Game Thread GAME# 56: BLAZERS @ HORNETS - APRIL 18, 2021 - SUNDAY, 4:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
32 - 23
(16-11 Road)
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
27 - 28
(13-12 Home)


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

PG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS TERRY ROZIER

SG

NORMAN POWELL VS DEVONTE' GRAHAM

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS MILES BRIDGES

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS JALEN MCDANIELS

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS VERNON CAREY Jr.



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

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WHEN: 4:00 PM (PDT), SUNDAY, 4/18/2021

WHERE: SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER


------ CHARLOTTE HORNETS------

WANAMAKER , RILLER , MONK

DARLING , MARTIN , MARTIN

BIYOMBO , RICHARDS , ZELLER


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (right hamstring tendinopathy): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
HORNETS
Devonte' Graham (left quad contusion): QUESTIONABLE
P.J. Washington (sprained right ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Nate Darling (sprained right ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Malik Monk (sprained right ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Gordon Hayward (Right Foot Sprain): OUT
LaMelo Ball (Right Wrist Fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- JAMES BORREGO

OFFICIAL HORNETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers April 18 game against the Hornets will be the second and final meeting between Portland and Charlotte this season. The Trail Blazers lead the season series, 1-0.

• LAST GAME: The Trail Blazers took down the Hornets, 123-111, on March 1 at Moda Center. Carmelo Anthony led Portland with a season-high 29 points (10-19 FG, 6-10 3-PT, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists, five steals and two blocks. LaMelo Ball paced Charlotte with 30 points (10-18 FG, 5-7 3-PT, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, eight assists, four steals and one block.

• Damian Lillard recorded 23 points (8-21 FG, 6-15 3-PT, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and three steals against the Hornets on March 1.

• Robert Covington scored a season-high 21 points (8-11 FG, 5-7 3-PT), to go with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks on against Charlotte on March 1.

• Terry Rozier recorded 20 points (8-17 FG, 3-9 3-PT, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, six assists and four steals at Portland on March 1.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 43-16
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 24-6
SAN ANTONIO HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 19-10

 

[Strenuus]

This is on 4/20 and this game thread is high af

 

[Darkwebs]

The Blazers will wear their red uniforms again. In fact, it will be the same uniforms, unwashed from the Spurs game.

Lately, the Blazers have been beating all their opponents under .500, but losing to teams above .500. So I guess this will be win.

 

[Darkwebs]

This is on 4/20 and this game thread is high af

Thanks for the catch. Was working on multiple game threads at one time.

 

[Mr. Robot]

@Darkwebs go home, youre drunk

 

[kjironman1]

Sit Lillard another game.

It would give him from Wednesday the 14th to Tuesday the 20th for rest.

 

[kjironman1]

Here is another thought.
Lets say the blazers beat the Hornets. (Very Possible)
Then lets say the Lakers lose to the Jazz Saturday (Very Possible)
On Monday the Lakers play the Jazz again. They could lose again.
The Blazers go into the Clippers game at home with a rested Lillard. If they pull out a win they would be in the 5th spot.
It's Possible.

 

[Scalma]

Jones is still young. He should take that guaranteed 9m and hit free agency next year. He’ll have a better season under anyone not named Stotts.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Nassir, Jones, all theses guys are limited over Stotts. Trent knew it

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Here is another thought.
Lets say the blazers beat the Hornets. (Very Possible)
Then lets say the Lakers lose to the Jazz Saturday (Very Possible)
On Monday the Lakers play the Jazz again. They could lose again.
The Blazers go into the Clippers game at home with a rested Lillard. If they pull out a win they would be in the 5th spot.
It's Possible.

We would take 5th before beating Clippers.
Lakers would be 34-24 and we’d be percentage points ahead at 33-23. I’m sold on Jazz sweeping the pesky Lakers without Mitchell though. Would be nice. I’d like Blazers AND MAVS to pass the Lakers.

 

[Chris Craig]

Jones has had his starting spot taken and his minutes all but given to other players. He will leave this offseason.

 

[kjironman1]

We would take 5th before beating Clippers.
Lakers would be 34-24 and we’d be percentage points ahead at 33-23. I’m sold on Jazz sweeping the pesky Lakers without Mitchell though. Would be nice. I’d like Blazers AND MAVS to pass the Lakers.

