Game Thread GAME# 60: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - APRIL 25, 2021 - SUNDAY, 1:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
30 - 28
(17-12 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
32 - 27
(16-15 Home)

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______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

---- MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES ----

JA MORANT (PG) , GRAYSON ALLEN (SG)

DILLON BROOKS (SF) , KYLE ANDERSON (PF)

XAVIER TILLMAN (C)


----PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS----

DAMIAN LILLARD (PG) , C.J. McCOLLUM (SG)

NORMAN POWELL (SF) , ROBERT COVINGTON (PF)

JUSUF NURKIC (C)

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------- JERSEYS -------

---

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WHEN: 1:00 PM (PDT), SUNDAY, 4/25/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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-------------- RESERVES --------------

-- MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES --

FRAZIER , JONES , MELTON

BANE , KONCHAR , McDERMOTT

WINSLOW , CLARKE

JACKSON Jr. , TILLIE


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS , ELLEBY

LITTLE , HOLLIS-JEFFERSON , JONES Jr.

ANTHONY , LEAF

GILES III , KANTER


INJURIES
GRIZZLIES
Jonas Valanciunas (concussion protocol): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT





HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TAYLOR JENKINS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL GRIZZLIES' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers and Grizzlies split the 2019-20 season series, 1-1. Portland and Memphis have split the season series each of the past three years.

• Damian Lillard averaged 24.5 points (41.5% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 5.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists in two games against the Grizzlies last season. Lillard has scored at least 20 points in each of his last five games against Memphis.

• CJ McCollum averaged 28.0 points (50.0% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 100% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.50 steals in two games against Memphis last season. McCollum is averaging 21.6 points over his 20 career games against the Grizzlies, his third-highest average against any NBA team.

• On July 31, 2020, his only game against the Grizzlies last season, Jusuf Nurkic recorded 18 points (5-11 FG, 8-8 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and six blocks. His six rejections tied a career-high (three times previous).

• In two games against Portland last season, Ja Morant averaged 21.0 points (35.6% FG, 8.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 5.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.00 steals. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team Morant is averaging a career double-double against.

• Brandon Clarke averaged 24.0 points (86.4% FG, 76.9% FT), 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in two games against the Trail Blazers last season, including a career-high 27-point (12-14 FG) performance on Feb. 12, 2020. Clarke's career average of 24.0 points against Portland is his highest against any team.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 51-40
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 28-17
MEMPHIS HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 23-23

 

[Darkwebs]

Yet another one-posession loss. The slumping Blazers are on a 4-game slide, which matches their biggest losing streak of the season. They have lost 8 of their last 10 games. Yikes!

I fully expect a revenge win here, but the damage has already been done. Portland has now fallen behind Dallas into the 7th spot, and if the season were to end today, the Blazers would be have to go through the Play-in to get into the Play-offs.

Dallas has an easy remaining schedule and Portland has a tough one, so if the Blazers want to avoid the Play-in, they'll need to raise their level of play considerably. We've seen it in years past where they have gone on incredible runs in the latter part of a season, and they'll need to do it again if they want to get a ticket straight into the Play-offs.

 

[Natebishop3]

Take the L. Get a pick. Clean house.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Take the L. Get a pick. Clean house.

We don’t have a pick in this draft. We aren’t going to fall to 11th. We’d be favored in play-in.

 

[EGame]

probably another fat L. This team doesn't know how to play against decent competition.

 

[tester551]

When does RHJ second 10-day contract expire? Does anyone think that he'll be signed for the rest of the season?

 

[HolyBackboard]

We don’t have a pick in this draft. We aren’t going to fall to 11th. We’d be favored in play-in.

Yes we do. It's Lottery protected through 2027. Right now, I'll take the Lottery Pick over a first round exit (again).

 

[Tince]

When does RHJ second 10-day contract expire? Does anyone think that he'll be signed for the rest of the season?

