Game Thread 2023-24 Game #19 - BLAZERS @ JAZZ - DECEMBER 2, 2023 - SATURDAY - 6:30 PM PST - ROOT

Excited to see how our starters and 2nd unit perform. If Lauri is out we should be favored. We have a real chance to win or lose either way though.

Love the effort this season as well as the long term upside. So much more fun to watch this team play .500 or worse basketball than all those Dame teams with no meaningful future nor any meaningful immediate contention opportunities.

Will be interested in seeing these things during the game;

1. What offense sets and shots we prioritize in the half court?
2. How does Scoot look individually scoring as well as setting up teammates
3. How much do we push the pace and run?

 

So it looks like Lauri is out. Vegas has Utah as the favorite but only by 1.5 points. That still means we haven't been favored in one game this season but maybe that will change by game time. I think the game is a toss up but only because we got a real break with Markkanen not playing. That being said, I'm excited to see our guys fight to try and win this one regardless of the outcome.

 

Weird season.
You know I really hate some of the thoughts that go through my head about Blazer games at this point?
I'm sitting here wondering if I want them to win or lose?
I'm going to blame all of you on this forum that continue to say a loss is a good thing because we want to tank.
The way it looks right now is there is no way they can lose as many games as the spurs and pistons and wizards. They will end up somewhere maybe just shy of a playin team (Edit- or a team that losses in the playin tournament) which gets them a pick around 8-15. (Also edit- which isn't anything special)
This is really tough?

Anyway Go Blazers (whatever that is this year)

 

Anything less than a play-in spot gets you the 10th pick at the lowest unless one of the play-in teams that doesn't make the playoff hits in the lotto. Also we don't get our pick if it were somehow 15th but we would be in the playoffs. I doubt the front office will allow any of this to come close to happening though but maybe I'm wrong and they'll take this group as far as they can.

 

Okay I will edit my comment and add the playin loss team.

 

I don't think Joe cares about getting this young of a core group as much winning experience as a lot of people in this forum seem to think they need. So I don't see any way that Joe lets this team sniff spots 8-14 in the lotto. I think we'll end up with the third or fourth worst record in the league and will both trade off winning vets at the deadline and sit guys down the stretch, seeing how good Scoot does when handed the reigns even if it is in losses a la Shae last season. Should be interesting.

For now though, I don't mind some wins and will be cheering for this version of our team to do their best tonight. GO BLAZERS!!!

 

with the Warriors implosion pending, the Blazers might have a legit opportunity for 2 lottery picks.

Right now is competitive & sometimes win Blazers. All expectations have already been exceeded, after the media slapped a "this team has no hope" sticker on Portland.

GM Cronin is a master tanker. Coach Billups has already shown enough all-rookie firepower to lose 8 in a row.

Enjoy the fun time now Blazers. After the trade deadline, there's 2 months of research & development with a splash of random Remix ballers to proclaim "this loss helps our draft pick."

 

Andy Larsen: Jazz announce Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Kris Dunn all remain out vs. POR on Saturday. Kelly Olynyk is questionable

 

we should def handle business then!!!

 

Also. Am i the only one that just cant stand clarksons hair. I find it sooo punchable. Lol.

 

We should, but that's the kind of situation where a young team sometimes lets up.

 

I have faith on CB not letting that happen.

 

Their rotation tonight will likely be Keyonte George, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, John Collins, Walker Kessler, Colin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Omer Yerseven and probably some guys that don't usually play. Vegas has underestimated us 6 times this season and maybe this will be the seventh but the first seven guys in that rotation are maybe a little better than our first seven. So it should be a good contest for us and maybe we will come away from it with a three game win streak but Utah isn't going to lay down and take their third straight loss.

 

Just bought tix to the Warriors game on Wednesday. Lets all try to stay healthy in this one. Kthxbye

 

Yo this feels so different to be supporting a competent and aggressively defending team

 

Walker Kessler is coming off the bench? That's very weird.