Game Thread GAME# 76: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 30, 2018 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), ESPN & NBCSNW

[theprunetang]

Dame had two streaks broken tonight: 64 consecutive free throws an 19 games of scoring twenty or more points. Oh well. Start again.

The win is all that matters.

 

[julius]

Did not sleep but watch this game. Must work in hour lol. It worth it definitelly. Great game, especially by big boys. Glad for Nurk and Collins as well. 3th seed now very secure atm, i think.

Go Blazeers, Bosnia is with you!

Sleep is overrated!

 

[noknobs]

@HCP
Why exactly did you bring back 'the closers?'
Very disrespectful
Just because Brooke said something about it in pre-game?
You guys did great getting away from stuff like that this year.

Soon as I heard the music I turned it to ESPN.

I agree, I can't understand why a teams broadcast crew would be that disrespectful to it's own team. And it's not even clever, just stupid.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree, I can't understand why a teams broadcast crew would be that disrespectful to it's own team. And it's not even clever, just stupid.

@HCP

 

[theprunetang]

I'm not seeing what's disrespectful about The Closers.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Ed will rub some dirt on it and play Sunday.

If Stotts has any sense, he won't let him...

 

[kingslayer]

If Tweets aren't showing up....it says:
@jwquick
Terry Stotts says X-rays were negative on Ed Davis right ankle. He’s getting MRI right now.

 

[noknobs]

I'm not seeing what's disrespectful about The Closers.

It's essentially calling them scrubs, and when they come in that means the game is over. At any rate it's stupid to begin with.

 

[Scalma]

If Stotts has any sense, he won't let him...

Did someone say PAPA G

 

[Scalma]

Collins has such smooth footwork.

Nurk outplayed Jordan, again.

CJ is a black hole maaaaan.

Connaughton, still awful. Shabazz was fine.

Welcome back Dame.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Last game a 22 year old Blazer scores 16 in limited minutes.
Tonight a 20 year old Blazer scores 15 in limited minutes.

Pretty Freaking Cool.

 

[Scalma]

Last game a 22 year old Blazer scores 16 in limited minutes.
Tonight a 20 year old Blazer scores 15 in limited minutes.

Pretty Freaking Cool.

And both get benched late in the fourth.

Pretty freakin uncoooool man.

 

[DDolla]

Guys Zach Collins is good at 20years old

 

[B-Roy]

Last game a 22 year old Blazer scores 16 in limited minutes.
Tonight a 20 year old Blazer scores 15 in limited minutes.

Pretty Freaking Cool.

Next game a 27 year old Blazer scores 65 points in a lot of minutes.

 

[AFully22]

Good Nurk is such a god damn difference maker. His play the last month doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the main reasons our play has improved so much.

 

[H.C.]

Good Nurk is such a god damn difference maker. His play the last month doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the main reasons our play has improved so much.

Portland's a good defensive team this year, after setting records for awfulness last year with largely the same roster.
The only difference is Nurk.
He doesn't get enough credit indeed.

 

[Scalma]

Good Nurk is such a god damn difference maker. His play the last month doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the main reasons our play has improved so much.

I can’t think of many centers better than Nurkic defensively.

 

[AFully22]

Gobert is the only clear one. Nurk is probably worth 10m a year for his defense alone.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

It's fun to see doc so deflated from this asskicking that he can't even bitch to the refs. Rare stuff.

 

[Scalma]

Gobert is the only clear one. Nurk is probably worth 10m a year for his defense alone.

Nurk is great because he’s got the size to hold
his ground against anyone, and is also agile enough to mirror on drives. He’s also got quick hands and gets a bunch of deflections that don’t show up on a stat sheet.

 

[AFully22]

Nurk is great because he’s got the size to hold
his ground against anyone, and is also agile enough to mirror on drives. He’s also got quick hands and gets a bunch of deflections that don’t show up on a stat sheet.

Seems like his reputation around the league has kinda changed throughout the year and now you can see guys drive in and hesitate or teams offensively game plan not to try him in the post.

And then there’s the other outlier of this year for him that I won’t mention because of bad juju.

 

[theprunetang]

Seems like his reputation around the league has kinda changed throughout the year and now you can see guys drive in and hesitate or teams offensively game plan not to try him in the post.

And then there’s the other outlier of this year for him that I won’t mention because of bad juju.

Thank you.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Wow. Great video/summary by ESPN.

Nurkic, new father Lillard lead Blazers over Clippers 105-96

"Such a talented player [Lillard] ... This year he's taken that next extra step. He's truly evolved into an elite superstar, in front of one of basketball's greatest fan bases in Portland, in Rip City."

 

[handiman]

Portland's a good defensive team this year, after setting records for awfulness last year with largely the same roster.
The only difference is Nurk.
He doesn't get enough credit indeed.

And the addition of Collins. And the return of healthy Ed. And _ame becoming Dame. And the removal of "Active" Crabbe. But yeah, other than that, Nurk is the only difference.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Nurk has been absolutely great the second half of the season. He doesn't get enough respect. Stotts needs to trust him more. He's growing to be one of my favorite Blazers of all time.

 

[bobf]

I'm very upbeat about this Blazer team. A 50 win team this season. But consider: pre-all-star blazers sucked compared to this team. So maybe we're actually a 55-60 win team?

• Nurks defense is elite. His offense is coming around. Nurk is slowing down a bit on offense & surveying the floor. I think that threat helps loosen the defense and it's making it easier for him to finish. Dame & Nurk work great together.
• Zach is so promising. I love how he can finish lefty or righty. He looks smooth & natural. Nurk needs to teach Zach his defensive magic.
• Dame is so smart & always finds a way to improve. He has some chance to reach Steph Curry level. He's stronger & defense has improved. I'm even seeing some CP3 in his game. Game is slowing down for him. He's become more methodical and a true floor general out there.
• Aminu is the most underrated player on the team. Has always been a great defender. Now a D & 3 player. He just needs to clean up the bonehead plays (a) shoot only 3's, dunks, layups. (b) Drive only an open lane. (c) Continue making 38% of his 3's!
• Harkless I think still has great upside too. He's hitting almost 42% of his 3's this year and much to my surprise has had a fantastic EFG% for the past two years. Not something I ever noticed from watching games.
• CJ needs to follow Dame's path of improvement.
• Finally, we need to find a way to keep both Ed and Shabazz.

Anyway, I have great hopes for this team. This team as is could possibly make a run at a title if our younger players (Zach, Nurk) improve as expected and our vets also find ways to improve. Dame is a great leader, our chemistry is great, and IMO Stotts is actually a great coach. He may not always get the X's and O's and subbing patterns we like, but there's a lot lot more to making a great team than that.

 

[Labinot41]

Couldn't watch the Game because it started at 4.30 am here and i slept . Just watched the Highlights on YouTube . Great Game from collins and Nurkic, i Really enjoy Games when Dame and CJ don't need to do everything and the role Players Step up

 

[jlprk]

And the addition of Collins. And the return of healthy Ed. And _ame becoming Dame. And the removal of "Active" Crabbe. But yeah, other than that, Nurk is the only difference.

Turner, too, now makes his shots. The only problem is that the $26 million McCollum contributes $3 million worth of production and $20 million worth of reputation.

 

[kjironman1]

kjironman says WB4 can't play D

That is absolutely NOT what i said. But you can try to believe that if you wish.

 

[kjironman1]

nurk 21/12/3/2/4

can anyone pinpoint the day things turned around for nurk? Cuz he's been pretty great lately.

The GS game before the All-Star break would be my guess.