Game Thread GAME# 68: SPURS @ BLAZERS - MAY 8, 2021 - SATURDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
32 - 34
(19-14 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
38 - 29
(17-16 Home)

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

PG

DEJOUNTE MURRAY VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

LONNIE WALKER IV VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

KELDON JOHNSON VS NORMAN POWELL

PF

DeMAR DeROZAN VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

JAKOB POELTL VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

- - -

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), SATURDAY, 5/8/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

- SAN ANTONIO SPURS-

MILLS , JONES

WEATHERSPOON , VASSELL

BATES-DIOP , GAY , LYLES

EUBANKS , SAMANIC , DIENG



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER




INJURIES
SPURS
Trey Lyles (sprained right ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Derrick White (right ankle sprain): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

GREG POPOVICH --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL SPURS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers May 8 game against the Spurs will be the third and final meeting between Portland and San Antonio in 2020-21. The season series is tied, 1-1.

• LAST GAME: On April 16, Portland defeated San Antonio by one point, 107-106, at AT&T Center. CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 29 points (13-26 FG, 2-6 3-PT, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. DeMar DeRozan paced the Spurs with 26 points (11-25 FG, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and one steal.

• Norman Powell recorded 22 points (8-17 FG, 2-6 3-PT, 4-4 FT), two rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block at San Antonio on April 16.

• Anfernee Simons added 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, two assists and two steals against the Spurs on April 16.

• Dejounte Murray recorded the third double-double of his career on Apri 16, finishing with 13 points (5-13 FG, 2-4 3-PT, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Spurs lead, 88-87
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 55-32
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 56-32

 

[Darkwebs]

San Antonio is still in the mix for the 6th seed, though it is highly unlikely, but regardless, they are one of the teams the Blazers could face in the Play-in if Portland just misses out on the 6th seed, so this could be a preview of that.

Both teams will be on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, so the fatigue factor is a wash.

This may not be a must-win, but it's a better-not-lose. The season series is tied, so whoever comes out victorious this game, wins the series. And if the Blazers win here, they are guaranteed a better record than the Spurs when the season ends.

 

[blazerkor]

Our team better bring it with everything they have. If they don't win all of the winnable games they have left, we'll find ourselves in the play-in against a surging Warriors squad who we might lose to and then a game against this team or a Memphis team we've had mixed results against.

As far as the poll question goes I answered getting to the WCF but as I've said all season we need to win at least one game in WCF and then Neil and Terry have shown that they're getting us closer. That's all it would take for me. I think we'll lose badly in the first round or still possibly lose in the play-ins but most likely a first round exit that should result in Neil and Terry being dismissed but it seems like Terry will be the whipping boy and we'll have to endure Neil a little longer.

 

[Darkwebs]

PLAYOFF SEEDING RACE

​

Just like virtually every year for the Blazers, it looks like the battle for seeding will come down to the last days of the season.

If the Blazers can win this game against the Spurs, they will hold the tie-breakers for all teams in the Playoff race, 5th seed and below (other than the Grizzlies). This is signficant, as the team records for the current 5-7 seeds are all so close, and a tiebreaker or two may come into play this year.

Unfortunately, Dallas is a Division winner, so if it's a 3-way tie, then Dallas would get the upper hand and seed.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If the Blazers win the 'ship Stotts can stay.

 

[Mr. Robot]

If the Blazers win the 'ship Stotts can stay.

tempting, but still... fire terry stotts!

 

[James lamphear]

With the way we playing now winning 6 out 7 games I move my percentage up to 20 percent that's Stotts will be retain. But do that he can't reign in his better players on there play and have a offense that's have more balanced the way they play. 3 ball after 3 ball like last night almost cost us. This team can run a good offense they have show it and can effect to do it and good clean shots from different area of the court. But what's not good when you have one your guards dribble the ball length of the shot clock and host up difficult shot. Stotts job to rein that in especially in the timeouts. To many times I hear coaches gives motivation speech to there players instead of telling them why hell did I call a timeout and just Stotts it's a lot of coaches out there at this level.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Cannot look past this game. This is just as important as the Lakers last night.
Go get this win Blazers!

 

[Cugel]

Need major contributions from the bench tonite. 20+ from Melo and Ant, EACH. Get Nas and DJJ and RHJ in there too. Nurk and Roco need some R and R.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Need major contributions from the bench tonite. 20+ from Melo and Ant, EACH. Get Nas and DJJ and RHJ in there too. Nurk and Roco need some R and R.

I agree. Need to play deeper than 8 man right now.

 

[TBpup]

Don't undo the good of last night by coughing up this one. The talent discrepancy is huge in our favor. Win this!

 

[Mr. Robot]

i cant understand why this team wants 6th seed, theyre gonna play la clippers

they should aim play-in and if they win first game, they face suns, if they lose first game and win second game, they face jazz

its worth risking the playoffs for a chance to play "easier" opponent, theres literally no fucking way they beat la clippers, if anything, theyre destined to lose 4-o or 4-1

 

[DDolla]

Let’s get another one. Our bench need to play well tonight

 

[Titan]

We should wear last nights jerseys, that will confuse em.

 

[ehizzy3]

I need a blazers win


I also need a big game by Lillard and Dejounte, and so so games for Covington (statistically) and Poetl to help me win a fantasy ball ship

 

[Pinwheel1]

i cant understand why this team wants 6th seed, theyre gonna play la clippers

they should aim play-in and if they win first game, they face suns, if they lose first game and win second game, they face jazz

its worth risking the playoffs for a chance to play "easier" opponent, theres literally no fucking way they beat la clippers, if anything, theyre destined to lose 4-o or 4-1

I agree about playing the Clippers. But we could still just as easily end up 7th or 5th. They just need to keep playing well and hope Dallas slips against some bad teams.

Tonight's game seems like it could be a "trap" game. Hopefully, they bring the same intensity against the Spurs but I have my doubts they will.

 

[DDolla]

Melo out, More Nassir and DJJ tonight… Let’s Go!

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[THE HCP]

Dame to the Lakers, all but a done deal!

 

[THE HCP]

 

[crandc]

Worried about fatigue.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame to the Spurs all but a done deal!

 

[THE HCP]

 

[e_blazer]

Regarding the “what would make you want Stotts extended” poll, where’s the “If we’re discussing him being put on the rack,” option?

 

[BonesJones]

View attachment 38440

Pop to the Blazers, all but a done deal!

 

[Titan]

So can’t hit a single shot in the paint

 

[bobf]

CJ has an open 3 coming off the Nurk screen but doesn’t even think about it.

 

[julius]

Not a good start by Portland.

 

[julius]

Blazers mindset has always been "when we get a lead, the other team will stop playing" and "Coming off a big win? We can just coast now...oops, down 9-0 to start the game"

 

[Titan]

9-0 start for the Spurs, just let them walk all over us