Game Thread GAME# 54: CELTICS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 13, 2021 - TUESDAY, 7:00, TNT & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
BOSTON CELTICS
28 - 26
(11-16 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
31 - 22
(16-11 Home)

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

PG

KEMBA WALKER VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

MARCUS SMART VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

JAYLEN BROWN VS NORMAN POWELL

PF

JAYSON TATUM VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

ROBERT WILLIAMS III VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), TUESDAY, 4/13/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



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

-- BOSTON CELTICS --

WATERS , EDWARDS , PRITCHARD

GREEN , LANGFORD , WILLIAMS

OJELEYE , THOMPSON , WAGNER

KORNET , FALL



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , GILES III , KANTER



INJURIES
CELTICS
Evan Fournier (health and safety protocols): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

BRAD STEVENS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL CELTICS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers April 13 game against the Celtics will be the first of two meetings between Portland and Boston this season. The final game will be played on May 2.

• LAST SEASON: The Celtics took the season series in 2019-20, 2-0. Either Portland or Boston has swept the other each of the past three seasons.

• Damian Lillard recorded 30 points (8-20 FG, 5-14 3-PT, 9-9 FT), two rebounds, 16 assists and one block, with his 16 dimes matching a career-high, in his only game against Boston last season on Aug. 2.

• In his second game back from injury last season on Aug. 2, Jusuf Nurkic scored a season-high 30 points (12-20 FG, 1-3 3-PT, 5-5 FT), to go with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block against the Celtics.

• Jayson Tatum averaged 35.0 points (56.8% FG, 65.0% 3-PT, 77.8% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.00 steals and 1.50 blocks in two games against Portland last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Celtics lead, 69-47
IN PORTLAND: Celtics lead, 31-27
AT THE CELTICS: Celtics lead, 38-20

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Blazers need to bounce back like an over-inflated basketball here. Not a good showing against Miami. But win this one, and we've got a winning home stand.

This is a nationally televised game, so that's extra incentive for Portland to come out with their best.

Gray vs Black uniforms don't offer much contrast out there on the court. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[TBpup]

I wonder if Coach Stevens will trap Dame....

 

[wizenheimer]

I wonder if Coach Stevens will trap Dame....

 

[Natebishop3]

I wonder if Coach Stevens will trap Dame....

Never! He's a terrible coach!

 

[stampedehero]

The Blazers D was like using a colander to catch water. They Gotta Wake Up.

 

[Mr. Robot]

nurk said he wants to play more as a facilitator and focus on defense in order to help the team, rather than look for his own points

that also tells you how nurk feels about our offense and defense

 

[SIeepwalker]

No way we win that

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The poll question is tough. I don't think he will sign here unless Stotts and CJ and Melo are gone.

 

[wizenheimer]

nurk said he wants to play more as a facilitator and focus on defense in order to help the team, rather than look for his own points

that also tells you how nurk feels about our offense and defense

what Nurkic ought to do is learn how to finish around the damn rim:

 

[e_blazer]

View attachment 38039

And, in other news today:

 

[Cugel]

I can't imagine this game will turn out well. No way will Powell stay unless major shake-ups happen; odds are they will not. He would be a target of many teams, contenders.

 

[wizenheimer]

I can't imagine this game will turn out well. No way will Powell stay unless major shake-ups happen; odds are they will not. He would be a target of many teams, contenders.

and I'd be willing to bet that no team that would target Powell would be planning on him playing SF

 

[Mr. Robot]

what Nurkic ought to do is learn how to finish around the damn rim:

View attachment 38041

finishing around the rim is overrated

 

[blazerkor]

what Nurkic ought to do is learn how to finish around the damn rim:

View attachment 38041

I don't think of that as a learning thing. I just think he has to have a coach that uses every tool he has to get him to dunk it every time he gets it around the hole. Unlike Enes, Nurk is perfectly capable for dunking powerfully every time he does one of his flip shots. Others in here have said this doesn't work but I would make it clear to him that if he doesn't slow down his game, just when he gets to the rim and dunk the ball that he'll lose playing time. I would call timeouts when he blows layups and remind him that his PT is on the line and then if he continued I'd put him on the bench for a five minute rest when did it. That's not benching the guy, I'd still get him his minutes, I would just change up my rotation so we could get the most out of Nurkic and teach him how important it is for him to get the highest percent shot when he can. That's all Nurk needs to learn, is that it's unacceptable for him not to do the most efficient thing he can do and he can do it. It doesn't take more out of him, we've all seen him do it before and since the big injury and he dunks it with ease.

