Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 1: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 14, 2019, SUNDAY, 12:30 PM, ABC

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
49 - 33
(22-19 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(32-9 Home)

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WHEN: 12:30 PM (PDT), SUNDAY, 4/14/2019

WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

FELTON , SCHRODER , DIALLO

BURTON , NADER , GRANTHAM

PATTERSON , MORRIS , NOEL

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD


INJURIES
THUNDER
Paul George (right shoulder): PROBABLE
Steven Adams (right shoulder soreness): PROBABLE
Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

BILLY DONOVAN --- TERRY STOTTS




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

SEASON SERIES NOTES
• Oklahoma City swept Portland 4-0, one season after Portland swept Oklahoma City 4-0.
• The Thunder’s average margin of victory in the four wins was 7.0 points.
• Damian Lillard posted his highest scoring average against a Western Conference opponent vs. the Thunder this season, averaging 34.8 points (46.2% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 91.7% FT) to go with 4.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.50 steals in four games.
• Lillard scored a season-high 51 points vs. the Thunder on March 7.
• Lillard posted career highs in free throws (18) and attempts (20) in the March 7 overtime loss to the Thunder.
• CJ McCollum averaged 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four games.
• Paul George paced the Thunder vs. Portland this season, posting averages of 38.0 points (45.2% FG, 45.9% 3-PT, 85.0 FT%), 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.75 steals.
• Russell Westbrook averaged 29.5 points (43.2% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 78.4% FT), 10.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists vs. Portland this season.

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• The series marks Portland’s first playoff matchup against a divisional opponent since facing the Lakers in 2002 as members of the Pacific Division. The Trail Blazers have never faced a Northwest Division opponent since the division was formed in 2004-05.
• This marks the first playoff series between the Trail Blazers and Thunder since the franchise moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City prior to the 2008-09 season.
• The Trail Blazers have now faced every Western Conference franchise in their current city in the playoffs with the exception of Sacramento.
• Portland played Seattle four times in the postseason, going 8-8 vs. the Sonics with each team winning two series.
• The Sonics defeated the Trail Blazers 4-2 in the 1978 Western Conference Semifinals.
• Seattle beat Portland 2-1 in a first-round matchup in 1980.
• In 1983, Portland defeated Seattle 2-0 in the first round.
• The Trail Blazers beat the Sonics 3-2 in the fi rst round of the 1991 NBA Playoffs.

CONNECTIONS

• Portland center Enes Kanter played parts of three seasons for the Thunder from 2014-17, averaging 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds in 180 games (27 starts).
• Thunder guard Raymond Felton spent the 2011-12 season in Portland, where he averaged 11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 60 games (56 starts).
• Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts was a four-year starter at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned All-Big Eight honors his senior year.

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[hoopsjock]

Nice job @Darkwebs! Thanks!

Who's going to the game?

 

[-Ace-]

Nice job @Darkwebs! Thanks!

Who's going to the game?

I'll be there, as usual. Can't wait!

 

[THE HCP]

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm just not quite sure who I'm rooting for in this series.

 

[Chris Craig]

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm just not quite sure who I'm rooting for in this series.

Dame would not be amused

 

[HailBlazers]

Dame would not be amused

But understanding of our Special friend.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

We are expecting this playoff for a year. It’s time to redeem ourselves. Believe in Dame and CJ. This group is capable. Our team has heart, im proud to be a fan of a great organization with a lot of great people around, staff, cameras, reporters, and of course Kevin and Lamar. Let’s Bring this W for this city, we need it! My heart will be in Portland. Let’s go.

 

[hoopsjock]

I'll be disappointed in myself if my voice isn't completely gone in about 16 hours.

That place needs to be fucking loud tomorrow!

 

[Driew]

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm just not quite sure who I'm rooting for in this series.

I'll be honest I'm not sure why you're allowed to still post here.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Whoever predicted okc to sweep just needs to be banned now.

I demand a mod mediated investigation into who this perp was and have him fully prosecuted and imprisoned for life.

 

[TBpup]

Simons isn't starting?

 

[H.C.]

