Game Thread GAME# 55: BLAZERS @ SPURS - APRIL 16, 2021 - FRIDAY, 5:30, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
31 - 23
(15-11 Road)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
26 - 26
(12-17 Home)

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---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS DEJOUNTE MURRAY

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DERRICK WHITE

SF

NORMAN POWELL VS DeMAR DeROZAN

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS KELDON JOHNSON

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS JAKOB POELTL

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

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WHEN: 5:30 PM (PDT), FRIDAY, 4/16/2021

WHERE: AT&T CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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-------------- RESERVES --------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER



- SAN ANTONIO SPURS-

MILLS , JONES , WEATHERSPOON

WALKER IV , VASSELL

BATES-DIOP , GAY , LYLES

EUBANKS , SAMANIC , DIENG


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
SPURS
Trey Lyles (sprained right ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Gorgui Dieng (sprained right shoulder): QUESTIONABLE




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- GREG POPOVICH

OFFICIAL SPURS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers April 16 game against the Spurs will be the second of three matchups between Portland and San Antonio this season. The Spurs lead the season series, 1-0.

• LAST GAME: The Spurs beat the Trail Blazers, 125-104, on Jan. 18 at Moda Center. Damian Lillard led Portland with 35 points (10-23 FG, 3-10 3-PT, 12-12 FT), three rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. DeMar DeRozan finished with 20 points (6-9 FG, 8-8 FT), six rebounds, 11 assists and two steals.

• Carmelo Anthony recorded 14 points (6-13 FG, 2-3 3-PT), three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block against the Spurs on Jan. 18.

• Rudy Gay added 21 points (8-17 FG, 5-8 3-PT), seven rebounds, one assist and one steal against Portland on Jan. 18.

• Patty Mills recorded 21 points (8-11 FG, 5-7 3-PT), one rebound and one assist against Portland on Jan. 18, matching his second-highest scoring game of the season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Spurs lead, 88-86
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 55-32
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 56-31

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Back on the road for a quick 2-game roadie.

It would be nice to win a pair away from home to compensate for the disappointing results from the unsuccessful homestand that just transpired.

The Spurs are one of those rare teams who seems to play worse at home than on the road, so this game is there for the taking. Let's get it!

 

[BlazerBeav]

Two wins here doesn't even compensate for the home losses - we're not in a position where 2-2 out of this stretch is good.

 

[Chris Craig]

Another Loss

 

[blazerkor]

I don't care much but I think we'll actually win this one. I think we have the better team. We do have the better point differential which is a great sign... as far as getting a win goes but the are right at .500. I guess this one could go either way but I'm calling a Blazers victory.

As far as the poll question goes: firing Stotts won't get the movement on this roster that needs to happen whereas firing Olshey gives you about a 95% chance that Stotts will also be fired. Who knows, maybe McGowan has the bodies buried and Olshey knows where they are.

 

[kjironman1]

Nurkic starting to play back into shape. Powell starting to feel better on both sides of the ball. Little starting to get consistent minutes. Dame starting to get some help when he passes the ball.
Team needs to continue to grow and work hard. The pieces are there to start playing very well together. I have seen marked improvement on defensive rotations and offensive looks.
The Blazers could win 5 of the next 6.

I have no inside info but something tells me we will see Collins back sometime around May 7th for the Lakers game? 3 more weeks.

Also one other Note. Last three games of the season. Jazz, Suns, Nuggets. Those could be huge games or things will be decided for the Jazz and Suns. Both of those games are on the road. Yep with 18 games left you start looking at end game for the season.

 

[Mr. Robot]

 

[kjironman1]

Lets check this out again in 6 games and then pull a number from "Since we got Nurk back and since we signed Powell" .

 

[Mr. Robot]

Lets check this out again in 6 games and then pull a number from "Since we got Nurk back and since we signed Powell" .

wizenhaimer will do that

its a big shame we cant get to see nurk and collins play together, im curious what nurk, collins and roco could to defensively

and then little, djj and powell off the bench and when you mix them with nurk, collins and roco in some line-up, it looks nice on paper

 

[PCmor7]

We should wear those Spurs jerseys and leave them in San Antonio after the game.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don't care much but I think we'll actually win this one. I think we have the better team. We do have the better point differential which is a great sign... as far as getting a win goes but the are right at .500. I guess this one could go either way but I'm calling a Blazers victory.

As far as the poll question goes: firing Stotts won't get the movement on this roster that needs to happen whereas firing Olshey gives you about a 95% chance that Stotts will also be fired. Who knows, maybe McGowan has the bodies buried and Olshey knows where they are.

I hope so. The Blazers don't win often against Popovich. It won't be easy.

 

[Natebishop3]

On paper we have way more talent, but I still think this will end up being an L.