It's the worst part of his game and I think it's easily correctable.

 

[blazerkor]

I can't imagine this game will turn out well. No way will Powell stay unless major shake-ups happen; odds are they will not. He would be a target of many teams, contenders.

I hope you're wrong about the odds of a shakeup. The odds would say that GMs and especially coaches (since Stotts's tenure is already unprecedented) don't get to average a first round exit and keep their jobs on a team with a superstar and a lot of talent. McGowan can't see Olshey and Stotts the way he sees Pete Caroll. Pete Caroll has brought a superbowl ring and two conference championships to the Seahawks. I think to prospective buyers and probably just to themselves that it has to be really getting hard for Jody and the Vulcans to retain the employment of both Olshey and Stotts.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

what Nurkic ought to do is learn how to finish around the damn rim:

View attachment 38041

I'm impressed with Elleby!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

what Nurkic ought to do is learn how to finish around the damn rim:

View attachment 38041

Interesting that Covington doesn't take many of his shots at the rim.

 

[Mr. Robot]

lets go celtics, blowout road win would be nice!

also, terry stotts can go fuck himself

 

[blazerkor]

lets go celtics, blowout road win would be nice!

also, terry stotts can go fuck himself

Full heel turn... bold move. I mean, I like the attitude that Stotts needs to go. The Celtics will probably beat us. I don't know about cheering for the opponent though... even if you are saying we need to get blown out to expedite the changes you see as necessary "lets go (insert opponent)" might not be the best indicator that you're a Blazers fan.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Full heel turn... bold move. I mean, I like the attitude that Stotts needs to go. The Celtics will probably beat us. I don't know about cheering for the opponent though... even if you are saying we need to get blown out to expedite the changes you see as necessary "lets go (insert opponent)" might not be the best indicator that you're a Blazers fan.

im not cheering for the opponent, i want blazers to lose, so the pressure on terry stotts grows bigger and bigger, day by day, game by game

every win just extends the agony, thats just the way it is

 

[Pinwheel1]

im not cheering for the opponent, i want blazers to lose, so the pressure on terry stotts grows bigger and bigger, day by day, game by game

every win just extends the agony, thats just the way it is

Sorry but this logic is so fucking stupid. Losing does not help anything. Especially signing our own free agents. If you want to see Powell re-sign, you don't hope for a team meltdown. Terry will be gone regardless unless they make a deep run in the playoffs.

 

[blazerkor]

im not cheering for the opponent, i want blazers to lose, so the pressure on terry stotts grows bigger and bigger, day by day, game by game

every win just extends the agony, thats just the way it is

I don't know how many times you've seen cheerleaders but the number one cheer in sports is, "Lets go (insert team you're cheering for)!" So that's why I may have mistook what you were saying for cheering for the opponent. Like I said, I get the idea of a blowout creating urgency and why some in here would want that urgency generated. I don't think I have to hope for any of that stuff. If ownership does the right thing and that is a big if, there's no way this team is going to do what should be necessary for Olshey and Stotts to keep their jobs.

 

[royo]

It will be interesting to see how players go out. It could tell, who they are cheerin for.

 

[Jayblaze]

Blow out loss step closer to stotts getting fired

 

[kjironman1]

Win tonight and the Blazers are a step in the right direction. You will never hear me or read something i wrote hoping they lose.

This season is far from over!

Damian Lillard's career is far from over!

 

[kjironman1]

Kanter started fasting. Sunset at about 7:55. So he can at least drink water during the second half.

 

[TBpup]

I will never root for the Blazers to lose. That said, I do occasionally put a bet down that eases the pain if I think they will lose. Now if they have to take a strategic retreat to make a bigger advance later on, that is all part of the game.

 

[kjironman1]

I will never root for the Blazers to lose. That said, I do occasionally put a bet down that eases the pain if I think they will lose. Now if they have to take a strategic retreat to make a bigger advance later on, that is all part of the game.

Betting is a different issue.
Also I have many times felt there are times to take a strategic retreat.
Rest certain players. Heck even shut them down until healthy over the years.
These are all reasonable.
But this season is far from over. Not at this point.

 

[James lamphear]

Full heel turn... bold move. I mean, I like the attitude that Stotts needs to go. The Celtics will probably beat us. I don't know about cheering for the opponent though... even if you are saying we need to get blown out to expedite the changes you see as necessary "lets go (insert opponent)" might not be the best indicator that you're a Blazers fan.

Don't matter what happens the rest of the year Stotts is here at least until then.