Game Thread GAME# 54: SPURS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 7, 2019 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
32 - 23
(10-16 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
32 - 21
(22-8 Home)

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

PG

BRYN FORBES VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DERRICK WHITE VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

DeMAR DeROZAN VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

RUDY GAY VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE VS JUSUF NURKIC

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 2/7/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

MILLS , BELINELLI ,

PONDEXTER , CUNNINGHAM , MOORE ,

BERTANS , EUBANKS , METU

POELTL , GASOL



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

SWANIGAN , COLLINS , LEONARD




INJURIES
SPURS
Dante Cunningham (sore right ankle): PROBABLE
Derrick White (sore right heel): QUESTIONABLE
Dejounte Murray (right ACL): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkić (right knee soreness): QUESTIONABLE
Damian Lillard (right knee soreness): QUESTIONABLE
Evan Turner (Achilles soreness): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

GREG POPOVICH --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL SPURS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Thursday’s game marks the third of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs during the 2018-19 season. The season series is tied, 1-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Spurs outlasted the Trail Blazers in a high-scoring affair in San Antonio on Dec. 2, winning 131-118. DeMar DeRozan led the way for San Antonio with 36 points (13-27 FG, 10-10 FT), eight rebounds and six assists, while Damian Lillard paced the Trail Blazers with a 37 points (12-28 FG, 3-11 3-PT, 10-10 FT), two rebounds and 10 assists.

• In two games against the Spurs this season, Damian Lillard has averaged 33.0 points (48.8% FG, 35.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

• CJ McCollum has averaged 24.0 points (54.1% FG, 46.2% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games against San Antonio this season.

• In two games against the Trail Blazers this season, DeMar DeRozan has averaged 32.0 points (49.0% FG, 100.0% FT), 5.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.00 steals.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Spurs lead, 85-83
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 53-31
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 54-30

 

[Darkwebs]

Blazers are an underwhelming 4-9 on national TV this season. They just lost a game on TNT, so this game gives them chance for redemption. Please do not embarass yourself on TNT two times in a row.

The Spurs are 6th in the West, and the Blazers are 4th, but San Antonio is nipping at the heels of Portland, as they are only a game behind in the standings. The Spurs have been playing well lately, going 7 of their last 10.

This will be a back-to-back road game for the Spurs, so I don't want to hear any excuses for a Blazers loss tonight. Portland needs to come out strong and set the tone early, so basically do what they failed to do against the Heat.

Seacrest out.

 

[Chris Craig]

Dame better show up

 

[kjironman1]

Seacrest out.

What does this "Seacrest" mean? Deep State inquiry?

 

[tlongII]

Gotta have this one.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

We have no idea who will even be suiting up since that is the day of the trade deadline so could be very interesting.

 

[TBpup]

We have no idea who will even be suiting up since that is the day of the trade deadline so could be very interesting.

Dame/Curry/Simons
Hood/Trent
Layman/Harkless
Davis/Collins
Nurkic/Leonard

Hope that clears things up.

 

[wizenheimer]

Spurs play tonight but Pop is resting Aldridge and Derozan, apparently so they'll be fresh against Portland. I guess that shows which game he thinks is more winnable

 

[andalusian]

Spurs play tonight but Pop is resting Aldridge and Derozan, apparently so they'll be fresh against Portland. I guess that shows which game he thinks is more winnable

Well, Duh. The Blazers will likely think the same - given that they play GS today.

 

[Darkwebs]

What does this "Seacrest" mean? Deep State inquiry?

 

[kjironman1]

Nah... I know that dude. Ha dated my sister.

 

[DDolla]

Damn LMA and DeMar probably playing tomorrow as they rested tonight.

 

[ripcityboy]

Nah... I know that dude. Ha dated my sister.

I thought he just dated himself.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Spurs play tonight but Pop is resting Aldridge and Derozan, apparently so they'll be fresh against Portland. I guess that shows which game he thinks is more winnable

I hate when he pulls that shit. Even the other starters only played 20 minutes tonight.

