Game Thread GAME# 1: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - OCTOBER 23, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 (PDT), ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

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

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), WEDNESDAY, 10/22/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

------ DENVER NUGGETS ------

MORRIS , DOZIER

BEASLEY , CRAIG , CANCAR

VANDERBILT , PORTER Jr. , GRANT

HERNANGOMEZ , PLUMLEE


--- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ---

SIMONS , BAZEMORE , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

TOLLIVER , LABISSIERE , BROWN



INJURIES
NUGGETS
Bol Bol (left foot): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT
Pau Gasol (left foot rehab): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE MALONE--- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game marks the first of four regular season season games between the Trail Blazers and the Nuggets.

• LAST SEASON: Denver won the regular season series between the Trail Blazers and the Nuggets during the 2018-19 season, 3-1. Portland defeated Denver in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals, 4-3.

• Familiar Foes: Portland played Denver four times during the regular season in 2018-19 and seven times during the 2019 Playoffs. The teams played twice during the 2019 preseason. Wednesday’s game is the 14th game between the two teams in the last year.

• Damian Lillard averaged 21.3 points (37.1% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 95.8% FT), 3.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in four games (all starts) against the Nuggets during the 2018-19 regular season. Lillard has scored at least 30 points in five of his last 13 regular season games against the Nuggets.

• In three games (all starts) against the Nuggets during the 2018-19 regular season, CJ McCollum averaged 20.0 points (45.3% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. McCollum averaged 26.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists against Denver during the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals.

• In three games (all starts) against the Trail Blazers during the 2018-19 regular season, Nikola Jokic averaged 25.7 points (62.0% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 76.9% FT), 9.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.00 steal. He averaged 27.1 points, 13.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists against Portland during the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals.

• Paul Millsap averaged 19.3 points (62.9% FG, 60.0% 3-PT, 91.7% FT), 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in three games (all starts) against the Trail Blazers during the 2018-19 regular season.

• CONNECTION: Portland center Jusuf Nurkic spent his first two-plus seasons with the Nuggets from 2014-17, averaging 7.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 139 games.

• CONNECTION: Denver guard/forward Will Barton (2012-15) and Nuggets center Mason Plumlee (2015-17) both played multiple seasons for the Trail Blazers.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 98-82
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 69-22
AT THE NUGGETS: Nuggets lead, 60-29

 

[Darkwebs]

Going for 19 consecutive home-opening wins! Let's get it!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Going for 19 consecutive home-opening wins! Let's get it!

So glad to see one of these again!!!

 

[BigGameDamian]

HCP when he sees this.

 

[Propagandist]

All is right in the S2...

 

[Scalma]

God bless

 

[KeepOnRollin]

HCP when he sees this.

Quality post

 

[tlongII]

I approve of this thread.

 

[THE HCP]

Well, well, well..... look who decided to show up.

 

[riverman]

cough cough.....you're all welcome...the riverman abides! I may have just saved the season with my Darkwebs outreach thread!

 

[riverman]

This thread makes me think of this song

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

First game! Let’s go. Last year I was there in the first game vs Lakers

Living my best life tho

 

[hoopsjock]

Thank you @Darkwebs! You are amazing and I appreciate your hard work even when you don't want to do it.

 

[Propagandist]

I’m row e tomorrow night, y’all, and very happy about it.

 

[THE HCP]

PLEASE MERGE THIS FAKE GAME THREAD WITH MINE.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I’m row e tomorrow night, y’all, and very happy about it.

I hope you have an awesome time!

 

[hoopsjock]

I’m row e tomorrow night, y’all, and very happy about it.

I think I'm row E too but in the 300 level, lol

 

[BlazerBeav]

Annnnnnnnnnd we're back! Woohoo!

 

[kjironman1]

At least DW didn't have to make the laker thread also.

 

[kjironman1]

This should be quite a look at these teams. Kind of funny the mentality of the off season for both. Denver went largely "Let the Cake Bake" and the Blazers went all in on the retool. I can say that Portland most definitely is dealing with a greater loss injury wise with both Nurk and Gasol out though in my opinion Bol Bol will make an impact at some point for the Nuggets this season.
Too bad Whiteside retweaked his ankle as he will be asked to contribute heavily. Lets see what he is made of? My bet is you will see a 9 player rotation. Stotts will go with Bazemore, Hezonja, Tolliver and Simons off the bench. However if you see Whiteside in pain or not producing because of lack of mobility we might also see Skal. In true Stotts form i doubt you will see much of Little, Brown, Hoard and personally i just don't feel Trent performed well enough to crack the rotation.
The Moda "Rose Garden" should be rockin. It usually is opening night.
My pick is Rodney Hood tonight. He has the advantage on Barton in size and he can punish Barton on both sides of the court. Like usual Barton will try to go hero as soon as he gets burned a few times. Hood can play smart and Barton has trouble in this area. If the Blazers get 12 and 4 out of Hood they will indeed have accomplished their goal this summer.

