Game Thread GAME# 64: BLAZERS VS CELTICS - MAY 2, 2021 - SUNDAY, 4:30, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
35 - 28
(19-12 Road)
BOSTON CELTICS
34 - 30
(21-12 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS KEMBA WALKER

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS MARCUS SMART

SF

NORMAN POWELL VS JAYLEN BROWN

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS JAYSON TATUM

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS ROBERT WILLIAMS III


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

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WHEN: 4:30 PM (PDT), SUNDAY, 5/2/2021

WHERE: TD GARDEN, BOSTON, MA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER


----- BOSTON CELTICS-----

WATERS , EDWARDS , PRITCHARD

LANGFORD , FOURNIER , NESMITH

WILLIAMS , OJELEYE , PARKER

THOMPSON , KORNET , FALL

INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
CELTICS
Kemba Walker (left oblique strain): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- BRAD STEVENS

OFFICIAL CELTICS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers May 2 game against the Celtics will be the final meeting between Portland and Boston during the 2020-21 season. The Celtics lead the season series, 1-0.

• LAST GAME: Boston narrowly edged out Portland, 116-115, on April 13 at Moda Center. Damian Lillard led Portland with 28 points (9-23 FG, 5-13 3-PT, 5-6 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Jayson Tatum paced Boston with 32 points (10-17 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 8-10 FT), nine rebounds, five assists and one steal.

• Carmelo Anthonyrecorded 25 points (10-15 FG, 3-5 3-PT, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one block against Boston on April 13.

• Norman Powell added 20 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3-PT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in the April 13 meeting with Boston.

• On April 13, Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points (9-21 FG, 3-7 3-PT, 3-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal in a game-high 40 minutes.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Celtics lead, 70-47
IN PORTLAND: Celtics lead, 32-28
AT THE CELTICS: Celtics lead, 38-19

 

[Darkwebs]

After losing 5 straight, the Blazers have turned it around and have now won 3 in a row, all on the road. And the sweetest aspect of those 3 victories was the fact that they were all revenge wins.

Blazers had lost to the Pacers, Grizzlies, and Nets earlier in the season, but like the Count of Monte Cristo, the Blazers are crossing off names on their revenge list.

Next up on that list is Boston. Let's get it!

 

[Strenuus]

Where's the "it doesn't matter" option?

 

[Labinot41]

Hopefully they gonna be physicly and mentaly tired after that win over San Antonio lmao

 

[Darkwebs]

PLAYOFF SEEDING RACE

​

We are oh-so-close to that 6th spot. It would be huge to get there and avoid the Play-In. Fewer game threads for me to make.

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Where's the "it doesn't matter" option?

Lol, Stren. I want to ask, who hurt you?

But I think I already know the answer: Terry Stotts.

 

[Chris Craig]

After losing 5 straight, the Blazers have turned it around and have now won 3 in a row, all on the road. And the sweetest aspect of those 3 victories was the fact that they were all revenge wins.

Blazers had lost to the Pacers, Grizzlies, and Nets earlier in the season, but like the Count of Monte Cristo, the Blazers are crossing off names on their revenge list.

Next up on that list is Boston. Let's get it!

I am I, Don Quixote
The Lord of La Mancha
My destiny calls and I go
And the wild winds of fortune
Will carry me onward
Oh, whithersoever they blow
Whithersoever they blow
Onward to glory I go!

 

[Strenuus]

Lol, Stren. I want to ask, who hurt you?

But I think I already know the answer: Terry Stotts.

The bigger sample size was enough for me to realize this season is over.

 

[Darkwebs]

The bigger sample size was enough for me to realize this season is over.

Hey, I know it's unlikely the Blazers win the championship this year, but there's always a chance for something magical to happen. Maybe Lillard (or someone else) goes absolutely nuclear in the post-season and carries us to the Larry O'Brien trophy.

I know it's as likely as winning the lottery, but that hope is what keeps my Blazers fandom alive. That, and relishing the wins as they come.

 

[Strenuus]

Hey, I know it's unlikely the Blazers win the championship this year, but there's always a chance for something magical to happen. Maybe Lillard (or someone else) goes absolutely nuclear in the post-season and carries us to the Larry O'Brien trophy.

I know it's as likely as winning the lottery, but that hope is what keeps my Blazers fandom alive. That, and relishing the wins as they come.

