Game Thread PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1, GAME 2: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - 4/20/16, WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PDT), TNT & KGW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
44 - 38
(16-25 Road)
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
53 - 29
(29-12 Home)




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

PG

BABY DAME VS CHRIS HOOPER

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS J.J. REDICK

SF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS LUC MBAH A MOUTE

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS BLAKE GRIFFIN

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS DeANDRE HOOPER


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WHEN: 7:30 PM, WEDNESDAY, 4/20/2016

WHERE: STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , MONTERO

CONNAUGHTON , VONLEH , DAVIS , KAMAN

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

PRIGIONI , RIVERS , CRAWFORD , JOHNSON

PIERCE , GREEN , AYRES , ALDRICH


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Meyers Leonard (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
CLIPPERS
NONE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- DOC RIVERS




CLIPPERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES

• This will be the first ever meeting between the Trail Blazers and Clippers in the NBA Playoffs. Los Angeles is one of three Western Conference teams that Portland has never matched up against in the postseason (Golden State, New Orleans).

• By earning the fifth seed, the Trail Blazers have finished in the top-5 in the Western Conference in three consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in four straight seasons from 1989-90 to 1992-93.

• The Clippers represent Portland’s closest geographical postseason opponent since the 2002 NBA Playoffs, when the Trail Blazers played the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round. Since then, Portland has matched up with Dallas (twice), Houston (twice), San Antonio (twice), Memphis and Phoenix.

• In NBA postseason history, teams that lost the regular-season series versus their playoff opponent are 158-387 in those postseason series (45-140 in the opening round since 1983-84).

PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: Loss 95-115

 

[Darkwebs]

MEET THE HOOPERS

 

[PDXFonz]

Rofl, this is great Dark! We are so lucky to have you making these sick assed game threads for us every game.

FAMS

 

[Strenuus]

I think there should be an answer for "none". Because that's me.

 

[BonesJones]

I'm only counting it if I've watched more than a half.

 

[kjironman1]

Game two and the time is right for a win tonight. Lots and lots of talk about changing line ups. Inserting Kaman and moving Plumlee to guarding Griffin. More talk about what the Blazers got to do to create more offense. Creating offense has not been a problem all year but against the Clippers it can be a problem for this team. There is talk about Dame playing more off the ball with CJ doing a little more ball handling and having Plumlee playing more PF might open up his passing ability. The fact is the Blazers are in a tough match up. The basics problems are not going to go away without some creative adjustments. I have also heard people say to start Henderson and Crabbe? That to me seems a bit extreme?

Looking at years past Dame got looks when playing off the ball but the Blazers had more options and a guy named Nic Batum that could go for 8 assists with another 8-10 rebounds on those nights. Aminu just is not that kind of distributor though he does get rebounds. As a matter of fact he pulled in 12 in the first game. CJ had problems last game handling the ball on the dribble drive but i did not see him get the kind of screens needed to get open. Too many times he tried to split defenders. The box has him with 2 TO's but that didn't cover him almost losing the ball and getting forced into a bad shot. The fact remains even if they get more open looks the Blazers have got to make the open looks. They might even have to change the overall scheme and push into the mid range shot a bit more. There is a need for that Kaman 14 foot elbow jumper that can make a difference in this game.

Defensively the Blazers actually did not do badly in game one. Yes the end score was 115 for the Clippers but they gave them 25 points at the free throw line. I really don't like Hack-a- Anyone, anywhere at any time but i am sure we will see it again. Things that worked were making Paul shoot from distance as well as Crawford. But those two shot well from mid range and of course Paul was perfect at the line. Pressure defense and intensity levels have got to increase and the Blazers have got to realize this is the playoffs. There are not times to take a rest. 48 complete minutes of defense. This is called playoff experience. This is what those of us who said "Screw the draft pick" were talking about. The Blazer will need to grow tonight. They will need to see and understand what exerting their will is all about.
I personally don't want to see big wholesale changes just yet. I think that they played their first playoff game together in game one and there needs to be some things taken from it. I want Plumlee to make a few of those layups. Aminu to make a few 3's and Lillard to get a chance to shoot. We all know CJ will shoot better than 3-11. Turn up the defense and make some plays and we have a very good game. Small adjustments and add some more looks. This team can get a win tonight.
Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[TBpup]

When they do run the high PnR, Dame needs to come of of that harder and basically run into Jordan who is jumping out. It would be a foul every time but instead, both Dame and CJ try to go around it or back up. Force the action. Same with Plumlee when he goes to the hoop....go right at Jordan. Sure he is going to block some shots but trying to go around or away from him only enhances his shot-blocking ability.

