Game Thread WESTERN FINALS, GAME 2: BLAZERS @ WARRIORS - 5/16/19, THURSDAY, 6PM, ESPN

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(21-20 Road)
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
57 - 25
(30-11 Home)

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

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

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WHEN: 6:00 PM (PDT), THURSDAY, 5/16/2019

WHERE: ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

COOK , LIVINGSTON , EVANS

LEE , McKINNIE , DERRICKSON

BELL , JEREBKO

LOONEY , JONES


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Rodney Hood (hyperextended left knee): PROBABLE
Enes Kanter (separated left shoulder): PROBABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT
WARRIORS
Kevin Durant (right calf strain): DOUBTFUL
DeMarcus Cousins (torn left quad): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- STEVE KERR



WARRIORS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

SEASON SERIES NOTES

• The Trail Blazers and Warriors split the regular season series in 2018-19, 2-2. Portland won the season series against Golden State in 2017-18, 2-1.

• In four games against the Warriors this season, Damian Lillard averaged 28.3 points (47.6% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 85.0% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.00 steal. Lillard scored 40 points against Golden State on Dec. 29 and scored 21 points at Golden State on Dec. 27, including a game-winning three-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining in overtime.

• CJ McCollum averaged 18.0 points (36.6% FG, 30.0% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games against the Warriors this season. McCollum has made at least three three-pointers in seven of his last nine games against Golden State.

• In four games against the Warriors this season, Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 10.0 points (37.1% FG, 35.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

• Stephen Curry averaged 28.7 points (41.5% FG, 35.1% 3-PT, 79.2% FT), 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.33 steals in three games against Portland this season. Curry has made at least fi ve three-pointers in eight of his last 10 games against Portland.

• In four games against Portland this season, Klay Thompson averaged 21.8 points (41.6% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 78.6% FT), 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.50 steals. Thompson scored 30-plus points in both of Golden State’s victories over Portland this season.

• In four games against the Trail Blazers this season, Kevin Durant averaged 28.8 points (57.5% FG, 41.2% 3-PT, 76.2% FT), 6.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.00 blocks and 1.00 steal. Durant has scored at least 30 points in seven of his last 10 games against Portland.

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• Portland and Golden State have faced each other twice previously in the postseason, with the Warriors winning both series.

• Entering the series, Golden State leads Portland, 8-1, all-time in the playoffs.

• Both series between the Trail Blazers and the Warriors have occured in the last three postseasons. Golden State beat Portland in the 2016 Western Conference Semifi nals, 4-1, and in the 2017 First Round, 4-0.

• In nine career playoff games against the Warriors, Damian Lillard has averaged 30.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

• CJ McCollum has scored at least 20 points in six of his nine playoff games against the Warriors. He scored a playoff career-high 41 points at Golden State in Game 1 of the First Round in 2017.

CONNECTIONS
• Portland guard Damian Lillard is from Oakland and attended Oakland High School, located five miles away from Oracle Arena.

• Warriors head coach Steve Kerr played for the Trail Blazers during the 2001-02 season, averaging 4.1 pointsa and 1.0 assist in 65 games.

• Trail Blazers guard/forward Evan Turner and Golden State forward Andre Iguodala were teammates with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2010-12.

• Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry and Warriors guard Stephen Curry are the first pair of brothers in NBA history to face each other in a Conference Finals playoff series.

PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: LOSS 94-116

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[Darkwebs]

NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

As of 5/14/2019

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[TBpup]

Aminu/Harkless still starting....ugh. I know Harkless had a rare 'Good Mo' game but history tells me I can't expect that from game to game.

 

[blazerkor]

We can win this game. Even with Stotts' ill-conceived defense. We just need big contributions from Dame and CJ. It is hurting our chances not having Nurk but we can do this without him, we can do it for him.

 

[illmatic99]

@Darkwebs you need a change everything/ all of the above option.

 

[trailblazer18]

I'd put a bionic leg on Nurk and get him back out there. Ronnie Lott cut off a finger, Nurk can cut off his leg and get a bionic one.

 

[James lamphear]

There about 2 things I would on that poll but I pick the most obvious one though. The one thing won't change is the starting lineup. But increase the minutes by some players and defense scheme probably the changes I would do. Zach had only 2 fouls last night and got 18 minutes to me not enough. Yes Kanter got a lot but majority of his defense rebounds was really uncontested.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Here is what I really worried about after watching GS beat Houston without Durant; that they would get back to their old way of playing; players and the ball both moving more. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26750550/for-warriors-old-new-again

 

[Minstrel]

Here is what I really worried about after watching GS beat Houston without Durant; that they would get back to their old way of playing; players and the ball both moving more. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26750550/for-warriors-old-new-again

Yeah, this is basically why I didn't think Golden State was ripe for an upset without Durant. Sure, Durant improves any team, but probably Golden State least of all. His style of play isn't a great mesh for what Golden State does and Curry isn't a world-destroyer when trying to defer and help Durant fit in. Without Durant, they're a bit worse, but the gains in other places mitigate his loss a lot. Amusingly, the biggest effect of his loss is on the defensive end, as they lose a (freakishly) long and fast defender.

 

[Propagandist]

The sky is not falling. We were within striking distance nearly the entire game even though we were shooting terribly and turning the ball over. When we lock in, GS is in trouble. We have them right where we want them!

 

[Cugel]

start Turner at the 1, dame cj at 2 moe and enes. they can trap Turner and a shooter will be open. most likely they won't and we do from there. is this crazy?

