Game Thread GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ BUCKS - OCTOBER 21, 2017 - SATURDAY, 5:30 (PDT), NBCSNW

• Saturday’s game marks the first of two regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Bucks in the 2017-18 season.

• LAST SEASON: Milwaukee swept the season series with Portland in 2016-17.

• The Trail Blazers are 4-4 against the Bucks over the last four seasons. Portland’s last victory in Milwaukee was a 91-82 win on Nov. 20, 2013.

• Damian Lillard averaged a team-high 30.5 points to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals in two games against Milwaukee in 2016-17.

• In two games against the Bucks in 2016-17, CJ McCollum averaged 22.0 points (56.3% FG, 45.5% 3-PT), 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

• Maurice Harkless recorded 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals at Milwaukee on Dec. 7, 2016. It is the only game in Harkless’ career with four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

• CJ McCollum has scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games against the Bucks. McCollum is shooting 56.0% from the field and 47.1% from the 3-PT line in those contests.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Bucks lead, 70-51
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 34-26
AT THE BUCKS: Bucks lead, 44-17

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Damn Webs that looks sweet! Well done as always!

Aminu and Harkless better bring their big boy pants

This game should be very challenging.

Nice that no starter had to play more than 32 minutes tonight. Giannis is a match-up nightmare for most teams and Aminu will certainly have his hands full but I think he will do as well against him as anyone else in the league.

I like the Bucks...this will be a fun game...Go good guys!

riverman said:

I like the Bucks...this will be a fun game...Go good guys!

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Yeah. I think Milwaukee is my favorite eastern conference team. I saw Greek Freak live last year. He looks ridiculous in person.

If we play the Greek Freak tough and holding him down under 30. Then contain the rest of there team we should be 3-0 coming home. This team is not big Reb team so we should be able to control that part of the game.

Looking for a hot start, thats a big game

Bucks are my 2nd favorite team... so yeah.

GOnna miss this because work, but i'll DVR it so I can watch me some Giannis too.

Watch the highlites of Cleveland and the Bucks. What Cleveland did on offense they attack the rim on the Bucks was very successful at it tonight.

Doe, a deer....















A dead deer.

Darkwebs - that OP is sexy AF !

Whatever. This thread isn’t all that!!

If Milwaukee ever builds a contender around Ante.... Ante.... the Greek Freak, look out. He's the kind of perfect player you try to create in video games on cheat levels.0

ripcityboy said:

If Milwaukee ever builds a contender around Ante.... Ante.... the Greek Freak, look out. He's the kind of perfect player you try to create in video games on cheat levels.0

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Aside from his outside shooting.

theprunetang said:

Aside from his outside shooting.

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Shit. Time for some cloning magic!

This is our first real challenge. If we can get a win on the road here, it will be big. Our new and improved defense needs to deliver for this game, especially Aminu and Harkless. I pray we can hold Gianis under 30 10 and 10. Middleton has also always impressed me, so bring in Meyers early to take him out, bad boys style.

theprunetang said:

Aside from his outside shooting.

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He has been getting better at it, I would even argue that his mid range is fine now and his three point shooting might get there. Besides, it would be unfair if he was also able to knock a shot from every position. He was already top 20 in the league for 5 categories last year: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game. You know who is another player who achieved that? Nobody ever. He is an incredible talent and extremely likeable too.

They have surrounded him with shooters too. That team has Brogdon, Middleton and Snell who are all good shooters and their young center Maker is also very good from the range. They are IMO a good point experienced guard and a good defensive center away from being a truly top team. They will probably try to move a few contracts and offer Cousins or Thomas a deal next year.

The Bucks wouldn't be easy but their game is centered too much around the Greek Freak. They do have some good players and it won't be easy, Delly is good, Brogdon I've never seen play but people say he's good and Middleton gets good numbers. Need to be focused and bring the W

THE HCP said:

Whatever. This thread isn’t all that!!

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Not enough purple and gold in it for @HCP .

I don't get why people are talking up the Bucks so much. The won 42 games in a pathetic east last year. They only have one good player. Aminu is a pretty good dfensive matchup.

This has an L all written over it IMO. Both teams coming off a back to back, but the Bucks are coming off a home loss to a very good team. If I had money on this game I am betting that the home team does not lose 2 in row at home.... in two nights.

Our best chance is to be behind a few points in the 4th, lull them to sleep, then have Dame or CJ go off down the stretch.

Sinobas said:

I don't get why people are talking up the Bucks so much. The won 42 games in a pathetic east last year. They only have one good player. Aminu is a pretty good dfensive matchup.

