Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 2: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 16, 2019, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT & NBCSNW

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Darkwebs, Apr 14, 2019.

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Just before the Playoffs began, whom did you want Portland to play in the 1st Round?

Poll closed Apr 16, 2019.
  1. Utah

    27.5%
  2. Oklahoma City

    26.1%
  3. I didn't have a preference between these 2 teams

    46.4%
  1. Darkwebs

    Darkwebs Awakened to emptiness Staff Member Moderator

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
    OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
    49 - 33
    (22-19 Road)
    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

    53 - 29
    (32-9 Home)

    ------------------------------------------------------
    _____________________________
    ---------
    PROBABLE STARTERS---------


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG] PG [​IMG]
    RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS DAMIAN LILLARD

    [​IMG] SG [​IMG]

    TERRANCE FERGUSON VS C.J. McCOLLUM

    [​IMG] PF [​IMG]

    PAUL GEORGE VS MOE HARKLESS

    [​IMG] PF [​IMG]

    JERAMI GRANT VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

    [​IMG] C [​IMG]

    STEVEN ADAMS VS ENES KANTER

    ------------------------------------------------------


    ------- JERSEYS -------
    [​IMG] [​IMG]


    WHEN: 7:30 PM (PDT), TUESDAY, 4/16/2019

    WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND, OR
    [​IMG]



    TV BROADCAST:
    [​IMG]
    AND
    [​IMG]



    RADIO BROADCAST:
    [​IMG]



    ------------------------------------------------------


    --------------BENCH--------------
    OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    FELTON , SCHRODER , DIALLO
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    BURTON , NADER , GRANTHAM
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    PATTERSON , MORRIS , NOEL

    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD


    INJURIES
    THUNDER
    Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon): OUT
    TRAIL BLAZERS
    Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT



    HEAD COACHES
    [​IMG] - VS – [​IMG]
    BILLY DONOVAN --- TERRY STOTTS





    :reading:THUNDER'S OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
    :reading:TRAIL BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES


    PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES

    GAME #1: WIN 104-99





    [​IMG]
     
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  2. EGame

    EGame "You're the only one of these fools I trust"

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    go Blazers. Lets feed off this momentum and take a nice 2-0 lead! Make westbrick brick some shots!
     
  3. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

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    We surprised them once. I hope we can keep that energy up while okc is bruised.
     
  4. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    I think it will get harder for Kanter to go bang against Adams as the series goes on. Adams is in another weight class and he's a plays physical. Collins or Meyers will need to step up.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2019
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  5. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Utah. But I had changed my mind by the time the playoffs started.
     
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  6. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    Kanters practiced against him for years. It's not a boxing match either.
     
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  7. DollaBel

    DollaBel Well-Known Member

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    We shot bad as a team overall too, so all the talk about OKC only losing by 5 despite horrid 3 point shooting isnt that significant imo. Especially because Most games our gameplan will be to force guys like Grant and Ferguson to make and take 3’s instead of PG. If we can get more offensively out of everyone except our 3 main guys we’ll be lookin good
     
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  8. borim69

    borim69 Well-Known Member

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    I put Utah as well mainly because Portland never gets the hometown ref's in any series. I want a fair shake from the zebras and I did not think we would get that with OKC. I also am not worried about the matchup between Adams and Kanter. Enes Kanter is a good scoring center he does what he does. He also knows it is the playoffs and has grown from the past and if OKC wants to exploit his defense weakness more power to them because that is not a 3 point shot being taken and I believe that Kanter will win the offensive side of that game. Our real weakness here I believe is Collins and Meyers they both need to step up and earn their minutes. Oh and Turner needs to be benched and Simons installed
     
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  9. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    Three numbers I'm looking at: turnovers (we have to have less), rebounds (we need to beat them on the boards) and Dame's assists (the higher his assists are the more our role players are making their open shots). I think we will be better in all three of those areas and keep everything else close to the same. We'll take this second game. Go Blazers!!!
     
