Game Thread GAME# 26: BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - FEBRUARY 14, 2021 - SUNDAY, 4:30, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
15 - 10
(7-5 Road)
DALLAS MAVERICKS
13 - 14
(6-7 Home)

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_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS LUKA DONCIC

SG

GARY TRENT Jr. VS JOSH RICHARDSON

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS MAXI KLEBER

C

ENES KANTER VS KRISTAPS PORZINGIS


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

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WHEN: 4:30 PM (PST), SUNDAY, 2/14/2021

WHERE: AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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-------------- RESERVES --------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES


- DALLAS MAVERICKS-

BURKE , BRUNSON , TERRY

GREEN , HARDAWAY Jr. , IWUNDU

JOHNSON , BEY , POWELL

CAULEY-STEIN , MARJANOVIC



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. Elleby (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (left foot soreness): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. McCollum (left foot fracture): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
MAVERICKS
NONE




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- RICK CARLISLE

OFFICIAL MAVERICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Feb. 14 game against Dallas is the first meeting between the Trail Blazers and Mavericks during the 2020-21 season. The remaining two games will come during the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers and Mavericks split the season series in 2019-20, 2-2. The two squads have split the series each of the past two seasons.

• Damian Lillard averaged 42.5 points (53.3% FG, 42.9% 3-PT, 90.2 FT%), 3.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in four games against the Mavericks last season, including a career-best 61 point performance against Dallas on August 11.

• Carmelo Anthony averaged 21.3 points (46.3% FG, 42.9% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games against the Mavericks last season.

• In four games against the Trail Blazers last season, Luka Doncic averaged 29.0 points (42.7% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 70.3% FT), 8.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists. Doncic has scored at least 20 points in all eight of his career games against Portland.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 86-75
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 53-25
DALLAS HOME: Mavericks lead, 50-33

​

 

[Darkwebs]

So we are going from Oregon to Texas.

From the Cavs to the Mavs.

From Lunar New Year to Valentine's Day.

-sniff- Do you smell that? Love is in the air (and no, I'm not talking about Kevin- that was the previous game).

Or maybe it's the gaseous expulsion from something I ate last night.

In any case, it's the return of the fan-favorite jerseys (said nobody ever). Yes, that's right- your Blazers will be wearing their chocolate-covered uniforms again for Valentine's Day!

But this time, our opponents won't be committing a fashion faux pas. Dallas is apparently smart enough to wear a contrasting color (white) against our brown jerseys. At one point in time, the Mavs were planning to wear their green jerseys for this game, but they changed it to white jerseys sometime in the last week (maybe at the same time they changed the start time from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM).

So good choice, Mavs. I surmise that our brown jerseys will pop out better against white jerseys than the red ones Philly wore. After this game, we can more accurately judge these new City (State?) Jerseys.

 

[Darkwebs]

As for the basketball angle, the Blazers may be finally finding their groove this season, winning 6 of their last 8 games (5 of their last 6).

Meanwhile, the Mavericks may have a worse record than Portland right now, but this is a Dallas team that has been home for 10 straight days. The Blazers will be the 6th opponent during the Mavericks' 7-game homestand, so you can bet Dallas will be rested and comfortable on their homecourt. In fact, they have won 5 of their past 6 games just like the Blazers, but with 4 straight victories.

My point is, although the record might not show it, Portland should be considered the underdog in this game. Still, I am expecting a win here (fully acknowledging I'm wearing Rose-Garden colored glasses).

 

[kjironman1]

Mavs are starting to put it together. As @Darkwebs said They have just won 4 straight and they handled the Pels tonight. Obviously this will be a tough game on the road. Lillard got a little rest tonight and maybe can come out strong in the next one?

