Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 2: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - MAY 24, 2021 - MONDAY, 7:00 , TNT & NBCSNW

[THE HCP]

I would ask that nobody contacts my boss and tell them I am predicting a Lakers series win. I have bills to pay.

 

[Chris Craig]

DAMN YOU! Watching it right now and there’s 9 minutes left!!!!!!! AGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Lakers in 6 by the way.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I would ask that nobody contacts my boss and tell them I am predicting a Lakers series win. I have bills to pay.

Bet money on Blazers to win it all and retire.

 

[THE HCP]

Makes sense.

Well I’m glad ONE of us does FAMS!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[garbagetime]

Nuggets won 5 more games than us. Nuggets are 3 seed. Nuggets went 13-5 after Murray injury. That’s why the Blazers winning is an upset.

It would be an upset if the Nuggets even win one game. They got no Barton. They got no Murray. Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon suck. All the got is Jokic and that ain't enough. Austin Rivers should have retired about 5 years ago. He ain't worth a shit either. The Nuggets are dead meat. They had no chance at the beginning of the series. That is why when the Blazers win, it will not be an upset.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

It would be an upset if the Nuggets even win one game. They got no Barton. They got no Murray. Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon suck. All the got is Jokic and that ain't enough. Austin Rivers should have retired about 5 years ago. He ain't worth a shit either. The Nuggets are dead meat. They had no chance at the beginning of the series. That is why when the Blazers win, it will not be an upset.

I'm thinking you should prepare yourself to be upset. The Nuggets most likely will win a game. Beating any team twice in their own gym is tough enough let alone a very good team with an MVP caliber player.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Denver in 6

Stop hating big bro! Blazers in 6!

 

[Tince]

It would be an upset if the Nuggets even win one game. They got no Barton. They got no Murray. Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon suck. All the got is Jokic and that ain't enough. Austin Rivers should have retired about 5 years ago. He ain't worth a shit either. The Nuggets are dead meat. They had no chance at the beginning of the series. That is why when the Blazers win, it will not be an upset.

I know people like to poo poo on gambling odds, but Vegas had this thing as coinflip; nowhere near a landsize advantage for Portland. We're even underdogs tomorrow... go make yourself some money!

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I know people like to poo poo on gambling odds, but Vegas had this thing as coinflip; nowhere near a landsize advantage for Portland. We're even underdogs tomorrow... go make yourself some money!

There are those around who feel Vegas doesn't know squat? I'm not one of them.

 

[THE HCP]

It would be an upset if the Nuggets even win one game. They got no Barton. They got no Murray. Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon suck. All the got is Jokic and that ain't enough. Austin Rivers should have retired about 5 years ago. He ain't worth a shit either. The Nuggets are dead meat. They had no chance at the beginning of the series. That is why when the Blazers win, it will not be an upset.

Bro..... what is this?

 

[Tince]

There are those around who feel Vegas doesn't know squat? I'm not one of them.

Well that might be a bit too simplistic.

The general belief is that the main goal of a sportsbook is to turn a profit and the best way to do this with minimal risk is to get even money (I agree). The flaw comes in those who believe there is a consistent and sizable gap between the number that would bring in even money and what the real expected outcome should be. For that logic to be true, it would require that the smart money has gone decades without being able to identify and taken advantage of a major flaw/opportunity in how lines are made.

 

[THE HCP]

Stop hating big bro! Blazers in 6!

Says the dude who has been slamming this team EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY for the past 5 months......NOW he thinks we’re good enough to win.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Says the dude who has been slamming this team EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY for the past 5 months......NOW he thinks we’re good enough to win.

Against this team yes. Next round tho? Phx or Lakers would destroy us.

 

[royo]

I wonder if Mike will try to shut Dame down this time. It is obvious he should.

I've been slamming this team as well this and previous seasons. For lazyness and hero ball.
With oncourt discipline, effort and team play, I'm with them 100%.
Go and beat them hard.

 

[stampedehero]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
42 - 30
(22-14 Road)
DENVER NUGGETS
47 - 25
(25-11 Home)

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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS FACUNDO CAMPAZZO

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS AUSTIN RIVERS

SF

NORMAN POWELL VS MICHAEL PORTER Jr.

