Game Thread 2022-23 Game #4 - BLAZERS VS NUGGETS - OCTOBER 24, 2022 - MONDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT, NBA TV

brooklynballer · Oct 25, 2022

beast crnjo said: ↑

Im responsible for this because i fell asleep at halftime and missed the 2nd half
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In that case, sir, you are hereby banned from watching any more Blazers games!

BonesJones · Oct 25, 2022

THE HCP said: ↑

WHO?
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Hi it's me.

Shaboid · Oct 26, 2022

Trail Blazers stay unbeaten as Anfernee Simons’ performance turned players into fans

What happened here Monday night was so moving, so captivating and so exhilarating, even some of the best basketball players on the planet wanted to stop playing and become part of the roaring crowd that was watching Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons.

“At one moment, I wasn’t even trying to worry about setting a screen, because I was just trying to see it,” Portland center Jusuf Nurkic said. “Like, I wanted to be a part and watch. I was like, ‘This motherf—– hot, I want to see it go in.’”

Added star guard Damian Lillard: “Explosive. And fun. I don’t know, just being able to see it … I was looking around at the crowd, like man, this is crazy, he is blowing the roof off the place.”

They were talking about Simons’ third quarter, when the 23-year-old hit his first eight shots, including six 3-pointers which ignited the Trail Blazers to their latest eye-opener: a 135-110 rout of the Denver Nuggets.

It was as if people didn’t know what to be more excited about: the mesmerizing shooting display or the notion that the Trail Blazers are 4-0 for the first time since 1999. They join Milwaukee (2-0) as the only unbeaten teams remaining in the NBA. Up next is Miami on Wednesday at the Moda Center.

Simons, who is as awe-shucks as they come when it comes to talking about himself, had a hard time finding the words to describe what he was feeling Monday during his shooting spree. He hemmed, and hawed, and stared at the microphone in front of him, then found it.

“It’s hard to explain, honestly. I don’t know. Maybe that great feeling of finding money on the ground,” Simons said. “Something like, ‘This is my lucky day.’ Definitely a great feeling to get that hot.”

Simons’ 3-point outburst was not only great theater, but it also was timely and essential. Simons had started the season 5 of 24 from 3-point range, which included 0 of 6 the day before in Los Angeles. His timing couldn’t have been better to find his shooting stroke. The Blazers had trailed by as many as 13 in the first half, and his first three of the third quarter pushed Portland ahead for the first time 71-70. His second 3 increased the lead to 74-70.

Then things started to get fun.

His third consecutive 3-pointer was from deeeeep: 32 feet, pushing the lead to 79-70. That’s when the crowd started picking up that something special could be brewing.

When his fourth 3-pointer hit, Lillard threw his hands up in amazement, the lead now 84-73, and the crescendo of the crowd morphed into something akin to a jet engine. After a Denver basket, the crowd immediately anticipated another Simons shot, and Lillard made sure it happened. As he did throughout Simons’ 3-point barrage, Lillard looked for his backcourt mate and found him curling toward the top of the key. Simons immediately rose, even as Denver defender Bruce Brown closed in under him, knocking Simons to the ground. All net.

“I shot that one blindly,” Simons said, “It was like a blur.”

When he hit the sixth 3-pointer, and eighth consecutive shot overall, the Moda Center erupted. Not only were the Blazers up 90-77, they knew they had just watched something special in a building that has had some pretty memorable shooting moments. Lillard likened it to CJ McCollum scoring 50 in three quarters against Chicago in 2018. Some might remember Martell Webster scoring 24 points in the third quarter against Utah in 2008. And Lillard has had his share of shooting benders while amassing nine games of 50 or more points at the Moda Center. This time, Lillard relished the notion of setting up Simons (he assisted on four of the six 3s) and feeding off the electricity in the building.

“It felt like the crowd was about to fall onto the court,” Lillard said. “You could see people standing up and going crazy. It was loud. I was like, man, this dude is hot.”

