Game Thread GAME# 82: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 13, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), KGW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
DENVER NUGGETS
33 - 48
(15-25 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
43 - 38
(27-13 Home)



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

PG

EMMANUEL MUDIAY VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

GARY HARRIS VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

JaKARR SAMSPON VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

NIKOLA JOKIC VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS MASON PLUMLEE


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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PDT), WEDNESDAY, 4/13/2016​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

DENVER NUGGETS

AUGUSTIN , NELSON , BARTON , TOUPANE

MILLER , ARTHUR , LAUVERGNE

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , MONTERO

CONNAUGHTON , VONLEH , DAVIS , KAMAN


INJURIES
NUGGETS
JOFFREY LAUVERGNE (Sinus Wall Fracture): PROBABLE
GARY HARRIS (Groin Soreness): QUESTIONABLE
KENNETH FARIED (Rest): QUESTIONABLE
DARRELL ARTHUR (Left Knee Soreness): DOUBTFUL
DANILO GALLINARI (Right Ankle Sprain): OUT
WILSON CHANDLER (Right Hip Arthroscopic Surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
MEYERS LEONARD (dislocated left shoulder): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MICHAEL MALONE --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday marks the fourth and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Nuggets in 2015-16.

• LAST MEETING: Portland defeated Denver, 112-106, at the Pepsi Center on Jan. 3. CJ McCollum scored a team-high 25 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3-PT), while Gerald Henderson provided 19 points off the bench.

• Portland has won two of its three games against Denver this season. With a victory, the Trail Blazers will notch their third consecutive series victory over the Nuggets.

• The Trail Blazers are 10-1 in their past 11 home games against the Nuggets (won five straight).

• Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Portland is 10-1 overall against Denver.

• Damian Lillard scored 30 points (3-7 3-PT) and dished out seven assists in his lone game against the Nuggets on Nov. 9 this season. Lillard missed the two most recent contests against Denver (plantar fasciitis).

• CJ McCollum has averaged 23.3 points (7-15 3-PT) in three games against Denver this season.

• Allen Crabbe has averaged15.0 points on 45% shooting (7-17 3-PT) in three games against the Nuggets this season. Crabbe scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting (4-7 3-PT) in the only contest played at the Moda Center between these teams in 2015-16 (Dec. 30).

• The Trail Blazers are 10-5 against the Northwest Division this season (6-1 at home), while the Nuggets are 4-11 against Northwest Division opponents (2-5).

• Denver guard/forward Will Barton was drafted 40th overall by Portland in 2012. He averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 144 career games with the Trail Blazers (three seasons).

• The Trail Blazers traded Will Barton to Denver on Feb. 19, 2015 along with Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson and a 2016 first round (lottery protected) draft pick. Portland received Arron Affl alo and Alonzo Gee in the deal.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 92-75
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 64-20
AT THE NUGGETS: Nuggets lead, 55-28

​

 

[Draco]

I think some people misunderstand the concepts of why and how the Spurs rest players so effectively. Its something they do over the entire season, limit minutes, prevent the loss of muscle or accumulated fatigue, hold guys out on back to backs, give guys the night off when they have very minor injuries.

Having player play huge minutes for months does the damage. Holding guys out for an entire week at the end won't help much. At this point any overuse players such as Dame have won't go away until the offseason; so its fine to play him normal minutes in this game.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think some people misunderstand the concepts of why and how the Spurs rest players so effectively. Its something they do over the entire season, limit minutes, prevent the loss of muscle or accumulated fatigue, hold guys out on back to backs, give guys the night off when they have very minor injuries.

Having player play huge minutes for months does the damage. Holding guys out for an entire week at the end won't help much. At this point any overuse players such as Dame have won't go away until the offseason; so its fine to play him normal minutes in this game.

The fact remains that the more rest that this team gets, the better it plays. We blew out the Warriors after a week off.

 

[Draco]

Since the Knicks lost tonight Denver will get the Knicks pick. Denver's pick will go to Toronto.

So the Nuggets won't have any incentive to lose for a better pick.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

If the Nuggets are really trotting out that lineup of bigs to start the game then you might see a different starting lineup from us.

 

[riverman]

Go Blazers! Shoutout to Darkweb for doing such a great job with game thread layouts all season again! You rock dude!

 

[KingSpeed]

Go Blazers! Shoutout to Darkweb for doing such a great job with game thread layouts all season again! You rock dude!

Amen!!!

 

[kjironman1]

Personally i feel for more reasons than one that the Blazers should be playing to win this game. It's been a long time sitting after a bad loss to Minny. A game that the Blazers had no business losing. I watched the NO GOOD CLIPPERS take Memphis apart last night. The more i see the more i don't like about the matchup coming for the Blazers in the Playoffs. This could very well be the last game we see them win. Fan "Appreciation" night or not they should be looking to end the regular season with a win.
The fact remains that as it stands right now the Blazers still have not sewn up the fifth seed. The Mavs and Spurs play tonight and if the Mavs win the Blazers must win to get the 5th seed. The question is " Do they really want the Clippers?" Of course if the Spurs win the Blazers will have no reason other than not to end the season losing 2 in a row and 3 of their last 5. This win tonight is by no means a "Must win". In the big picture it actually means very little but i like seeing wins at the end of the season. Winning 7 of your last 10 to end the season just sounds better to me.
There is no good choice for the Blazers here. The Thunder or the Clippers simply have more talent. In a seven game series the best team wins. The Blazers have truly given us all a gem of a season that very few predicted but in the end they will have to continue to play way above their heads to get out of the first round. I hope they go and get this win tonight.

