Game Thread GAME# 72: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 28, 2015 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), KGW

[Darkwebs]

2014-15 Regular Season Records
NUGGETS
28-45 (11-26 Road)
TRAIL BLAZERS
46-25 (28-7 Home)


______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

TY LAWSON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

RANDY FOYE VS ARRON AFFLALO

SF

WILSON CHANDLER VS NICOLAS BATUM

PF

KENNETH FARIED VS LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE

C

JJ HICKSON VS ROBIN LOPEZ






WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), SATURDAY, 3/28/2015​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

DENVER NUGGETS

NELSON , GREEN , HARRIS , BARTON

ARTHUR , NURKIC, LAUVERGNE

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , McCOLLUM , CRABBE , GEE

WRIGHT , FREELAND , LEONARD , KAMAN


INJURIES
NUGGETS
Darrell Arthur (right soleus strain): QUESTIONABLE
Danilo Gallinari (rest): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Nic Batum (lower back pain): QUESTIONABLE
LaMarcus Aldridge (left hand injury): PROBABLE
Chris Kaman (right shoulder strain): PROBABLE
Wesley Matthews (ruptured left Achilles’ tendon): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MELVIN HUNT--- TERRY STOTTS




OFFICIAL BLAZERS GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday marks the fourth and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Nuggets in 2014-15.

• Portland has won all three contests against Denver this season, pushing its winning streak over the Nuggets to seven consecutive games.

• In the last game between these two teams on Dec. 2 in Denver, Robin Lopez made a layup with 1.3 seconds left to lift Portland to a 105-103 victory.

• LaMarcus Aldridge scored 39 points and had 11 boards on Dec. 2 against the Nuggets. His 16 field goals (of 30) represents a new career-high against Denver (30 games).

• Nicolas Batum dished out a season-high 13 assists against Denver on Dec. 2.

• Portland recorded a season-high 130 points in its 130-113 victory in Denver on Nov. 12. The Trail Blazers scored 84 points in the fi rst half, just two points shy of their franchise record for most points in any half.

• The Trail Blazers acquired Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee from Denver on Feb. 19 in exchange for Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson and a 2016 first round draft pick (lottery protected).


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 89-74
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 62-20
AT THE NUGGETS: Trail Blazers lead, 54-27

OFFICIAL NUGGETS GAME NOTES




GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[-Ace-]

We got this.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

The head to head history doesn't add up @Darkwebs

 

[Darkwebs]

Both teams are on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. We gotta put our hard hats on and grind one out.

 

[Darkwebs]

The head to head history doesn't add up @Darkwebs

I didn't know people actually read the game notes. Dammit, gotta stop make up stats now.

Fixed. Thanks!

 

[EGame]

please don't let a former blazers go off for 50 against us aka Barton.

 

[DUB]

They will get abused inside if they try to go with that lineup.

Big game for AA. Hope he puts it to the team that saw fit to trade him for Will Barton.

Big game for the Thrill. Hope that he takes plenty of ill-advised, uncontrolled shots.

 

[MarAzul]

Oh boy, a TV game! I haven't even been able to get the game on radio the reception is so bad.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Oh boy, a TV game! I haven't even been able to get the game on radio the reception is so bad.

Dear MarAzul, there's now something called the internet. I'm watching every game I want and I live in Fucking Israel.

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers vs Nuggets pregame

Nice to see the roster that will be going into the playoffs back on the court last night. Blazers will need to use the next few weeks to get things rolling. Plenty of time and lots to work on.

Last game against the Nuggets Aldridge went for 39 and fed Lopez for the game winner at the end. Batum dished out 13 assists and grabbed 4 rebounds but scored only 4 pts. That game was early December so lots of things have changed. Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee are here and Will Barton is there. Personally i am sure the Blazers got the best of that deal. Some say Barton will get better with playing time and i am sure they are correct. Wish him all the best.

Denver is doing the "whack a Coach" thing right now. Just cannot figure out why George Karl having a great year and winning the COY was fired? Preemptive strike? Was he just asking for more money or what? Denver has not been the same team for a while now. Portland used to know there was a tough game coming when it was against the Nuggets. Melvin Hunt however is doing things his way, or actually more like Stott's way. They are going with a "Flow" type system that moves the ball and has players looking for good shots. The beneficiaries have been Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari. The scoring has gone up and the front court players Faried and Chandler are getting good looks also. Fact is the Nuggets are another team that is not in the hunt but they are playing to get better and are playing to win. This again makes them a threat to win any game against any team. With both teams on the second of a B2B this game could get real ugly and that will be exactly what the Nuggets want. Farried and Randy Foye will do well in a scrum. Throw in JJ Hickson, Green and Barton we all know brings energy and this team will at least be entertaining.

If there is one thing i am seeing again with the Blazers in the last two road wins it's the calm demeanor of a core of players that are solid. That "Feel" is coming back. They are not panicking at times when the other team is making a run and they are starting to find a way to win again. Last night Dame did not have a great shooting game but in the end he did what the team needed. He got the ball to Aldridge! Phoenix was fronting LA with Len and Morris and he still found a way to open it up and get him the ball. You have to credit Batum here also. Nic was the pivot to the passing and the three of them knew what they were looking for. It was fun to watch.

I look for Batum and Chandler to be a great matchup but the Blazers have a solid size advantage on this team in just about all other areas, even the bench. Faried is great and all but he is no match for Lopez around the rim. Aldridge is just flat out stronger and will outplay Danilo Gallinari. Kaman is bigger and stronger than JJ. Blake and Cj seem to be getting a groove and we all are loving that.

