Game Thread GAME# 71: MAVERICKS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 20, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

I didnt realize that my name is luka is leading the mavs in points, boards, and assists. super talented guy. they should be a different team next year.

 

It is a lot more rest though, its not having to be to the arena 3+ hours before the game all the hours warming up and then playing in a NBA level basketball. Its a day where sore muscles could heal if needed.
Sorry if you meant this sarcastically.

 

Some sarcasm is always there for sure but there is still the fact they are traveling with the team and they will suit up for the game in Atlanta. I cannot see them not show for the shoot around and completely take the game off because a team has a bad record. That is a game they can and probably must get. IMHO there is no unimportant game. I also tend to think in a different way about wins and losses. Go and get the win you should get. If you are gonna rest do it on the second game against the team you are gonna have a tough time against. It would be much less of struggle. Bring in the end of the bench against Detroit if you are gonna rest someone. It works in line with Pops rest games. Seriously. He looks at the schedule and sees a second of a B2B against a tough team in the middle of the rodeo trip and he sits his starters and plays the bench. Done it for years now.

 

Every team in the West keep on winning so we need this game. We need to win all our home games.

 

Just curious why you and others think this. I don’t know what we have to do. What if we keep winning and a team we really match up poorly with keeps losing and we play them. This time of the season is such a crap shoot. I guess you want to get most wins you can. I always get confused this last few weeks on who we are rooting for to win or lose. HCA doesn’t necessarily help this squad does it?

 

26-9 at home.
17-18 on the road.

Fairly obvious that this team (the bench especially) needs HCA. Granted, it's very easy to win or lose HCA in the first two games, but we need to win Game 1 regardless of who we play. That will do wonders to the confidence. Moreso than that, it's about building good habits right now along with resting Dame/Nurk. Losing to a tanking Mavs at home now would not be a good sign.

 

I still think we end up with the 5th seed.

 

Agreed, I can see Utah finishing the season at worst 10-2. Think they leapfrog us. They have such an easy remaining schedule.

 

Not sure what you're trying to say. @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsTheHCP was asking if HCA is important. For this team, the answer unambiguously is yes.

 

I don’t want home court advantage. Don’t care about the home/away records. That’s the regular season. I said the same exact shit last year. Portland does better when they’re the underdog, and I actually think the pressure is on the home team the first two games of a series.

 

One of the strengths of this particular team is its depth. Look at how the bench does on the road. I'd rather we try to win two at home than try to steal one on the road. But all this might be moot anyway considering how well SA is playing and how easy Utah's schedule is. Think we drop to 5, maybe even 6.

That said, I'd rather take a drop to 5 or 6 vs running Dame into the ground in hopes of keeping HCA.

 

I agree that 1st round HCA comes with big-time pressure. Drop one of the first 2 games and most teams don't recover

I think there's another issue too: Dame played 40 minutes against Indiana

with that in mind, what's a better outcome: A) Portland has HCA but Dame is worn down? or B) Portland is 5th or 6th seed and Dame is much more 'rested'?

edit: I see yuyuza already touched on this

 

The thing about Home Court advantage is that if the series goes 7 games it is played in your gym. That alone makes home court valuable.

 

Maybe I’m just crazy but I’d rather play a game 7 on the road. I just don’t trust the Blazers at home in a must win game. I don’t know if that’s based on anything, but I do like how the team plays when their backs are against the wall.

 

Yeah on that one point i would call ya crazy. Refs are human and have the same tendencies when the crowd is going nuts. Home on a game 7 is a way better situation. Just my take on it.

 

Dame is going to get wiped out trying to drag us into HCA. Rather have a rested Dame and the #6 spot.

 

Totally disagree. Here are some examples from the past few years:

Home game #1:


Nurk and Crabbe out with injuries, need to win to stay ahead of DEN to get a playoff spot. Dame goes OFF.

Another fight to keep HCA last season:


Must win game on the road:

 

These are regular season games. Now show me the blazers performances in the playoffs with HCA.