Game Thread GAME# 48: BUCKS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 2, 2021 - FRIDAY, 7:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
29 - 17
(11-10 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
29 - 18
(14-9 Home)

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

PG

JRUE HOLIDAY VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DONTE DiVINCENZO VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

KHRIS MIDDLETON VS NORMAN POWELL

PF

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

BROOK LOPEZ VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), FRIDAY, 4/2/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

---- MILWAUKEE BUCKS ----

FORBES , MERRILL , CONNAUGHTON

TOUPANE , ANTETOKOUNMPO , NWORA

KURUCS , TUCKER

DIAKITE , PORTIS


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , GILES III , KANTER


INJURIES
BUCKS
P.J. Tucker (left calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
Rodions Kurucs (abdominal strain) QUESTIONABLE
Bobby Portis (COVID-protocols): DOUBTFUL
TRAIL BLAZERS
Nassir Little (sprained right thumb): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE BUDENHOLZER --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL BUCKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers April 2 game at the Bucks will be the second and final meeting between Portland and Milwaukee this season. Milwaukee leads the season series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: Milwaukee won the first matchup between the two teams on Feb. 1, 134-106. Nassir Little led the Trail Blazers with a career-high 30 points (11-18 FG, 5-7 3-PT, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks. Jrue Holiday paced the Bucks with 22 points (10-14 FG, 2-3 3-PT), seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

• Damian Lillard added 19 points (6-13 FG, 2-7 3-PT, 5-5 FT), three rebounds and seven assists against Milwaukee on Feb. 1.

• Anfernee Simons had 15 points (5-15 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, five assists and two blocks against the Bucks on Feb. 1.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 26 minutes against Portland on Feb. 1.

HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Bucks lead, 75-52
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 35-28
MILWAUKEE HOME: Bucks lead, 47-17

​

 

[Darkwebs]

We are entering a weird part of the schedule where the Blazers will come back home for a pair of back-to-back games, then set out on the road again for 2 games, and subsequently come back home again for 3 games.

Lately, the Blazers have been beating on the dregs of the NBA, and now they will test their might against the upper echelon.

But 3 of the next 4 games will serve as enormous tests for the Blazers, as they will face some of the most elite teams in the entire NBA (Bucks, Clippers, Jazz).

Let's tell Milwaukee to buck off by winning the first one!

 

[Scalma]

I’m usually taking a shit during all three

 

[MadeFromDust]

Don't mean to sound like a Negative Nancy but games like these will show whether this team is for real or not. Winning competitive games against teams like the Pistons and Magic are not exactly the litmus test we are looking for.

 

[kjironman1]

Bring on the Bucks!
We don't fear dear in the Northwest.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

We should win this game. We match up well. With Jrue on Dame, they have no one who can guard CJ. Their bench is also suspect. They’re on the road where they’ve been Ho hum. Go Blazers.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Don't mean to sound like a Negative Nancy but games like these will show whether this team is for real or not. Winning competitive games against teams like the Pistons and Magic are not exactly the litmus test we are looking for.

You know how you know you’re a good team? You beat the bad teams. Means you’re not one of them. Winning or losing our upcoming games against Bucks, Clippers, Jazz have no impact on how we will play in playoffs. We beat Warriors every year but got swept in playoffs. Etc etc. OKC went 4-0 against us in season but lost 4-1 in playoffs. Beating a good team in the regular season proves nothing. Doesn’t make us anymore “real.” All that’s important about season is getting as many wins as possible no matter who they’re against.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

These 3 teams all blew us out earlier in the season, this will be a good way to test our progress

 

[Strenuus]

Don't mean to sound like a Negative Nancy but games like these will show whether this team is for real or not. Winning competitive games against teams like the Pistons and Magic are not exactly the litmus test we are looking for.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Strenuus]

You know how you know you’re a good team? You beat the bad teams. Means you’re not one of them. Winning or losing our upcoming games against Bucks, Clippers, Jazz have no impact on how we will play in playoffs. We beat Warriors every year but got swept in playoffs. Etc etc. OKC went 4-0 against us in season but lost 4-1 in playoffs. Beating a good team in the regular season proves nothing. Doesn’t make us anymore “real.” All that’s important about season is getting as many wins as possible no matter who they’re against.

So if we get all our wins against shitty teams and get blown out by all the teams we could see in the playoffs, thats not going to tell you something (the okc 4-0 doesn't count cause all Westbrook teams suck in the playoffs. Same with Harden led teams)?

 

[blazerkor]

Let's call it like it is, this will be a really tough game. I'm interested to see how we do. It is only one game but it will tell us a lot about this team.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Blazers don’t win this. Defense is not good

 

[BonesJones]

Blazers Uprise Postgame Show is my vote.