 

[jlprk]

Can't wait to see us demolish the player we gave away. He's made Olshey look bad, but tonight, Mike Miller's career will end.

...Also, I see that some joker named JaKarr starts ahead of Will Barton.

 

[jlprk]

J.J. Hickson's 8-year career PER is 16.1, including his current Wizard PER of 20.1. The Nuggets suck without him.

 

[KingSpeed]

The last game we see them win?? Get that shit outta here! Clippers should be scared. We are 28-14 since we found our groove in January. That's a 55 win pace.

 

[HailBlazers]

Personally i feel for more reasons than one that the Blazers should be playing to win this game. It's been a long time sitting after a bad loss to Minny. A game that the Blazers had no business losing. I watched the NO GOOD CLIPPERS take Memphis apart last night. The more i see the more i don't like about the matchup coming for the Blazers in the Playoffs. This could very well be the last game we see them win. Fan "Appreciation" night or not they should be looking to end the regular season with a win.
The fact remains that as it stands right now the Blazers still have not sewn up the fifth seed. The Mavs and Spurs play tonight and if the Mavs win the Blazers must win to get the 5th seed. The question is " Do they really want the Clippers?" Of course if the Spurs win the Blazers will have no reason other than not to end the season losing 2 in a row and 3 of their last 5. This win tonight is by no means a "Must win". In the big picture it actually means very little but i like seeing wins at the end of the season. Winning 7 of your last 10 to end the season just sounds better to me.
There is no good choice for the Blazers here. The Thunder or the Clippers simply have more talent. In a seven game series the best team wins. The Blazers have truly given us all a gem of a season that very few predicted but in the end they will have to continue to play way above their heads to get out of the first round. I hope they go and get this win tonight.

kjironman is a fan!?

 

[kjironman1]

Clippers are not scared of the Blazers. Of that i am certain. Lets hope they can shoot the lights out on a couple of the games. That will be the only way they can compete with that team.

 

[kjironman1]

kjironman is a fan!?

That is funny when a very long time fans speaks reality and then immediately someone questions if he is a fan or not. Believe me when i tell you i have lived and breathed red and black longer than many of you have been alive. This team has been a wonderful experience. I love watching them and they always work hard no matter what. That alone always gives them a chance. But reality is they lack talent and they will need help to win any series they play.

 

[HailBlazers]

That is funny when a very long time fans speaks reality and then immediately someone questions if he is a fan or not. Believe me when i tell you i have lived and breathed red and black longer than many of you have been alive. This team has been a wonderful experience. I love watching them and they always work hard no matter what. That alone always gives them a chance. But reality is they lack talent and they will need help to win any series they play.

Just jabbing you man because you usually follow up with that statement. Love your posts and insights. Totally agree we are going to need some serious help, I just pray it comes in the form of fair officiating.

 

[B-Roy]

Just jabbing you man because you usually follow up with that statement. Love your posts and insights. Totally agree we are going to need some serious help, I just pray it comes in the form of fair officiating.

Don't you mean biased officiating? (For the Blazers)

I feel like this could mirror that Golden State/Denver upset a few years back. When Curry and Thompson just blitzed the Nugs and Iggy wanted to join them afterwards.

 

[kjironman1]

Just jabbing you man because you usually follow up with that statement. Love your posts and insights. Totally agree we are going to need some serious help, I just pray it comes in the form of fair officiating.

Honestly i hope they go full on and just blast them from 3 and make them stretch out. Then we get Harkless and Davis rolling to the rim over and over again driving our complete superiority home with a Vengeance!

 

[crandc]

The Blazers control their destiny. Win, they get the 5 seed regardless of what happens with Denver or Dallas. And after the Minny nightmare, they need a win going into the postseason.

So do I. I actually dreamed about the Minnesota game, that I turned on the TV and the Blazers had come back and won in double OT - then woke up and told the cat, oh shit I am taking this a bit too seriously.
But it was a nice dream while it lasted.

 

[Draco]

J.J. Hickson's 8-year career PER is 16.1, including his current Wizard PER of 20.1. The Nuggets suck without him.

The Nuggets also sucked with him, the Wizzards suck with him, we sucked with him, Sacramento sucked with him.

When he played next to LeBron they were alright. Just need to pair him with the best player in the league.

 

[illmatic99]

Can't even imagine how valuable the past 3 days of rest were. Next thing.... I'm flying back home on SAT afternoon. Game 1 needs to be on Sunday!

 

[illmatic99]

Also, special thanks to @Darkwebs for these awesome game threads again this season. I don't like them nearly as often as I should, but this stuff you have for graphics, the polls, etc: all perfect. Thanks!

 

[BBert]

Just jabbing you man because you usually follow up with that statement. Love your posts and insights. Totally agree we are going to need some serious help, I just pray it comes in the form of fair officiating.

 

[HailBlazers]

Lord hear our prayer.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Draco]

Get well soon Mark!

 

[stampedehero]

44 Wins TONIGHT

 

[Sinobas]

Why the fuck is the game thread on page 2?

The Spurs bench is beating the Mavs!

 

[Blazer509]

Looks like the Spurs might seal the deal for us.

 

[Blazer509]

Yup, it's over.

 

[Jade Falcon]

The Blazers control their destiny. Win, they get the 5 seed regardless of what happens with Denver or Dallas. And after the Minny nightmare, they need a win going into the postseason.

So do I. I actually dreamed about the Minnesota game, that I turned on the TV and the Blazers had come back and won in double OT - then woke up and told the cat, oh shit I am taking this a bit too seriously.
But it was a nice dream while it lasted.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who talks to his cat, lol.

That Denver roster reads like a WIA list. Jesus, that's a LOT of injuries. Should be an easy win tonight.