Game Thread GAME# 73: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - MARCH 25, 2018 - SUNDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Strenuus]

Btw why did Davis get a tech? He literally did nothing.

The shove. It's there.

 

[Scalma]

I don't think it'd be much different.
Both have similar advanced metrics.

What advanced metrics? The shooting isn’t even comparable.

 

[Lanny]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
44 - 28
(19-15 Road)
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
44 - 30
(26-11 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS RUSSELL WESTBROOK

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS COREY BREWER

SF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS PAUL GEORGE

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS STEVEN ADAMS




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WHEN: 4:00 PM, SUNDAY, 3/25/2018

WHERE: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

NAPIER , BALDWIN IV , CONNAUGHTON

TURNER , LAYMAN

SWANIGAN , COLLINS

DAVIS , LEONARD , PAPAGIANNIS


- OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-

FELTON , DOZIER , ABRINES

FERGUSON , HAMILTON , HUESTIS

SINGLER , GRANT , PATTERSON

COLLISON , JOHNSON



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Shabazz Napier (left big toe): QUESTIONABLE
Evan Turner (low back soreness): QUESTIONABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (low back soreness): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (G-League): OUT
THUNDER
Andre Roberson (left patellar surgery): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- BILLY DONOVAN

OFFICIAL THUNDER'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

Collison is still playing? What is he, like 80?

 

[tester551]

What advanced metrics? The shooting isn’t even comparable.

What are you talking about? Their TS% is damn near identical.
TS% 0.543 to 0.546

Their other advanced stats are relatively similar.
WS/48. 0.081 to 0.058
VORP. 0.2 to 0.4
ORTG - DRTG: +1 to -7

Pats stats are first.
Neither one is great or anything to be excited about. Given the WS and ORTG-DRTG advantages, one could argue Pats the better player

 

[Scalma]

What are you talking about? Their TS% is damn near identical.
TS% 0.543 to 0.546

Their other advanced stats are relatively similar.
WS/48. 0.081 to 0.058
VORP. 0.2 to 0.4
ORTG - DRTG: +1 to -7

Pats stats are first.
Neither one is great or anything to be excited about. Given the WS and ORTG-DRTG advantages, one could argue Pats the better player

So you’re using Crabbes current season? Why, when you have data of him in our system? His role in Brooklyn is also a lot different than Connaughtons in Portland. They don’t take the same shots. Connaughton gets open set shots. Crabbe actually has to create and has more responsibility.

And if Pat were actually a better player, it’d show up on a spreadsheet. There’s nothing stopping him from playing 28 minutes a night like Crabbe did, or putting better numbers. Same with Napier.

 

[Scalma]

The shove. It's there.

What shove??

 

[Eastoff]

What shove??

When Ed was rolling off, the shoved the other guy down to the ground.

 

[Strenuus]

What shove??

He extended his arm and made an intentional shove to the ground.

 

[Boob-No-More]

So you’re using Crabbes current season? Why, when you have data of him in our system? His role in Brooklyn is also a lot different than Connaughtons in Portland. They don’t take the same shots. Connaughton gets open set shots. Crabbe actually has to create and has more responsibility.

And if Pat were actually a better player, it’d show up on a spreadsheet. There’s nothing stopping him from playing 28 minutes a night like Crabbe did, or putting better numbers. Same with Napier.

Bullshit. I thought the Crabbe dick sucking would stop after we finally traded him. Crabbe doesn't create shit. Even with his "expanded role" in BRK, he still relies on others to create for him. He is assisted on .725 of his 2FGs and .940 of his 3FGs. For comparison, Connaught is assisted on .714 of his 2FGs and on .925 of his 3FGs.

Crabbe's minutes are going to both Pat and Shabazz. We don't miss Crabbe's shooting and our defense is WAY better without him. Last year he was the worse defender on a bad defensive team. Pretty much the same thing this year. Crabbe has been exposed as what many of us knew he was all along - a 1-dimensional player who can't create for himself, or others, and sucks on defense. We're a better team without him.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'm watching the relay of the game right now. I like beating OKC so much, I couldn't resist a second helping, or maybe I should say a fifth helping.

BNM

 

[LuckyShot]

I want to know what Turner said when he was checking in at 4:17 in the 3rd quarter. They were giving him and Pat a hard time about checking into the game and he had a couple of the press guys laughing and kept talking at the ref. Our announcers were also chuckling a bit but said you couldn't print what he was saying. Also want to know what he said to the OKC guys during that scuffle, especially when Melo seemed to be mouthing off to him when Turner was being escorted off by one of our coaches.

 

[dead247]

Dear Clay Bennett,



Sincerely,
salty ex-sonics fan

 

[Labinot41]

CJ's gonna get all the attention, but Nurk and huge defensive stops at the right times were the low key MVPs tonight. That Offensive rebound was absolutely great

 

[Labinot41]

Who said i'm a hater and can not give Nurkic full Credit btw? When he plays like this with effort and shots under controll he is phenomenal

 

[BBert]

Thunder got away with a clear path foul right there.
Think that makes up for the three point call Lillard got.
@HCP

No. Lillard was fouled on the arm on that shot. It was clear as day. He got 3 free throws. In contrast, the clear path is 2 free throws and the ball, so a potential 5 point possession. Not equal.

