Game Thread GAME# 33: MAVERICKS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 23, 2018 - SUNDAY, 6:00 PM, NBCSNW

[kjironman1]

Turner had a lousy game for Evan Turner.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Turner had a lousy game for Evan Turner.

That says a lot.

 

[TBpup]

ok now, in the last couple of pages of this thread, I've seen a "shit"...a "bullshit"...and a "fucking bullshit"

I'm dying to know what's behind door number 4

Olshit?

Donsick

That was great! Apparently, a lot of people didn't get that.....well done!

 

[illmatic99]

Dame's defensive possession on Barnes reminded me of this:

 

[Chris Craig]

Olshit?



That was great! Apparently, a lot of people didn't get that.....well done!

Thank you

Glad someone got it

 

[TBpup]

Glad the Blazers won but my goodness, thankfully we were playing a team that had lost 5 in a row and was on the 2nd of a back-to-back and shot 41%. After the drubbing from the Jazz, I thought the Blazers would come out with a little more determination to pound a team that has been very poor of late.

On the other hand, from purely a basketball standpoint, Donsick is a pleasure to watch. Needs to work on shot selection and efficiency but for 19 years old, my goodness, that kids has stones!

 

[KingSpeed]

CJ with the empty feeling 22 pts.

If Simons played the exact game/stats CJ did, I bet you’d be going nuts. Point is, CJ is very good. Don’t take him for granted because he does it every night. Look at the numbers. CJ outplayed Halleluka.

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know that CJ dominated Wes. Wes missed some wide open shots in the first. If Wes hits some of those it looks pretty equal.

CJ was 9/12 from 2 and 5 assists and 5 rebounds. He dominated Wes.

 

[KingSpeed]

After all, the Rockets missed wide open shots in Game 7. If they hit them, they’re in the Finals. Coulda woulda shoulda.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Look at the numbers. CJ outplayed Halleluka.

The numbers say that? CJ's 22/5/5 were him "outplaying" Luka's 23/11/6?

Interesting...

 

[handiman]

The numbers say that? CJ's 22/5/5 were him "outplaying" Luka's 23/11/6?

Interesting...

You forgot the most important numbers: 121-118.

 

[tykendo]

I don't know that CJ dominated Wes. Wes missed some wide open shots in the first. If Wes hits some of those it looks pretty equal.

"If Wes hits some of those shots". Well that could be said of every player in the league on any given night. He didn't, and much of it was due to being harassed by CJ. CJ & Dame are improved defensively, whether the haters want to believe it, or not. CJ has hit plenty of clutch shots of late. That dunk in traffic set the tone.

 

[Strenuus]

After all, the Rockets missed wide open shots in Game 7. If they hit them, they’re in the Finals. Coulda woulda shoulda.

"Warriors only won their titles because of injuries."

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

 

[tykendo]

I’m pretty sure that’s wrong. Where did you hear that?

It was "sick" after that wicked shot to tie it in regulation. Dude doesn't even look young. Looks very mature for a teenager. In his late 20's. Plays like a veteran. The teams that had a chance, and didn't draft him, F'd up.

 

[tykendo]

"Warriors only won their titles because of injuries."

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

And only won titles because they hit their open shots. Kinda the object of the game, "hit shots". Especially when they're open looks. Like I always say, Dame would average 10 assist a game, if his teammates hit their "open" shots.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You forgot the most important numbers: 121-118.

I attribute that to Dame outplaying Harrison "F-ing" Barnes.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm not a fan of CJ, but he did play fairly well last night, especially in the 2nd half, and had a somewhat un-CJ type game. Now, 22 points on 20 FGA's wasn't good, that's only 1.1o points/FGA which is below his 1.17 average this year. And while he did go into dribble-fest a few times it wasn't as heavy as usual. Better was that he didn't have complete hoop-lock and actually found an open Nurkic a couple of times and an open Dame once. If he'd do that more while dribbling less, he wouldn't be hammered as much as he is around here

I'd still want him traded though

 

[BonesJones]

If Simons played the exact game/stats CJ did, I bet you’d be going nuts. Point is, CJ is very good. Don’t take him for granted because he does it every night. Look at the numbers. CJ outplayed Halleluka.

So you're saying we should hold C.J. and Anfernee to the same standards huh?

 

[BonesJones]

"If Wes hits some of those shots". Well that could be said of every player in the league on any given night. He didn't, and much of it was due to being harassed by CJ. CJ & Dame are improved defensively, whether the haters want to believe it, or not. CJ has hit plenty of clutch shots of late. That dunk in traffic set the tone.

CJ has not improved defensively. A good quarter against Wesley Matthews doesnt change that.

 

[kjironman1]

The one thing that CJ does bring is that he ABSOLUTELY MUST be guarded. Teams have to take him seriously. If they don't? He will kill them. He will drop 50 on any team that does not take him seriously. The Same goes for Dame. They have to make sure those guys are guarded.
Nurkic has 7 years in this league. Since being a Blazer his numbers have actually gone down. Though they are better than they have been anywhere else.

