Exclusive GAME# 71: MAVERICKS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 20, 2019 - Quote Book

[SlyPokerDog]

TEAM
• Portland scored 120-plus points for the 25th time this season, which is the most times the Trail Blazers have scored at least 120 points in a season since 1990-91 (28).
• The Trail Blazers bench scored 51 points, bringing Portland’s record to 9-0 when the reserves score at least 50 points. The Dallas bench scored 56 points.
• The Trail Blazers connected on 16-of-36 three-point attempts (44.4%) while the Mavericks shot 10-of-30 from beyond the arc (33.3%).
• Portland outrebounded Dallas, 48-35, including 12-6 on the offensive glass.
• The Trail Blazers had three players record a double-double in the same game for the first time this season (Kanter, Lillard, Nurkic).

PLAYER
• Damian Lillard had game highs of 33 points (9-18 FG, 6-12 3-PT, 9-10 FT) and 12 assists to go with five rebounds and two steals. Lillard scored 17 points in the third quarter on 5-of-9 shooting (4-7 3-PT, 3-4 FT).
• Damian Lillard had a double-double for the second game in a row and the 10th time this season. He is the first Portland player to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in consecutive games since Rod Strickland (Feb. 22-24, 1995). Lillard is tied with Clyde Drexler for the most games of at least 30 points and 10 assists in franchise history.
• Seth Curry led the Portland bench with 20 points (8-16 FG, 4-7 3-PT) to go with five rebounds and one assist. It was his third game of 20-plus points this season.
• Enes Kanter logged his first double-double with the Trail Blazers, finishing with 14 points (6- 11 FG, 2-2 FT) and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists.
• Jusuf Nurkic finished with 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds and one block. It was his fifth straight double-double, matching the longest streak of his career (Nov. 11-20, 2018).
• Jake Layman scored 13 points (4-10 FG, 3-6 3-PT, 2-2 FT) to go with three rebounds and one block. All 13 of his points came in the second half.
• Maurice Harkless had 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 3-PT), three rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks. It was his third straight game in double figures, matching his longest streak of the season.
• Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 24 points (8-16 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 7-7 FT) to go with five rebounds and six assists. It was his third straight game with 20-plus points and the 39th time he reached 20 points this season.
• Justin Jackson led the Dallas bench with 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT) to go with four rebounds and one assist. He scored nine points in the fourth quarter

 

[SlyPokerDog]

HEAD COACH TERRY STOTTS
“I thought it was another very special night by Damian. I thought he pretty much controlled the game from our standpoint. He took advantage of his scoring opportunities, had another great night passing, finding people. The first three quarters, the first three and a half quarters, a good win at both ends.”


What did you like most about Curry’s game?

“I thought he was active. I don’t know if he got a little tired in the fourth quarter, but I thought he got good looks. He was pretty close to having a really good night –I thought he had three or four really nice moves to the basket and wasn’t able to finish it, but again, with CJ out, whoever it is, it’s going to be by committee. We need his shooting.”


Do you think Curry’s been freed up with more time and more shots?

“I don’t know about that. I think sometimes it’s just a function of the opponent, maybe a little bit. I don’t know, you’d have to ask him but I don’t think things have really changed that much. He’s playing a few more minutes, the rotation’s changed a little bit but I think he’s always been aggressive or looked for his opportunities.”


What did you think of the crowd acknowledging Dirk?

“I thought it was terrific. You all know how much I admire and appreciate what Dirk has meant to the league, and so I think the fans shows that too.”

 

[SlyPokerDog]

DAMIAN LILLARD

How did you feel about that one?

“I thought it was a good win. When we started the game, we weren’t shooting the ball great but I thought our defensive effort was really solid to start the game. That’s what we needed. We don’t want to come into the game and think just because of what their record is and where they are in the standings that we’re just going to win the game. So I thought our approach was right. It was competitive like we expected to start but just by being disciplined and being solid and playing the right way, we knew that we would eventually be able to wear on them and pull away, and that was what we did.”


Is that approach important in light of some of the opponents coming up?

“Yeah I think it’s because it’s not about who our opponent is, it’s about the style of play that we want to play, the kind of discipline that we want to have, the things that we want to do well that will translate when we play against the top teams. So as long as we have that right attitude and we’re doing things the right way, I think we’ll keep getting this result when we’re playing against teams that we should beat.”


What’s it been like to play against Dirk over these years?

