Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 5: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - MAY 7, 2019 - TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

[tykendo]

Dame's defense on Westbrook was pivotal. Working hard on defense didn't kill his shot in that series. The Nuggets are selling out on defense against Dame. Other Blazers HAVE to hit shots.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Dame's defense on Westbrook was pivotal. Working hard on defense didn't kill his shot in that series. The Nuggets are selling out on defense against Dame. Other Blazers HAVE to hit shots.

Dame and all his teammates (and Denver) are all playin their asses off.
But Damian does look unsure and tentative.
I thought towards the end of game 2 he was getting to the rim and was hoping to see a consistant diet of that but it hasn't happened.

 

[KingSpeed]

Stotts really, really needs to tighten his rotation. This bullshit of gifting the Nuggets 12mpg of Turner has to end. Turner's +/- isn't terrible, but you have to remember he's getting a lot of minutes when Jokic is out. Portland needs to absolutely feast during that critical time.

Keep CJ in there to run backup PG, and give more burn to Hood. He's at 23mpg in the series, and if he takes all Turner's minutes he goes up to 35mpg.

Aminu's shooting has been horrible in this series, and it's a massive difference-maker. I don't know that there's anything you can do, though. He's by far our best individual defender. *shrug* Cross your fingers.

Collins is averaging 7.7 fouls per 36 min in the playoffs. That's silly. He does such an excellent job of shutting down the paint, though. I think if Aminu's shot isn't falling yet again you have to sub him out for Collins more. It just feels like Collins can do more on the court on the offensive end than Aminu at this point.

But Hood is fool’s gold in the playoffs, right?

 

[Chris Craig]

Blazers need to get this game

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

CJ's taking more shots, shooting a lower FG%, a lower FT%, scoring less, getting fewer assists and steals, and a lower average game score, and all of that while Dame faces the toughest defenders, while CJ often plays against Denver's reserves, yet he's been "our best player in this series"?

I'm sorry, but this take--especially saying Lillard looks like he's satisfied with getting out of the first round--is an absolute joke.


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That was educating. I was gonna say CJ must be a lot more efficient because his three point % is a lot higher but then I saw he was scoring less on four more shot attempts per game. However what if you took out the first game; I think CJ would look a lot better than Lillard?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

So give Hood more of Aminu's minutes, and Seth Curry all of Turners? That's very, very small.

I guess you could go that route and just try to wear down Jokic by making him run a lot.

But jeez, Milsap is just destroying us in the post, and we're getting killed on rebounds. That only gets worse if you swap Aminu out for Hood.

I feel like the point of this series isn't just to win, but to build for the future. We're just as likely to succeed by playing Collins more, and since he's part of the long-term future (as opposed to Hood/Curry most likely) let's get him more meaningful playoff minutes.

I think I would have Harkless out more. I think Aminu can guard Jokic. Then Kanter or Collins on Milsap.

 

[DameLill379]

I think I would have Harkless out more. I think Aminu can guard Jokic. Then Kanter or Collins on Milsap.

Millsap - Aminu
Jokic - Collins (consistent double team)
Keep perimeter taps on Murray and Harris.

Done deal!

 

[Cugel]

Millsap - Aminu
Jokic - Collins (consistent double team)
Keep perimeter taps on Murray and Harris.

Done deal!

Yes. When Jokic is doubled Murray and Harris cannot have an uncontested 3. Hell they pretty much could catch the pass, take a deep breath and shoot. This cannot happen. Its going to require Stotts having the right matchups in place.

 

[DDolla]

We lose this game and it’s Over. We are not winning game 7 at Denver.

 

[Wade Garrett]

We lose this game and it’s Over. We are not winning game 7 at Denver.

Nothing can surprise me any more.
Don't know how you can make that statement.
I tend to believe this series could go down as one of the best ever and I think it deserves 5 OT in Game 7.

 

[brooklynballer]

Vegas line is moving ... and not in a good way for the Blazers. Initial line was -4 for Nuggets, then moved to -4.5 yesterday and now sits at -5. What does Vegas know that we don’t?

 

[Blazer4ever]

This is not another game, this is the biggest game maybe since game 7 of the WCF. Tonight we go to War!

 

[KingSpeed]

Dame scored 39 in game 1 and we lost. We don’t need him to “will” us to a win. We need a great team effort to win and that is all that matters.

 

[KingSpeed]

This is not another game, this is the biggest game maybe since game 7 of the WCF. Tonight we go to War!