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And two of those wins were against the Blazers ...

It's an intriguing matchup because Giannis is such a special talent and they are clearly an ascending team. On the Blazers side it's a test of their supposed new-found commitment to defense and if Nurkic's "bad boy" talk is really a thing.

Blazers vs Bucks
Second of a B2B on the road and the Blazers are sitting at 2-0. Nice win last night with good supporting contributions from Aminu, Turner, Pat Con, Mo and Ed Davis. If that group right there can continue to impress the Blazers are going to be very tough to beat. What they have been showing is exactly what the bucks are not showing. Depth and solid team defense. To this point the Bucks have pretty much been a one man show. Giannis the "Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo (That is the last time this year i will try to spell that correctly) has been very impressive to say the least but his support has been lacking. Middleton, Maker and Snell all going 9-22 bringing in only 24 points against the Cavs was their undoing. In the end the Cavs simply were deeper and the Bucks didn't really have the defense to stop Crowder, Love, Rose and Korver. They were out gunned and ended up looking one dimensional.

The Blazers might not get the respect from the Bucks tonight having had to play the Cavs last night and the Celtics earlier this week. I am sure Jason Kidd is telling them not to let the Cavs beat them twice by looking past the second game? The real thing that i see is a blueprint for beating them has pretty much been created. Try to contain Giannis but take all the rest out of the game. The Freak had great numbers across the board. 34/8/8 with a block and 3 steals with only 2 TO's. Very daunting but the Blazers have an answer and that player is Aminu. Tonight Aminu will not have to score or be a huge part of the offense but if he can just contain Giannis a bit he will have done his job. The Blazers need to stay disciplined on defense and keep the pressure on. If they continue to feed off of Defense the Offense will come.

I can't give Aminu enough credit for his game last night. He did all the things we have been looking for. He resisted bringing the ball up across half court. He made shots and great passes. That was the second game in a row we watched that fake hand off then spin to the basket. Dame even plays the fake dribble and shoulder bounce. Thing of beauty. Blazers again had 5 players in double figures. CJ got a huge piece for the "Special Victims Unit" completely discombobulating TJ Leaf. There really is no shame for Leaf here. It's becoming commonplace.

Absolutely going to give Dame the advantage on Brogdon. This kid cannot guard Lillard. Everyone is worried about Giannis but the Bucks better worry about Lillard. It's about time to see Lillard have a huge game. I also don't see Thon Maker containing Nurkic. The Blazers have advantages on the starters but then you are looking at Terry, Monroe and Dellavedova. Going to need some good minutes again from Turner, Pat and Davis/Swanigan.

We started to see the effects of playing on the road last night. Nurkic is getting abused and not getting calls while also getting called for ticky tack type fouls. Dame is not getting calls and over all the foul discrepancy was 26-17. I totally expect that again tonight. Last night the Bucks fought the star power of Lebron and company. The Cavs and Warriors seem to be the only teams in the league that can travel and get calls? There will be no love for the Blazers from the refs tonight. Zach Zarba, Brent Barnaky, and Vladimir Voyard-Tadal are the assigned officials tonight. Really don't know much about any of them.

Pick tonight Is Damian Lillard. Not just because he should be licking his chops but because this is where the team will need the leader. He needs to get everyone involved in the offense and keep them focused on defense. The team is on a B2B and on the road for the third game. This is gut check time. They played him limited minutes last night and the game before. Last night Lillard and CJ both played less than 33 minutes. Nurk was in the game just over 25 mins. If Lillard steps up and the rest follow suit? the Blazers could very likely be coming back to the Moda center undefeated!

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

What Cleveland did last night on offense was attact the rim due to the bucks don't have no rim proctector. They got Henson but he don't play a lot and Maker is still pretty weak yet in his career. Last year Dame was very successful at attacking the rim. But the player that kill us last year was Delly down the stretch.

Everyone always talks about back to back, but it never seems to mean shit. It's game 3 of the season and our starters haven't even played heavy minutes.

Pinwheel1 said:

This has an L all written over it IMO. Both teams coming off a back to back, but the Bucks are coming off a home loss to a very good team. If I had money on this game I am betting that the home team does not lose 2 in row at home.... in two nights.

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Really hope the Blazers can finish a 3-0 start on the road...but I would tend to agree. MIL isn't great but to lose two in a row at home doesn't seem like a good bet. Will cheer for the Blazers and would bet on MIL. Bet with your wallet, not your heart.

Nice work, DWeb