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS AARON GORDON

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS NIKOLA JOKIC

--------------------------------------------------------------

------- JERSEYS -------

---

------------------------------------------------------


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), MONDAY, 5/24/2021

WHERE: BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

------------------------------------------------------


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

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER


---- DENVER NUGGETS ----

MORRIS , HOWARD , DOZIER

BARTON , HARRISON , CANCAR

GREEN , MILLSAP , NNAJI

McGEE , BOL




INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
NUGGETS
Will Barton (right hamstring strain): QUESTIONABLE
P.J. Dozier (strained right adductor): QUESTIONABLE
Jamal Murray (torn left ACL): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MICHAEL MALONE

OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

​

PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: WIN 123-109

​

Wanted in 8 States for Used Car bait & switch games.

 

[Chris Craig]

I wonder if Mike will try to shut Dame down this time. It is obvious he should.

I've been slamming this team as well this and previous seasons. For lazyness and hero ball.
With oncourt discipline, effort and team play, I'm with them 100%.
Go and beat them hard.

ITS MICHAEL DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr. Robot]

heres a stat for you:

jokic shoot 6/16 against nurkic, scoring 16 pts on 37.5% efficiency

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This has just become such an interesting phenomenon around here. The SAME EXACT people who have been just absolutely killing our Blazers this year for EVERYTHING from our defense to our coach are the EXACT SAME ones who, since we found out we were playing Denver, are preaching how we should win this series hands down, no questions asked. How we are favorited and anything but a sweep is an embarrassment? I’m so confused by this. Why in the fuck if we have the WORST coach in the NBA and the WORST defensive EVER......should we make the playoffs, let alone “easily beat” the #3 seed? PLEASE somebody explain. According to most, we weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs, right?
Said it before, say it again......preseason I think I said 42 wins, 7th or 8th seed and a 1st round exit.
#CLOWNTOWN

I'm not offended to be considered a clown, that's how I got through high school. I think the Clown position is that the talent disparity is so great that we can overcome the mediocre coaching.

 

[wizenheimer]

This has just become such an interesting phenomenon around here. The SAME EXACT people who have been just absolutely killing our Blazers this year for EVERYTHING from our defense to our coach are the EXACT SAME ones who, since we found out we were playing Denver, are preaching how we should win this series hands down, no questions asked. How we are favorited and anything but a sweep is an embarrassment? I’m so confused by this. Why in the fuck if we have the WORST coach in the NBA and the WORST defensive EVER......should we make the playoffs, let alone “easily beat” the #3 seed? PLEASE somebody explain. According to most, we weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs, right?
Said it before, say it again......preseason I think I said 42 wins, 7th or 8th seed and a 1st round exit.
#CLOWNTOWN

wow...a lot to unpack there

first thing: Portland ended the season with a defensive rating of 116.0, which, IIRC, is the 3rd worst defensive rating in NBA history. So, anybody saying that Portland's defense was really bad is correct; it was really bad

as for Stotts, I have never been a big advocate of firing Stotts. I've never been a fan either. I think Portland needs a major shake-up, and yeah, the assumption is they won't win the championship this year. Under Stotts, Portland has averaged less than 46 wins in the regular season and has a .368 winning percentage in the playoffs. That looks a lot like mediocrity. That's not all on Stotts obviously, he can only play the rosters he's given, but added to the defensive issues of the Blazers, that's a case of too much forgiveness for a HC.

finally, in terms of many saying the Blazers should beat Denver. There were 3 obvious bad match-ups, among the top-4 seeds, and one good one. Portland got the good one. And that starts with Denver being the one team of the four poorly equipped to significantly limit Dame. On top of that, Denver is missing 3 players in the back court. Right now, Denver is weakest where Portland is strongest. That's a bad formula for playoff success

 

[Scalma]

Weird game. As a fan I won’t be stressed watching this one. We’ve already stolen home court. But as a player I figure going up 2-0 on the road is something to go all out for. Anything can happen but I still don’t think this nuggets team will beat Portland four times. If they do, Stotts shouldn’t even survive the night after elimination. This is only a three seed on paper.

 

[garbagetime]

Denver in 6

Here, let me finish your sentence, since you did not put a period on it

Denver in 6 when they get a special exemption to play in the G League Finals.

 

[garbagetime]

I'm thinking you should prepare yourself to be upset. The Nuggets most likely will win a game. Beating any team twice in their own gym is tough enough let alone a very good team with an MVP caliber player.

