Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 3: BLAZERS @ PELICANS - APRIL 19, 2018, THURSDAY, 6PM PDT, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
49 - 33
(21-20 Road)
NEW ORLEANSPELICANS
48 - 34
(24-17 Home)

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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS RAJON RONDO

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS JRUE HOLIDAY

PF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS E’TWAUN MOORE

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS NIKOLA MIROTIĆ

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS ANTHONY DAVIS

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

WHEN: 6:00 PM, THURSDAY, 4/19/2018

WHERE: SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

NAPIER , BALDWIN IV , CONNAUGHTON

TURNER , LAYMAN

SWANIGAN , COLLINS

DAVIS , LEONARD , PAPAGIANNIS

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

DREW II , CLARK , COOKE

CRAWFORD , LIGGINS , HILL

MILLER , DIALLO , OKAFOR



INJURIES
BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg contusion): QUESTIONABLE
Evan Turner (right toe): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (G LEAGUE): OUT
PELICANS
DeMarcus Cousins (Left Achilles Rupture): OUT
Alexis Ajinca (Right Knee Injury): OUT
Frank Jackson (Right Foot Fracture): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- ALVIN GENTRY



PELICANS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
TRAIL BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

SEASON SERIES NOTES
• Portland and New Orleans split the season series 2-2, with each team winning once on the road.
• The aggregate final score of the four-game series was 439-438, Trail Blazers, with all four games being decided by 10 points or fewer.
• LAST MEETING: Damian Lillard scored 20 of his 41 points in the fi nal period in the Trail Blazers’ 107-103 comeback victory in New Orleans on March 27. Anthony Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks for the Pelicans.
• Lillard led the Trail Blazers in scoring vs. New Orleans this season, posting averages of 26.5 points (42.7% FG, 25.6% 3-PT, 77.8% FT), 7.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.25 steals in four games.
• Lillard has scored at least 25 points in seven of his last nine games against New Orleans.
• Six Trail Blazers averaged double digits in scoring vs. New Orleans this season (Lillard, 26.5; CJ McCollum, 17.5; Jusuf Nurkic, 15.0; Al-Farouq Aminu, 11.0; Evan Turner, 10.3; Shabazz Napier, 10.0).
• DeMarcus Cousins led the Pelicans in scoring vs. Portland, averaging 33.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.00 blocks in three games.
• Anthony Davis also played three games vs. the Trail Blazers, posting averages of 24.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.00 blocks.
• Davis did not play in the Pelicans’ 123-116 win at the Moda Center on Dec. 2.
• The Trail Blazers have held their opponents to 44.5% shooting from the fi eld since the All-Star break (fifth in NBA) while the Pelicans have held their opponents to 44.3% shooting from the field in that period (third in NBA).

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• This is the first time the Trail Blazers and Pelicans have met in the postseason.
• Portland has now played all 14 Western Conference opponents in the playoffs, but faced the Thunder before they moved from Seattle, and the Kings in Kansas City.
• New Orleans has a 15-25 all-time record in the playoffs in six trips to the postseason.
• The Pelicans/Hornets have won one playoff series, a 4-1 fi rst-round win over the Dallas Mavericks in 2007-08. New Orleans went on to
lose to San Antonio in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals.
• The Pelicans’ last postseason trip was in 2015, a 4-0 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

CONNECTIONS
• Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu played three seasons for the Pelicans, averaging 6.9 points (45.7% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 71.6% FT), 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.05 steals in 222 games (157 starts) from 2011-14.
• Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns team that defeated the Trail Blazers 4-2 in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs.
• This marks the third consecutive season New Orleans guard Ian Clark has faced the Trail Blazers in the playoffs. He averaged 6.5 ppg
vs. Portland over eight games the past two postseasons with the Golden State Warriors.
• All-Stars Anthony Davis (selected first overall) and Damian Lillard (sixth overall) were members of the same 2012 NBA Draft class.
• Trail Blazers guard/forward Evan Turner and Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday were teammates on the Philadelphia 76ers from 2010-13.
• Turner and Pelicans forward Solomon Hill were teammates on the Indiana Pacers in 2013-14.
• Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis and Pelicans forward/center Alexis Ajinca were teammates in Toronto in 2010-11.
• Pelicans assistant coach Jamelle McMillan is the son of former Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: Loss 97-95



GAME #2: Loss 111-102

​

 

[Chris Craig]

Another loss

 

[KingSpeed]

Another loss

NO DUDE

 

[BrunoSOC]

If we wanna win this series we need to win this one

 

[Darkwebs]

Blazers have lost 8 Playoff games in a row, and 10 of 11. It's so depressing.

 

[KingSpeed]

Dame says he's "not down about it at all."

 

[KingSpeed]

I assume you mean 'not'...?

yes, not

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Dame says he's "not down about it at all."

He gets paid either way so yeah, makes sense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Can they steal a game? Sure. Will they? Well . . .

 

[Darkwebs]

Can they steal a game? Sure. Will they? Well . . .

