Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 3: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - APRIL 19, 2019, FRIDAY, 6:30 PM , ESPN & NBCSNW

[rotary111]

Knrstz from the Thunderfans site. F OKC!

"This team isn't changing or getting better. Presti and others don't want to rebuild so they should just continue to take the beatings with a smile. This has basically been a .500 team since the all star break. No reason we should have ever been favored over the Nurkic-less Blazers. We are the type of team that gets exposed the playoffs because coaching and players aren't smart.

I'll always be a thunder fan but I'm so ready for the days when the Russel Westbrook era is over. I would rather be a team like the Brooklyn Nets who lack stars but overachieve because they play the right way then the most underachieving franchise in the NBA."

Time to step on their throats and rip their hearts out! No mercy.

 

[Orion Bailey]

 

[BBert]

That's what great teams do. I hope we have that attitude.

Dame does. It's written on his face. He's going to drag the rest with him.

 

[LuckyShot]

I'd look for Westbrook to come out firing. He seems to do this when his back is against the wall, while he attempted 39 and 43 attempts in their two elimination games in the first round last year. I'm totally OK with him doing this btw.

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As long as we make him work, let him fire away. If he hits shots he normally misses, we live with it because he won't do it and lead his team to victory for 4 games out of the next 5. One thing is for certain: we have to value the basketball on each possession and limit his opportunities in transition. After watching highlight recaps of games 1 and 2 I noticed that the majority of his damage scoring in game 1 was in transition. In game 2 he had maybe one basket in transition and as a result he struggled. I think getting a few easy baskets going downhill in transition really boosts his already overinflated ego and he just smells blood in the water and starts attacking with more vigor. Keep sending help and making him pass it out in the half court. Won't be long before he completely loses faith in his teammates other than George and goes full hero ball mode.

 

[LuckyShot]

I'd love a sweep but more realistically, hoping for at least a split and a win in Game 5. That would set the Blazers up for what I believe would be an extra day or so of rest before the winner of the Spurs/Nugs series. Also, it would just be less of a mental grind which is huge this time of year.

I know this sounds weird, but if we swept them I'd actually be worried about us getting too much time off. I feel like this team really struggles with coming into a game fully focused when they've had too many days off prior.

 

[blue9]

As long as we make him work, let him fire away. If he hits shots he normally misses, we live with it because he won't do it and lead his team to victory for 4 games out of the next 5. One thing is for certain: we have to value the basketball on each possession and limit his opportunities in transition. After watching highlight recaps of games 1 and 2 I noticed that the majority of his damage scoring in game 1 was in transition. In game 2 he had maybe one basket in transition and as a result he struggled. I think getting a few easy baskets going downhill in transition really boosts his already overinflated ego and he just smells blood in the water and starts attacking with more vigor. Keep sending help and making him pass it out in the half court. Won't be long before he completely loses faith in his teammates other than George and goes full hero ball mode.

Yup - make 'em (both 'Brook and Paul) shoot over the top of you, don't let them get near the hoop.

 

[hoopsjock]

I know this sounds weird, but if we swept them I'd actually be worried about us getting too much time off. I feel like this team really struggles with coming into a game fully focused when they've had too many days off prior.

We came out like gangbusters in Game 1 after several days off though.

 

[e_blazer]

I know this sounds weird, but if we swept them I'd actually be worried about us getting too much time off. I feel like this team really struggles with coming into a game fully focused when they've had too many days off prior.

There is no set of possible circumstances that could occur that would avoid half the posters on this board worrying that playoff disaster is imminent.

 

[LuckyShot]

There is no set of possible circumstances that could occur that would avoid half the posters on this board worrying that playoff disaster is imminent.

I mean... it's not like our history doesn't give us reason to worry about it...

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I know this sounds weird, but if we swept them I'd actually be worried about us getting too much time off. I feel like this team really struggles with coming into a game fully focused when they've had too many days off prior.

I dunno outside of the bench guys, they had a few days off between the regular season and playoffs and looked good. I think Dame especially might be in "I'm gonna prove it mode" right now, rest is good, but yeah it can take them out of their rhythm.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

There is no set of possible circumstances that could occur that would avoid half the posters on this board worrying that playoff disaster is imminent.