This is true

 

[Strenuus]

Vegas line is moving ... and not in a good way for the Blazers. Initial line was -4 for Nuggets, then moved to -4.5 yesterday and now sits at -5. What does Vegas know that we don’t?

Refs put money on it?

 

[Chris Craig]

Yes. When Jokic is doubled Murray and Harris cannot have an uncontested 3. Hell they pretty much could catch the pass, take a deep breath and shoot. This cannot happen. Its going to require Stotts having the right matchups in place.

That is why you need to catch Jokic on the dribble so he doesn't have the easy pass

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Dame scored 39 in game 1 and we lost. We don’t need him to “will” us to a win. We need a great team effort to win and that is all that matters.

Really we just need to make more open shots than last game. Aminu and Harkless in particular, but also Dame has been missing more that usual when he does get looks.

 

[kjironman1]

Vegas line is moving ... and not in a good way for the Blazers. Initial line was -4 for Nuggets, then moved to -4.5 yesterday and now sits at -5. What does Vegas know that we don’t?

It's not vegas. It's the people betting. They are starting to put money down. At this point most are saying home court will win. Expect the people who are betting against the odds to move in last to get the most money.

 

[BBert]

But Hood is fool’s gold in the playoffs, right?

Time will tell.

Hood has been great so far. He's playing with so much confidence he can do no wrong.

 

[wizenheimer]

That was educating. I was gonna say CJ must be a lot more efficient because his three point % is a lot higher but then I saw he was scoring less on four more shot attempts per game. However what if you took out the first game; I think CJ would look a lot better than Lillard?

probably...but if you're taking out Dame's best game you should take out CJ's best game, otherwise, all you're doing is skewing toward a bias. I don't know why you'd want to take out anyone's best game to make a comparison. Dame's performance against OKC wouldn't look as good if you took out what he did in game 5. Doesn't seem like it would reveal anything though

 

[BBert]

Refs put money on it?

I actually wouldn't mind that in this instance. The refs hose us and get the odds up in Denver's favor, then they make sure the Blazers at least beat the spread.

Scott Foster, if you are listening, I hope you are able to find a way to help the Trail Blazers win the elec....err...Series.

 

[hoopsjock]

Vegas line is moving ... and not in a good way for the Blazers. Initial line was -4 for Nuggets, then moved to -4.5 yesterday and now sits at -5. What does Vegas know that we don’t?

Vegas doesn't know shit when it comes to the Blazers. It's pretty much easy money betting the over for win totals on the Blazers every year. The Blazers were big underdogs in both games at OKC and in Denver.

 

[Dougnsalem]

We lose this game and it’s Over. We are not winning game 7 at Denver.

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While you are at it, could I please get tonight's winning Lotto numbers too? Thanks much!!!!!

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[VanillaGorilla]

Alright Liverpool just completed an unbelievable comeback in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona and I'm buzzing! Good vibes for the game tonight!! Now I just need to figure out what to do for 5 and a half hours...

Side note: it's kinda weird that Steve Nash covers soccer for TNT/BR. I knew he loves soccer but still

 

[Labinot41]

Omg Liverpool what a crazy game. Jürgen Klopp is the best coach . Klopp > Guardiola

 

[twobullz]

Win the opening Tap and the turnover battle and the blazers win the game.

 

[BBert]

Rebounds. Give ourselves opportunities to score, while limiting theirs.

There was an earlier poll question about Offensive v. Defensive rebounding.

Normally, I highly value offensive rebounds, because I think (without data) that offensive rebounds are more likely to result in a basket.

In this game, defensive rebounds are more valuable for the Blazers (of course we want both, LOL)

Why? Because we need to limit their extra offensive opportunities. That's how they've beaten us.

At the same time, offensive rebounds are less 'valuable' because the Blazers will create fewer of them by virtue of making our shots.

So: We need to cut off their offensive rebounding, hang onto the fucking ball when we get a hand on it, then out shoot them at the other end.

Eazy Peazy, right?

Go Blazers

 

[Lukee]

Omg Liverpool what a crazy game. Jürgen Klopp is the best coach . Klopp > Guardiola

Fuck Jurgen Klopp. Wanker.

 

[Chris Craig]

Win the opening Tap and the turnover battle and the blazers win the game.

I think the Blazers have won more games this postseason when they didn't win the opening tap

 

[DUB]

I hope the players have more fortitude than I do, because losing that last game has me believing that Denver will win the series.

I’m usually a pretty positive kind of guy, and I’ve tried to give myself some distance from the last game, to remove the disappointment of the loss from the equation; but I just don’t see us winning twice at altitude.

Sorry for not believing harder.