Better things to do with my time if stotts and olshey are still here.

We're not winning. We're delaying the inevitable.

 

[Darkwebs]

Better things to do with my time if stotts and olshey are still here.

We're not winning. We're delaying the inevitable.

Fair enough

 

[blazerkor]

This is an interesting game. This is a legit team so a win will tell us that something really did change when the guys said, "enough is enough." If we lose this one though, we are the same team we looked like before these last few games. So let's hope we beat these guys, get ourselves out of the play-in and do our best in the playoffs.

 

[kjironman1]

Better things to do with my time if stotts and olshey are still here.

We're not winning. We're delaying the inevitable.

Better things to do than watch every game posting on S2 that nothing matters and it's all for nothing?
Who would have thought?

 

[Strenuus]

Better things to do than watch every game posting on S2 that nothing matters and it's all for nothing?
Who would have thought?

I'm on my phone and I have 2 minutes. Reminders needed to be made.

 

[maxiep]

The bigger sample size was enough for me to realize this season is over.

Then there's no reason for you to post until next year. Buh-bye.

 

[kjironman1]

This is an interesting game. This is a legit team so a win will tell us that something really did change when the guys said, "enough is enough." If we lose this one though, we are the same team we looked like before these last few games. So let's hope we beat these guys, get ourselves out of the play-in and do our best in the playoffs.

Well beings you have posted this or pretty much something like it the last two games and of course now it's three you will most likely be right eventually.
Pretty unlikely for any team to lose 4 straight at home and have 3 of those by one point and the other by 2 possessions.
It's even more unlikely a team will win 4 straight on the road and 6 would be very uncommon.

This team is not done by a long shot. They are going to continue to improve and they will continue to impress. If they are in this game with a chance to win at the end they will have done well in my book. Winning would be great. Playing well is what I am looking for.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Can we trade trade coaches in this game?

 

[BlazerBeav]

Can we trade trade coaches in this game?

For the guy with a worse record while playing in the weak Eastern Conference? But why?

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Gonna be a great game.

BTW the Nuggets game a couple of weeks ago was epic!

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

What happened to airplane mode? Just dnp after starting for half a season? Stotts is crazy

 

[KSF-ERIC]

What happened to airplane mode? Just dnp after starting for half a season? Stotts is crazy

It worked for Miami. They benched him and reached the Finals.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Can we trade trade coaches in this game?

Let's see. Brad Stevens has TWO All-Stars, plays in the Eastern Conference, and has a worse record than Stotts. Why would we want him?

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Better things to do with my time if stotts and olshey are still here.

We're not winning. We're delaying the inevitable.

but constantly posting about it is worth your time...

 

[SheedSoNasty]

but constantly posting about it is worth your time...

Nevermind, I see you have 2 minutes every now and then to remind us of your misery. Carry on.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If we lose this one though, we are the same team we looked like before these last few games.

I think it's possible for the team to lose this game and still not be "the save team they looked like before these last few games." Defensive intensity and offensive variance/decision-making are the things to focus on, IMO.

If they play well, demonstrate the characteristics we've seen the past few games, and yet lose to a team that just has a better night, I'll still have hope for the playoffs.

 

[kjironman1]

I think it's possible for the team to lose this game and still not be "the save team they looked like before these last few games." Defensive intensity and offensive variance/decision-making are the things to focus on, IMO.

If they play well, demonstrate the characteristics we've seen the past few games, and yet lose to a team that just has a better night, I'll still have hope for the playoffs.

They need to continue to play well and improve. The goal is to go 9-0 for the last 9 games but to this point they have a .555 winning percentage. Winning 5 of the last 9 would be pretty good against the caliber of opponents they are up against.
Would really be nice to get a little help and see that 6th spot.

 

[James lamphear]

If they loose and still try to do things they been doing then it's not the same as before it's just got beat by better team. But Boston has the same problem that we have at time a lot iso and predictable what they do. Tatum and Brown as to be be on for them to have a chance to win. Just like Dame and CJ has to be effective for us have a chance in the past. But lately we have found we got guys can actually help this team to win games. Right we got more guys playing well then they do as long we continue to play that way we always got a chance.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Brown being out would be very nice.

 

[wizenheimer]

anybody know how many fan are allowed to attend the game today?

 

[BlazerBeav]

Looks like Boston is at 12%, so around 2,000. Last night, the Jazz upped theirs to 6,700.