Winning with a MVP caliber player with nothing else surrounding him is real hard. The Nuggets will get swept unless they just forfeit the series like they should.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

heres a stat for you:

jokic shoot 6/16 against nurkic, scoring 16 pts on 37.5% efficiency

Wow thats surprising, it looked like he made some very difficult shots and also went right around Nurk a couple times. Maybe a couple of those were desperate attempts at the end. If Nurk can limit him to that efficiency one on one we can go get the brooms.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

wow...a lot to unpack there

first thing: Portland ended the season with a defensive rating of 116.0, which, IIRC, is the 3rd worst defensive rating in NBA history. So, anybody saying that Portland's defense was really bad is correct; it was really bad

as for Stotts, I have never been a big advocate of firing Stotts. I've never been a fan either. I think Portland needs a major shake-up, and yeah, the assumption is they won't win the championship this year. Under Stotts, Portland has averaged less than 46 wins in the regular season and has a .368 winning percentage in the playoffs. That looks a lot like mediocrity. That's not all on Stotts obviously, he can only play the rosters he's given, but added to the defensive issues of the Blazers, that's a case of too much forgiveness for a HC.

finally, in terms of many saying the Blazers should beat Denver. There were 3 obvious bad match-ups, among the top-4 seeds, and one good one. Portland got the good one. And that starts with Denver being the one team of the four poorly equipped to significantly limit Dame. On top of that, Denver is missing 3 players in the back court. Right now, Denver is weakest where Portland is strongest. That's a bad formula for playoff success

The NBA had far and away the worst defensive rating in history this year as offenses continue to be even more efficient, so while we can compare our defensive stats to other teams this year I don't see a reason to rank it to historical seasons.

Fans want a major shake-up because they get frustrated watching a team that doesn't contend. Very few teams contend, its rare, I've accepted it most likely won't happen but if it does that would be awesome. Dallas won a title with some unexciting acquisitions after many years of mediocrity, and not doing the shakeups many fans wanted.

We played much of the season with Enes Kanter as our starting center, so of course our defense was shit. Kanter and Melo were 3rd and 4th on the team in minutes. It really amazing we won as much as we did with such a terrible defense. We needed those guys to create offense when there was no CJ, no Nurk, and DJJ starting.

With our current starting lineup our defense has been solid and offense has stayed spectacular.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Wow thats surprising, it looked like he made some very difficult shots and also went right around Nurk a couple times. Maybe a couple of those were desperate attempts at the end. If Nurk can limit him to that efficiency one on one we can go get the brooms.

he did, but people remember the shots he made, not the shots he missed

 

[Pinwheel1]

The NBA had far and away the worst defensive rating in history this year as offenses continue to be even more efficient, so while we can compare our defensive stats to other teams this year I don't see a reason to rank it to historical seasons.

I was thinking the same while watching the games this weekend. Guarding a player on the perimeter is tough with the rules. The rule where you have to give the shooter space to land....makes it really hard to get up close to the shooter.

 

[DDolla]

Let’s Go Blazers. Just Win Baby!

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The NBA had far and away the worst defensive rating in history this year as offenses continue to be even more efficient, so while we can compare our defensive stats to other teams this year I don't see a reason to rank it to historical seasons.

Fans want a major shake-up because they get frustrated watching a team that doesn't contend. Very few teams contend, its rare, I've accepted it most likely won't happen but if it does that would be awesome. Dallas won a title with some unexciting acquisitions after many years of mediocrity, and not doing the shakeups many fans wanted.

We played much of the season with Enes Kanter as our starting center, so of course our defense was shit. Kanter and Melo were 3rd and 4th on the team in minutes. It really amazing we won as much as we did with such a terrible defense. We needed those guys to create offense when there was no CJ, no Nurk, and DJJ starting.

With our current starting lineup our defense has been solid and offense has stayed spectacular.

Dallas didn’t have many years of mediocrity. They usually had a high seed. They made WCF in 2003 and Finals in 2006. Best record in NBA in 2007.

 

[THE HCP]

Here, let me finish your sentence, since you did not put a period on it

Denver in 6 when they get a special exemption to play in the G League Finals.

I absolutely love that you posted this sentence WITHOUT A PERIOD!