I hope not. We need a backup center who can give us 15 minutes of defense when we're facing teams who just abuse Kanter.

 

[Mr. Robot]

isnt this b2b, thats what it says at espn

 

[blazerkor]

isnt this b2b, thats what it says at espn

We're playing the Grizz twice in a row but the first game was on Friday night and the second game is on Sunday afternoon. So in a way, we are playing them in back to back games but we are not playing back to back days which is usually what someone means when they say that we're playing b2b.

When we here stats about the second night of a b2b, it has to do with fatigue because of the close proximity of the games. There are stats that talk about it and all sorts of things but this isn't one of those. This is just like when we played NOLA on 3/16 and 3/18. Neither of those games came the day after another but we did play the Pelicans twice in a row.

 

[Mr. Robot]

We're playing the Grizz twice in a row but the first game was on Friday night and the second game is on Sunday afternoon. So in a way, we are playing them in back to back games but we are not playing back to back days which is usually what someone means when they say that we're playing b2b.

When we here stats about the second night of a b2b, it has to do with fatigue because of the close proximity of the games. There are stats that talk about it and all sorts of things but this isn't one of those. This is just like when we played NOLA on 3/16 and 3/18. Neither of those games came the day after another but we did play the Pelicans twice in a row.

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por

then its mistake by espn

or not, its an early sunday game, so its b2b, just not the b2b nights

technically, in my country its b2b (but not b2b nights), as last game was played saturday morning (were 9 hours before portland, so it was friday night in portland) and sundays game will be at night 10.00 pm

 

[stampedehero]

Yet another one-posession loss. The slumping Blazers are on a 4-game slide, which matches their biggest losing streak of the season. They have lost 8 of their last 10 games. Yikes!

I fully expect a revenge win here, but the damage has already been done. Portland has now fallen behind Dallas into the 7th spot, and if the season were to end today, the Blazers would be have to go through the Play-in to get into the Play-offs.

Dallas has an easy remaining schedule and Portland has a tough one, so if the Blazers want to avoid the Play-in, they'll need to raise their level of play considerably. We've seen it in years past where they have gone on incredible runs in the latter part of a season, and they'll need to do it again if they want to get a ticket straight into the Play-offs.

Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers - Box Score - April 23, 2021 - ESPN<<<<and so it continues.

 

[TBpup]

Who is going to stro it up for the Blazers? It seems unlikely we will get the monster game from Nurk in back to back games, so it will have to come from elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Melo Legacy Tour continues to sink the Blazers. 13 points in 19 minutes... and still a -12. Defense means nothing to sho many on this roster. MElo, MEj, Stotts... it's pathetic.

 

[James lamphear]

We don’t have a pick in this draft. We aren’t going to fall to 11th. We’d be favored in play-in.

If we don't make the playoffs then your in the lottery. So if we 9 or 10th we will be late lottery pick. Play-in games are not the playoffs.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

We don’t have a pick in this draft. We aren’t going to fall to 11th. We’d be favored in play-in.

We might be favored, but there won't be much incentive to win. and at 10th place I think we have to win twice.

 

[wizenheimer]

We don’t have a pick in this draft. We aren’t going to fall to 11th. We’d be favored in play-in.

Portland was favored last night

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If we don't make the playoffs then your in the lottery. So if we 9 or 10th we will be late lottery pick. Play-in games are not the playoffs.

My assumption is that we would have to lose in the play-in to retain our status as a lottery team.

 

[wizenheimer]

ok...what would be the worst possible outcome for this season? (ignoring management and coaching ramifications)

I'd say it would be losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round. So, is there much doubt that's exactly what will happen?

I guess we can carry it a little further for those who like torture:

1) losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round
2) Olshey doesn't fire Stotts
3) Seattle doesn't fire Olshey
4) Powell and Jones opt out and sign elsewhere
5) Olshey re-signs Zach for 15M/year
6) Blazer broadcasting signs Jordan Kent to a 10-year deal

 

[James lamphear]

My assumption is that we would have to lose in the play-in to retain our status as a lottery team.

