Exclusive GAME# 19: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 27, 2019 - Quote Book

Postgame Notes – November 27, 2019

Portland 136, Oklahoma City 119

Game No. 19, Home Game No. 6



TEAM

• The Trail Blazers outscored the Thunder 42-26 in the first quarter. Portland’s 42 points marked its highest-scoring quarter this season.
• Portland had 23 assists, marking their eighth straight game with 20+ assists.
• The Trail Blazers shot 49-of-94 from the field (52.1%), out-shooting the Thunder, who were 39-of-88 (44.3%) from the field.
• Portland recorded 54 rebounds, their fourth game and second consecutive contest with 50+ rebounds.
• The Trail Blazers had all five starters in double-figures for the second consecutive game.
• The Trail Blazers were 24-24 from the FT line. Portland is the first time in the NBA this season to be perfect from the stripe while attempting 20 or more FTs.


PLAYER
• Damian Lillard led Portland with 27 points (7-15 FG, 5-9 3-PT, 8-8 FT), to go with five rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. It was his fifth game of the season with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists.

• CJ McCollum recorded 22 points (8-16 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and four assists over 28 minutes. It was his sixth consecutive game with 20+ points.

• Hassan Whiteside scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting (5-5 FT) to go with a game-high 16 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. He is the fourth player in NBA history to record at least 21 points and 16 rebounds in fewer than 23 minutes. It was his first game of the season with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds.

• Carmelo Anthony had 19 points (9-11 FG, 0-1 3-PT, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and two assists. It was his second highest scoring total of the season (25, 11/25/19 vs. CHI).

• Rodney Hood finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting (4-4 3-PT), to go with three rebounds and three assists. It was the third time this season he’s been perfect from 3-PT range.

• Anfernee Simons finished with 14 points (6-14 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 1-1 FT) and one assist in 27 minutes. It was his 12th time in double-figures this season.

• Kent Bazemore finished with three points (0-5 FG, 0-1 3-PT, 3-3 FT), to go with a season-high 10 rebounds. It was the sixth game of his career with double-digit rebounds.

• Skal Labissiere scored four points (2-3 FG), and had seven rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes off the bench.

• Abdel Nader led the Thunder with a career-high 23 points (7-9 FG, 3-4 3-PT, 6-6 FT), to go with two rebounds and one assist. It was his first career game with 20+ points.

• Chris Paul added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting (0-4 3PT, 4-4 FT), to go with two rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes.

 

HEAD COACH TERRY STOTTS


Overall thoughts…


“That was a really good performance, particularly in the first and third quarters. We came out moving the ball, sharing the ball, making shots, on defense we were solid for the most part, so it was good to be home and good to play well.”


On if it’s too early to feel like they have it figured out…


“Yes. I think we’re going in the right direction, we played well against Chicago and we played well tonight, but there’s going to be other teams coming up that pose other problems and were going to have to figure those out. But I think we’re going in the right direction.”


On Carmelo Anthony’s performance…


“He’s had two good games in a row. I thought he played obviously very efficient, he was able to score on the block, he creates a problem. You go 9 for 11, obviously not a great offensive night, the thing about Melo is that you feel his presence on the court, you know he’s out there, you have to account for him, he gives us a different dimension at the offensive end that we’re able to take advantage of. He draws a lot of attention, he’s a willing passer, he’s a very good passer, and I think the more were able to do that the more the other four guys on the court can rely on him.”


On Hassan Whiteside’s performance…


“Great start. He had the full package again, he had it all. He’s got good touch in the paint, and I thought our guys did a good job finding him, and he did a good job finishing, and he was a big part of that first quarter. Before Hassan got hurt I thought Damian (Lillard) had such good chemistry with Nurk (Jusuf Nurkic) and Nurk’s a different roller than Hassan, so I think Dame’s figured out where he’s gonna be and when he’s gonna be there and I think their pick and roll has become more effective.”


On Carmelo Anthony fitting in to the style of the team…


“The thing I like right now from an offensive standpoint is that we’re playing good basketball as far as understanding where people are. Melo is a smart player and he’s able to not only get the ball in the area that he likes it but is able to help other guys and tell them when to cut and where to be and he knows when to pass and when to score.”

 

DAMIAN LILLARD

What are you seeing with the offense being more efficient lately?

“I think we’re just finding our way. It’s been coming in different ways. For the first, I’d say 10, 11 games, 13 games, it was just coming different. I didn’t think we executed well. We weren’t very sharp. The ball didn’t move much. I think the last few games, we’re finding our way – just what works for us. It’s hopping around, we’re having quality possessions and I think it’s generating energy for us on the other end as well.”


How much of that is Melo?