I was watching Luka pretty close this evening against New Orleans. Doncic doesn't play defense at all. Seriously this dude almost sits out the defensive side of the court. When i watch Lillard he does have his limitations on defense but he always works. He at least tries to cover his man now and then. Doncic calls other players to guard the tougher draw almost every time down the court. If a team forces a switch and leaves doncic on a faster player he almost gives up and lets the guy into the paint. Usually with a swipe at the ball but not much else.
Blazers should find a way to punish the Mavs through Luka. Set screens on every play down the court and switch Lillard, Trent or Simons onto Luka. Then when he lets them by go right at Porzingis and get him in foul trouble.
Kanter again will be huge. There is no way Zingis can keep him off the boards it will have to be Kleber, Stein or Boban.
One huge NOTE! Not one injury do the Dallas Mavs have right now? Blazers still can match them.

Go get this Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[jlprk]

Those pictures of the starting 5s...Doncic is hard-nosed...wearing suspenders during the game.

 

[AldoTrapani]

What a good dude. Love this guy. Hope is a Blazer for a long time

 

[blazerkor]

We're going to kick these guys' asses. You heard it here first. The whole team is going to keep it going besides Dame, who will come out with a vengeance and get 40 & 10. The Mavs won't stop us.

 

[BonesJones]

 

[stampedehero]

What a good dude. Love this guy. Hope is a Blazer for a long time

He should be a Blazer next season and the ones beyond. Can you imagine where we would be without him? Nurk and Collins are in injury hell. Enes is a good solid player and great team mate. When Neil dumped him the first time, I thought what a jackass our GM was to slap him in the face like that.

 

[stampedehero]

We're going to kick these guys' asses. You heard it here first. The whole team is going to keep it going besides Dame, who will come out with a vengeance and get 40 & 10. The Mavs won't stop us.

Yeah.......Waste them!

 

[PHXBlazer1]

This game is gonna be tough..we have no one who can guard Boban

 

[SIeepwalker]

This game is gonna be tough..we have no one who can guard Boban

We have no one Boban can guard either

 

[kjironman1]

We have no one Boban can guard either

Boban "SMASH"

 

[AldoTrapani]

He should be a Blazer next season and the ones beyond. Can you imagine where we would be without him? Nurk and Collins are in injury hell. Enes is a good solid player and great team mate. When Neil dumped him the first time, I thought what a jackass our GM was to slap him in the face like that.

I don’t think he did. There’s a story about it even Dame confirmed. They gave him a time deadline to sign while Lillard was there and Kanter felt rushed as he said so he went to Boston.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

He should be a Blazer next season and the ones beyond. Can you imagine where we would be without him? Nurk and Collins are in injury hell. Enes is a good solid player and great team mate. When Neil dumped him the first time, I thought what a jackass our GM was to slap him in the face like that.

We made an offer to Kanter and he dumped us to sign with Boston. This is well documented.

 

[stampedehero]

We made an offer to Kanter and he dumped us to sign with Boston. This is well documented.

I remember otherwise. Neil did not let him have time to consider. If you have the documents, I would like to see them. Thanks for your view.

 

[stampedehero]

I don’t think he did. There’s a story about it even Dame confirmed. They gave him a time deadline to sign while Lillard was there and Kanter felt rushed as he said so he went to Boston.

Although that may be the case, the fact he is here playing for the Blazers this season, having fun doing it, is all that matters.

 

[stampedehero]

I don’t think he did. There’s a story about it even Dame confirmed. They gave him a time deadline to sign while Lillard was there and Kanter felt rushed as he said so he went to Boston.

Since you brought that up, the other scenario could be Enes didn't wait for Neil to keep him and took what was best for him through what Boston was eager to offer. Perhaps, he knew his value in Boston would be anticipated and took that deal while knowing he would be on a contender's lineup. .

 

[jlprk]

He should be a Blazer next season and the ones beyond. Can you imagine where we would be without him? Nurk and Collins are in injury hell. Enes is a good solid player and great team mate. When Neil dumped him the first time, I thought what a jackass our GM was to slap him in the face like that.

