Game Thread GAME# 23: BLAZERS @ SPURS - DECEMBER 2, 2018 - SUNDAY, 4:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
13 - 9
(5-5 Road)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
10 - 12
(6-4 Home)

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---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS BRYN FORBES

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DERRICK WHITE

SF

MOE HARKLESS VS DeMAR DeROZAN

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS RUDY GAY

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE

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WHEN: 4:00 PM (PST), SUNDAY, 12/2/2018

WHERE: AT&T CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD


- SAN ANTONIO SPURS-

MILLS , BELINELLI , PONDEXTER

CUNNINGHAM , MOORE , BERTANS

EUBANKS , METU , POELTL


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
NONE (knock on wood)
SPURS
Pau Gasol (right foot stress fracture): OUT
Lonnie Walker IV (right medial meniscus): OUT
Dejounte Murray (right ACL): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- GREG POPOVICH

OFFICIAL SPURS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Sunday’s game marks the second of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs during the 2018-19 season. Portland leads the season series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: Portland shot 53.6% from the field and 46.9% from the three-point line in a 121-108 victory over the Spurs on Oct. 20. Damian Lillard led The Trail Blazers with 29 points (9-15 FG, 3-6 3-PT, 8-8 FT) and nine assists while DeMar DeRozan paced the Spurs with 28 points (11-22 FG, 0-1 3-PT, 6-6 FT), three rebounds and nine assists.

• CJ McCollum had 24 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 2-3 FT), two rebounds and two assists against the Spurs on Oct. 20.

• Jusuf Nurkic posted 12 points (6-12 FG), eight rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes against San Antonio on Oct. 20.

• LaMarcus Aldridge recorded 12 points (6-13 FG), eight rebounds, five assists and one block at Portland on Oct. 20.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Spurs lead, 84-83
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 53-31
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 53-30

​

 

[Darkwebs]

"Get ready for an epic battle between these two struggling teams in the West!" said nobody ever. If you think it hurts being a Blazers fan right now, at least we're not Spurs fans, right?

Both the Spurs and the Blazers have recently played downright lousy basketball. Portland has lost 6 of their last 10 games, while San Antonio has lost 7 of their last 10. The Blazers are currently 7th in the West, and the Spurs are a dissapointing 14th.

In fact, the Spurs have been absolutely obliterated in their past 2 losses, getting blown out by 39 points and 31 points in games against the Wolves and Rockets, respectively. Of course this mirrors the Blazers getting annihilated by 43 points and 28 points consecutively by the Bucks and Warriors just a week ago. So neither team has anything good to write home about lately.

Also interesting to note: San Antonio's last two wins were both by 1 point each. If not for those lucky (or clutch, however you see it) wins, they would be on a 7-game losing skid. Nonetheless, this is the type of adversity the Spurs as a franchise haven't faced in an eternity (pre-Duncan era).

After their previous lost, Popovich described San Antonio's offense as "discombobulated." But hey, if anybody can make an offense look good, it's Portland's defense.

So I guess the most pertinent question for this game is who's gonna suck more?

 

[hoopsjock]

I wish the poll had another yes answer other than because "Moe is garbage."

 

[Darkwebs]

I wish the poll had another yes answer other than because "Moe is garbage."

Ask and you shall receive.

 

[hoopsjock]

Ask and you shall receive.

Thank you almighty Darkwebs!

 

[swish3]

Thanks Darkwebs. I think that you may mean Oct 20 rather than Nov 28 in the lines where you recall the points and actions of CJ, Nurk, and LMA. This does set up as an interesting game. I expect that this might be the start of a Blazer resurgence that gives us a winning streak (of maybe 7).

 

[Darkwebs]

Thanks Darkwebs. I think that you may mean Oct 20 rather than Nov 28 in the lines where you recall the points and actions of CJ, Nurk, and LMA. This does set up as an interesting game. I expect that this might be the start of a Blazer resurgence that gives us a winning streak (of maybe 7).

Nice catch. Thanks! I have fixed those errors.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Lesser coaches than Pops have found ways to thwart the Blazer offense of late. Meanwhile, Stotts might as well show up in his PJs and fuzzy slippers for all the impact he is having.

 

[stampedehero]

If Mo starts, he remains ineffective, and we lose to an underachieving Spurs team, the Fire Stotts thread should be resurrected. < The typical way Stotts selects his lineup.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Bit of trivia from the Houston win over the Spurs last night. Harden and Paul each had 10 assists. As a team, the Rockets had assists on 32 of their 49 FGs. When was the last time we saw numbers like that from the Blazers?

 

[Labinot41]

In December we Play against the Warriors twice, Sixers, Raptors, Jazz twice, Timberwolves, mavericks twice, Rockets, Grizzlies and Clippers.. This Month could go ugly

 

[Scalma]

Moe probably needs a bigger leash since he’s just coming back from an injury and is still on a minutes restriction. He’s rusty.

What I would do for now is split his minutes. Let him start and if he sucks start the second half with Layman. It’s not ideal but I also don’t think benching Harkless will do anything. We still need him to be good.

 

[BBert]

"Get ready for an epic battle between these two struggling teams in the West!" said nobody ever. If you think it hurts being a Blazers fan right now, at least we're not Spurs fans, right?