 

[ripcityboy]

I hate when he pulls that shit. Even the other starters only played 20 minutes tonight.

I got to admit. It works. Guys got 5 championships. Even if the commissioner has to occasionally tell him to get the players butts in games.

 

[kjironman1]

I hate when he pulls that shit. Even the other starters only played 20 minutes tonight.

And they take a 40 point loss that costs them one in the L column. In the big picture he lost nothing because they were not winning that game anyway.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Another TNT game. That's a loss.

 

[Pinwheel1]

And they take a 40 point loss that costs them one in the L column. In the big picture he lost nothing because they were not winning that game anyway.

I am not saying I don't understand his strategy, nor am I saying it does not work. I am just saying I hate when he does it.......when it effects us.

 

[Hoopguru]

I want to see POP coach another 5 years and see how many championships he will win? Or see how many playoffs series he can win?

 

[kjironman1]

I am not saying I don't understand his strategy, nor am I saying it does not work. I am just saying I hate when he does it.......when it effects us.

Was agreeing with you. ESPN puts that game as it's lead for west coast and POP decides the starters don't need to play. It's wrong. The fans deserve a better product. I personally have always felt the product would be better with a 66 game schedule that never had a B2B and more quality games televised. Not only would players have to play but each game would mean more and they might not be dealing with as many nagging injuries. Let alone games like they had just a couple weeks ago when the Blazers played an OT game in Utah i think? Then had to get to OKC to play the second game. I wonder what the NBA thinks about a 40 point loss on a prime time showdown between two top teams that had half the roster sitting on the bench?

 

[kjironman1]

I want to see POP coach another 5 years and see how many championships he will win? Or see how many playoffs series he can win?

I don't think that will happen but i wonder about it also. He rode Duncan for all he was worth. Phil Jackson had a couple decent players also.

 

[Hoopguru]

I don't think that will happen but i wonder about it also. He rode Duncan for all he was worth. Phil Jackson had a couple decent players also.

Super Stars win championships not coaches!

 

[Hoopguru]

I don't think that will happen but i wonder about it also. He rode Duncan for all he was worth. Phil Jackson had a couple decent players also.

Both Riley and Jackson couldn’t do it at NY

 

[barfo]

Ha dated my sister.

Really, Ha dated your sister? That was while he was with the blazers, I assume.

Did he attack her with his pole?

barfo

 

[kjironman1]

Really, Ha dated your sister? That was while he was with the blazers, I assume.

Did he attack her with his pole?

barfo

We all love them typo's. Makes for some real good conversation.

 

[THE HCP]

Play-by-Play: Kevin Harlan Analyst: Reggie Miller Courtside Reporter: Ros Gold-Onwude

 

[blue9]

Oh god, Reggie Miller is one of the worst!

 

[-Ace-]

Oh god, Reggie Miller is one of the worst!

Balanced out by Kevin Harlan, one of the best.

 

[Scalma]

Who wants to take a guess on the rotation

My guess is the starters stay the same.

Second unit:

Curry
Hood
Turner
Layman
Collins

Layman is most likely safe for now. Collins and Leonard will battle for minutes.

What I would do (short of unrealistic shit like benching Turner) is play Hood over Curry.

 

[blue9]

What I would do (short of unrealistic shit like benching Turner) is play Hood over Curry.

Absolutely 100%. Curry should only be used in spot minutes to bust a zone or stretch the floor on last-second inbounds plays.

Unfortunately Hood doesn't address our two biggest weaknesses - Aminu at PF and Turner as 2nd unit ball-handler. In theory he can take some of Aminu's minutes by sliding Harkless/Jake into the PF spot more often while he plays SF, but he himself doesn't directly take Aminu's minutes. And there really isn't anyone who can take Turner's ball-handling duties.