Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 1: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - APRIL 29, 2019 - MONDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

[kjironman1]

But can't rely on that and just have to be better at the things we can control.

I really like this statement. Make the shots and control the game by not making bad passes and turning the ball over. make the free throws you do get and you keep the refs out of the final score.

 

[Labinot41]

Turner played pretty well and so did Meyers. Can't say they scored well but they didn't hurt the team.

You need scoring outside of Dame, Kanter and CJ

 

[e_blazer]

No team hits 100% of their free throws. The Blazers were the #2 free throw percentage team in the NBA this year, shooting 81.2% on average. If they had shot their average tonight, they'd have hit 22 of 27 free throws instead of 20. So, still a loss, just 2 points closer.

Overall, the issue was their defense. They played decent defense in spurts when Jokic and Murray were off the court, but they didn't get stops when the Nuggets had their starters out there. Slowing the Denver attack, especially on their home floor, is going to be a tough ask. But the Blazers kept it close with their own pretty strong offensive showing. If they can at least slow the Jokic/Murray tandem, they have a great chance to steal one in Denver.

Jokic is going to get his, but most nights Dame will match him. Slowing down Milsap and Murray is the key.

 

[e_blazer]

BTW, man I missed the local coverage. Listening to McHale’s blather will make you dumber by the minute.

 

[Wade Garrett]

BTW, man I missed the local coverage. Listening to McHale’s blather will make you dumber by the minute.

There are no more local broadcasts.
Hopefully we'll get Haarlan or Albert from now on because McHale is torture.

 

[wizenheimer]

Evan Turner 8 points 4 assists 0 turnovers in 10 minutes. A +4.

ET scored as many points tonight as I did

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[kjironman1]

You need scoring outside of Dame, Kanter and CJ

No question there. Tonight they got some from Hood. Would liked to have seen some from Curry. They usually get more from Aminu. and Harkless has been scoring better also.
There is another issue. Kanter scored very well tonight but you can tell he is not the same on the boards. While the Blazers still out rebounded the Nuggets they missed a few of those put backs they usually get.

 

[wizenheimer]

ok then...I'll play the optimist: this game reminded me a lot of the 1st game in OKC. The opponent was knocking down shots all over the floor, getting plenty of home-cooking whistles, and getting all the breaks.

but Portland corrected things in the next game and won going away in the 4th. Wasn't close.

will history repeat?

 

[e_blazer]

ET scored as many points tonight as I did

He hard 8 boards, 4 assists and 1 block. You?

 

[hoopsjock]

Find someone to guard Millsap. Thought Aminu did the best job again, but he's making every contested shot right now it seems like.

I wish Aminu would just play straight up and keep his feet connected to the ground without jumping for blocked shots. He got caught a couple times where Milsap pumped fake from a position on the court where you let him shoot a contested jumper and live with the results but instead got an easier shot because Aminu fell for it or fouled him.

 

[royo]

1. Game was tied all the time till end of 2nd q, when refs kicked us in the balls and set momentum for them.
2. "Mountain factor" was there for sure. Even Dame looked like he wasn't thinking clear. Moe just could not catch the ball in his hands.
3. Terry's rotation is a mistery for me (but I'm not complaining)
4. Again and again from me - Curry factor. First shot he took was after team almost lost the ball and there was no one else to pass it to. Lillard (I think) wanted it, Seth decided to take it and he hit the 3. Second time it was missed 3pointer with a foul. You wrot he suck cos of missing ft. I call BS. How can you be confident on the ft line when your team ignores you in offense. He's just running the floor all the time, playing defence and then just stays in the corner in offense. No one pass the ball to Curry and surely there is no fuckin single play for him in Terry's book. We talking about 50% 3poin shooter. It's really hard to watch. Maybe no one likes him, maybe his bb iq is too low to set the play for him. Either way, if you gonna play him like this Terry, you better put Layman in.

edit: I forgot to write that I'm not worried about game two. No way refs can put shitshow again and Blazers will be ok with breathing till Wed.

 

[kjironman1]

ET scored as many points tonight as I did

The 8 is rebounds. He was very effective on the boards and he got 4 assists. Turner played just fine. All in 10 mins.

 

[JDC]

I wish Aminu would just play straight up and keep his feet connected to the ground without jumping for blocked shots. He got caught a couple times where Milsap pumped fake from a position on the court where you let him shoot a contested jumper and live with the results but instead got an easier shot because Aminu fell for it or fouled him.

Yup. He definitely was jumpy tonight.

I expect that to improve in game 2 though. Can't get much worse offensively either.

 

[A$AP Meyers]

Denver’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 128

Portland’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 106


Kanter is a problem , folks. He played his ass off tonight. But him matched up with Jokic is a nightmare. Don’t let his scoring fool you.

