Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 7: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - MAY 12, 2019 - SUNDAY, 12:30 PM, ABC

[Darkwebs]

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2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(21-20 Road)
DENVER NUGGETS
54 - 28
(34-7 Home)

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

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WHEN: 12:30 PM, SUNDAY, 5/12/2019

WHERE: PEPSI CENTER, DENVER, CO

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD


----- DENVER NUGGETS-----

THOMAS , MORRIS

BEASLEY , BARTON , VANDERBILT

HERNANGOMEZ , LYDON , LYLES

PLUMLEE , WELSH


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
Enes Kanter (separated left shoulder): PROBABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT
NUGGETS
Jamal Murray (right thigh injury): PROBABLE
Michael Porter Jr. (low back surgery): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MICHAEL MALONE



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


GAME #6: WIN 119-108

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[Darkwebs]

NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

As of 5/9/2019

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[Darkwebs]

This is it. This game is for all the marbles. All the marbles that we fans have been losing over the roller-coaster course of this series.

First Game 7 for Dame. It's the biggest game of his career. How will he respond to the pressure?

The Blazers have already had the two most dramatic wins of the post-season (i.e., Dame's 37-footer to send OKC home and the 4OT game). Can Portland produce another exciting victory against the team who has the best home court advantage in the NBA? If so, we truly are the Team of Destiny.

Both teams will be throwing everything they have at this game. Both teams will be desperate. But only one team will walk away into the next round.

 

[Darkwebs]

If the Blazers lose this game, I will not make another Game Thread for a month.

 

[Darkwebs]

The time of this game has yet to be determined.

But the rumor is if the Rockets win their next game, this game will start at 6:30 PM. If not, then 12:30 PM will be our tip-off time.

 

[DUB]

I’m sure the NBA is happy about this going to seven games. Good series management by the refs.

I wonder if they call this one fairly, let the teams decide the series?

 

[Portland2014]

Honestly i have zero confidence in Terry Stotts for this game.

 

[perkinsfor3]

Its gonna be my birthday on Monday (CET - Nethrrlands). Depending on time of game, its gonna be an early birthday gift, I hope.

 

[hoopsjock]

I'm just gonna say this now and get it out of the way before the emotions of the game 7 get the best of me.

I'm really proud of this team. This has been a really fun ride this year. The roller coaster over the last 3 months with acquiring Hood and Kanter but then seeing CJ and Nurk both go down to now being a game away from the WCF has been crazy. Throw in the impossible 28 point comeback by Simons and Skal on the last night too.

Before the season most people nationwide had the Blazers as either barely making the playoffs or one of the teams that was going to fall out altogether as teams like the Lakers were going to be in (it's extra sweet that they didn't make it). This team has proven they belong as a top-3 team in the West after people thought last year was a fluke.

My only wish for Game 7 is that we don't get blown out like Game 5. I do know that Denver is going to try and destroy us early. They certainly don't want the game to come down to crunch time with Dame in the arena.

Thank you Blazers for winning tonight and not ending the season like you hit a wall. I don't know if they have anything left but pull it out and anything is still possible.

 

[Haakzilla]

 

[TBpup]

Portland is going to need to play amazing basket ball or Dancer will need to struggle for the Blazers to get this win. Not that it can't be done, but it is quite rare to get a win on the road in Game 7.

Blazers are the more veteran team. Can they tale advantage?

 

[Strenuus]

Portland is going to need to play amazing basket ball or Dancer will need to struggle for the Blazers to get this win. Not that it can't be done, but it is quite rare to get a win on the road in Game 7.

Blazers are the more veteran team. Can they tale advantage?

You took advantage of a few libations during this post.

 

[perkinsfor3]

We here now. I want to get another win every game. Yet, I'm already so proud of this team.

Have to come clean: I have been without an NBA team for several years after 2007. I was a HUGE Sonics fan with Kemp and Payton. When they took the team, it hurt a lot.

I vividly remember the Sonics finals run. Everybody doubted them - they had been ousted by the Nuggets the previous year. Yet, that one year it almost all came together. This run reminds me of that season - people doubted the Sonics a lot, partly due to their firrst round outings in previous seasons. I'm just so proud of this team, and I'm having so much fun. Even if this is it, it's been a marvelous season, with a great team.

Proud. Strong. Fighters. Gritty. Winners. Love it.

 

[Shaboid]

I just woke up from a weirdest dream. I was watching the Blazers play and Kanter ripped his shirt off after Terry called a time out and tried to fight the entire Denver team. It was really odd.