“I mean, obviously he presents a different challenge for the other team. Just from a respect standpoint, I think teams see him and it’s just the respect sometimes – that they’ve got to honor another guy so it can change coverages, it can change how much a team wants to help, who they help off of, just having another threat like him out there. So I think it’s partly him being who he is and I think it’s us just realizing we’re up against it and it’s time to turn it around and everybody’s mind and heart is into doing whatever is right for the team and I think it’s starting to show.”


Can you explain the evolution of the pick and roll with Whiteside?

“To start the season – every guy that I’ve played pick and roll with outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, I’ve kind of had to tell the like ‘Do this, do that.’ Not like they didn’t know, but I’ve got the ball so I’m telling them what I need them to do so I can make the play and so what I see happening can happen. That’s taken time. Some less time than others, from LA to JJ Hickson and Mase and then Nurk and now him, RoLo as well. It just takes time and I think with him, our timing is getting better. The more I communicate with him, the more he’s starting to understand what I want to do. It’s just getting better with time. So 18, 19 games in, it should be getting better and it is.”


What did you have to tell him to do?

“Sprint into screens, set the screens – I think early because we was getting so much attention, he liked slipping out because two guys are on the ball, so he felt like slipping out would work. Sometimes he would slip out too far where it’s like I can’t make that pass instead of slipping into the pocket where it’s an easier pass and then the defense has to react and now you’re the playmaker. They make a decision and you just kind of pick them apart from there. But the problem is, if he sets the screen, I can get separation from my man and now the big is by himself instead of two people. It started with him just setting the screen, I said you’ve got to set the screen, stop slipping out of screens. I need you to set it so maybe I have an opportunity and if not, I can attack your man, he’s going to stay with me and now the game is easier for you. Then on the weak side, they’re going to see you getting dunks, they’re going to pull over and now CJ or Hoodie or whoever’s on the weak side is getting open shots and that’s how you loosen up the defense. So I think it started with him just committing to setting screens. He’s been setting screens harder, then it got to the point he was setting screens and just waiting and I was like, set it and you’ve got to dive hard, you can’t stand there. It’s hard to do but you’ve got to do it for the sake of our offense. I think he’s just doing that, doing a better job of it.”


Do you look at this stretch of home games as an opportunity after being on the road so much?

“Yeah, I mean it always comes back. We’ve had a lot – I think 13 out of our first 18 on the road. We didn’t go into it saying, alright we’re going to have more home games so it don’t really matter. We just didn’t play good enough to win a lot of those games. But knowing that we’re coming home and that we’re playing better, I think it’s on everybody’s mind like okay, it’s a great opportunity for us to kind of get ourselves back into it taking care of our home floor. Even though we haven’t been great at home, at some point it has to turn because our work has continued, we’ve been positive, we continue to believe in ourselves so I think we’re starting to turn that corner.”


What was it like playing with Anthony and the buzz from the crowd when he touched the ball?

“Like I’ve been saying, it’s fun to see. In Portland, we don’t get that. You know what I mean? It’s just like, we’ve got another mega star, hall of famer come here and the fans are excited about it, as they should be. I think it’s a point in his career where he needs that type of support. He needs people behind him and to feel good about what he’s doing so it was great to witness. We all want to be a part of his comeback. We want to see it work out. We want to see him get the respect that he’s due so to see how the crowd responded to him, it’s really good to see and be a part of and it’s also something like a spark and some energy that our team needed. It’s fun to see.”

 

CARMELO ANTHONY


On tonight’s game.

“It was great. My first home game here at the Moda Center in Portland. Still trying to find my way through this whole thing. I thought the fans were incredible tonight. The support that they showed for myself and for the team in general, just to be part of this atmosphere on the other side of it rather than opposing team, it goes a long way.”

On the Melo chants at the end of the game.

“It was surprising, I think people just see how genuine this is for me. It’s nothing fake, this is genuine, this is real love at the end of the day. I think people can sense when it’s not.”

On tonight’s team offensive performance compared to when he first joined team.

“I think guys are just starting to feel a little bit more relaxed and at ease. When I first got here last week and met those guys in New Orleans, it was the hype and excitement of me being on a team. Guys not really knowing how this was going to play out and how I was going to fit in. I think now everybody is just at ease and everybody is just playing basketball. Communication the last couple of games has been at an all time high and that’s something we have to keep up.”

What he saw on that dunk vs Terrance Ferguson.

“Once I got that first step, it wasn’t about Terrance, it was about the big who was coming over. If I could beat him to the rim then I’d have a chance of making that shot. That’s what I was looking at. I was looking more so at the big coming over from the weak side.”

