Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 5: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 23, 2019, TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT & NBCSNW

Just Win Baby!

 

Poll Question - Donovan is TERRIBLE.

 

I don't think we'll see the best of OKC in this game because their leader Westbrook is a headcase that can't stand the pressure. So we'll see a lot of Westbrook forcing it and a good game from George. Pretty much what we saw in this last game except all of our guys will be playing even better because it's on their home court. We'll win this game and I think it will be an even wider margin of victory than the last game.

 

Donovan has been a pretty bad coach, but I'm not sure that any Westbrook team is all that coachable.

I would say it was criminal that he left Paul George out for most of the second quarter after picking up 3 fouls. By the time he came back in he was cold as hell (maybe his shoulder stiffened up?) George ended the game with only those 3 fouls (and only 36min played, after averaging 41mpg in the first two.) I thought it was dumb as fuck--you let your best player play through fouls. So the coach decided to play him 5 fewer minutes than he can normally handle for no good reason.

 

I think the big adjustments Stotts needs to make is to completely forget Turner and give his minutes to Curry. Neither guy is capable of running the offense, but at least Curry is providing better defense and shooting. Turner is complete garbage.

I'm also kind of wondering if we don't see more Jake Layman minutes instead of Rodney Hood, especially if it looks like we are going to close them out after halftime. Layman hasn't had a chance to really prove whether he can perform in the playoffs yet, and I like our chances in the next round better if we could get some kind of production from our backup wing.

 

If we win this one and Spurs/Nuggets goes 7, we’ll have a whole week of rest and preparation for second round.

 

Turner will have a moment in the playoffs, probably in a later series. He played very good D on Harden in regular season. That may come in handy in WCF.

 

I was going to mention this as well. This is what I've always understood it to be as well.

 

I think OKC found something the fourth by putting Grant in at center and letting him and PG trap Dame. It opened up stuff for CJ a bit to go one on one, but this might be something they'll continue doing in Game 5.

Keys will be:

-Kanter/Collins/Leonard making right decisions on the short roll
-Kanter posting up Grant deeper
-Dame showing patience
-They are hiding Westbrook on Hood. Rodney needs to get the ball and take advantage.

Series isn't over. I really don't wanna go back to OKC.

 

Need to stop with this shoulder bullshit. It looked fine while he was throwing down a monster dunk after the game was over Friday.

 

I noticed this also but i think it was successful more because a few open looks didn't fall. CJ was way too open and when they tried to collapse, Aminu was clearly wide open and as is what happened Westbrook got left on Harkless. Mo just rolled to the hoop and caught a Dame pass for an easy two. Game Over.
I agree they will most likely use it again. But in the end the Blazers have too many options to break it and Damian Lillard is running this team very well.

 

Great post.

 

Whatever it takes, end this in 5.

 

Think about all three of the games the Blazers have won.
Game One Kanter was clearly the difference.
Game Two Meyers Leonard was huge.
Game Four Aminu was the man.

In all games the Blazers got good games from Lillard and CJ. But in every game another player has made a important impact for a win. Honorable Mention to Mo Harkless as he has also been significant on both sides of the ball.

 

I'm thinking game 5 will be Seth Curry that makes the big impact.

 

come on Kingspeed...