Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 5: BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - MAY 7, 2019 - TUESDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(21-20 Road)
DENVER NUGGETS
54 - 28
(34-7 Home)

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---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS JAMAL MURRAY

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS GARY HARRIS

SF

MOE HARKLESS VS TORREY CRAIG

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS PAUL MILLSAP

C

ENES KANTER VS NIKOLA JOKIC

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

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PDT), TUESDAY, 5/7/2019

WHERE: PEPSI CENTER, DENVER, CO

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD


----- DENVER NUGGETS-----

THOMAS , MORRIS

BEASLEY , BARTON , VANDERBILT

HERNANGOMEZ , LYDON , LYLES

PLUMLEE , WELSH


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
Enes Kanter (separated left shoulder): PROBABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT
NUGGETS
Jamal Murray (right thigh injury): PROBABLE
Michael Porter Jr. (low back surgery): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MICHAEL MALONE



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

SEASON SERIES NOTES

• Denver won the season series against Portland in 2018-19, 3-1. All four games were decided by single digits.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Damian Lillard averaged 21.3 points (37.1% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 95.8% FT), 3.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Lillard shot 23-of-24 from the free-throw-line against Denver this season.
• CJ McCollum averaged 20.0 points (45.3% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three games against the Nuggets this season.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 16.0 points (50.0% FG, 31.6% 3-PT, 94.7% FT), 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.00 steal. His 16.0 points per game was his highest scoring average against a Western Conference opponent this season.
• Nikola Jokic averaged 25.7 points (62.0% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 76.9% FT), 9.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.00 steal in three games against the Trail Blazers this season.

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• Portland and Denver have faced each other twice previously in the postseason, with each team winning one series.
• The Trail Blazers and Nuggets are 5-5 against each other in the playoffs, all-time.
• The Trail Blazers defeated the Nuggets 4-2 in the 1977 NBA Western Conference Semifinals despite Denver holding home court advantage. Portland won the NBA Championship that year.
• The Nuggets took a five-game first round series vs. the Trail Blazers in 1986, 3-1.
• Former Trail Blazers Will Barton and Mason Plumlee have playoff experience with the Trail Blazers. Barton averaged 6.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 11.6 minutes in six games during the 2014 postseason vs. Houston and San Antonio. Plumlee posted averages of 7.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.00 block and 27.8 minutes in 11 starts vs. the LA Clippers and Golden State in 2016.
• The series is only Portland’s second playoff matchup against a divisional opponent since facing the Lakers in 2002 as members of the Pacific Division. Entering this postseason vs. divisional rivals Oklahoma City and Denver, the Trail Blazers had never faced a Northwest Division opponent since the division was formed in 2004-05.
CONNECTIONS
• Portland center Jusuf Nurkic averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 139 games (59 starts) in two-plus seasons with the Nuggets. Nurkic was acquired by the Trail Blazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee and a 2017 first round pick on Feb.13, 2017. Plumlee averaged 9.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 136 games (all starts) across two seasons in Portland.
• Denver guard Will Barton was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 40th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 144 games (five starts) in two-plus seasons with Portland.
• Trail Blazers forward/center Skal Labissiere and Denver guard Jamal Murray were teammates at the University of Kentucky for the 2015-16 season.

PREVIOUS MEETING IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: LOSS 113-121


GAME #2: WIN 97-90


GAME #3: WIN 140-137


GAME #4: LOSS 112-116

​

 

[Darkwebs]

NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

As of 5/5/2019

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[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm not saying the refs cost us Game 4, but......

Spoiler

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Biggest game of the year so far. A win and Moda Center will be on fire for game 6. Let’s go!

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[kjironman1]

The question is weird but i'm going with Nuggets. Figure if the Blazers get past the Nuggets it's gonna be tough to root for a team that beat the Blazers because that would be either GS or Rock-etts.
If the Blazers do not get past the Nuggets then i usually always wish the team that beat them the best.
That will not happen to the Warriors or Houston.
No... The east can suck it! I watched that Raptors vs Philly game today. What a freaking joke.
The West is out there killing each other and the East teams are lolligagging there way through the second round.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[kjironman1]

Just regroup and continue to play with the same intensity.
Make some shots that usually fall and keep the composure.
Game 5 can be won. Just got to go earn it!