The Blazers need another player that will make teams pay if they don't take that player seriously. A player that will absolutely destroy them if they don't guard him. Until they get that player any team at any time can beat the Blazers. Just my take on things.

 

[Almir]

Win is all that matters from this match. This is NBA, no easy wins. Respect for Doncic who took responsibility at the end, with his 19 years old.. and yes for those who wonder how to pronounce his surname it is exactly like this: Donchich.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The numbers say that? CJ's 22/5/5 were him "outplaying" Luka's 23/11/6?

Interesting...

Well technically KingSpeed has a case. Doncic only hit 1/3 of his shots while CJ hit half of his.

 

[tlongII]

Had a great time with my nephew. That 3 by Doncic was spectacular. I question Stotts’ defensive strategy on the play though.

 

[TBpup]

Had a great time with my nephew. That 3 by Doncic was spectacular. I question Stotts’ defensive strategy on the play though.

.....again.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Boy, that last play in the 4th...
DeAndre Jordan is in the game, Mavs need a three, we choose to guard DeAndre Jordan instead of using another defender on a 3pt shooter. Stotts sees this and doesnt call a timeout.

Mavs commentator before the play: "I would put TWO guys on Doncic now".

Refs were also kind to us at the end... Glad for Dame and CJ, but this team needs some fixing.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The one thing that CJ does bring is that he ABSOLUTELY MUST be guarded. Teams have to take him seriously. If they don't? He will kill them. He will drop 50 on any team that does not take him seriously. The Same goes for Dame. They have to make sure those guys are guarded.
Nurkic has 7 years in this league. Since being a Blazer his numbers have actually gone down. Though they are better than they have been anywhere else.

The Blazers need another player that will make teams pay if they don't take that player seriously. A player that will absolutely destroy them if they don't guard him. Until they get that player any team at any time can beat the Blazers. Just my take on things.

Not to nitpick, but Nurk is in his 5th season, and the first 3 he averaged under 18 MPG. In his 2 seasons as a full time player he has been inconsistent as a scoring threat - but some of that is on Stotts and his team-mates not consistently getting him the ball where he feels comfortable. IMHO, the Blazers could establish Nurk as a scoring threat - but it isn't a priority for them.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Not to nitpick, but Nurk is in his 5th season, and the first 3 he averaged under 18 MPG. In his 2 seasons as a full time player he has been inconsistent as a scoring threat - but some of that is on Stotts and his team-mates not consistently getting him the ball where he feels comfortable. IMHO, the Blazers could establish Nurk as a scoring threat - but it isn't a priority for them.

I don't know, some of that is on Nurkic. His offensive evolution will come if he can learn to take and make those mid range shots that he gets dared to shoot. If he becomes a threat away from the basket, he'll be real problem. It'll also open lanes for guards. Right now he's really hesitant to pull the trigger. I'm not saying I want him to be one of those bigs who's out jacking up a bunch of 3's and not dominating in the paint. I just think having that as part of your game changes the defenses so much in favor of your team.

 

[Lanny]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
DALLAS MAVERICKS
15 - 15
(2-12 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
18 - 14
(12-5 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DENNIS SMITH Jr. VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

WESLEY MATTHEWS VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

LUKA DONCIC VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

HARRISON BARNES VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

DeANDRE JORDAN VS JUSUF NURKIC



-----------------------------------------------------------------

-------

--------------------------------------------------------------


WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), SUNDAY, 12/23/2018

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

-------- DALLAS MAVERICKS --------

BAREA , HARRIS , BRUNSON

MACON , BROEKHOFF , FINNEY-SMITH

ANTETOKOUNMPO , SPALDING , KLEBER

POWELL , NOWITZKI , MEJRI

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
MAVERICKS
Maxi Kleber (left great toe sprain): PROBABLE
Dennis Smith Jr. (right wrist sprain): QUESTIONABLE
Wesley Matthews (right foot soreness): QUESTIONABLE
Dirk Nowitzki (left ankle surgery): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
NONE


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RICK CARLISLE --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL MAVERICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

I predict a win for the Blazers. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my Blazer hat. If I'm right, somebody owes me beer.

Edit: I think that's fair.

 

[Lanny]

Not to nitpick, but Nurk is in his 5th season, and the first 3 he averaged under 18 MPG. In his 2 seasons as a full time player he has been inconsistent as a scoring threat - but some of that is on Stotts and his team-mates not consistently getting him the ball where he feels comfortable. IMHO, the Blazers could establish Nurk as a scoring threat - but it isn't a priority for them.

Nurkic is frequently too far out when on offense. Please, dear God, don't let him shoot any threes or even any long twos.

 

[BonesJones]