Game Thread GAME# 7: RAPTORS @ BLAZERS - OCTOBER 30, 2017 - MONDAY, 7:00 (PDT), NBCSNW

Tough game, gotta have a big perfomance for the team to win this. Believe in us for this one, Go Blazers.

 

Interesting Toronto is on a 6 game road trip, but no back to backs, and two nights off before playing the Blazers. I know they are trying to eliminate btb's....... but that is odd in my opinion.

 

Last season actually we had 2 days off in a row 3 times. In SF, NYC and Toronto. Had never happened before.

 

I did a magic show for about sixty kids at a neighborhood Halloween party yesterday. I also picked up a pumpkin to carve. I'll do that tomorrow. We don't have trick or treaters and we're going to "Little Shop of Horrors" at the movie theater that night.

 

Brilliant thread DW per usual!

 

I'd like to get a win against a good team

 

I know some here would like to see you disappear.

 

My room wall:

 

So i did a little digging Of course Portland is having a real good year on the glass. Toronto is starting Ibaka at center. He is not really the same player he was in OKC but still very formidable. He takes a few more threes so he will try to stretch the floor and give Lowry and Derozan room to work. It didn't work in their loss at GS as he went 1-6 but he had a good game in vs the Lakers and shot 8-10 from the field and ended up with 18/8 in a win. The thing that is missing is his blocks. Toronto lost here in preseason but have won 4 straight and the last two here. If you remember the losses last year they stung quite a bit.


Their leading rebounder off the bench is Jakob Poeltl. He will come in and try to disrupt things a bit. Blazers have a better backup in Davis who is sitting 18th in the league in rebounding and sits in the top 25 alone as the only backup. Ed Davis will be a key part of this game. We always talk about Lillard vs Lowry and CJ vs DeRozan but in this game the real difference will be the PF position. So far this year as Aminu goes the Blazers go. Siakam vs Aminu will be the matchup to watch close.

From the games that these teams have played so far it's pretty obvious the Raptors do not rely on their bench the way Portland does. I absolutely have to give the Blazers the edge here. If the Starters can hold even with Toronto we will see the Blazers simply wear them down with depth. Bringing a solid Turner,Davis, Pat, with a possible couple mins from Napier or Collins would be tough for them to handle. Stotts seems to be settling in on a 8-9 man rotation but he does not have Vonleh back yet so we will see what happens?

My pick on this game is Nurkic. Serge Ibaka is experienced but he is giving up too much against Nurkic. Size and length do have their advantages. If Nurk can get his shot going like the second half vs Phoenix then the Raptors will have their hands full. Then if Stotts decides to go big and bring in Collins or Swanigan the combo would be dominating on the boards.

Lets see how this goes. Blazers need a good quality win right about now. Would really be nice to see some of the shots we are all used to seeing fall go in.

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

I think brilliant might be a bit of a stretch.

 

Would you go for Dazzling! Resplendent! Scintillating! Or just plain Awesome.

 

I would call it a failed attempt at trying to show up The HCP. I have taken the high road, I wish he would as well.

 

I heard Jonas might be available at the game tomorrow.

 

Where at? Local dive bar? Mechanic? Pizza delivery guy?

 

Watch out for this Siakam guy. He looked amazing against Golden State. Then again, everyone does nowadays.

 

I really think that is going to be the matchup to watch for sure. Those two are very much alike.

 

We rank last in the league in Fastbreak points at a measly 5 per game.

Warriors are first at 29 per game.

This needs to be addressed. Dame needs to get out and run. No need to hang back to rebound and slow down the pace.