Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 6: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - MAY 9, 2019 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM , ESPN

[Darkwebs]

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2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
DENVER NUGGETS
54 - 28
(20-21 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(32-9 Home)

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---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

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

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PDT), THURSDAY, 5/9/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

---- DENVER NUGGETS ----

THOMAS , MORRIS

BEASLEY , BARTON , VANDERBILT

HERNANGOMEZ , LYDON , LYLES

PLUMLEE , WELSH

-- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS --

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
NUGGETS
Michael Porter Jr. (low back surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Enes Kanter (separated left shoulder): PROBABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MICHAEL MALONE--- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

SEASON SERIES NOTES
• Denver won the season series against Portland in 2018-19, 3-1. All four games were decided by single digits.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Damian Lillard averaged 21.3 points (37.1% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 95.8% FT), 3.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Lillard shot 23-of-24 from the free-throw-line against Denver this season.
• CJ McCollum averaged 20.0 points (45.3% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three games against the Nuggets this season.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 16.0 points (50.0% FG, 31.6% 3-PT, 94.7% FT), 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.00 steal. His 16.0 points per game was his highest scoring average against a Western Conference opponent this season.
• Nikola Jokic averaged 25.7 points (62.0% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 76.9% FT), 9.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.00 steal in three games against the Trail Blazers this season.

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• Portland and Denver have faced each other twice previously in the postseason, with each team winning one series.
• The Trail Blazers and Nuggets are 5-5 against each other in the playoffs, all-time.
• The Trail Blazers defeated the Nuggets 4-2 in the 1977 NBA Western Conference Semifinals despite Denver holding home court advantage. Portland won the NBA Championship that year.
• The Nuggets took a five-game first round series vs. the Trail Blazers in 1986, 3-1.
• Former Trail Blazers Will Barton and Mason Plumlee have playoff experience with the Trail Blazers. Barton averaged 6.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 11.6 minutes in six games during the 2014 postseason vs. Houston and San Antonio. Plumlee posted averages of 7.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.00 block and 27.8 minutes in 11 starts vs. the LA Clippers and Golden State in 2016.
• The series is only Portland’s second playoff matchup against a divisional opponent since facing the Lakers in 2002 as members of the Pacific Division. Entering this postseason vs. divisional rivals Oklahoma City and Denver, the Trail Blazers had never faced a Northwest Division opponent since the division was formed in 2004-05.

CONNECTIONS
• Portland center Jusuf Nurkic averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 139 games (59 starts) in two-plus seasons with the Nuggets. Nurkic was acquired by the Trail Blazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee and a 2017 first round pick on Feb.13, 2017. Plumlee averaged 9.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 136 games (all starts) across two seasons in Portland.
• Denver guard Will Barton was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 40th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 144 games (five starts) in two-plus seasons with Portland.
• Trail Blazers forward/center Skal Labissiere and Denver guard Jamal Murray were teammates at the University of Kentucky for the 2015-16 season.

PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES ​

GAME #1: LOSS 113-121


GAME #2: WIN 97-90


GAME #3: WIN 140-137


GAME #4: LOSS 112-116


GAME #5: LOSS 98-124

​

 

[Darkwebs]

NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

As of 5/7/2019

​

 

[KingSpeed]

If we lose this game, I'm going back to NYC. Who wants a 50 inch Roku TV and a microwave? Make a bid in a PM. Oh and GO BLAZERS!!!!

 

[Darkwebs]

We have entered into the endgame now. This is do or die. Win or go home.

It's the first time this season the Blazers have faced an elimination game. How will they respond?

Whatever happens, this will be the last Round 2 game on the Blazers' homecourt, so they must take advantage.

Portland must win 2 games in a row to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It's a tall task, but if they take it one game at a time, it's a whole lot less daunting.

For the first time literally this year, this is a must-win game! LET'S GO!

 

[KingSpeed]

Chris and I went over a few stats on our podcast such as...

1) The Blazers have never come back from a 3-2 deficit to win a series
2) The Blazers have only ever played in two Game 7s. 1990 vs Spurs, 2000 vs Lakers. We won the former.
3) Dame/Stotts are 2-5 in must win games. Wins against Spurs and Grizzlies and losses against Warriors (twice), Spurs, Grizzlies, and Pelicans.

NBAPlayoffsChrisEric.com. Also available on Apple Podcasts and on Stitcher Radio. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, & review!

 

[Darkwebs]

If we lose this game, I'm going back to NYC. Who wants a 50 inch Roku TV and a microwave? Make a bid in a PM. Oh and GO BLAZERS!!!!

I will start the bid at One Dame Dolla!

 

[hoopsjock]

Chris and I went over a few stats on our podcast such as...

1) The Blazers have never come back from a 3-2 deficit to win a series
2) The Blazers have only ever played in two Game 7s. 1990 vs Spurs, 2000 vs Lakers. We won the former.
3) Dame/Stotts are 2-5 in must win games. Wins against Spurs and Grizzlies and losses against Warriors (twice), Spurs, Grizzlies, and Pelicans.

NBAPlayoffsChrisEric.com. Also available on Apple Podcasts and on Stitcher Radio. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, & review!