On if he expected to play the way he’s been playing.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to come in and play basketball to find my joy again. The excitement of playing basketball the way it should be. I’ve felt that early on so far, I’ve found that happiness and that joy. The guys have been able to open this up to me with open arms and bring me in here as one of their own. That makes the process a lot easier.”

How much fun was it on a personal level to play against Chris (Paul) again?

It’s always fun to play against Chris. I think after all these years, we all know what Chris brings to the game, his competitive nature, his leadership out there on the basketball court. So, any time I get to play against somebody that’s close to me, it’ll always be fun.

On playing with Lillard

That’s been great, to be honest with you, and I think it will continue to get better. The more time we have with each other, the more experience we have with each other on the court. When we start practicing and really sharpening some things up, its going to be a lot of fun out there playing alongside him.

To get all that early love from the fans and then with the team, did that help reaffirm your decision to come back and then be with Portland?

Honestly, I didn’t think Portland was going to make that decision if they didn’t believe in me and what I can bring to this team, you know from a basketball standpoint but also from a leadership standpoint and experience standpoint. This organization really believed in me from that standpoint, and that trickles down to the teammates, to the environment, to the fans. We all have to come together to make this happen.

On talking to Hassan Whiteside

I think if you ask people that really know me, I don’t prejudge people. I like to experience that on my own, have my own observations, so I didn’t have anything on Hassan. It’s just that when I got here, I knew what he could do, I know his ability, and so that’s what I was talking to him about. About what he can bring to this game and about what he can be when he’s locked in. So, for me, my experience with him, I need him locked in and being who he was.

On his impression of the Trail Blazers

Honestly, I haven’t watched much basketball before I signed. I was trying to disconnect myself from that just to keep myself moving forward mentally and emotionally. Once I got the call, I knew CJ, I knew Dame, I knew those guys, like Rodney, from playing against those guys, but I didn’t know the atmosphere of this team, but I know now.

 

Billy Donovan

The first two possessions they got corner three’s from (CJ) McCollum and some of the other guys got hot. What did you see from the very outside?

The first two possessions I thought we could have done a better job. We had some coverages that got broken there but then after that I thought there were some opportunities where we let (Hassan) Whiteside get down too deep, we didn’t meet him early enough. Then we tried making a few adjustments. I just didn’t think in the game we didn’t have enough of them offensively from a defensive standpoint. Just pushing back on them and I think that once they made their first couple (shots) there was some hard shots that they made. McCollum made a really hard one out of the corner. When you start making some shots then all of a sudden you start making tough ones. As that first quarter when on they started making tougher shots, but I thought we played a much, much better second quarter. We got it to thirteen (points) then at one point down to nine but then we went on a drought and couldn’t score then they ripped off a bunch of threes. I thought the three-point line was a huge difference.

There was a brief time in the second quarter when you subbed out Dennis (Schroder) and you seemed upset. What was that conversation about?

I was trying to get his attention because I wasn’t sure how serious his injury was. He said he was fine until he told Steven (Adams) he wasn’t fine. I told him “I can’t hear that conversation”, I was just more worried about him health wise so he just said “I’m fine” but I told him he has to tell me and let me know because I didn’t know how serious his injury. Once he said he was fine, that’s all it was.

Were those guys confused at times in those first eleven or twelve possessions, in terms of coverages?

I don’t know if they were confused, I wouldn’t use the word confused. I don’t think we were aggressive enough. We didn’t attack Whiteside well enough, there were a couple times where we cooled off the wrong guys but I didn’t think we were aggressive enough defensively.

You mentioned cutting it to nine (points) or eleven in the third quarter what didn’t quite go well enough offensively in the last six minutes or so and defensively as well on (Damian) Lillard’s pull up three pointers?

We didn’t play well enough to win the game, that’s just the bottom line both offensively or defensively. We didn’t shoot the ball well enough but when we did have shots we just didn’t really make them. The positive was we got to the free throw line. I think the score was a little bit misleading as our guys who closed the game, closed that really, really well and got to the free throw line. To be honest, it was pretty simple, we just didn’t play well enough. We didn’t defend well enough and we didn’t play well enough on offense.

 

ABDEL NADER


On the Blazers’ hot start.

“Yeah, they started around 86% from the field in the first quarter. When a team comes out shooting like that, you just have to weather the storm. We changed our game plan like midway through and I think that was the proper adjustment. It’s just tough.”


On how to get over the hump.

“Just staying consistent with what got you there. The game plan defensively and play the way we know we’re supposed to play offensively. I think we strayed from that a little bit.”


On matching up vs Melo (Carmelo Anthony)

“It was great, I wasn’t thinking too much about it. He’s a great player and the opportunity came that I got to check him a little bit. It was fun, I enjoyed it.”

 

This is very interesting from Lillard.

 

He had literally did it two games prior.

 

Two nights ago was the same.