I'm ready for the season to start!

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[James lamphear]

My X factor will be Zach tonight how he contain Millsap tonight.

 

[kjironman1]

My X factor will be Zach tonight how he contain Millsap tonight.

I almost went with Zach also. He could very well have the biggest impact.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE SEASON IS FINALLY UPON US AAAAAAAAH

I'M SO PUMPED

YOU BETTER NOT LOSE AND UNPUMP ME

 

[SIeepwalker]

Fuck the game is tomorrow at 11am for me but I'm not sure I will be able to sleep properly, I'm too fucking hyped

 

[illmatic99]

So bored of Denver.

 

[Scalma]

I feel like it’s going to take time for this unit to really gel considering all the new faces, so any wins against top teams at this stage is a bonus imo.

That being said there are so many things I’m interested in watching. Really outside of Dame and CJ, everything is a question mark. If I had to pick three it would be the roles of Simons, Hezonja, and Skal.

 

[TBpup]

Such a large re-tooling for the Blazers, but those moves had to be made, right? Continuing on with Aminu/Harkless felt like the definition of insanity. They were never going to get very far. I know, WCF but they didn't win a game and they don't even get there without Simons going nuts against SAC in the final game which got them to the 'softer' side of the bracket. Otherwise they get the Warriors in Rnd 2 and it's a sweep in the 2nd round. Still, farther than was expected but with obvious limitations.

As for WHO they got, Baze will at times be something the Blazers haven't had in a long time. A wing defender who can score. I think he will have the most 'consistent' impact. Whiteside will have nights where he looks like the most dominant big man in the league and others that will leave us all pining for Nurk's healthy return.

Mario is the most enigmatic of the group. There are a lot of things he can do that no other Blazer of size can. However, his lack of a consistent outside shot I believe will render him less impactful when playing higher quality teams. Still, there will be some nights when he is a tremendous amount of fun to watch. I like that he is willing to take on the other teams best scorer although watching him go up against LeBron/Kawhi/Harden etc for more than a few trips down the floor could be painful. Great attitude though.

Tolliver....didn't get it. Thought there were other more useful pieces out there. The real growth will likely have to come internally. Collins/Ant are going to have to grow up fast with increased roles. There will still be some tough nights but by the end of the season, they will need to produce in big spots. Not sure that is something to bet the house on for post-season success. Gasol will likely be DNP a lot of nights and you just hope he can give you a few valuable minutes in the Playoffs when his experience and 'slow heart beat' will be so important.

And now for how I believe this team takes the next step: Nurk gets healthy and the Blazers parlay Whiteside +parts into a legit piece. Whether that is Griffin (injury history), Love (please no) or my preference Porter to go with Nurk/Collins/CJ/Dame is what will take this team to the next level in my opinion. Likely that won't make much of a difference this year because I don't think the Blazers will be high enough to have HCA for anything more than the 1st round. Playing the Lakers or Clippers in the Playoffs when you don't have HCA and the league wants the big market in the next round is not a recipe for success.

But given a Playoff run this yearn and then a season together next year, Nurkic/Collins/Porter/CJ/Dame + Ant/Hez/Baze and another bench big could be very dangerous.

Go Blazers!!

 

[illmatic99]

Anyone else catch Dame say that Skal was the MVP of training camp yesterday? Stotts agreed when asked for a followup.

 

[Scalma]

Anyone else catch Dame say that Skal was the MVP of training camp yesterday? Stotts agreed when asked for a followup.

Yeah. Stotts also suggested he’ll be in the rotation. I like him paired with either Collins or Whiteside. Gasol too once he gets back.

 

[Reep]

Anyone else catch Dame say that Skal was the MVP of training camp yesterday? Stotts agreed when asked for a followup.

Yes, and Stotts said that with Gasol out Skal would like get rotation minutes. I hope he crushes it like game 82.