Up 3-0, up 20 in the 4th--clearly on the verge of a massive in-game collapse which will lead to the first ever 0-3 NBA comeback.

 

[LuckyShot]

We came out like gangbusters in Game 1 after several days off though.

True, but we were extremely pumped for our first home playoff game, and to prove last year was a fluke. I worry that the second round might be a different situation, especially if we sweep a team that everyone picked to beat us easily. Yes, I know, I worry about this team a lot. But when it comes to playoffs recently, they've given me a lot of reason to worry. Especially when it comes to coaching and being prepared as a team.

 

[LuckyShot]

I dunno outside of the bench guys, they had a few days off between the regular season and playoffs and looked good. I think Dame especially might be in "I'm gonna prove it mode" right now, rest is good, but yeah it can take them out of their rhythm.

I hope Dame and the rest of the team stays in prove it mode.

 

[e_blazer]

I mean... it's not like our history doesn't give us reason to worry about it...

And therein is the problem in this line of thinking. Any dose of reality would say that what happened in the past, say the Blazers' meltdown in 2000 vs. the Lakers, has zero influence on what happens in this year's playoffs. BUT...to the tinfoil hat wearers, all things painful in Blazers' history simply point to the "fact" that the basketball gods are out to get us and it's just a matter of time before they reach out and pull the wings off the current team just to watch us writhe in pain.

 

[Strenuus]

And therein is the problem in this line of thinking. Any dose of reality would say that what happened in the past, say the Blazers' meltdown in 2000 vs. the Lakers, has zero influence on what happens in this year's playoffs. BUT...to the tinfoil hat wearers, all things painful in Blazers' history simply point to the "fact" that the basketball gods are out to get us and it's just a matter of time before they reach out and pull the wings off the current team just to watch us writhe in pain.

THANK YOU. Its not hard to think about.

 

[THE HCP]

Trueblue is such a good guy, I think he does a great job with the rest of the forum. He puts in a ton of work here.

He is The King of the Virgin Mouthbreathers.....

 

[THE HCP]

I know this sounds weird, but if we swept them I'd actually be worried about us getting too much time off. I feel like this team really struggles with coming into a game fully focused when they've had too many days off prior.

Wow!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He is The King of the Virgin Mouthbreathers.....

What would we do without our leader?

 

[THE HCP]

What would we do without our leader?

That dude has almost 180,000 posts! What in the fuck?

 

[THE HCP]

Thats probably a handful of guys using that account?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Thats probably a handful of guys using that account?

You would know about handfuls of guys...

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Thats probably a handful of guys using that account?

The only requirement mrs HCP has, gotta post on that account before you leave.

 

[THE HCP]

You would know about handfuls of guys...

Look, I told you about that weekend in complete confidence and now you throw all my biz out on the streets like this? STRIKE 3!

 

[illmatic99]

We just need to stay close until the fourth quarter. The pressure on them is going to be immense.

 

[Reep]

In my dream world we put Collins on Westbrick at some point in the game and tell him to let Russ shoot anything beyond 20 feet, but nothing at the rim. Russ gets frustrated, sees Collins as punchable and goes at it.

Watching the last game, I wondered if Vanterool yelling at the guards to back off Westbrook was theater to try and get Russ to take the long shot. Dame should already know to let Russ shoot outside. Wondered if that was just to get under his skin.

 

[Cugel]

Hoping Zack can contribute bigly on Friday. We need his attitude and swagger to confront this crowd. Time for a breakout defensive Game for Zack. 10-10 and 5 blocks. There I said it.

 

[LayneStaley]

Fuck it, I’m calling a win in game 3, a loss in game 4 to a desperate OKC team, and then a series clinching win at home in game 5.

Go Blazers

 

[blue9]

Fuck it, I’m calling a win in game 3, a loss in game 4 to a desperate OKC team, and then a series clinching win at home in game 5.

Go Blazers

That is the ideal situation, IMO. The gentleman's sweep.

 

[THE HCP]

I’m in!
Nice knowin’ you clowns. Finally going to get the recognition I deserve. Say hi if you are over there!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I’m in!
Nice knowin’ you clowns. Finally going to get the recognition I deserve. Say hi if you are over there!
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Hey, didn't realize that "TheSebastianExpress" is a mod over there.

Be nice to her--she's awesome.