Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 2: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 16, 2019, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT & NBCSNW

The dynamic has affected the Blazers off and on and is true for any team--pick-and-rolls are only as effective as the players you have around your star. McCollum, at least, is a knock-down shooter whereas Westbrook isn't. When players like Harkless or Aminu or Crabbe were knocking down open shots, the Blazers were hard to stop. When the supporting cast couldn't do that, double-teaming Lillard became an easy way to derail the offense, and not because Lillard or even Stotts was deficient.

 

The most impressive part of this series to me that I haven't really seen brought up is that the Blazers have been physical. Let's face it a lot of the "rap" on the Blazers the last few years is they're "soft". Hands down last year NO punched them in the mouth said you can't stop us and they repeatedly punched the Blazers over and over. OKC especially in game two really threw their punches, got really physical, pushing, pulling, grabbing, trying to get into the Blazers heads and the Blazers have met every single blow with a blow of their own, not just in the shooting but in meeting that level of physicality and toughness and dishing it back. In fact what really spurred the Blazers on last night was Dame not taking WB's crap, and going to the basket even with Schroeder grabbing and holding him.
Doesn't mean they're winning a championship, doesn't mean they'll win this series, but man it's nice to see them stand toe to toe physically with what's considered a physical chippy team and punch them right back w/o blinking.

 

?

 

It's Felton. I'm thinking he was saying 50 dozen.....

 

I was reading their obituary in OKC SBNation site, and the writer was harping on the same thing. Seems so obvious there must be a reason.

 

Damn that woman is bad

 

Totally agree this guy is going to fuck us bad some point in this series. He really needs to have some DNP-CD in this series. He’s playing terribly in this series

 

Sometimes it looks like he gets a little lost out there I will admit that too.

 

I think that have surprised OKC too. I believe that really have OKC out of there game a little. Zach standing up Morris and Dame standing up to Westbrook and Adams. Hard fouls by Harkless and ET. CJ got T in the 1st game because taking crap.

 

Oh did Olshey turn that offer down?

It can't be overstated how important it is to have two guards that dynamic on offense who can both be playmakers and handle the ball, especially when playing an opponent like OKC who are always swarming Damian.

 

When the ref was trying to intervene you could see Dame say "We're just talking" and later "We're having a conversation." One thing that sets Dame apart from most players in those situations, and even when someone does to something dirty to him, is that he doesn't jump up and attack the other player. He very assertively "has a conversation" with that person.

 

Enter Seth Curry, Stage Right

 

OKC Coach probably thinks they are softening us up with body blows, and that the Blazers will try to adjust, so they can free up Westbrick and George for the head shots (so to speak). But the Blazers are playing with poise and sticking to their game plan.

Or maybe the OKC Coach is stupid or something.

 

I really thought the Blazers were going to find a way to get Gobert, and I was disappointed when they didn't. Oh, well, we couldn't draft all of them.

 

Playoff wins?

 

Charles Barkley said: "Imagine if that was Russ, he would've gone crazy".

 

Once again Seth plays fantastic minutes. Solid D. He is shooting with extreme confidence. What was he 3/3 from three point?? That fast break 3 he downed was the beginning of the end for OKC last night. I am putting the cart before the horse but I am wondering when/if/how re-signings are going to happen...