 

[Jon]

start Turner at the 1, dame cj at 2 moe and enes. they can trap Turner and a shooter will be open. most likely they won't and we do from there. is this crazy?

they wouldnt trap turner at all.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Definitely seems like Collins will need to play more in this series.

 

[Cugel]

they wouldnt trap turner at all.

my thoughts exactly, so et runs the offense from there, p and r or whatever, dame cannot deal with a double as soon as he crosses half court

 

[BBert]

I more or less had the same thought. Make Dame a SG/Have someone else bring the ball across mid court. I wouldn't start the game that way, but I'd go to it mid first quarter. I doubt they would double Turner. Are they going to double Dame or CJ away from the ball? If they did we'd always have someone open, and Turner can certainly find open teammates. Screen for Dame off the ball and get him the ball in motion (and I don't mean repeated hand-offs at the three point line). If done properly with screens and player movement/ball movement, things would open up all over the place. We'd cut them apart, the way other teams do to us.

But what do I know?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Why didn't Zach play at the 4 alongside Kanter this game ? He can definitely guard Green

 

[oldmangrouch]

they wouldnt trap turner at all.

Another issue I have been grumbling about all season: there are times it would be beneficial to play Dame at the 2 - but we have no other true PG! CJ is a scorer first, second, and third. ET just flat sucks donkey balls. We have no way to acquire one either, as we won't be players in FA and even if one was available late in the draft, Olshey wouldn't touch him.

 

[Minstrel]

Lillard has never played like Curry off the ball. Maybe he can, but I wouldn't want to move him to the 2 just to see, in the middle of the WCF. That's the kind of thing you experiment with in the regular season. And if he's not playing the way Curry does when Curry doesn't have the ball, just a simple pick and roll and passing the ball to Lillard won't achieve anything...the Warriors will simply double him as soon as he does have the ball. Especially if Turner is the guy initiating it--the Warriors will just leave him to smother his P&R partner. The Blazers have never developed the constantly whirring machine of motion that the Warriors have--the Blazers are good for a simple screen and maybe a re-screen, but that's the height of the offensive creativity. Playing Lillard off the ball won't change that.

 

[James lamphear]

Why didn't Zach play at the 4 alongside Kanter this game ? He can definitely guard Green

Zach should be getting around 30 minutes a game if he not in foul trouble. Buy playing at the 4 or the 5. He best defense big man that we got.

 

[Reep]

I have a question for all you arm chair coaches out there. I understand why you don't normally go under the screen on a good shooter. But, when the screen is 4-5' behind the three point line, wouldn't you be better off going under the screen and letting them have the 30+ footer--rather than what we are giving them now, a clean shot at the line while we run behind the pick.

 

[THE HCP]

One good thing coming from all this is Zac's play. I think he has shown he has developed into our starting PF. I didn't think he had it in him when he was drafted. I need to remind myself sometimes how young these guys are. I love his court vision and fire. He plays like TPFKATHCP posts on this forum!

 

[Hoopguru]

The sky is not falling. We were within striking distance nearly the entire game even though we were shooting terribly and turning the ball over. When we lock in, GS is in trouble. We have them right where we want them!

love the optimism.
All year long and playoffs long we were counted out and this team has persevered.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Lillard has never played like Curry off the ball. Maybe he can, but I wouldn't want to move him to the 2 just to see, in the middle of the WCF. That's the kind of thing you experiment with in the regular season. And if he's not playing the way Curry does when Curry doesn't have the ball, just a simple pick and roll and passing the ball to Lillard won't achieve anything...the Warriors will simply double him as soon as he does have the ball. Especially if Turner is the guy initiating it--the Warriors will just leave him to smother his P&R partner. The Blazers have never developed the constantly whirring machine of motion that the Warriors have--the Blazers are good for a simple screen and maybe a re-screen, but that's the height of the offensive creativity. Playing Lillard off the ball won't change that.

Turner ran the offense with both DameCJ off ball for extended stretches in the 4th quarter game 7.

I wouldn't start with it, but I think you could try it some and see how it works.

 

[blue9]

Turner ran the offense with both DameCJ off ball for extended stretches in the 4th quarter game 7.

I wouldn't start with it, but I think you could try it some and see how it works.

All I know is that Turner & Curry should never be on the floor together.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Cugel]

I have a question for all you arm chair coaches out there. I understand why you don't normally go under the screen on a good shooter. But, when the screen is 4-5' behind the three point line, wouldn't you be better off going under the screen and letting them have the 30+ footer--rather than what we are giving them now, a clean shot at the line while we run behind the pick.

I would say yes, unless its a guy like Curry, or even Dame as we have seen. A 30 footer for Curry on a night like last night is a good shot. There has to be help behind you if you go above the screen. Curry is such a fast shooter that it takes him only a few seconds to get enough room to get free. That's what I saw him do in the 4th quarter in against Houston in game 6. I thought Houston did a pretty solid job on him, but he still made some of those shots.

If you give Klay or Steph 10 feet they are going to shoot and make it. That's what Zach did to Klay right when he checked in last night. I think it was Mark Jackson who went off on Zach about that.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[kjironman1]

So if we can just make sure HCP doesn't make another alternative thread then Stotts will know which one to read and figure out how to design his offense.
Last game was too confusing to get a real idea on what the fans want him to do?

 

[B-Roy]

KD isn't playing. Please come out with an actual game plan.

 

[BBert]

RE The poll: From the choices, I went with change the defensive schemes.

That would help, but the biggest factor is STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER

If the Blazers take care of the ball, play their normal game, and put more pressure on Curry, they have a decent chance of beating GS