 

[Wade Garrett]

1. Game was tied all the time till end of 2nd q, when refs kicked us in the balls and set momentum for them.
2. "Mountain factor" was there for sure. Even Dame looked like he wasn't thinking clear. Moe just could not catch the ball in his hands.
3. Terry's rotation is a mistery for me (but I'm not complaining)
4. Again and again from me - Curry factor. First shot he took was after team almost lost the ball and there was no one else to pass it to. Lillard (I think) wanted it, Seth decided to take it and he hit the 3. Second time it was missed 3pointer with a foul. You wrot he suck cos of missing ft. I call BS. How can you be confident on the ft line when your team ignores you in offense. He's just running the floor all the time, playing defence and then just stays in the corner in offense. No one pass the ball to Curry and surely there is no fuckin single play for him in Terry's book. We talking about 50% 3poin shooter. It's really hard to watch. Maybe no one likes him, maybe his bb iq is too low to set the play for him. Either way, if you gonna play him like this Terry, you better put Layman in.

edit: I forgot to write that I'm not worried about game two. No way refs can put shitshow again and Blazers will be ok with breathing till Wed.

Wow!

 

[Labinot41]

He hard 8 boards, 4 assists and 1 block. You?

Thats not good enough for a 18 million guy

 

[e_blazer]

Thats not good enough for a 18 million guy

Never seen a contract make a big contribution in a game yet.

 

[kjironman1]

Thats not good enough for a 18 million guy

No sense even bringing that up right now. When the season is over bitch about that all you want.

 

[kjironman1]

Never seen a contract make a big contribution in a game yet.

Exactly.

 

[e_blazer]

Denver’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 128

Portland’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 106


Kanter is a problem , folks. He played his ass off tonight. But him matched up with Jokic is a nightmare. Don’t let his scoring fool you.

And your solution is what, more Meyers Leonard?

 

[kjironman1]

Denver’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 128

Portland’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 106


Kanter is a problem , folks. He played his ass off tonight. But him matched up with Jokic is a nightmare. Don’t let his scoring fool you.

The Stats tell the story. Sure.

 

[kjironman1]

And your solution is what, more Meyers Leonard?

Meyers did well enough to give Kanter rest he needed. Meyers gave a different look and did make Jokic work.
Funny thing was Aminu Harkless and Seth had better luck with quickness against him.

 

[illmatic99]

And your solution is what, more Meyers Leonard?

I'd go super small and switchy

 

[Dougnsalem]

Lol. "I'm just here for the hot dogs" on his shirt. Dude needs to give the Burger "King" the boot.... Nasty.

 

[A$AP Meyers]

And your solution is what, more Meyers Leonard?

Perhaps. Or Collins.

I also wouldn’t be opposed to going smaller at times and conceding Jokic getting his if it means he isn’t kicking out to guys for 3s

 

[hoopsjock]

Denver’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 128

Portland’s offensive rating when Jokic and Kanter were both ON: 106


Kanter is a problem , folks. He played his ass off tonight. But him matched up with Jokic is a nightmare. Don’t let his scoring fool you.

Kanter played most of his minutes with all or at least some of CJ, Aminu, and Harkless on the court who were all brutally bad tonight.

What does that mean? It means you're blaming the wrong person.

 

[wizenheimer]

He hard 8 boards, 4 assists and 1 block. You?

what are you talking about? I was responding to a post that said he had 8 points

"Evan Turner 8 points 4 assists 0 turnovers in 10 minutes. A +4."

"ET scored as many points tonight as I did"

context

 

[HailBlazers]

Overall, the issue was their defense. They played decent defense in spurts when Jokic and Murray were off the court, but they didn't get stops when the Nuggets had their starters out there. Slowing the Denver attack, especially on their home floor, is going to be a tough ask. But the Blazers kept it close with their own pretty strong offensive showing. If they can at least slow the Jokic/Murray tandem, they have a great chance to steal one in Denver.

Without our Bosnian anchor Den will tough. Leonard looked solid enough defensely on Joker, but man he's deer in headlights on offense too often. Way to much hesitation from the role players tonight, overall lack of ball movement from everyone.

 

[BonesJones]

1. Game was tied all the time till end of 2nd q, when refs kicked us in the balls and set momentum for them.
2. "Mountain factor" was there for sure. Even Dame looked like he wasn't thinking clear. Moe just could not catch the ball in his hands.
3. Terry's rotation is a mistery for me (but I'm not complaining)
4. Again and again from me - Curry factor. First shot he took was after team almost lost the ball and there was no one else to pass it to. Lillard (I think) wanted it, Seth decided to take it and he hit the 3. Second time it was missed 3pointer with a foul. You wrot he suck cos of missing ft. I call BS. How can you be confident on the ft line when your team ignores you in offense. He's just running the floor all the time, playing defence and then just stays in the corner in offense. No one pass the ball to Curry and surely there is no fuckin single play for him in Terry's book. We talking about 50% 3poin shooter. It's really hard to watch. Maybe no one likes him, maybe his bb iq is too low to set the play for him. Either way, if you gonna play him like this Terry, you better put Layman in.

edit: I forgot to write that I'm not worried about game two. No way refs can put shitshow again and Blazers will be ok with breathing till Wed.

Nobody thinks he actually sucls, its venting. He misses 2 FTs, he sucks. He makes 2 straight threes, hes awesome. So.e people just let their emotions hangout on the forum in game threads and people should be able to realize who they are and what theyre really about (do they say "Curry sucks" all the time or is it just said out of frustration?).