 

[Portland2014]

This is a quality win against the Thunder at full strength on the road and with the crowd into it.

 

[stampedehero]

Yes. That is Blazer ball... Loved CJ's move on Adams. Sure wish we beat them by more than 3. They deserved a good thrashing.
>>> On to NO.

 

[stampedehero]

I smell a loss. Please talk me out of it.

No loss. Check out the highlights on our team site. It will take away your uncertainty. Prep you for NO.

 

[kjironman1]

Bullshit. I thought the Crabbe dick sucking would stop after we finally traded him. Crabbe doesn't create shit. Even with his "expanded role" in BRK, he still relies on others to create for him. He is assisted on .725 of his 2FGs and .940 of his 3FGs. For comparison, Connaught is assisted on .714 of his 2FGs and on .925 of his 3FGs.

Crabbe's minutes are going to both Pat and Shabazz. We don't miss Crabbe's shooting and our defense is WAY better without him. Last year he was the worse defender on a bad defensive team. Pretty much the same thing this year. Crabbe has been exposed as what many of us knew he was all along - a 1-dimensional player who can't create for himself, or others, and sucks on defense. We're a better team without him.

BNM

I watched Crabbe run around the court and do absolutely nothing for long enough. Then they way overpaid the guy. Getting rid of him was a godsend. Sure he is a nice enough guy. But the Blazers are way better off having Pat on the floor. Even last night he had a stretch with two rebounds and a steal that turn a crazy run into points off a Lillard basket. Every game Pat does something noteworthy. When the Blazers had AC there would be stretches of 3 or even 4 games where you would never even see Allen Crabbe.

 

[illmatic99]

Would Melo have been better here?

 

[Lukee]

Would Melo have been better here?

No.

 

[kjironman1]

Would Melo have been better here?

I pretty much think Carmelo Anthony is what he is. Not sure it makes a difference where he plays.

 

[illmatic99]

No.

I pretty much think Carmelo Anthony is what he is. Not sure it makes a difference where he plays.

I kinda was thinking he'd be better as the outlet guy like Aminu is, but the looks he got last night were WIDE OPEN. And his decision making off the dribble has become super shaky. He's totally washed.

 

[hoopsjock]

Who said i'm a hater and can not give Nurkic full Credit btw? When he plays like this with effort and shots under controll he is phenomenal

Good job, I don't see a but in there.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yes. That is Blazer ball... Loved CJ's move on Adams. Sure wish we beat them by more than 3. They deserved a good thrashing.
>>> On to NO.

Yeah I can see the advantage of providing a good thrashing, but I also see the advantage of winning a close game like this on the road. The more clutch shots that are made (like the one CJ made late) the more confident they will be in the playoffs when most games will be just like this one.

 

[Lanny]

Moe Harkless has been great. He's always been a good defender, but now he's shooting the three at 41.6% on the year on top of it. Hopefully this is a lasting thing, because the Blazers are so much better with Harkless locked in like he is.

Harkless, Turner, I'm happy with either of them in the game.

 

[crandc]

Technically, each game is 1/82 of the total, but this one was huge. The Houston game showed the Blazers could play with the rest, just came up short, disappointing but not devastating. Boston game was devastating, you don't blow a 10 point 4th quarter lead on your home floor! So would that send the team into a tailspin or would they have the resilience to put it behind them and come to play?

Also, both teams REALLY wanted this one, a win would have put OKC into statistical tie. Now Blazers are up 2 with tie-breaker.

Knock down drag out battle and the good guys won.

 

[Hoopguru]

Harkless, Turner, I'm happy with either of them in the game.

Lanny, How have you been feeling? Ive always admired your strength even when things are not going well. When ever I see you on the forum it pleases me because I know you are still swinging the bat!
By the way I'm going up to Casey to see Dr.Ing in a few weeks for a check up.

 

[Lanny]

Lanny, How have you been feeling? Ive always admired your strength even when things are not going well. When ever I see you on the forum it pleases me because I know you are still swinging the bat!
By the way I'm going up to Casey to see Dr.Ing in a few weeks for a check up.

All my eye doctors are from Casey. I'll bet I've been to the eye clinic somewhere around 500 times, maybe more, and once at Casey because they didn't have the equipment at the VA to help them diagnose my eye problem resulting from one of my four eye surgeries.

As I tell everyone who meets me, when the old grim reaper comes for me, he's going to have the toughest time taking me and there's gonna be fingernail scratches down the sides of the wall as I desperately try to prevent him from taking me.

I guess y9u could call it carryover from my vigorous workouts a decade and half ago, but I always approach my medical care with a very upbeat mood. I love joking with the doctors, nurses and technicians.

I'm not sure if I've encountered Dr. Ing or not. The name sounds familiar but I'm not really sure. I've been seen by so many eye doctors that I lost track of their names long ago. I only remember Dr. Edgington, head of the Cornea group at Casey and the VA and Dr. Kim who did some laser surgery on me who was from Korea. Those two are out standing. Dr. Kim went back to Korea to practice. Dr. Edgington left to enter private practice in a clinic somewhere.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Would Melo have been better here?

Nope