“For me, it’s been cool man – similar to like D-Wade and when Kobe was in the league, because when I was younger, I literally had a Dirk Nowitzki jersey. Like in the eighth grade, I had a Dirk jersey, I had a Kobe jersey. I remember going to an All Star weekend and me and my brother got custom jerseys and I got a Heat jersey. I literally remember that stuff so to be able to play against these dudes and for them to be, I guess, aging, now they’re so much older and I remember when they were like the best of the best. It’s pretty cool to just be able to be in the league at the same time.”


What did you think of Seth Curry’s performance – what did you like most?

“Just the way he got it – I think it translates with what he’s doing when CJ comes back and we’re at full strength. The things that he was doing, he’ll still be able to do. It wasn’t like he just went out there and got out of what we typically – the role that we typically have him in. He was just being himself. He was coming off screens, hitting shots, transition, DHO’s, one dribble in the middle, floaters and pull-up jumpers. So I think the way he did it, I think it’ll work for us going forward regardless of who’s healthy or who’s not.”

 

[SlyPokerDog]

HEAD COACH RICK CARLISLE

On the fourth quarter

“I liked our first half, up until the point that we were up 44-42, then I think the Blazers had a 23-8 run to end the second quarter and that’s really where the problems became difficult. In the third quarter, [Damian] Lillard just had a stretch that great players can have. He hit four three’s in a row I think. We were unable to answer. We answered with a couple of two’s and the crowd got into it. It got away. I did like the way the guys at the end fought their butts off and got it to an eight-point game. That’s meaningful. Those guys don’t get a big chance to play a whole lot. Kostas Antetokounmpo got his first NBA point, which is pretty cool. There were a couple positives there at the end. Right now, we’ve got to shake this off and get on the bus and get down to Sacramento.”

On the play of Trey Burke

“Trey came in ready as always. We were struggling to score some in the first quarter… He got us some difficult buckets that kind of got us back on track a little bit. Off the bench, he’s a guy that can score the ball and I thought defensively, his effort was good.”

On Dirk Nowitzki’s reception at Moda Center

“We’re seeing this a lot. Portland fans are great. I was an assistant coach here for three years in the Nineties and it was a wonderful experience. Things haven’t changed here. This is still a great place to play and a difficult place to play, with great fans. They respect the true greats of the game. It was great to see.”

 

[SlyPokerDog]

JUSTIN JACKSON

On playing 33 minutes tonight:

“Man, I just enjoy playing…how many did you say? Whew, it’s been a while since I’ve played that many. But yeah man, it was good to get out there…I think we kept on fighting, obviously Dame hit a bunch of shots, bunch of tough shots, but it was fun to just get out there, just play and fight with those guys.”

On returning to Sacramento tomorrow:

“Yeah man, I’m looking forward to it more than just on the court, though…tomorrow’s a big day for me and my wife and kind of everything that we’re trying to start up out there, so it’s gonna be a really exciting day for sure.”

 

[SlyPokerDog]

DIRK NOWITZKI

On some of his favorite memories of playing against the Blazers:

“I always loved playing here, great teams, physical teams…I remember that seven game series, we were up 3-0, they came all the way back to tie it at 3-3, just a lot of big-time moments.”

On receiving a farewell tour without having announced any plans for next season:

“I mean, I enjoy it…if I come back, we’ll do it all over again.”

On possibly announcing his farewell tour at the beginning of next season:

“That was never in my plans, so…my plan is always to play from year-to-year the last couple of years, see how the body feels, and then make the decision after the season.”

On what he sees from Justin Jackson:

“He’s got a great all-around offensive game for us…he’s got the in-between game, he’s got the floaters, he’s a good cutter off the ball…he’s a long defender, so I think he’s obviously got great potential, he’s got a good all-around game to work with.”

On his outlook of the Mavs’ long-term outlook:

“Well you know we traded at the deadline, we traded four out of five starters away, so you knew that was going to be a tough one for us, especially since Porzingis is not going to be available this year, so that was a move that we made to be better in the future…that was a move that we didn’t necessarily make for this year…but we’re still fighting, we’ve had some good games, we’re a young team now, and sometimes in close games it shows…down the stretch you’ve got to be smart, you’ve got to make big-time plays…there have been so many games that we could have won or should have won, but that’s part of growth, part of getting better…”

 

[hoopsjock]

Whoa, was I in a coma for 3 days?