Both the Spurs and the Blazers have recently played downright lousy basketball. Portland has lost 6 of their last 10 games, while San Antonio has lost 7 of their last 10. The Blazers are currently 7th in the West, and the Spurs are a dissapointing 14th.

In fact, the Spurs have been absolutely obliterated in their past 2 losses, getting blown out by 39 points and 31 points in games against the Wolves and Rockets, respectively. Of course this mirrors the Blazers getting annihilated by 43 points and 28 points consecutively by the Bucks and Warriors just a week ago. So neither team has anything good to write home about lately.

Also interesting to note: San Antonio's last two wins were both by 1 point each. If not for those lucky (or clutch, however you see it) wins, they would be on a 7-game losing skid. Nonetheless, this is the type of adversity the Spurs as a franchise haven't faced in an eternity (pre-Duncan era).

After their previous lost, Popovich described San Antonio's offense as "discombobulated." But hey, if anybody can make an offense look good, it's Portland's defense.

So I guess the most pertinent question for this game is who's gonna suck more?

So you're saying the Spurs are due for a win....

 

[kjironman1]

I wish the poll had another yes answer other than because "Moe is garbage."

That is exactly what i thought reading it.
Ended up going with not just yet. But i would be okay with starting Layman at this point.
Never like making statements like any player is "Garbage". At this point it seems Moe is still getting his legs under him. Takes 2 weeks to fully get back into game shape. I wonder if he will improve still.

 

[oldmangrouch]

That is exactly what i thought reading it.
Ended up going with not just yet. But i would be okay with starting Layman at this point.
Never like making statements like any player is "Garbage". At this point it seems Moe is still getting his legs under him. Takes 2 weeks to fully get back into game shape. I wonder if he will improve still.

I understand why people feel that way, but after last season's extended poutathon I'm disinclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[tykendo]

I wish the poll had another yes answer other than because "Moe is garbage."

Maybe Moe, the dude, is cool. But Mo the player is gahbidge. He has "NO MOTOR", and his play is without a heartbeat. He just goes through the motions. I can't take it anymore. He can't play.

 

[BigGameDamian]

In December we Play against the Warriors twice, Sixers, Raptors, Jazz twice, Timberwolves, mavericks twice, Rockets, Grizzlies and Clippers.. This Month could go ugly

How about getting Neil some balls for Christmas.

 

[Chris Craig]

That is exactly what i thought reading it.
Ended up going with not just yet. But i would be okay with starting Layman at this point.
Never like making statements like any player is "Garbage". At this point it seems Moe is still getting his legs under him. Takes 2 weeks to fully get back into game shape. I wonder if he will improve still.

Turner is garbage

 

[tykendo]

Without Layman in the starting lineup, it's been a license for the opposing team to double Dame, and make our true 4 starters work overtime out of the shute. It must change. Get his legs under him, get real. Those twigs got nothing left.

 

[tykendo]

And why is Moe cool? What the F has he done. He had one nice game against the Lakers last year. He's a poor running engine that eats oil. Is he some kind of stellar dude in the community? Tell me, why is he cool?

 

[tykendo]

So you're saying the Spurs are due for a win....

Nobody's due for a win. You have to EARN IT.

 

[tykendo]

The way Benedict Aldridge dissed the Blazers, he should never win a game against them again.

 

[oldmangrouch]

How about getting Neil some balls for Christmas.

Why? As long as the team has no owner, Neil has 100% job security. Once a new owner is found, he is 99.9% likely to be fired. Nothing he does matters and he has no incentive to do anything.

 

[tykendo]

If this were the NFL, Moe would have been cut, or put on IR.

 

[tykendo]

Moe probably needs a bigger leash since he’s just coming back from an injury and is still on a minutes restriction. He’s rusty.

What I would do for now is split his minutes. Let him start and if he sucks start the second half with Layman. It’s not ideal but I also don’t think benching Harkless will do anything. We still need him to be good.

Totally disagree, he's a classic malingerer.

 

[riverman]

I miss 5-6 guys scoring in double digits every night like the first 10 games...2 or 3 guys doing it aren't going to get you far in the west...get back to playing smart ball again and beat the Spurs!

 

[tykendo]

I feel bad for Jake. Dude was coming along. His explosive athletic ability, and his beautiful form on his shot were starting to finally payoff. He always gave it his all. Heartless Harkless is a plodder and a pouter. I'd cut his butt ASAP!

 

[oldmangrouch]

If this were the NFL, Moe would have been cut, or put on IR.

And then we have Turner. He not only fell off the back of a turnip truck, on the way down he hit his head on the trailor hitch!

 

[tykendo]

I miss 5-6 guys scoring in double digits every night like the first 10 games...2 or 3 guys doing it aren't going to get you far in the west...get back to playing smart ball again and beat the Spurs!

That would be a thing to behold, but guys got to hit shots off the bench. The flow of the bench has been a disaster of late. And their shooting has been less than stellar outside of Meyers, and sometimes Sauce.

 

[tykendo]

And then we have Turner. He not only fell off the back of a turnip truck, on the way down he hit his head on the trailor hitch!

I don't get ET. He started the season looking good. Directing the second team offense with vigor. Now he looks slow, makes poor reads, and his offense has been MIA. But at least he has a motor. Heartless doesn't know what the heck that is. He must have incriminating pictures of Stotts to be getting any minutes at all.