Of course Aminu and Harkless will need to hit some shots and they need to find a way to defend Griffin better who is just too big for both of those guys. I know many aren't Vonleh fans but at least he has the strength and size to be able to compete with Blake if not the experience. Since Blake didn't have to shoot outside of 3', Noah wouldn't have to worry about that part.....just battle him down low. Kaman's size will help as well but more at Center. He's not quick enough to stay with Blake,

The Clippers are leaving Aminu wide open and Stotts as well as other point to him shooting 36% from '3'. However, he did not shoot nearly that well from where he was getting most of his shots in Game 1. He is much better from the corners and much worse at the top of the key where many of his attempts came from. The Blazers need to get him shots in the places he shoots a higher percentage.

 

[B-Roy]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/18137/trail-blazers-need-to-get-back-to-being-themselves

“If two guys meet me at half court, that means it's 4 on 3,” Lillard said. “I've got to hit [Mason Plumlee], hit Ed [Davis], and trust them to make the next play to the weak side or get to the rim. Trust [Al-Farouq Aminu] throwing the ball back or knock down jumpers. And make them think twice about giving me so much attention. And maybe when they do worry about what's going on when I get rid of the ball, I can turn the corner, I can get a couple of looks.”
A 4-on-3 advantage is all well and good, but Aminu will have to do better than 2-for-8 on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and Plumlee will actually need to record a field goal or an assist as the roll man, something he didn’t do Sunday night.
More than anything, the Trail Blazers need to work the ball to the second side, which they did so effectively in the regular season. This is the beauty of having a backcourt featuring both Lillard and CJ McCollum -- a pair of guards who can both initiate offense and shoot. The Clippers’ trap complicates that ball movement because it isn’t easy for Lillard to send the ball to the weak side when DeAndre Jordan’s tree branches are in the way and Chris Paul is nibbling at him.
“[The Clippers] were locked down,” Lillard said, “Even when [McCollum] was on the weak side, his man wasn't the guy a lot of times that was coming over and leaving him. They weren't going to give up an open 3 to him or let him catch
and play 1-on-1 with his man. We’ve got to get into movement sets, a lot of stuff with us off the ball. We've got to do some pick-and-roll stuff, because that's what we've always done, but we have to get into more off-the-ball actions.”
In other words, the Trail Blazers need to get back to being themselves.

 

[illmatic99]

Love how Dame can not only recognize, but articulate all this. Speaks to his BBIQ.

But stop revealing those strategies damnit. No need to reference plays with Blake/Mo/Maynor from years back. Some intern in the Clips' video room will dig those plays out and get their players and coaches somewhat ready to handle them.

 

[kjironman1]

When they do run the high PnR, Dame needs to come of of that harder and basically run into Jordan who is jumping out. It would be a foul every time but instead, both Dame and CJ try to go around it or back up. Force the action. Same with Plumlee when he goes to the hoop....go right at Jordan. Sure he is going to block some shots but trying to go around or away from him only enhances his shot-blocking ability.

Of course Aminu and Harkless will need to hit some shots and they need to find a way to defend Griffin better who is just too big for both of those guys. I know many aren't Vonleh fans but at least he has the strength and size to be able to compete with Blake if not the experience. Since Blake didn't have to shoot outside of 3', Noah wouldn't have to worry about that part.....just battle him down low. Kaman's size will help as well but more at Center. He's not quick enough to stay with Blake,

The Clippers are leaving Aminu wide open and Stotts as well as other point to him shooting 36% from '3'. However, he did not shoot nearly that well from where he was getting most of his shots in Game 1. He is much better from the corners and much worse at the top of the key where many of his attempts came from. The Blazers need to get him shots in the places he shoots a higher percentage.

I agree on Aminu shooting from the corners.
I have a problem with Lillard and CJ running into Jordan. This game is on their court. The refs listen to the Clippers. They will not give fouls to the Blazers. You are basically looking for the refs to bail them out. Not gonna happen. They need to make the extra pass and find an open shooter. I listened to Pop mic'ed up in the huddle last night screaming at his player to play the right way and make that extra pass to find open shooters. "Play the right way now! Do not wait until the second half! I don't care how well we did in the second half last game! Make the right pass NOW!" He said. Just doesn't get any better than that.

 

[dviss1]

Excellent job again @Darkwebs

 

[dviss1]

You are basically looking for the refs to bail them out.

I don't think that's what he's saying at all. I think he's saying attack the hedge man. If you are not splitting the double team that is certainly who you should attack.

 

[Orion Bailey]

There is no answer for NO I haven't. Which is my answer. I haven't watched a game from any other series... yet.

 

[Sinobas]

To me it seems that Plumlee has continues to regress as a player rather than improve. He was outstanding at finishing his first year in the league, and now he's garbage. What is going on with him? He's very undersized as a center. He's one of the oddest players I've ever seen, in that he has great ball handling and passing skills coupled with basically 0 skill at shooting or scoring inside (aside from dunks).

