Game Thread GAME# 28: BLAZERS @ PELICANS - FEBRUARY 17, 2021 - WEDNESDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[Wizard Mentor]

what's wrong with wiz?

yah!

 

[blazerkor]

I'll tell you something that was shitty tonight that we can't let happen again. We got outrebounded by 20...20!!!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Box score says our bench players struggled.

 

[Tince]

I'm so sick of Stotts. What a s***ty coach! And another below-average game for Dame. Total disappointment.

I can't believe he didn't give Elleby a chance after all he's done for us!

 

[kjironman1]

If Dame wins or doesn’t win a chip. Portland needs to build this man a statue biggest one in history over looking Portland like Jesus over looking rio in brazil

Port-Lillard-ia

 

[Tince]

Box score says our bench players struggled.

They did... but Ant had a nice 2nd stint. Melo made the right play a few times in the 4th and did a decent job that last possession on defense, I believe.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Wow! Going to be interesting to see how Nurk and CJ meld with the chemistry that has been brewing without them? Against all norms, I’d bring both in off the bench - especially if we keep this play up unto their return!

I’ve been watching the Clippers / Jazz game; Clippers are beatable in a series but Jazz are really tough. Well coached team as well.

 

[Tince]

Pelicans had +20 rebounding advantage and shot 11 more free throws -- holy shit!

And shot 47% from 3. Seems almost impossible to lose with all those numbers.

 

[Tince]

Everytime the Blazers win, we can all play a game of Where's Aldo? Cuz he's hardly ever around after victories.

I wouldn't even know he's still on here, but everyone keeps responding to him. I'm near certain he's an s2 bot driving up the post-count, that's why he's my only ignore!

 

[Tince]

Some of you will actually believe this to be true.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Jones and Covington have gotten so much more convertible on this team. I am really happy with them. L0t of things that are not showing up in the box score.....yet tonight they filled the boxscore as well

Jones: 6-8 ( 2-3 from deep) 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Covington: 5-6 (2-3 from deep) 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 blocks

And only 1 TO each.

 

[Tince]

must be a miserable way to be a fan.

I don't get why people would want to watch a team where they were always complaining about Dame, Melo, Stotts, etc.

 

[Tince]

Jones and Covington have gotten so much more convertible on this team. I am really happy with them. L0t of things that are not showing up in the box score.....yet tonight they filled the boxscore as well

Jones: 6-8 ( 2-3 from deep) 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Covington: 5-6 (2-3 from deep) 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 blocks

And only 1 TO each.

Them hitting shots is making a HUGE difference. I know people don't like it to be that simple, but it's really that simple.

 

[Tince]

Little 4 minutes is unacceptable.

Take away the -10 in those 4 minutes and I wouldn't have needed to endure another heart attack.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Take away the -10 in those 4 minutes and I wouldn't have needed to endure another heart attack.

Basically Hood took Little's minutes. Hood started off hot then missed the rest of his shots. Terry is in a tough spot here. He needs to see if Hood can produce if healthy. He a good ball-handler as a SF spot and we will need his experience down the stretch. Little might have to wait for someone to play badly. Hood is the most likely candidate though. (maybe alternate Hood and Little for a while...every other game)

 

[Tince]

 

[Tince]

Basically Hood took Little's minutes. Hood started off hot then missed the rest of his shots. Terry is in a tough spot here. He needs to see if Hood can produce if healthy. He a good ball-handler as a SF spot and we will need his experience down the stretch. Little might have to wait for someone to play badly. Hood is the most likely candidate though. (maybe alternate Hood and Little for a while...every other game)

If Little is a better option than Hood, then Olshey really made a dumb move by giving Hood a raise.

 

[illmatic99]

Basically Hood took Little's minutes. Hood started off hot then missed the rest of his shots. Terry is in a tough spot here. He needs to see if Hood can produce if healthy. He a good ball-handler as a SF spot and we will need his experience down the stretch. Little might have to wait for someone to play badly. Hood is the most likely candidate though. (maybe alternate Hood and Little for a while...every other game)

it's messed up. melo is the guy whose minutes you give nas-- not rodney's. this would have been a great night to rest melo. 5th game in 7 nights, 2nd of a b2b. 36 yrs old. no need to play him 20 mins.

 

[Pinwheel1]

it's messed up. melo is the guy whose minutes you give nas not rodney's. this would have been a great night to rest melo. 5th game in 7 nights, 2nd of a b2b. 36 yrs old. no need to play him 20 mins.

Yeah, tonight did seem like a good night to rest Melo. But you never know when Melo will go off and carry the bench.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I did not expect that win. Wow.

What a fun team to watch. Total team effort. Never gave up.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If Little is a better option than Hood, then Olshey really made a dumb move by giving Hood a raise.

Team option after this season. Not a huge risk there by Neil. You have to have depth and Hood plays two positions.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Why didn't they go to zion? Please enlighten me. I am speechless

Why didn't they go to Redick is the real question. He was wide open from 3.

How is Dame better every year? We will never get another player like this in my lifetime.

