Game Thread GAME# 59: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - APRIL 23, 2021 - FRIDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[KSF-ERIC]

Unless they are locked into their match ups, with the Lakers not the number one seed I think teams will be playing until the end of the season in order to avoid the Lakers in the earlier rounds. Especially because they get extra days off for the play-ins. I think the Grizz will take one if not more from the iteration of this team I've seen lately (it's also important to note that JJJ had 15 points 8 boards and 4 blocks in 18 minutes his first game back). So I optimistically think we'll go 7-7. That might end up with us in the play-in.

MIGHT end up us in the play-in? Are you suggesting we might not even make the play-in? How does that logic work? The Pelicans are 26-33 and we have the tiebreaker.

 

[blazerkor]

Why wouldn't they. All three teams will be locked in by then

Why would you assume that they would be locked in when there is only a three game gap between PHX, Utah and LAC right now? Plus, all of them have to be thinking about when they'll have to face the Lakers if the Lakers are healthy. I see all of the teams in the West playing it through to the end unless they're tanking... maybe Denver will be locked into 4th but I don't know (half of their 14 match-ups the rest of the season have post season aspirations and will be jockeying for position).

The Mavs schedule is easier than ours they have 10 of their last 14 against teams under .500 and we have 11 of our last 14 against teams over .500. You can take ATL out for us because of Trae but that still means we're facing 10 of 14 teams .500 or better and Dallas is facing 10 of 14 teams with losing records. The numbers, the way the two teams have been trending and the fact that the top of the standings are so close with the Lakers as a wild card have to tell you that the Mavs have the upper hand.

 

[blazerkor]

MIGHT end up us in the play-in? Are you suggesting we might not even make the play-in? How does that logic work? The Pelicans are 26-33 and we have the tiebreaker.

No sir. That is a place we're in agreement. We'll at least make the play-in. I'm saying if things go the wrong way for us we'll be the seventh or eighth seed, instead of sixth where we are today. No way we drop below tenth IMO.

 

[wizenheimer]

Blazers can still stay in 6th or even get 5th. They only games that are probably losses are Brooklyn, Boston, and LA. Utah, Denver, and Phx will be resting their starters so we should win those. Blazers can win the next 4 (3 vs Memphis and 1 vs Inidiana). They can beat Atlanta with Trae Young out. They can beat the Cavs, Spurs, and Rockets.

That's 11-3 to end the season. It's coming

Denver could very well be resting their starters if they have 4th seed locked up. They are kind of on an island in 4th right now. But if they have a shot at 3rd seed and avoiding the Lakers, they will be playing to win. For the Lakers AD came back last night and Lebron should return soon. They may be challenging Denver for HCA which would be another reason Denver would play to win

as for Utah and Phoenix, they could easily be locked in a battle for #1 seed. Utah has a 2 game lead in the standings right now, but the Suns own the tiebreaker so it's essentially only a 1 game separation. If both of those teams want to win the game, at home, Portland has little chance of winning one let alone both

besides all that, there's no guarantee the Blazers can beat a short-handed team. For chrissakes, they just lost to sub-.500 Charlotte who was missing 4 of their best players, and the game wasn't very close

 

[Hoopguru]

Westbrook's true shooting percentage is the lowest among MVP candidates
Westbrook is playing in his ninth NBA season, and his 42.4 percent shooting is the worst he's performed in that category since his second year in the league -- which looks even worse when you see that he's taking 24 shots per game, the most of his entire career.

True shooting percentage is an advanced metric that tells us what a player's shooting percentage would be if we accounted for free throws and 3-pointers, and those numbers paint an even dimmer picture of Westbrook when compared to the other candidates in the MVP race.

LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden all have true shooting percentages above 61, while Westbrook is at 55.3 percent.

Didnt deserve the MVP as it was obvious he was padding stats along the way and averaged close to 5 t/o's per game.