I've been saying it all year, Mason is not the Blazers answer at center. He's a reserve.

 

[Sinobas]

I think Portland should start Ed Davis at center, because he's a much better finisher inside. Maybe even play Crabbe more so he can hit 3s rather than Aminu. Bring Mason off the bench as backup PF rather than Vonleh, and bring Kaman off bench as 2nd center. I'd also like to see Roberts and CJ running the point more with Damian playing off guard....just change it up.

 

[Chris Craig]

I've watched parts of the other games, but haven't really got into the other series...other than checking the scores and seeing who won...what the series tally is...

 

[illmatic99]

I think Portland should start Ed Davis at center, because he's a much better finisher inside. Maybe even play Crabbe more so he can hit 3s rather than Aminu. Bring Mason off the bench as backup PF rather than Vonleh, and bring Kaman off bench as 2nd center. I'd also like to see Roberts and CJ running the point more with Damian playing off guard....just change it up.

You want Allen Crabbe or Harkless defending Griffin?

What

 

[Darkwebs]

I think there should be an answer for "none". Because that's me.

Okay, I've edited the poll to include None as an answer.

 

[Chris Craig]

The Blazers will start the same lineup...Kaman will not be inserted at starting center...Plumlee will not be moved to starting PF. The Blazers will bring the same/ a similar strategy to game 2. They just need to hit the shots this game...let CJ bring the ball up court some allowing Dame to run off the defender(s)...Aminu is going to have to make the Clippers pay, hit those wide open threes...bring it inside and put it down when he has the space...Plumlee and Davis need to step it up...make deandre their bitch...

It all comes down to this...they are in LA and as disgustingly biased as it is, the refs will heavily favor the Clippers once again...we cannot find ourselves forcing shots inside, drawing contact and just throwing the ball up hoping for a whistle...because it's not happening unless they hack Ed again...we have to be a shot first oriented team tonight...taking the best fg percentage shots we can...if we do somehow get a whistle good....but take the best shot first...that and play the best one on one with weakside help defense we can...and we will get this game!

 

[blue9]

If Stotts deploys the Hack-a-Jordan strategy in the first half while Ed is in the game I'm gonna lose my shit.

 

[Chris Craig]

If Stotts deploys the Hack-a-Jordan strategy in the first half while Ed is in the game I'm gonna lose my shit.

Yeah Stotts don't use the hack with Ed in the game...don't use it out of desperation...or just to make the game longer...use it as a weapon...

 

[Trackjack]

I have read what we should be doing but what I worry about is Stotts doesn't like make adjustment and the playoffs is all about adjustment to what the other team is doing. The next thing is can we be as physical as them and playoffs can get physical. Yes I know the refs won't let us be physical but do it anyway make the refs make adjustment I know they won't plus it might get the clippers thinking of something beside the game.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't think that's what he's saying at all. I think he's saying attack the hedge man. If you are not splitting the double team that is certainly who you should attack.

I do get that. But i worry about getting any calls in LA?

 

[Chris Craig]

Regardless of what the refs do...we need to get physical...get under the clips skin...make them angry...fight

 

[Sinobas]

You want Allen Crabbe or Harkless defending Griffin?

What

Harkless

 

[BBert]

If Stotts deploys the Hack-a-Jordan strategy in the first half while Ed is in the game I'm gonna lose my shit.

If Stotts is going to hack a Jordan, he needs to pull our bad free throw shooters from the game during the stoppage in play. Of course, then we won't have anyone to rebound the miss. We miss Meyers.

Would Glenn hack a Plumlee?

 

[Chris Craig]

If Stotts is going to hack a Jordan, he needs to pull our bad free throw shooters from the game during the stoppage in play. Of course, then we won't have anyone to rebound the miss. We miss Meyers.

Would Glenn hack a Plumlee?

Hed hack his mother if it won him the game

 

[BigGameDamian]

I have read what we should be doing but what I worry about is Stotts doesn't like make adjustment and the playoffs is all about adjustment to what the other team is doing. The next thing is can we be as physical as them and playoffs can get physical. Yes I know the refs won't let us be physical but do it anyway make the refs make adjustment I know they won't plus it might get the clippers thinking of something beside the game.

I agree. Starting Kaman might not be a bad idea. Have him try to get in Blake's head a little, push him around a bit.

 

[BBert]

Hed hack his mother if if it won him the game

Can his mom hit a free throw? I know she works for free.

To the question though: Is Plumlee's free throw shooting improved enough? Jordan shoots in the mid-40s and Plumlee shoots in the mid-50s, so if we are trading free throws that's a slight advantage to Portland, but is it significant in that situation?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I just want us to make open shots tonight. That is a must.