Heres hoping Collins is consistent with his offensive production. Which will allow him to get minutes to produce defensively.
More difficult to gameplan against bench players. Hoping for a big series out of him.

 

[James lamphear]

Went I look up our 4 games our bench out score there bench 3-4 games this year. What we did not do was a good job on Westbrook and George on defense. Aminu and Harkless must keep George below 30 and Westbrook under 30. Dame must keep everyone involved on offensive. Just seems like sometimes Dame try to out score Westbrook and to much. Our bench must score at least 30 plus points and we do all that I think we will have the win.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers have not won a Game #1 since the 2013/2014 season against the Rockets. Blazers won 122-120 behind a Herculean effort from LaMarcus Aldridge who had 46 points and 18 rebounds.

Time for another Game #1 win!

 

[illmatic99]

The crowd better be loud. I want Russell getting into it with the crowd and messing up their attack

 

[Scalma]

Collins is going to be the X factor in this series. I think Stotts is going to be forced to cut Kanters minutes if OKC attacks him in the pick and roll with Adams like they did when he was with the Knicks. We already know how bad our guards are in P&R defense, so they’re not going to make Kanters job any easier. Collins doesn’t have the size to bang with Adams, but they don’t really post him up that much anyway. Rebounding is going to be an issue, but that’s where other guys will have to step up and help, namely Aminu.

George is going to be George. Russ is going to be Russ. But they’re going to need more than those two to beat Portland. Just like Portland is going to need more than Lillard and CJ. I see OKC having the advantage, so if we want to beat them, a guy like Collins must step up.

I’m also interested in seeing how Layman handles the big stage. If he struggles, Stotts will play Meyers, although he really should play Skal, who’s a better matchup against Noel and Morris.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm just not quite sure who I'm rooting for in this series.

I know it's tough for you when the Lakers aren't playing....

 

[TBpup]

I know it's tough for you when the Lakers aren't playing in the Playoffs....AGAIN.

Clarified.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Big Series.

If we win, we put last year's debacle in the rearview mirror.
If we don't, we don't.

#SpecterLoomingOrRedemption?

 

[Labinot41]

Time for Lillard to play the best Playoffs of his Career, and the rest of the Team.

 

[Scalma]

Big Series.

If we win, we put last year's debacle in the rearview mirror.
If we don't, we don't.

#SpecterLoomingOrRedemption?

If we get swept again I think Stotts will be fired. The Nurk injury isn’t going to save him in that scenario. Nor should it. He’s lucky he didn’t get fired last year.

That being said, I think there’s more pressure on OKC. Portland is the underdog. I’m not actually *expecting* them to beat a team that swept them when they were at full health.

 

[Hoopguru]

The NBA is FanTastic! Love playoff round ball...watch all 4 games yesterday and noticed its wasn't the slow it down, half court game, playoff basketball usually is and thats good with me. Im sure Embed would have liked it to be. I for one believe that we run, it opens things up for guys like Mo, AFA, & shooters off the bench.
Our dark horse's for the game will be Hood & Collins.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers have lost Nurkic but are SO MUCH deeper than last year. At some point, some Playoff success is expected.

 

[kjironman1]

Kind of think the starters can match on the offensive end.
The bench needs to show and hit some shots. IMO Curry and Collins are key to winning this series.
If Turner can keep the ball on the court and in the Blazers hands he could be a huge help also. Would be nice to see him hit a few of those turnaround jumpers.

 

[kjironman1]

Very nice game thread @Darkwebs
Enjoy the game everyone.

 

[Shaboid]

About to head to the store to pick up some beer and food for the game. What is everyone going to be enjoying this afternoon?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

About to head to the store to pick up some beer and food for the game. What is everyone going to be enjoying this afternoon?

Blazer victory!

 

[Shaboid]

Blazer victory!

Served cold!

 

[Wade Garrett]

Confession..
All week I've felt OKC is gonna win the series but..I don't feel that way as I wake up today!
Game#1 winner takes the series, and Damian goes off!
Blazers- 117
Okies- 99.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Blazer victory!

I quit drinking 7 months ago..been to many concerts and events since but today may be my toughest test!
Gotta get to Nectar to get my game day started!