Game Thread PRESEASON GAME# 4: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - DECEMBER 18, 2020 - FRIDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 PRESEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
1 - 2
(0-1 Road)
DENVER NUGGETS
1 - 1
(1-0 Home)

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_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

LILLARD McCOLLUM JONES COVINGTON NURKIC

MURRAY HARRIS PORTER MILSAP JOKIC


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WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), FRIDAY, 12/18/2020

WHERE: BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , ANTHONY

GILES , KANTER


- DENVER NUGGETS-

CAMPAZZO , HOWARD , MORRIS

HAMPTON , DOZIER , BARTON

WHITTINGTON , CANCAR

NNAJI , HARTENSTEIN , BOL


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Anfernee Simons (sore hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Nassir Little (illness): OUT
Zach Collins (ankle): OUT
NUGGETS
JaMychal Green (calf): OUT
Greg Whittington (left knee inflammation): QUESTIONABLE




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MICHAEL MALONE

OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers play the Nuggets twice during the 2020 preseason, on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and again on Friday, Dec. 18.

• Portland and Denver will play three times during the 2020-21 regular season. The first meeting is on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The other two matchups will occur in the second half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Nuggets won the season series against the Trail Blazers in 2019-20, 3-1.

• Damian Lillard scored 45 points (13-21 FG, 11-18 3-PT, 8-10 FT) to go with four rebounds, 12 assists and three steals to lead Portland past Denver in Orlando on Aug. 6. It tied his own franchise record for three-pointers in a game. In four games against the Nuggets last season, Lillard averaged 27.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists.

• CJ McCollum averaged 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four games against the Nuggets last season.

• Playing against his former team on Aug. 6, Jusuf Nurkic recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. It was his fourth game after returning from his left leg fractures.

• Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points (10-18 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 3-3 FT) to go with 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals against Portland on Aug. 6.

• In four games against the Trail Blazers last season, Nikola Jokic averaged 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

• CONNECTION: Carmelo Anthony played his first eight seasons in Denver, averaging 24.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 564 games (all starts). He was selected by the Nuggets with the third overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft.

• CONNECTION: Jusuf Nurkic played his first three seasons for the Nuggets, averaging 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 139 games (59 starts).

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 99-85
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 69-23
AT THE NUGGETS: Nuggets lead, 62-30

​

 

[Buffalo Custard]

The most important thing I want to see - a sense of urgency in dealing with their obvious short-comings. The start of the season is looming and they can't keep hiding behind the lack of familiarity argument.

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[Chris Craig]

 

[THE HCP]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Do we as a forum...... not learn from our mistakes? -THE HCP

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Do we as a forum...... not learn from our mistakes? -THE HCP

Shut up already! Really you've been jinxing us every game!

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

I look at our previous game as the low point we can only grow from, we have the regular season to work on our game and hopefully make the playoffs

 

[TBpup]

I look at our previous game as the low point we can only grow from, we have the regular season to work on our game and hopefully make the playoffs

Making the Playoffs shouldn't be an issue. But being a legit contender or even getting HCA for the first round seems a much bigger challenge.

 

[kjironman1]

Sure i understand the Blazers didn't play well last game but to honestly not give the Nuggets even a modicum of credit seems a bit wrong.
Denver played very well. They shot lights out. They worked hard on defense and they executed well on offense. These are professional players. They deserve at least some credit for taking care of their home court. The Nuggets are the reason the Blazers were beat in that game. Simple as that.

Now lets see how the Blazers respond?

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[Labinot41]

I look at our previous game as the low point we can only grow from, we have the regular season to work on our game and hopefully make the playoffs

If the question is IF we make the Playoffs then this season will be a disaster

 

[blazerkor]

Sure i understand the Blazers didn't play well last game but to honestly not give the Nuggets even a modicum of credit seems a bit wrong.
Denver played very well. They shot lights out. They worked hard on defense and they executed well on offense. These are professional players. They deserve at least some credit for taking care of their home court. The Nuggets are the reason the Blazers were beat in that game. Simple as that.

Now lets see how the Blazers respond?

Kjironman is a fan!!!

I agree with you the only hard part for me is "They shot lights out". I know this is a different team than we had last season and our forwards look like upgraded versions of Chief and Moe but how many times last season were we left shaking our heads saying stuff like "If that team wouldn't have made all of their threes..."? That's the scary part. It's just scary because of last season we were the second worst in the league at 3pt fg%. What's encouraging is that we were so decimated by injuries last season and our roster going into this season actually resembles what should be a far deeper version of our 2018-19 team... very similar starting 5 with hopefully much better bench players. On paper it's all very encouraging, it just hasn't been with my eyes but this is an unprecedentedly short pre-season/training camp.