But if they lose to the Clippers they would be back in 6th No?
I think it comes down to percentage points and I'm not sure. Any way you look at it if they beat the Hornets and Clippers while the Lakers lose twice to the Jazz the Blazers are securely in the 5th spot.

 

[kjironman1]

Jones has had his starting spot taken and his minutes all but given to other players. He will leave this offseason.

I'm okay with that. I wan't him to play well and continue to give his best effort but from what i see the Blazers have a better player in Powell/Little/Simons.
Other words. I think him leaving isn't a make or break for this team.

 

[Tince]

If I were Jones, I'd be trying to get a longer term deal. He'd be risking he might get way better and be underpaid for a year or two, but after you've been on 3 teams in 221 games and a team is picking Meyers over you, I'd lock up that cash.

 

[James lamphear]

Well I say he left but who going give him 9 million contract again. Really let be serious was he really worth 9 million dollars. He was supposed to defense guy but I see time and time again that he gets blow by but he is decent off ball defender. His offense you can't till due how Stotts use him due it really don't matter that's who got in those positions because majority time there offense won't be major factor in the game. Even Covington had some good games on offense but what he still only averaging 8 or 9 points a game. If Jones was smart I would opt in and see what the next coach does with this group of players.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'd like to see him stay for another year,

I don't think Olshey wants him to stay; he will have more financial flexibility if Jones opts out.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If Jones stays, it's because he's not worth what we're paying him. If he is worth what we're paying him, then he'll ditch out and get more elsewhere. Oh the joy of the player option...

Seems like the best possible result is Jones being usurped and minimized, but thinking he's worth more than he's shown here and leaving.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Sit Lillard another game.

It would give him from Wednesday the 14th to Tuesday the 20th for rest.

id like to see him activated, but on the bench just in case we need him

 

[Scalma]

There are still people doubting this man lolol

 

[twobullz]

No Dame on Sunday. I hope he gets healthy with this extra rest.

 

[Labinot41]

really happy that Dame get's some rest during this short road trip. Hope he can play against the Clippers

 

[Mr. Robot]

can stat experts confirm or deny this

 

[bobf]

can stat experts confirm or deny this

Confirmed.

Since that date in 11 games we are 19th defensively and 4.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.
Excluding the two games Nurk missed we are 17th defensively and 5.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.

 

[kjironman1]

So the Jazz sit pretty much their entire starting roster and keep the game close but the Lakers get a win.

 

[kjironman1]

The Suns are getting torched by the Spurs.
But the team that worries me is the Grizzlies just beat the Bucks. Kind of wish the Blazers played them when they were supposed to.

 

[Tince]

Confirmed.

Since that date in 11 games we are 19th defensively and 4.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.
Excluding the two games Nurk missed we are 17th defensively and 5.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.

Now for the big question: why?

1) Stotts made positive coaching adjustments.
2) 1-2 players (Nurk/Powell) can make a massive difference in comparison to who they're replacing.
3) The Blazers schedule the last 11 games is way easier than the early games this season.

 

[Strenuus]

Now for the big question: why?

1) Stotts made positive coaching adjustments.
2) 1-2 players (Nurk/Powell) can make a massive difference in comparison to who they're replacing.
3) The Blazers schedule the last 11 games is way easier than the early games this season.

Stotts literally had nothing to do with it.

In spite of, in fact.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Stotts literally had nothing to do with it.

In spite of, in fact.

How do you know that? What is your argument? Are you at the practices or in the huddles? Or are you just pissed we don’t win more?

 

[Tince]

Stotts literally had nothing to do with it.

In spite of, in fact.

This could be true...

If it were true, it would be more proof that coaching isn't the issue, it's roster creation and management that has by far the greatest impact.

 

[blazerkor]

Confirmed.

Since that date in 11 games we are 19th defensively and 4.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.
Excluding the two games Nurk missed we are 17th defensively and 5.4 points/100 better after taking into account the strength of opponent offense.

Nurk is great. He is an excellent anchor to a defense, he's a great offensive facilitator and if he will just dunk the damn ball every time he gets a chance, he'll be an all star. He should and probably does have great value around the league... as long as he can stay healthy.