 

[mook]

I think the real key is to keep throwing fresh bodies at Jokic. It's not one guy who is going to wear him down, it's the cumulative effect of Kanter, Collins and (yes) Aminu, all coming at him with different defensive approaches, with quick double teams focusing more on deflecting passes unless he's right at the rim. Portland just can't get predictable in this game.

Stotts will start Aminu and Harkless. He just doesn't change starters unless he absolutely has to. But I think we'll see him give a quick hook and insert Hood and Collins if those guys don't produce.

More than anything else, I think the series may hinge on Collins' ability to stay out of foul trouble. He just completely shuts down the paint when he's allowed to play aggressively.

Defense for a young center is all about reputation. Game 6 & 7 is huge not just for Portland, but for Collins' development as a defensive linchpin for the team in the years to come. If he can shine again on the big stage it'll lay the groundwork for many, many 50:50 defensive calls in years to come.

 

[James lamphear]

This game we must have Harkless and Aminu to get the hell out of there funk. Harkless isn't producing anything at both ends. Aminu except maybe one game the same. I would say start Zach and Hood but that not in Stotts genes. But Stotts if they he starts Aminu and Harkless he must have a quick hook on both of them. If we can get Harkless that play in OKC series that would be great maybe 2 days rest would help both Aminu and Harkless.

 

[Dougnsalem]

I just woke up from a weirdest dream. I was watching the Blazers play and Kanter ripped his shirt off after Terry called a time out and tried to fight the entire Denver team. It was really odd.

Looks like you picked the wrong week to stop taking Quaaludes....

Lol

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

As @royo already suggested, is the team going to Denver earlier this time to get better used to the altitude?

 

[LayneStaley]

How many teams have won a road game 7? Red Jerseys? Hmm I don’t like em. What’s our playoff record wearing those?

I believe we are 1-2 all time in Game 7s.

Edit: 28 of the 132 Game 7s have been won by the road team according to Google.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I'm just gonna say this now and get it out of the way before the emotions of the game 7 get the best of me.

I'm really proud of this team. This has been a really fun ride this year. The roller coaster over the last 3 months with acquiring Hood and Kanter but then seeing CJ and Nurk both go down to now being a game away from the WCF has been crazy. Throw in the impossible 28 point comeback by Simons and Skal on the last night too.

Before the season most people nationwide had the Blazers as either barely making the playoffs or one of the teams that was going to fall out altogether as teams like the Lakers were going to be in (it's extra sweet that they didn't make it). This team has proven they belong as a top-3 team in the West after people thought last year was a fluke.

My only wish for Game 7 is that we don't get blown out like Game 5. I do know that Denver is going to try and destroy us early. They certainly don't want the game to come down to crunch time with Dame in the arena.

Thank you Blazers for winning tonight and not ending the season like you hit a wall. I don't know if they have anything left but pull it out and anything is still possible.

I was gonna post pretty much the same.
I would only add that I truly believe Denver is the more talented team and should win on Sunday, but they cannot compete with Portland's heart and desire which is why I see this game as a toss-up.
Either way so proud of this team and hope this amazing ride continues.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I wish Paul Allen was around to enjoy this

 

[Road Ratt]

This has been an amazing playoff run. I didn't believe the Blazers could get past the Thunder, not without Nurkic, and yet they did so in fine 5 game form. Now the Blazers have forced a game 7 against the Nuggets, again without Nurkic. We have won 7 games this playoffs, all without Nurkic. I find that to be an amazing feat, especially after our previously playoff runs.

Win or lose game 7 I will not hang my head for the Blazers have already surpassed my wildest expectations with their fight, determination and, most of all, heart.

I really hope the Blazers win game 7 but if not, I am already excited for next season after seeing what our team has accomplished this playoff season.

 

[Chris Craig]

One game to find them. One game to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. One game to rull them all.

 

[illmatic99]

Did they say this will be on ESPN?

 

[illmatic99]

The key will be Collins staying out of foul trouble. He needs to play 30+ mins, doesn't matter if he starts or not. Moe looked despondent last night. Saw Dame going over to get his hear in the game multiple times. Aminu is completely out of it too. Terry needs to act quick if this is the case again in this game. There is no hand holding. Hood/Collins need to be on the floor asap if our starters aren't producing

 

[BBert]

How many teams have won a road game 7? Red Jerseys? Hmm I don’t like em. What’s our playoff record wearing those?

I believe we are 1-2 all time in Game 7s.

Edit: 28 of the 132 Game 7s have been won by the road team according to Google.

So 1 out of 5

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[illmatic99]

I gave in.

Subscribed to the athletic.

Holy hell what terrific coverage. All you Jason Quick haters need to STFU.

 

[LayneStaley]

So 1 out of 5

21%

 

[BBert]

21%

OK Kingspeed haha