Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 1: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - AUGUST 18, 2020, TUESDAY, 6:00, TNT & NBCSNW

[Labinot41]

If we use Zach to foul Davis and LBJ 6 times, he needs to make sure they are hard fouls

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Maybe they had to give us some incentive to take Swanigan back?

Ouch if my last name were “Swanigan”....

 

[oldmangrouch]

If your first reaction after this game is to shit on Collins, why do you even watch the sport?

Actually, what started the discussion was the question of whether Gabriel was getting too much credit.

 

[oldmangrouch]

No offence taken, I can handle the critisism, it's often well deserved.

Tonight our starting PF scored 4 points, had 3 rebounds, and 5 fouls. I appreciated what Wenyen did for us tonight, but my post was directed to those who implied anyone could come off the bench and be better than Collins. Clearly that was not the case.

Fair enough.

 

[Tince]

Teams are still trapping dame but the difference now is that instead of moe Harkless and al farouq Aminu getting open looks it’s Gary Trent Jr and...Carmelo Anthony. And a healthy Nurk to make those passes.

So true! A quality supporting cast can make and offense or defense look so different!

 

[B-Roy]

Whiteside played well in the second half. Props to Hassan. I think this is one of the only teams he can play well against since they play two bigs.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It’s only game 1 but we are the only team to limit the opposition to less than 100 points so far in this playoffs.

HA, true! We have the best 2020 playoff defense!!!

 

[Tince]

Whiteside played well in the second half. Props to Hassan. I think this is one of the only teams he can play well against since they play two bigs.

When he let some weak guard take the ball out of his hands in the first half I was thinking "oh no, not tonight Whiteside." but he kept it together and made some monster plays for us!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Teams are still trapping dame but the difference now is that instead of moe Harkless and al farouq Aminu getting open looks it’s Gary Trent Jr and...Carmelo Anthony. And a healthy Nurk to make those passes.

I wonder what would have happened if Hood had stayed healthy? Could he have filled this roll as well?

I wish I could be more optimistic about his future (as I expect Melo to leave), but achilles injuries can be career altering.

 

[tlongII]

We are a bad matchup for the Lakers. We’ve got great guards and shot blocking centers. It really amplifies the Lakers’ weaknesses.

 

[magnifier661]

Busy doing campaign stuff, but I wanted to say great win Blazers!

 

[The Professional Fan]

Total, calm, control. Laser focus. Unflappable.

Bubble, unique environment.

Dame and CJ, shifty, leaders, in their prime, totally confident.

If we’re gonna do it, we do it now.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I wonder what would have happened if Hood had stayed healthy? Could he have filled this roll as well?

I wish I could be more optimistic about his future (as I expect Melo to leave), but achilles injuries can be career altering.

Why on earth would Melo leave? He’s respected by his coach and teammates. He’s given minutes. He’s given touches in big moments. And he’s winning. This is maybe the most fun he’s had in his whole career!

Total, calm, control. Laser focus. Unflappable.

Bubble, unique environment.

Dame and CJ, shifty, leaders, in their prime, totally confident.

If we’re gonna do it, we do it now.

Yep. This is our year. And Dame knew it from Day 1.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Why on earth would Melo leave? He’s respected by his coach and teammates. He’s given minutes. He’s given touches in big moments. And he’s winning. This is maybe the most fun he’s had in his whole career!


Yep. This is our year. And Dame knew it from Day 1.

We are good

 

[perkinsfor3]

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Feels good to beat the Lakers. Now and forever.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

You realize we lost our last 7 playoff games vs Lakers. What a satisfying turn of events.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Why on earth would Melo leave? He’s respected by his coach and teammates. He’s given minutes. He’s given touches in big moments. And he’s winning. This is maybe the most fun he’s had in his whole career!


Yep. This is our year. And Dame knew it from Day 1.

1) He left Denver for NY largely because of his wife's business interests in NY. Last I heard NY was his primary residence. Do you any reason to think that has changed?
2) The Knicks new GM is his former agent.
3) We don't have his Bird rights and the Knicks have more cap room than we do.

If that doesn't woo him, there is also the very real possibility that someone like the Bucks or Clips will sell him on a 1 year deal to chase a ring. And please don't tell me that the Bucks, Clips, or any other team I can name is "trash". You know that is BS and throwing it around is an insult to serious discussion.