 

[kjironman1]

I agree with you the only hard part for me is "They shot lights out". I know this is a different team than we had last season and our forwards look like upgraded versions of Chief and Moe but how many times last season were we left shaking our heads saying stuff like "If that team wouldn't have made all of their threes..."? That's the scary part. It's just scary because of last season we were the second worst in the league at 3pt fg%. What's encouraging is that we were so decimated by injuries last season and our roster going into this season actually resembles what should be a far deeper version of our 2018-19 team... very similar starting 5 with hopefully much better bench players. On paper it's all very encouraging, it just hasn't been with my eyes but this is an unprecedentedly short pre-season/training camp.

Just a few stats. Blazers shot 37% from the field and 26% from 3.
That alone says loss. Wide open looks not falling and hitting the front of the rim? Are they a bit out of shape and the elevation did make a difference? Maybe?
They will have been in Denver for 3 days by Friday with a practice. Maybe we will see a better shooting night? I hope so.
Denver in their first home game shot 52% from the field and 41% from 3
They were hot no question. Lots of mid range and 3's dropped. Yes they were getting good looks but so were the Blazers. The thing they were having trouble with was keeping them out of the paint? That is exactly what worried me? The 3's are there for every team in the NBA to an extent. But why so many easy walks to the basket. The Blazers have the players to stop that. I'm thinking they will.
Stotts should be addressing this issue as we speak. Lets see how they come out tomorrow?

 

[THE HCP]

We are the 4th best team in the west and we just lost to the 2nd. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

We are the 4th best team in the west and we just lost to the 2nd. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work.

By 30+?

That's not how it's supposed to work.

 

[Scalma]

By 30+?

That's not how it's supposed to work.

It’s preseason and they don’t even run the stuff they’re going to during the season. Denver got hot. Nobody cares. Its a glorified pickup game.

 

[THE HCP]

By 30+?

That's not how it's supposed to work.

It happens. Teams beat each other in the Finals by huge margins all the time. Have throughout history. It’s a game of runs.

 

[Scalma]

I always found it funny that when a team wins in preseason the people cautioning that it’s preseason are usually the same people that freak out when it’s a loss.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

It’s preseason and they don’t even run the stuff they’re going to during the season. Denver got hot. Nobody cares. Its a glorified pickup game.

I think a lot of people care. That's why we're all taking the time in giving our thoughts on a message board. They played their rotation. They tried. It wasn't like the games against the Kings. There's reason to concerned when this is so typical of our team under the Stotts regime.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

It happens. Teams beat each other in the Finals by huge margins all the time. Have throughout history. It’s a game of runs.

Except it wasn't a game of runs. It was just one run. For 4 quarters. We were decimated almost as soon as the game started.

 

[tlongII]

Hopefully we only lose by 15 this time!

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[THE HCP]

Except it wasn't a game of runs. It was just one run. For 4 quarters. We were decimated almost as soon as the game started.

Yep, that’s basketball. Get your ass handed to you one night, kick their asses the next. I assume you grew up either playing the game or watching it......

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Yep, that’s basketball. Get your ass handed to you one night, kick their asses the next. I assume you grew up either playing the game or watching it......

Actually, I grew up playing AND watching. Crazy, I know. Who knew you could do both?

You have the perfect attitude for anyone trying to be mediocre. Cheers and keep up the mediocre work!

 

[BigGameDamian]

We are the 4th best team in the west and we just lost to the 2nd. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work.

 

[THE HCP]

Actually, I grew up playing AND watching. Crazy, I know. Who knew you could do both?

You have the perfect attitude for anyone trying to be mediocre. Cheers and keep up the mediocre work!

Wow, that escalated quickly. Why are you coming at me right now? I said if you were on here you had played or watched as a kid and then you blast me bro?

 

[Cugel]

70% shooting in the first. SM-MFing-H

 

[James lamphear]

I more worry about the defense then the offense we got plenty offense weapons. We are trying play different type defense but don't see a lot success in the 2nd unit playing that type of defense. I believe if you have Kanter in there you have to play Stotts base defense that as played for years due Melo Kanter CJ are not only just bad defenders there really slow at that end just my opinion.

 

[wizenheimer]

likely won't see the blazer game. Will be watching the Pac-12 title game

 

[THE HCP]

likely won't see the blazer game. Will be watching the Pac-12 title game

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Wow, that escalated quickly. Why are you coming at me right now? I said if you were on here you had played or watched as a kid and then you blast me bro?

You were being dismissive on a message board about the very thing I was talking about. I think that attitude from fans is why we continue with mediocrity from our coaching staff. I didn't mean for it to sound like I was going at you.