I'm 46 and I've been thinking this too. This is it. It is extremely likely I won't see a Blazer of this caliber again in my lifetime. We must not take this for granted.

john hollinger, that fucking moron, had dame outside the top 10 in MVP rankings yesterday. said rudy gobert was above him. and that steph and luka played better defense and meant more to their teams, and that our record is over inflated.

no wonder he got fired from his NBA gig

It's ridiculous. For instance, why is Durant ahead of Dame? Dame has a better PER (invented by Hollinger), a better team record, in a better conference. I mean what are we talking about here? Jokic can't win it with his completely healthy team hovering around .500 and Dame already beat Embiid twice. It's LeBron or Dame, whoever has the better record at the end of the season, in my opinion.

So it should be noted we are only 2 games out of the 3 seed now. Only 1 game in the loss column. A solid 5.5 games ahead of 11th to qualify for postseason.

Go Blazers

 

[Tince]

Team option after this season. Not a huge risk there by Neil. You have to have depth and Hood plays two positions.

I'm on record saying why I think Hood got a raise and that I'm fine with it. I'm guessing neither Stotts or Olshey think Nas is better than Hood.

 

[AldoTrapani]

I’ll tell you what, it looks like that epic Chicago Bulls game winner in Chicago Dame hit has rallied this team.

They been great since that game and continue to improve

 

[AldoTrapani]

Aldo Tramixum

The boogeyman

 

[blazerfan11]

I don't think a lot of Oregonians or Pacific Northwesterners in general realize how many fans Dame is getting around the globe....he's the biggest superstar a franchise could ever dream of having...how anyone can think "tanking" and Damian in the same conversation baffles my mind.....it's not in the man's DNA..embrace this...I'm glad I get to see it in my lifetime

I didn't realize it until I got into a taxi in Singapore in 2017. The driver asked me where I was from and I said "Portland, Oregon." The next words out of his mouth were "Damian Lillard!"

 

[AldoTrapani]

I wouldn't even know he's still on here, but everyone keeps responding to him. I'm near certain he's an s2 bot driving up the post-count, that's why he's my only ignore!

Can you see this post?

 

[maxiep]

I call bulls***. If Dame helps bring a Championship to Portland, he's too competitive not to want to repeat.

 

[Tince]

I call bulls***. If Dame helps bring a Championship to Portland, he's too competitive not to want to repeat.

I think he's saying if he brings a championship to Portland it's a wrap that he's the best Blazer in history, not that he'll retire or leave after one championship.

He's going to be the best Blazer ever regardless.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

KEY STATS:
• The Blazers were able to force more turnovers, with the Pelicans committing 12 resulting in 19 points. Portland turned it over nine times, resulting in 12 Pelicans points.
• The Pelicans hauled in a 51 rebounds (18 offensive). The Blazers brought down 40 total rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. Despite 11 more offensive rebounds, the Pelicans only scored two more second chance points than Portland (17-15).

KEY RUNS:
• Leading 18-17 with 5:16 left in the first, Portlant went on a 12-2 run to take a 30-19 lead with 3:12 left in the first quarter.
• Trailing 35-30 to start the second quarter, the Pelicans went on a 20-9 run to take a 50-44 lead with 5:21 remaining in the second quarter and led 69-59 at the break.
• Trailing 49-64 with 1:46 left in the first half, Portland went on a 23-9 run to end the second quarter and begin the third, narrowing the deficit to 72-73 with 8:51 left in the third frame.
• Trailing 116-112 with 2:44 left to go in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans went on a 10-3 run to take a 122-119 lead with 1:17 left to play.
• Trailing 122-119 with 1:17 left to go in the fourth quarter, Portland closed the game on a 7-2 run to clinch a 126-124 victory.

NEW ORLEANS NOTES:
• Zion Williamson matched his career high with 36 points on 12-18 shooting and 11-15 from the foul line. He also hit a threepoint field goal for the sixth time this season. Tonight marked Williamson’s seventh 30+ point performance of the season.
• Willy Hernangómez notched his third double-double on the season, the 24th of his career, with 11 points and 17 rebounds. Hernangómez made his first three-pointer of the season and set a new career high in rebounds.
• Lonzo Ball scored 21 points, his fourth 20+ point performance this season. Ball also hit five of his 10 three-point attempts.
• JJ Redick scored 16 points with four of six (.667) shooting from the three-point line, his tenth double-digit scoring performance of the year. The last time Redick scored 15+ points in a game this season was January 8 against Charlotte.

PORTLAND NOTES:
• Damian Lillard secured his fifth double-double of the year with 43 points and 16 assists. The 16 assists match his career high. It was Lillard’s third 40+ point game on the season and his second-highest scoring game of the season. Lillard hit seven of his sixteen three-point attempts, his second-most three point makes in a game this season.
• All five Portland starters scored in double figures for the second time this season, both resulting in wins. • Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points, his seventh 20+ point game this season. Trent hit five of his 10 three-point attempts.

SERIES NOTES: • Portland takes a 1-0 lead in the season series. The teams will meet two more times at dates to be determined.