You are right. After Kanter was our playoff hero, Olshey accidentally dumped him through negligence. Olshey had his eye on resigning Hood, paid Kanter no attention, so the neglected Kanter wandered off to his other offers. So the jackass had to fill the spot with crumbs, Tolliver, and was red-faced when Nurkic went down for the season.

 

[Chris Craig]

I hope my power will be back by then so I can watch it

 

[stampedehero]

You are right. After Kanter was our playoff hero, Olshey accidentally dumped him through negligence. Olshey had his eye on resigning Hood, paid Kanter no attention, so the neglected Kanter wandered off to his other offers. So the jackass had to fill the spot with crumbs, Tolliver, and was red-faced when Nurkic went down for the season.

Totally appreciate your insight.

 

[Chris Craig]

Are the Blazers going to be able to get out of Portland to get there

 

[jlprk]

Totally appreciate your insight.

Thanks; I've posted that story about 4 times. The first time was a couple of days after it happened; the last time was a month ago when someone brought it up. When Kanter wanted to talk about his offer, Olshey was busy on Hood, and took Kanter for granted. Kanter was quoted, that he took the other offer because he felt "uncomfortable." Olshey signed Tolliver, if I remember right, 8 hours after Kanter left. All the good stuff had been signed earlier in the day, and Olshey had lost his opportunities. I kept track of the time of day of each transaction, based upon tweet announcements.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I remember otherwise. Neil did not let him have time to consider. If you have the documents, I would like to see them. Thanks for your view.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ww...ter-six-minutes-to-re-sign-with-blazers-claim

 

[KSF-ERIC]

You are right. After Kanter was our playoff hero, Olshey accidentally dumped him through negligence. Olshey had his eye on resigning Hood, paid Kanter no attention, so the neglected Kanter wandered off to his other offers. So the jackass had to fill the spot with crumbs, Tolliver, and was red-faced when Nurkic went down for the season.

I think he was deciding whether or not to trade for Hassan. If Kanter says yes, I don’t think we get Hassan. Maybe Miami was now or never and that’s why there was a deadline for Kanter.

 

[kjironman1]

I think he was deciding whether or not to trade for Hassan. If Kanter says yes, I don’t think we get Hassan. Maybe Miami was now or never and that’s why there was a deadline for Kanter.

That is the way i remember it. But of course i could be wrong?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I like Kanter, I really do. But, he screwed us, and lied about it.

He had a whole year to figure out exactly what type of offer he would accept from the Blazers.
Then he says he had "6 minutes" to make a decision. Lillard says it was 45. Again, it was really a whole year.
Basically, he was saying "I am a complete idiot, and so is my agent."

Then, there's this bullshit (which he said AFTER he didn't sign with the Blazers):

 

[stampedehero]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ww...ter-six-minutes-to-re-sign-with-blazers-claim

Who did I mention? I mentioned Neil, didn't I? Your article: "In a text sent to ESPN's Marc J. Spears, Kanter says he was given only six minutes to decide, and after being pressured into determining his future with the team in such a short period, he decided to not return." That is the fact that gave me the opinion. So, If it's Dame or Neil, the final overall picture has come to what's here, what is now. I still think Neil shafted him, but that didn't matter as he plays for us now when we need him the most. Thanks for your viewpoint.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Who did I mention? I mentioned Neil, didn't I? Your article: "In a text sent to ESPN's Marc J. Spears, Kanter says he was given only six minutes to decide, and after being pressured into determining his future with the team in such a short period, he decided to not return." That is the fact that gave me the opinion. So, If it's Dame or Neil, the final overall picture has come to what's here, what is now. I still think Neil shafted him, but that didn't matter as he plays for us now when we need him the most. Thanks for your viewpoint.

Dame said Neil gave Kanter 45 minutes. Dame was there. What are you missing? We wanted Kanter to sign with us and he said no.

 

[tlongII]

Mavs are com8ng around. This will be tough.