 

[wizenheimer]

Westbrook's true shooting percentage is the lowest among MVP candidates
Westbrook is playing in his ninth NBA season, and his 42.4 percent shooting is the worst he's performed in that category since his second year in the league -- which looks even worse when you see that he's taking 24 shots per game, the most of his entire career.

True shooting percentage is an advanced metric that tells us what a player's shooting percentage would be if we accounted for free throws and 3-pointers, and those numbers paint an even dimmer picture of Westbrook when compared to the other candidates in the MVP race.

LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden all have true shooting percentages above 61, while Westbrook is at 55.3 percent.

Didnt deserve the MVP as it was obvious he was padding stats along the way and averaged close to 5 t/o's per game.

wut?

that's for the 2016-17 season apparently...?

 

[Hoopguru]

wut?

that's for the 2016-17 season apparently...?

yep....

 

[AldoTrapani]

Please lose! We need the lottery pick at the very least as what has been a disaster of a season

 

[blazedanugz]

I put 100 on us -3 tonight before JC was ruled out.

very confident in a win tonight

 

[Tince]

 

[BigGameDamian]

Westbrook's true shooting percentage is the lowest among MVP candidates
Westbrook is playing in his ninth NBA season, and his 42.4 percent shooting is the worst he's performed in that category since his second year in the league -- which looks even worse when you see that he's taking 24 shots per game, the most of his entire career.

True shooting percentage is an advanced metric that tells us what a player's shooting percentage would be if we accounted for free throws and 3-pointers, and those numbers paint an even dimmer picture of Westbrook when compared to the other candidates in the MVP race.

LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden all have true shooting percentages above 61, while Westbrook is at 55.3 percent.

Didnt deserve the MVP as it was obvious he was padding stats along the way and averaged close to 5 t/o's per game.

Barkley says no team wants to see Westbrook and Beal in the playoffs.

 

[Tince]

Barkley says no team wants to see Westbrook and Beal in the playoffs.

I would much prefer them than any team we might realistically face in the 1st round.

 

[Chris Craig]

Barkley says no team wants to see Westbrook and Beal in the playoffs.

He said that about the Blazers too a few seasons back

 

[Darkwebs]

Tonight's refs

Ed Malloy (#14)
Brian Forte (#45)
Ashley Moyer-Gleich (#13)

 

[Mr. Robot]

i was hoping for scott foster

 

[Shaboid]

Is this the rare "must win game"?

 

[Mr. Robot]

nurk played 29 minutes last game

looks like hes not on a minute restriction anymore

 

[James lamphear]

Win we stay 6th and lost we are in 7th.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Win we stay 6th and lost we are in 7th.

as of now, 6th seed would play against the clippers, thats not what you want

you want to play the either suns or nuggets and i think theres a solid chance suns keep their 2nd seed and in that case, i would much rather get into the "play in" than face the clippers

sure, theres a chance you dont get into the playoffs if you get into "play in", but youre gonna lose against the clippers for sure and against the suns, you might have a chance

that being said, im hoping for a 1st round exit or even better, not making the playoffs

 

[Labinot41]

I got 75€ (90$) on a Blazers win. Possible win 120€ (144$). Please Blazers don't fuck this up. Let's goooo Blazers!

 

[e_blazer]

It’s winning time!

GO BLAZERS!!!

 

[Chris Craig]

Let's get this!

 

[bobf]

I think we end up taking 2 out of the 3 against Memphis.

I voted 3/3 because we must.

 

[James lamphear]

3 turnovers within 3 minutes came not focused.

 

[Labinot41]

Bro i'm gonna lose some money damn

 

[DDolla]

Garbage Team 1 vs Garbage Team 2. If this is a top 10 teams, we would be down by double digit by now

 

[Chris Craig]

Terrible start. Lazy unfocused basketball

 

[blazedanugz]

Lol the start we all should’ve known was coming

 

[James lamphear]

Well Dame can talk all he wants about focus but right that's all it is.

 

[Labinot41]

Dame too often just talks to much