Good point. I've edited the wording for the poll

 

[SynTax]

We can't fall behind 3-0. There has been no teams to ever overcome that. But there was a team just last year that overcame a 2-0 deficit. I think Harkless in the starting lineup can change this team a lot. Dame needs to be surrounded by good role-players, not guys that need the ball in their hands to do anything good. I hope we get another good game from Aminu and get the win!

 

[THE HCP]

Man, you guys must really like DarkWing..... you let him create ANOTHER game thread??

 

[SIeepwalker]

HCA is overrated anyway, let's win the next 2 !



The next 4 actually

 

[kjironman1]

If we wanna win this series we need to win this one

This is the first actual "MUST WIN" game of the entire season bro.
There is no way they will come back from 0-3. It has never happened and it won't happen in this series either.

In the past Blazer teams have said "Why Not Us". Well i'm here to tell you not this year. They absolutely need to win game three if they even think there is a chance at playing another game at Moda.

 

[TBpup]

I voted 'Yes' because I find it hard to believe they would get swept as a #3 seed regardless of how close #3-#9 was. Then again, if the Blazers go just 10-3 during that 13 game win streak, they don't even make the Playoffs.....so maybe we shouldn't be that surprised.

 

[trailblazer18]

https://www.theringer.com/nba-playo...ns-blazers-damian-lillard-jrue-holiday-game-2

Two terrible games in the playoffs destroys everything Dame has done...

 

[illmatic99]

This will be a painful summer for Dame.

 

[TBpup]

This will be a painful summer for Dame.

Hopefully some hard questions are asked.

1. Regardless that Stotts is the only NBA coach he has ever had, is it possible it's time for a change?
2. I get he is besties with CJ....but that just doesn't work to have 2 smallish guards, neither of whom plays very good defense, does it?

 

[BBert]

Since the winning streak, Dame has been playing like he's living with a newborn baby. I can't explain it.

Getting out of town might be the best thing for him.

And us.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Hopefully some hard questions are asked.

1. Regardless that Stotts is the only NBA coach he has ever had, is it possible it's time for a change?
2. I get he is besties with CJ....but that just doesn't work to have 2 smallish guards, neither of whom plays very good defense, does it?

It doesn't work if the rules that govern the 82-game season no longer apply in the playoffs. Jrue said it clearly in his postgame interview - they're letting him be more physical in the playoffs, so he's always got a hand on Dame. There's no mystery here - they're fouling him and getting away with it.

 

[TBpup]

It doesn't work if the rules that govern the 82-game season no longer apply in the playoffs. Jrue said it clearly in his postgame interview - they're letting him be more physical in the playoffs, so he's always got a hand on Dame. There's no mystery here - they're fouling him and getting away with it.

But that is no mystery and no surprise. The players are ALWAYS allowed to be more physical and there are less fouls called in the Playoffs. Blazers just aren't being very physical. That is a Stotts thing....nice guy....great guy...but where is the toughness?

 

[tester551]

It doesn't work if the rules that govern the 82-game season no longer apply in the playoffs. Jrue said it clearly in his postgame interview - they're letting him be more physical in the playoffs, so he's always got a hand on Dame. There's no mystery here - they're fouling him and getting away with it.

That's how playoff basketball is always officiated. Adjust to it or loose.

 

[BBert]

Tell that to Patty. The ref's sure didn't put up with Patty's head getting physical with Davis' shoulder. Or Aminu swiping at air. Or six other phantom calls. It sure seems like who is allowed to get physical in the playoffs depends on the script. In this case, I have a funny feeling the story line is: "Unibrow Wins First Playoff Series". That will be so heartwarming. I can't wait for the ending.

 

[Labinot41]

ABSOLUTELY FUCKING MUST WIN !!!!!

 

[DDolla]

Since No Lillard Time in the Playoffs, Pels Win by a blowout then Blazers Win game 4

 

[Strenuus]

That's how playoff basketball is always officiated. Adjust to it or loose.

lol. you have spelt "lose" loose like 4 times. Is your auto-correct non-contextual!

Still like your posts, but that pattern lol.

 

[twobullz]

If the Blazers want any chance of winning, the bigs need to start setting some decent screens. The Pelican's guards are not having any issue getting through the screens and are sticking with the blazers guards. If they can't screen the guards off, the blazers are going to continue to be in trouble.

 

[blue9]

Yes. I do think we'll steal a game. But honestly, at this point, I'd rather we didn't.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Tell that to Patty. The ref's sure didn't put up with Patty's head getting physical with Davis' shoulder. Or Aminu swiping at air. Or six other phantom calls. It sure seems like who is allowed to get physical in the playoffs depends on the script. In this case, I have a funny feeling the story line is: "Unibrow Wins First Playoff Series". That will be so heartwarming. I can't wait for the ending.

we didn't lose because of the refs

 

[illmatic99]

Decided to finally change the avatar. Gotta do something to shake up our luck