Pop out coaches Terry every time.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Don't call it a funk around Terry though.

 

[illmatic99]

Outside of not signing a backup PG or a bigman a few months back, I don't see really anything wrong with what Neil has done. Our depth this year was much improved and he brought in guys with solid defensive reputations. While I've had plenty to bitch about with what Neil has done in the past, this year, he has largely been spot on. I love the Trent for Powell move. The Roco/DJ/RHJ additions were exactly the kind of guys we needed on this roster. Bringing Kanter back was the right move. So many people have agreed that this is the best roster Dame has ever had here.

I'm fully aboard the get rid of Terry bandwagon. Dude does an absolutely terrible job of maximizing player strengths.

 

[Natebishop3]

I love the Trent for Powell move.

Will you like that move if Powell leave for nothing in a few months?

 

[Tince]

On paper we have way more talent, but I still think this will end up being an L.

Pop out coaches Terry every time.

For what it's worth, I think we're 22-22 against the Spurs since 2010. Would have to go back to the 80's to find a decade where we had a better head-to-head record.

 

[Natebishop3]

For what it's worth, I think we're 22-22 against the Spurs since 2010. Would have to go back to the 80's to find a stretch where we had a better head-to-head record.

True, but I'm more concerned with how we're playing them this year. They blew us out the last time we played them back in January. This was one that I thought maybe we could steal but I'm still thinking loss.

 

[Tince]

True, but I'm more concerned with how we're playing them this year. They blew us out the last time we played them back in January. This was one that I thought maybe we could steal but I'm still thinking loss.

I think your logic this year is more than valid. I'm leaning towards a win, but I do not feel strongly about it.

I do think we're the more talented team as well.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think your logic this year is more than valid. I'm leaning towards a win, but I do not feel strongly about it.

I do think we're the more talented team as well.

It's a hard one to call. There's a couple games in the few remaining that I'm not really sure which way they're going to go. On paper we should win, but with this team this year.....

 

[Tince]

It's a hard one to call. There's a couple games in the few remaining that I'm not really sure which way they're going to go. On paper we should win, but with this team this year.....

For sure... as we know with all NBA teams, bad teams and beat great teams on any given night. Therefore, any team can beat us because we're not great; and in this case, the Spurs aren't bad either.

 

[Labinot41]

I know still 18 games left but looking at the standings, if the Clippers dont move up to 2nd and we stay at 6th, we're really fucked

 

[blazerkor]

I know still 18 games left but looking at the standings, if the Clippers dont move up to 2nd and we stay at 6th, we're really fucked

... regardless

 

[Natebishop3]

I know still 18 games left but looking at the standings, if the Clippers dont move up to 2nd and we stay at 6th, we're really fucked

We won't be staying at 6. I think we finish close to .500 at the end of the year. That would put us at the bottom end of the play-in.

 

[crandc]

I will catch the tail end. Going for second vaccine tomorrow and taking myself to dinner. I think a glass of wine is in order. Only one since I do need to drive home.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Outside of not signing a backup PG or a bigman a few months back, I don't see really anything wrong with what Neil has done.

Roster wise, sure. But he's Stotts' boss and has allowed him to be terrible at his job for years.

 

[kjironman1]

I will catch the tail end. Going for second vaccine tomorrow and taking myself to dinner. I think a glass of wine is in order. Only one since I do need to drive home.

The Game is Friday. If Tomorrow is Thursday and you are only having one glass of wine you should be okay?
Unless????

 

[crandc]

My bad, thought game was tomorrow.

 

[jlprk]

I wonder who was so good that the Spurs dumped Aldridge? I'll check Darkwebs' opening post to see this talent.

KELDON JOHNSON???

 

[BonesJones]

I wonder who was so good that the Spurs dumped Aldridge? I'll check Darkwebs' opening post to see this talent.

KELDON JOHNSON???

Is this a self-own?

 

[BonesJones]

Outside of not signing a backup PG or a bigman a few months back, I don't see really anything wrong with what Neil has done. Our depth this year was much improved and he brought in guys with solid defensive reputations. While I've had plenty to bitch about with what Neil has done in the past, this year, he has largely been spot on. I love the Trent for Powell move. The Roco/DJ/RHJ additions were exactly the kind of guys we needed on this roster. Bringing Kanter back was the right move. So many people have agreed that this is the best roster Dame has ever had here.

I'm fully aboard the get rid of Terry bandwagon. Dude does an absolutely terrible job of maximizing player strengths.

I think Neil has been spot on for a while. Got Curry, Hood, and Kanter for two 2nds back in 2019. The moves on the 2019 offseason were good on paper. He's been aggressive lately, but it seems some people wont be happy until CJ is traded for a hypothetical forward.