Pick tonight is Lillard. He is not going against a 7 footer at the rim and he has 4 inches on Lawson to shoot right over him. If there is a team Lillard matches up well against it is the Nuggets. If his shot is off he should still log 12 or more assists. 12 being his best it would be fun to see him get 15. Blazers need to make some shots.

Lots of people will point to a five game losing streak the Blazers just went through but go back and look at those games. Not only were the Blazers close to those teams on the road with injuries but there is a case to be made that a couple of those games were not only winnable but questionably "Taken" from them. That losing streak does not worry me.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[kjironman1]

I'm watching every game I want and I live in Fucking Israel.

That means you are rich right?
I know it's hard to imagine but even here in the states there are people who either do not wish to have broadband internet access or in some cases don't have it available. Some also do not wish to pay for that kind of thing. This is Oregon. Yes Portland has most everything available but i have spent lots of time in small sections of this state where all i can get is the occasional KGW game and trying to stream a game is just a huge fucking headache.

 

[stampedehero]

Go Blazers!!!! Odds are for us at home. We want in! Beat those Nuggets.

 

[MarAzul]

Dear MarAzul, there's now something called the internet. I'm watching every game I want and I live in Fucking Israel.

Ha! Wonderful! Watch yer ass.

I would not have a problem either if I lived some where else.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Why? can't you stream the games through half-legal connections online? I'd Personal-message you an address if you like

 

[MarAzul]

Why? can't you stream the games through half-legal connections online? I'd Personal-message you an address if you like

Well, appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you see, streaming a broadcast on a line that measures some where between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps is a real pain it the ass. You can get a glimpse here and catch a look there, but a game in that fashion is very annoying. I hear the later satellites do better now speed wise, but I have tried those before. A storm rolls through, either here or on the upload side and nothing, which would not be too bad for a game now and then, but it happens way to often, leaving you without internet period. Just part of the price for living in a wonderful place on the South Coast of Oregon.

However, you could PM the NBA and ask them to bring back the 180 mile rule we had for a few years. Where if you lived (your zip code) 180 miles or more from the arena, you could get the games on League Pass without being blacked out. Don't know what the hell the rule is now but I can not watch Portland, Sac, or the Warriors on League Pass. None are available in my "Area" the past two years. I live between 220 and 450 miles from the home game arena of all of those teams.
A PM to the right ear on this bull shit would be most helpful.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Well, appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you see, streaming a broadcast on a line that measures some where between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps is a real pain it the ass. You can get a glimpse here and catch a look there, but a game in that fashion is very annoying. I hear the later satellites do better now speed wise, but I have tried those before. A storm rolls through, either here or on the upload side and nothing, which would not be too bad for a game now and then, but it happens way to often, leaving you without internet period. Just part of the price for living in a wonderful place on the South Coast of Oregon.

However, you could PM the NBA and ask them to bring back the 180 mile rule we had for a few years. Where if you lived (your zip code) 180 miles or more from the arena, you could get the games on League Pass without being blacked out. Don't know what the hell the rule is now but I can not watch Portland, Sac, or the Warriors on League Pass. None are available in my "Area" the past two years. I live between 220 and 450 miles from the home game arena of all of those teams.
A PM to the right ear on this bull shit would be most helpful.

thats shit i feel bad for you. i was pissed being blacked out in bend because i only got kgw in non hd and wanted to pay for league pass just to stream the 8 kgw only games in hd. only thing that made me feel better was knowing they missed out on $120 for 8 games cause they are greedy fucks

 

[riverman]

Big win tonight! Go Blazers!

 

[Darkwebs]

Sounds like Batum might not play tonight, as his back is tightening up again. Danilo Gallinari will be out for Denver for rest.

 

[fugawibill]

Dear MarAzul, there's now something called the internet. I'm watching every game I want and I live in Fucking Israel.

Living in Mexico, I watch every game on League Pass International, which is considerably cheaper than that for the US. If you wish to go that way, and have a VPN, just change to a European IP, and enjoy.

 

[riverman]

Sounds like Batum might not play tonight, as his back is tightening up again. Danilo Gallinari will be out for Denver for rest.

DWright, Gee and Crabbe have looked good..for once, we're deep at the SF

 

[e_blazer]

Have you ever noticed that Michael Holton looks like a grown up Stevie from Malcom in the Middle?

 

[Strenuus]

Have you ever noticed that Michael Holton looks like a grown up Stevie from Malcom in the Middle?

hahahaha!

 

[EGame]

I just get this feeling Aldridge dies a little inside everytime he hears the L-Train nickname. No idea why.

 

[DUB]

Denver broadcast just had a nice chat with Will.

Said how different it is to be a visitor here. Dissed the visitors locker room.

He knew from day 1 Lillard was going to be special. Said everybody knows Dames got great skills, but Will praised his work rate more than anything. Said Dame is one of the special ones that will become a legend.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I just get this feeling Aldridge dies a little inside everytime he hears the L-Train nickname. No idea why.

You have a lot of odd feelings. No idea why.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Faried getting three rebounds between 3 Blazers... That's disgusting

 

[DUB]

Dame abused Lawson and Hickson.

 

[riverman]

Batman to Robin is back baby!

 

[riverman]

How long has JJ been starting in Denver? Seems he came off the bench most of the season

 

[riverman]

AAA came to play!