 

[kjironman1]

This was an absolute nightmare matchup with Nurk and CJ out and no Powell. It might be better now?
The Blazers absolutely need to hit their shots or this game is over quick.
Bucks are beasts on the boards. They rebound as well as any team in the league. Having both Nurk and Kanter should help a bunch.
CJ could prove to be a huge difference maker in this game but he needs to stay out of trying to juke and dribble in the paint to create a bad shot. It won't work against this team.
If the Blazers play really unselfish they can find more shots on the perimeter and Powell is just the guy to make teams pay for hammering Lillard.
I don't see as many minutes for Melo in this game if Little could play? That questionable sprained thumb needs to heal up. This is not the game to play Melo (As soon as i type that i think Melo gonna make me eat my words).

Anyway Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[twobullz]

The bucks are 18-9 against the east and 12-8 against the west Get the win and they will have as many losses against western conference teams as they do against Eastern teams, but 6 fewer games played. The Blazers are 15-12 against the west and 14-6 against the east. Once again the East is not as good.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We are entering a weird part of the schedule where the Blazers will come back home for a pair of back-to-back games, then set out on the road again for 2 games, and subsequently come back home again for 3 games.

That is weird. back to back at home after an east coast swing? We know from past history that the Blazers do not play well
on the first game back, especially when the opposition has already adapted to the time change. We often get blown out in that first game back. Against good or bad teams. I don't think this game will tell us much if we lose.

 

[blazerkor]

The bucks are 18-9 against the east and 12-8 against the west Get the win and they will have as many losses against western conference teams as they do against Eastern teams, but 6 fewer games played. The Blazers are 15-12 against the west and 14-6 against the east. Once again the East is not as good.

With all of that said we better win this mother fucking game then.

 

[DDolla]

Now we’re playing a real team... Just Win Baby!

 

[THE HCP]

Don't mean to sound like a Negative Nancy but games like these will show whether this team is for real or not. Winning competitive games against teams like the Pistons and Magic are not exactly the litmus test we are looking for.

That’s not being negative, we call that being real.

 

[THE HCP]

Blazers don’t win this. Defense is not good

Then there is no need to bitch all game thread then, right? You already know how we will play........get it out now son.

 

[THE HCP]

If I was a Bucks fan, I’d be PISSED that we had the same record as the worst defensive, and worst assists per game team in the entire league. Wonder what their forum is like? If a coach ever deserved to be fired it’s theirs and Bostons right?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Too bad the Bucks don't have any major players out that would make getting the W for the Blazers easier.

 

[Labinot41]

really excited for this game. This will be the first real test for our new group. The bucks have been a bad matchup for the Blazers the past years, so i'm not that confident. Blazers need to get Powell involved a lot more, this dude knows how to beat the Bucks

 

[BonesJones]

If I was a Bucks fan, I’d be PISSED that we had the same record as the worst defensive, and worst assists per game team in the entire league. Wonder what their forum is like? If a coach ever deserved to be fired it’s theirs and Bostons right?

No you wouldnt, you'd say all the shit you always do.

 

[kjironman1]

really excited for this game. This will be the first real test for our new group. The bucks have been a bad matchup for the Blazers the past years, so i'm not that confident. Blazers need to get Powell involved a lot more, this dude knows how to beat the Bucks

Been very bad. Was a terrible match up two months ago for sure. Bucks were just bigger. They even played both Lopez and Giannis at times. Blazers tried to counter with Giles but that was futile.
Bucks shot 42 three's and made 50% of them. 21 buckets was 63 points from long range. The 21 points from Portis killed them as well. Melo had one of his 1-7 and 4 points nights.
Blazers will be better off this game.
Last game
Gary Trent 3 - 13 shooting 2-8 from 3
RoCo 2-9 and 1-5 from 3
Melo 1-7 and 0-1 from 3
Lillard was 6-13 but 2-7 from 3

The one bright spot was Nassir Little who dropped 30 points in 30 mins on 11-18 shooting also going 5-7 from 3.

Blazers had no way to stop the size and when they tried they couldn't guard the three. Bucks walked to an easy victory.

 

[Labinot41]

We are so weird, i think even we as hardcore Blazers Fans dont know who this team is. First in offensive rating, last in defensive rating

 

[TBpup]

This will be closer than the last game against the Bucks. Who is reffing so I know how to bet?

 

[kjironman1]

Bucks will find out they cannot guard the Blazers like they did last time. Stotts has way more options this game.

 

[BlazerBeav]

We are definitely throwing a much more dangerous roster on the court tonight than we did the first time around. Sure would like to get this one!

 

[Darkwebs]

This will be closer than the last game against the Bucks. Who is reffing so I know how to bet?

Sean Wright (#4)
JB DeRosa (#62)
Suyash Mehta (#82)