King, the Blazers played a Game 7 in 2003 against the Mavs.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I hope Nurkic doesn't come sit on the bench, watch the game from home, stay comfortable, tweet some motivation, that will do.

Regarding the game, Kanter on Jokic and Aminu on Milsap is I think the better strategy with all due respect.
Dame on their best backcourt player.
CJ showing up would be nice. I hate to hate on CJ as his offensive game is sometimes so pure it's almost sexually satisfying but please if you can not disappear when the season's on the line.
Harkless STAYS ON THE COURT this time, thank you very much.
Meyers I think earned some run, at least when they play Jokic and Plumlee and Kanter is already on the bench.

Dame, the shots will be falling only after you feed the other players. I hate to be that blunt but ET at least doesn't dominate the offense. I want Kanter in the post even if he tears his arm out. I want Harkless more than two field goal attempts. Aminu is fine.
Then if the shots are still not falling GO INSIDE, don't make me call you out. Get in the game like I explain it to you and you'd be back in business.

That's all, for now

 

[Orion Bailey]

No brainer. Rockets so we retain home court.

 

[TBpup]

I'm expecting a better performance than the carnage that was last night.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I didn't want this series to go seven, now we will be tired in the WCF

 

[kjironman1]

King, the Blazers played a Game 7 in 2003 against the Mavs.

Yes they did. Kind of forgot about that one.

 

[James lamphear]

What I want to see how much pride this team got. With the bad performance they had last night I want to see know quit in this team. I also think Stotts needs quick hook on who plays Millsap. If Millsap start going off on Aminu again he must bring in Zach to guard him. Zach got to play him some last night and real good job on him.

 

[BonesJones]

Hopefully Stotts can coach another great game in game 6. Hopefully the players just decide to follow along this time. Then we should win easily.

 

[kjironman1]

So get back to Portland put a good game together and even the series up.
Close out game!
Who is going?

 

[BonesJones]

So get back to Portland put a good game together and even the series up.
Close out game!
Who is going?

Id go if tickets werent so goddamn expensive.

 

[oldmangrouch]

What a grotesque end to what was almost a feel-good season.

 

[SIeepwalker]

What a grotesque end to what was almost a feel-good season.

Yeah, losing to the Warriors always feels annoying, even if it's in the WCF

 

[Orion Bailey]

I certainly hope we don't go into the Moda for game 6 with this attitude/vibe.

Game 5 sucked, no doubt, but I feel good about how many feel goods on this season I've had. Win or lose, Happy with the teams improvement this year and look forward to next.

 

[illmatic99]

I'm not expecting much tbh. Think they showed that they are the better team. Living and dying by our results in these games is taking a massive toll on my overall mindset --that loss broke me last night. Our effort, drive, and strategy pissed me off to a point where I have given up. The icing was seeing Dame laugh it up on the bench in the fourth quarter with the team getting literally run off the floor.

So I've decided that I'm getting into summer mode. I'm gonna look up some undervalued assets today: Ben Simmons is screaming out to me as someone who needs a change of scenery.

 

[TBpup]

The money I've won from the Scott Foster game and the @DEN game will all go straight on the Blazers for Game 6.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Looking for revenge.

 

[BlazerBeav]

So I've decided that I'm getting into summer mode. I'm gonna look up some undervalued assets today: Ben Simmons is screaming out to me as someone who needs a change of scenery.

Good grief. One, where would you play him considering our backcourt is better than he is. Two, he's killing Philly with his inability to shoot - and we have enough players with that problem.

 

[illmatic99]

Good grief. One, where would you play him considering our backcourt is better than he is. Two, he's killing Philly with his inability to shoot - and we have enough players with that problem.

He is 22 in his second year. And looked like a young Magic Johnson last year. You have him next to Dame/Nurk and bring in two knockdown shooters, you have a better shot in the playoffs than you do now. I think we can have him for relatively cheap (CJ + pieces)

 

[illmatic99]

I want tall, physical dudes who can overpower opponents. I'm tired of getting pushed around on defense and on the boards. Shooting is fixable.

 

[kjironman1]

Id go if tickets werent so goddamn expensive.

Tickets prices dropped about 30% after last nights loss. $149 can get you behind the basket on the visitors side sec 107
300 level tickets for $60 + tax

 

[kjironman1]

I certainly hope we don't go into the Moda for game 6 with this attitude/vibe.

Game 5 sucked, no doubt, but I feel good about how many feel goods on this season I've had. Win or lose, Happy with the teams improvement this year and look forward to next.

They come out and drop a few shots and the Moda is ROCKIN!
There is no question in my mind this team wants to play game 7.

 

[illmatic99]

They come out and drop a few shots and the Moda is ROCKIN!
There is no question in my mind this team wants to play game 7.

You mean like when we lost after being up 17 in game 4?

 

[chris_in_pdx]

There is no question in my mind this team wants to play game 7.

You SERIOUSLY have that viewpoint after watching last night's game?

 

[illmatic99]

You SERIOUSLY have that viewpoint after watching last night's game?

Agreed. I saw a team roll over and die. We seemed perfectly OK with the idea that they are the better team. I saw absolutely nothing in the biggest game on the year.

I see no reason to believe that we even want to continue this series.