Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 1: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - AUGUST 18, 2020, TUESDAY, 6:00, TNT & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

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



2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
35 - 39
(14-24 Road)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
52 - 19
(25-10 Home)


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




WHEN: 6:00 PM (PDT), TUESDAY, 8/18/2020

WHERE: AdventHealth Arena, Orlando, FL

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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



--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

ADAMS , SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

HEZONJA , LITTLE , HOARD

GABRIEL , WHITESIDE


- LOS ANGELES LAKERS-

COOK , WAITERS , HORTON-TUCKER

CALDWELL-POPE , CARUSO , SMITH

DUDLEY , KUZMA , MORRIS

ANTETOKOUNMPO , CACOK , HOWARD



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Nassir Little (dehydration): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle inflammation): OUT
Trevor Ariza (personal reasons): OUT
Caleb Swanigan (personal reasons): OUT
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
LAKERS
Rajon Rondo (right thumb): QUESTIONABLE
Alex Caruso (right neck muscle spasms): QUESTIONABLE
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ribs): QUESTIONABLE
Avery Bradley (personal reasons): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- FRANK VOGEL

OFFICIAL LAKERS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers were 1-2 against the Lakers this season.

• LAST MEETING: Damian Lillard had 48 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers past the Lakers at Staples Center on Jan. 31, 127-119. Anthony Davis paced the Lakers with 37 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.

• In three games against the Lakers this season, Damian Lillard averaged 36.0 points (50.8% FG, 39.4% 3-PT, 87.9% FT), 6.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists.

• CJ McCollum averaged 17.3 points (41.2% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 3.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in three games against Los Angeles this season.

• In two games against the Lakers this season, Carmelo Anthony averaged 14.0 points (33.3% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 88.9% FT), 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

• LeBron James averaged 24.7 points (45.0% FG, 38.1% 3-PT, 63.2% FT), 7.3 rebounds and 11.3 assists in three games against the Trail Blazers this season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Lakers lead, 122-108
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 70-45
AT THE LAKERS: Lakers lead, 77-38

​

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Chris Craig]

So we already won our first series

 

[Chris Craig]

Let's get this

 

[kjironman1]

No predictions from me.
Blazers need to just go out and take the first game.
Sock em right in the mouth!

 

[GhostOfPGA]

I am prepared to bitch and moan and still be hopeful for a W

 

[THE HCP]

You know I was just finishing up my game thread...... I put a lot of work into it.

 

[BlazerRx]

No real homecourt advantage in the bubble. Blazers need to come out strong, take game 1 and make a statement. If they do that then I believe they can take this series.

 

[Labinot41]

TIME TO SHOCK THE WORLD FAMS

 

[Strenuus]

Since it was specifically asked to not be a homer, and if my life depended on it. I had to go with the L*keys. Unless Dame just has 4 more ungodly games (which there is always a chance) I think we take two. I can see that. And I'd be more than okay with it.

Just please for the love of God don't get swept.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

One game at the time... we can do this. Let’s go

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I think the lack of fans HCA hurts the Lakers. Especially, since they have lots of fans cheering for them on the road. It will be interesting to see how the series flows. There won't be the usual momentum from "okay, we're down 0-2 but now we're going home" or "let's steal one on the road," etc. As a viewer, I'm glad I won't have to hear all those cliches and it will merely come down to which team is best. I do think the lack of structure, though, a 7 game series will feel longer than usual.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The last time we faced the Lakers in the playoffs, it ended like this:



Time to flip the script.

 

[stampedehero]

Three things must happen...
CJ has got to stop his dribbling turnovers.
Blazer defense has to guard an opposing wing player stabbing us with threes and
We have to get scores from Offensive rebounds.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You know I was just finishing up my game thread...... I put a lot of work into it.

post it. Lets see what that work produced!

 

[crandc]

Is it the apocalypse? Two days of record heat and now thunderstorms. We never have thunderstorms in California. And it never rains in August.