 

[theprunetang]

I'm pretty sure this was Nurkic's first playoff win as well.

 

[LayneStaley]

I won’t be shocked if Melo leaves, hopefully we can find another shooter to replace him, having Dame, CJ, Trent, a PF who can shoot the 3, and Nurk on the floor together is pretty awesome.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

1) He left Denver for NY largely because of his wife's business interests in NY. Last I heard NY was his primary residence. Do you any reason to think that has changed?
2) The Knicks new GM is his former agent.
3) We don't have his Bird rights and the Knicks have more cap room than we do.

If that doesn't woo him, there is also the very real possibility that someone like the Bucks or Clips will sell him on a 1 year deal to chase a ring. And please don't tell me that the Bucks, Clips, or any other team I can name is "trash". You know that is BS and throwing it around is an insult to serious discussion.

I stand by all my reasons that he will stay. Don’t need to repeat them. But those Bucks? They’re in the middle of a 5 game playoff losing streak with no end in sight. Everything the Magic did this morning is sustainable. They didn’t even have Gordon or MCW and Fournier couldn’t make a shot til the 4th qtr and they were in control the whole game. Make of it what you will. Me think Giannis ain’t staying in Milwaukee.

 

[Wheels]

It was all you dude!

*Taps wrist* PUT SOME RESPEK ON MY MF NAME!

 

[handiman]

Interesting game recap note:

"HISTORY: The teams have met six times in a first-round series, with the Lakers winning five. It is the 12th time the teams have met in the playoffs."

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401236287

If I'm not mistaken, the one time we beat them in the 1st round was the LA riots year, with the series played at a neutral site (Nevada?). One could argue this playoffs is the year of the Portland riots, and again is played at a neutral site. Might history repeat itself?

their offense is atrocious. and they have 0 playmakers outside of lebron. and wtf happened to danny green's jumpshot?

Green was borderline garbage last year, but people juxtaposed his individual play with team success. He's good for a hot 3-pt shooting night every 10 games or so, but he's a liability most of the time. He moves like the old guy at the Y and can't play defense like he used to, either.

It’s only game 1 but we are the only team to limit the opposition to less than 100 points so far in this playoffs.

Best in the bubble!

 

[Tince]

I stand by all my reasons that he will stay. Don’t need to repeat them. But those Bucks? They’re in the middle of a 5 game playoff losing streak with no end in sight. Everything the Magic did this morning is sustainable. They didn’t even have Gordon or MCW and Fournier couldn’t make a shot til the 4th qtr and they were in control the whole game. Make of it what you will. Me think Giannis ain’t staying in Milwaukee.

My gut is that Melo does not resign with us, but my gut also told me we couldn't win multiple meaningful games with him playing major minutes, and I was wrong about that!

 

[AldoTrapani]

outside of lebron, they all looked so shook while our playoff experience came up so big.

Dame is playing with 0 pressure right now.

Idk why AD would. He’s been here plenty of times

 

[AldoTrapani]

My gut is that Melo does not resign with us, but my gut also told me we couldn't win multiple meaningful games with him playing major minutes, and I was wrong about that!

Naw I think he’ll stay. He doesn’t really have time to experiment with other teams anymore. He’s built a great relationship with Dame off the court. And just really hes 36 years old and very humbled now. He just doesn’t have a lot of time to pick and choose a team he thinks that will work. It’s a no brainer he’ll come back really

 

[Tince]

Naw I think he’ll stay. He doesn’t really have time to experiment with other teams anymore. He’s built a great relationship with Dame off the court. And just really hes 36 years old and very humbled now. He just doesn’t have a lot of time to pick and choose a team he thinks that will work. It’s a no brainer he’ll come back really

I hope you're right and I'm happy to see you saying something positive

 

[KSF-ERIC]

So apparently Lakers are blaming on this on there not being a crowd cheering for them. AD actually said that his bench is trying to make up for it. Hilarious. We got this. No mental toughness on the Lakers. Blazers have the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th best players in this series. And that is why we will win.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Man it’s crazy but it’s almost like when Dame hits a three with so much disdain you can hear him saying "bitch" as it goes through the net

 

[KSF-ERIC]

LMAO