Simons’ show was just another layer to what has been a memorable start from what many figured would be a forgettable season. The Blazers were terrible in the preseason, and while the roster had many new faces, nobody gave them much of a shot to be contenders in the West.

But here they are, with wins at Sacramento and the Lakers, and home wins over Phoenix and Denver, all while playing an entertaining brand of hard-nosed, team-oriented basketball.

Lillard has been exceptional, averaging 33.3 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. And when power forward Jerami Grant isn’t hitting two game-clinching baskets, he’s facing point guards like De’Aaron Fox and Jamal Murray. And when small forward Josh Hart isn’t going coast-to-coast at breakneck speed, he’s scrapping for rebounds inside with the big boys, grabbing 16 on Sunday in Los Angeles and 11 on Monday against Denver.

Meanwhile, Shaedon Sharpe has had several breathtaking moments, Nassir Little has been a burst of energy off the bench, and even when bad things happen — like Keon Johnson throwing a pass into the hands of Jamal Murray — a good comes out of it like Johnson showing the athleticism and effort to chase Murray down and block the layin at the other end.

Meanwhile, once the laughingstock of the NBA when it comes to defense, the Blazers have been coming at opponents with waves of effort. They are far from a finished product — they gave up 10 dunks to the Nuggets — but it’s looking like Chauncey Billups and defensive assistant Roy Rogers have made headway on transforming this team’s identity.

“I don’t think you all believed me in the first place, or anyone,” Nurkic said. “You all be saying we fat, we not in shape, we terrible defense. I think we are going to be fun. I was saying from Day 1 that we need time to figure it out. And we’ve found that playing defense is not one man, it’s five-man defense. It’s effort.”

It’s why this 4-0 start has some buzz to it. This is more than a team riding the coattails of Lillard’s brilliance. It’s been a long time since the Blazers had as many guys with the grit and fight as Hart, Justise Winslow and Drew Eubanks. It’s been a long time since they’ve had someone with the defensive range of Grant, who has guarded every position, from center to point guard. And the bench might be able to change a game here and there with the energy and athleticism of Little and Sharpe. And this is all without seeing one of the big offseason acquisitions — the defensive wonderment of Gary Payton II, who is nearing a return from his July abdominal surgery.

It’s why Lillard said he feels this iteration of the Blazers feels “sustainable” when it comes to success. Right now, nobody knows for sure. But there is not a soul who was in the Moda Center on Monday, and not a set of eyeballs who tuned in from around the country, who isn’t willing to strap in for the ride to find out.
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PDXFonz · Oct 26, 2022

Finally watching this on DVR…

Chills… CHILLS MAN!

Ant…Bang
Ant…BANG
ANT…BAAAAANNNNNNGGGG!!!!

Crowd going crazy, everyone on their feet. It’s the Rose Garden up in there during all of this. Loud crowd, passionate loyal Blazer fans.

PDXFonz · Oct 26, 2022

Dames looking hard for Ant. Wants him to get those shots.

Not like Dame and CJ didn’t have some good chemistry. But Dame is looking for Ant. He’s not even thinking about shooting, he’s trying to find his guy.

James lamphear · Oct 26, 2022

Well I just got done watching the game nice 2nd half by ant and surprised to see got stronger it really show when he guard low. Dame look strong and quick glade to see him healthy. Grant is forward this franchise been need for long time. Hart is actually has the tangible what this team needs and fit perfect with other 4 starters. Nurk is Nurk good or bad. The Sharpe kid has it all going and little bit experience the management going have to decide who going leave for this kid get playing time in future. Defense not bad they kind fall on the back of the zone some times but that can fix. Overall it looks like I am going to eat goat on my win prediction but I don't mind that.

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Game Thread 2022-23 Game #4 - BLAZERS VS NUGGETS - OCTOBER 24, 2022 - MONDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT, NBA TV

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Game Thread 2022-23 Game #4 - BLAZERS VS NUGGETS - OCTOBER 24, 2022 - MONDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT, NBA TV

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