond and golden state in ‘18/19. Houston got stomped in the bubble.

Sure there are matchups that present a challenge but when over half the league starts a “traditional” center, they’re worth the money. Just look at all the quality out there:

Jokic
Gobert
Nurkic
Embiid
Adams
KAT
Valenciunas
Lopez
Thompson
Vucevic
Drummond
Gasol

That’s just off the top of my head, I’m sure there are more.

Also, Gobert didn’t play 25 minutes in any game last season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

if teams started judging players on wether they could guard AD or not, no one would get a contract. He’s an anomaly, you can’t just bunch him into the “small ball” argument. Those small ball matchups have a give and take. For example, Nurkic averaged 20/10 vs Draymond and golden state in ‘18/19. Houston got stomped in the bubble.

Sure there are matchups that present a challenge but when over half the league starts a “traditional” center, they’re worth the money. Just look at all the quality out there:

Jokic
Gobert
Nurkic
Embiid
Adams
KAT
Valenciunas
Lopez
Thompson
Vucevic
Drummond
Gasol

That’s just off the top of my head, I’m sure there are more.

That list is my point, none of these guys exceed $20mil as top 3 player on their team leading to deep playoff success outside Jokic. He is an anomaly with a skillset that is unlike everyone on this list, he is basically the teams PG. We do need a couple big bodys such as Kanter to defend these guys, as Kanter did in the WCF run. We need someone to start games and play those roles against certain matchups. I'm not sure we can go deep in the playoffs with one of these centers as our key top 3 player. Yes Nurkic will average big stats but the opponent can get wide open threes as Golden State did, or Houston against Gobert, or the Clippers when they spread their wings prior to their choke against Denver, or Boston in the bubble, or Miami in the bubble, or all the years of LeBron teams winning the east without a center, etc.

Miami is a good example in the bubble, they spread the floor with Crowder and other wings, and even with two key starters injured in Dragic and Bam they were the only team to beat the Lakers twice.

I love all that Nurkic brings to the team and he is normally the teams 2nd best player when healthy. But game planning him out of the playoffs is a legit concern, same as Dame being trapped, or our wings only helping on one side of the ball. Gobert is a great example because he is certainly regarded as a superior center yet game planned out of the playoffs multiple years leading to his teams loss.

If Nurk is making $12 mil he greatly provides value even if he has to play lower 20 minutes in some matchups. If he is making $20-$30 million I'm just questioning if what we now can't add to the rest of the roster lessens the chance of contending.

 

[kjironman1]

That list is my point, none of these guys exceed $20mil as top 3 player on their team leading to deep playoff success outside Jokic

Not really. Gobert makes it. Jokic is worth it. Nurkic will make it. Embiid makes it. KAT makes it.
Steve Adams and Valenciunas make 15 million and If Gasol was younger he would be making a bunch more also.