This is true and this is very possible the way we are playing. But get better chance we must stay 7 or 8 where we have two chances to go by winning 1 game. 9 or 10 has to win 2 games to go.

 

[blazerkor]

ok...what would be the worst possible outcome for this season? (ignoring management and coaching ramifications)

I'd say it would be losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round. So, is there much doubt that's exactly what will happen?

I guess we can carry it a little further for those who like torture:

1) losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round
2) Olshey doesn't fire Stotts
3) Seattle doesn't fire Olshey
4) Powell and Jones opt out and sign elsewhere
5) Olshey re-signs Zach for 15M/year
6) Blazer broadcasting signs Jordan Kent to a 10-year deal

See, this is the kind of post that brings me hope because I just don't see it going the worst way possible by all six of your criteria. Right now this team is on such a downward trajectory that I wouldn't be surprised if we missed the playoffs and retained our pick. If that were to happen, I don't see how even Olshey would survive. Maybe the new GM would be able to talk Powell into re-signing (he's not opting in) and Jones opting in (he's not getting more money elsewhere). Obviously trading CJ would be part of the pitch to Powell.

If I had to guess I would venture to say that terrible things 1 and 3 happen. We'll make the playoffs, get crushed in the first round and Olshey will save his job by doing whatever slimy thing he has to (in this case throwing Stotts under the bus even though Stotts is Olshey's fault). I don't think Olshey will be able to keep Powell because Olshey will keep on saying that CJ is untouchable but my gut tells me that if Olshey has a new coach in place, he'll sell DJ on the idea that the new coach will not only start him but use his strengths on offense instead of making him stand in the corner.

 

[Natebishop3]

ok...what would be the worst possible outcome for this season? (ignoring management and coaching ramifications)

I'd say it would be losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round. So, is there much doubt that's exactly what will happen?

I guess we can carry it a little further for those who like torture:

1) losing their draft pick in what's considered an excellent draft, then getting curb-stomped 4-0 or 4-1 in the first round
2) Olshey doesn't fire Stotts
3) Seattle doesn't fire Olshey
4) Powell and Jones opt out and sign elsewhere
5) Olshey re-signs Zach for 15M/year
6) Blazer broadcasting signs Jordan Kent to a 10-year deal

I think that about sums it up.

 

[Mr. Robot]

 

[wizenheimer]

See, this is the kind of post that brings me hope

if so, I have failed

 

[Chris Craig]

No. Blazers should never lose when Nurk has a game like that

 

[Mr. Robot]

No. Blazers should never lose when Nurk has a game like that

its a team game and team didnt delivered (some of it its nurks fault too)

 

[Scalma]

Let’s see if Stotts makes any adjustments from Friday or just runs the same unit out today expecting different results. I wonder which one I’d bet on..

Can’t wait to watch that Simons, Kanter, Melo trio. Couldn’t even be bothered to bitch about it last time. It’s just a joke now.

 

[Labinot41]

We need Bosnian Beast Nurk again and the old Lillard

 

[GDiama]

We need Bosnian Beast Nurk again and the old Lillard

I wonder which Nurk version we ll get. he needs to bring his A game now that Valanciunas is back. No excuses for Nurk, no more of the 10 pts 8 rebounds stuff it was pathetic as long as it lasted.

 

[Chris Craig]

I wonder which Nurk version we ll get. he needs to bring his A game now that Valanciunas is back. No excuses for Nurk, no more of the 10 pts 8 rebounds stuff it was pathetic as long as it lasted.

Valanciunas is back? Fuck

 

[Labinot41]

Valanciunas is back? Fuck

If we have ambitions to make a deep playoff run, we shouldn’t care about anyone on the Grizzlies roster. But we suck unfortunately