Dogs barking, Lucia running in and out, can feel electricity in the air.

Not that it isn't welcome, the state is a tinderbox.

 

[kjironman1]

I think the lack of fans HCA hurts the Lakers. Especially, since they have lots of fans cheering for them on the road. It will be interesting to see how the series flows. There won't be the usual momentum from "okay, we're down 0-2 but now we're going home" or "let's steal one on the road," etc. As a viewer, I'm glad I won't have to hear all those cliches and it will merely come down to which team is best. I do think the lack of structure, though, a 7 game series will feel longer than usual.

Yep i agree. A seven game series could become a very long and grueling process to get a win.

 

[CupWizier]

Three things must happen...
CJ has got to stop his dribbling turnovers.
Blazer defense has to guard an opposing wing player stabbing us with threes and
We have to get scores from Offensive rebounds.

Turnovers have not been this teams problem during these bubble games and we just need to continue that. As for McCollum, he had 11 turnovers in the 8 games along with 40 assists. I'll take that all day for the second leading ball handling player on the team.

 

[James lamphear]

We must make Davis follow way jump shooter when he on low post. Due to he likes to drop step baseline when he is down there. For LeBron you hope for the best but I would make him jump shooter majority he likes to get going on driving dunk. The good thing is the Lakers don't have anyone really quick like Morant that as I live miserable. Plus our bigs don't have challenge there centers outside due to they don't shoot that shot so our rim protection should be better this series. Dame and CJ should have a big series.

 

[tlongII]

We need to control the boards and the paint. Do that and we win.

 

[THE HCP]

Since it was specifically asked to not be a homer, and if my life depended on it. I had to go with the L*keys. Unless Dame just has 4 more ungodly games (which there is always a chance) I think we take two. I can see that. And I'd be more than okay with it.

Just please for the love of God don't get swept.

Shit even THE HCP picked the Blazers in 6!

 

[THE HCP]

I will say that not being able to play in front of our fans might hurt us. LA crowds have never been that good. Where as ours, I feel definitely affect/effect the game.

 

[THE HCP]

I’m taking all the credit for us getting into the playoffs!!!

 

[riverman]

You know I was just finishing up my game thread...... I put a lot of work into it.

you can still finish it up and just add to the title..."Safe space for Lakers Fans"....that's the new trick around here

 

[riverman]

I’m taking all the credit for us getting into the playoffs!!!

I miss those big calves? He can only see your calves if he's standing behind you....hmmmmmm

 

[riverman]

Nothing is sweeter than deflating the Lakers when they're the no 1 seed....it's like Chinese food....once you finish you just want to do it all over again 10 minutes later!

 

[blazerkor]

I picked the Lakers in 6 but that was just because the question was demanding being absolutely pragmatic and pragmatism doesn't always equal accuracy. Our biases are there for a reason and sometimes they create a more accurate point of view than dropping them does. That being said, it will be hard to beat the Lakers but we can do it. We aren't the favorites in this series but like so many commentators and journalists have said, we may be the biggest threat to the Lakers in the Western Conference. How will they answer Dame and if they do won't every other shooter and CJ just light them up? Also I think Nurk will be a handful for them on the inside, he'll slaughter either of Howard or McGee and if they bring AD to help Nurk will pick them to death with his passing. For offense they don't have an especially dynamic perimeter scoring threat (I know LeBron can be somewhat perimeter but he's kind of an inside/out scorer and so is AD). If we can stop LeBron on the outside, limit AD and LeBron inside and close out on their spot up shooters, then maybe we can outscore them 4 games out of 7... there is hope and in my head and heart I think we will get it done but that is allowing my biases to come into play which could be a better thing than just being totally pragmatic.

 

[tlongII]

I picked us in 7. I think all the games will be close and I think we’re more clutch than they are.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I picked us in 7. I think all the games will be close and I think we’re more clutch than they are.

I thought and did the same.