  10. Bruno_Sabino

    Bruno_Sabino From Brasil (Belem-PA)

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    Dame is playing big time. Crown needs to be a factor again. Let’s get it
     
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  11. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    NBA.com has "open shot" stats. It considers how close the defender is to the shooter.

    Paul George:
    Defender is very tight (0-2 feet away): 1/3 from 2, 0/1 from 3
    Defender is tight (2-4 feet away): 1/3 from 2, 1/3 from 3
    Classified as "open" (4-6 feet away): 1/2 from 2, 0/3 from 3
    Classified as "wide open" (10+ feet away): 1/1 from 2, 3/8 from 3

    Summary: On open and wide open shots, PG was 1/2 from 2 and 3/11 from 3.

    Dame:
    Defender is very tight (0-2 feet away): 0/2 from 2, 0/1 from 3
    Defender is tight (2-4 feet away): 3/4 from 2, 0/2 from 3
    Classified as "open" (4-6 feet away): 0/3 from 2, 0/1 from 3
    Classified as "wide open" (10+ feet away): 1/1 from 2, 5/7 from 3

    Summary: On open and wide open shots, Dame was 1/4 from 2 and 5/8 from 3.

    CJ:
    Defender is very tight (0-2 feet away): 2/4 from 2
    Defender is tight (2-4 feet away): 2/7 from 2, 0/1 from 3
    Classified as "open" (4-6 feet away): 2/5 from 2, 2/4 from 3
    Classified as "wide open" (10+ feet away): 0/1 from 2, 1/2 from 3

    Summary: On open and wide open shots, CJ was 2/6 from 2 and 3/6 from 3.

    We did get away with one here, PG hit 45%+ on open and wide open threes during the season and this 3/11 won't happen again. That said, CJ and Dame both missed some open two point shots they usually hit, but they gave our guys a ton of open looks as well. It prolly helps that Dame is within range when he's at 30 feet from the hoop. But Dame's assessment of us giving PG tons of open looks in his post game interview was spot on.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2019
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  12. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

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    We have to limit them to one shot and not limited our turnovers. But big one for me shot selection by our 2 guards they must have confidence with players around them. Dame can't make it him against Westbrook show and sometimes I fill that what there doing out there not good for either player.
     
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  13. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    It's difficult to believe George will go 3-11 on open shots again. That is just outside of the norm for him. Just one more make and it's a different ball game.

    Portland is going to have to bring it and play better. Need more from the 4wards. 15 points from Harkless/Aminu/Hood/Turner is just not close to enough. During the game, with how OKC was hedging/trapping, there are a lot of open creases and Jake is the best on the team at finding those. Stotts just isn't a fan. For whatever reason, he Vonleh'd him at the start of the season, DNP'd him when Harkless came back from injury even though he had one of the highest eFG% in the league, HATES answering questions about him and now is the one player from the season that is out of the rotation.

    He would be probably be guarding Grant most of the time so it's not like it would be a defensive issue.
     
  14. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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    I just want to say I liked how Dame handled the trap (for the most part), he tried to split them and attack it got him and other guys good shots. Yes he had some turnovers, but overall thats so much better than going back on his heels.
     
  15. hoopsjock

    hoopsjock Well-Known Member

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    After the game PG said a few days ago he couldn't even lift his arm up. The adrenaline of the playoffs probably helped in Game 1 but if it's really that serious I don't think it's a guarantee he'll start shooting better.
     
  16. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    For our sake, let's hope so. But Moe needs to be more engaged and not pick up stupid fouls early. He shut PG down in the first quarter-- need more of that.
     
  17. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    If George really is hurting that bad, Portland is catching a real break. They need to take advantage. Need to go up 2-0.
     
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  18. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

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    At least one of those turnovers and maybe two came trying to split the trap with Noel. Have to approach things differently with him. He's too long and quick and plays that well. He's caught us by surprise too many times this year to keep catching us by surprise.
     
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  19. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

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    "Sweep the arm ...."
     
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  20. hoopsjock

    hoopsjock Well-Known Member

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    I think it's one of two things:

    1) He really is badly hurt.

    2) He's playing it up as an excuse.
     
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