 

[THE HCP]

I honestly think we can now win this game in 5!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I honestly think we can now win this game in 5!

You mean we can win game 5?

 

[THE HCP]

You mean we can win game 5?

Nope. We kick their ass so bad in game 5, they just give us the series.

 

[TBpup]

Simply put, Dame is going to have to step it up. In the last 3 games he is a paltry 24-63, a not very attractive .380 from the field. Yes, they won 2 of those games but that isn't what you need from your star who is supposed to be the best player on the court.

 

[blazerkor]

It's really obvious that we're missing Nurk and the pick and roll a ton. Both Dame and CJ have become ISO heavy and we all know that's not the most efficient way to play. We can still win the series, it's just going to take a little more from Dame: more shots falling, more driving to the hole and finishing and more drawing in their whole defense and kicking the ball out for uncontested shots... that our other guys need to hit. We really don't need much more but if we get that little extra bit, I think we can still take this series in 6.

 

[Labinot41]

Deliver Dame !

 

[illmatic99]

Simply put, Dame is going to have to step it up. In the last 3 games he is a paltry 24-63, a not very attractive .380 from the field. Yes, they won 2 of those games but that isn't what you need from your star who is supposed to be the best player on the court.

Maybe credit the defense? Gary Harris is in his jersey on every possession and they keep throwing 2/3 guys at him on every P&R. And Dame can't really hide on defense cuz he's actually one oof our better defenders now. His workload is ridiculous.

Look at what's happening to Curry/Kyrie/Lowry/Paul/etc. What superstar point guard is actually doing well right now? It's just rare for them to sustain their efficiency this late in the playoffs. (and no, Murray doesn't count when he's getting single coverage and is an afterthought of our defensive game plan).

 

[illmatic99]

Someone here brought up the idea of taking out Murray by trapping him. Terry threw that look out there in the last few mins for some success. I think that deserves a look.

While Jokic is their best player, they go as Jamal goes. Take Murray out.

 

[KingSpeed]

Simply put, Dame is going to have to step it up. In the last 3 games he is a paltry 24-63, a not very attractive .380 from the field. Yes, they won 2 of those games but that isn't what you need from your star who is supposed to be the best player on the court.

You lost me at yes, we won 2 of those games. He shot great in game 1 but we lost. Winning as team is all that matters.

 

[beast blazer]

We are just here to play spoiler now. We shouldn't even be in this position without nurk. But I bet we'd have already swept them with him.

 

[kjironman1]

Honestly i feel Dame is fine. He is scoring and he draws a double every time. He is working as hard as any point guard in the playoffs right now.
I feel the real need is to have that one thing we all got used to seeing this year. Aminu hitting 36-40% of his threes. If that happens in either loss this series is a sweep.
In game one Chief went 0-1 from three point.
In game 4 Chief went 1-4 from three point.
The kick out to Aminu has been there but he has not been taking the shot and he has been converting at the basket. He was 6-10 FG's in game four. but was a dismal 1-5 overall in game one.
I'm thinking Aminu is putting a bunch of effort out there on defense and he is not willing to rely on the three?
If Aminu is not available to shoot from three the Blazers need another shooter on the floor.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Poll question : Bucks > Raptors > Sixers > Warriors > Nuggets > Celtics > Rockets

 

[BigGameDamian]

Nope. We kick their ass so bad in game 5, they just give us the series.

Dude, Where's your game thread pictures?

 

[BlazerBeav]

I'm going to be pissed off until we win on Tuesday night, so we'd better not screw this up.

 

[perkinsfor3]

Looking at Dame's drives, especially in late game situations, I'm thinking CJ and Dame have to start driving more ealier on in the game. Last night, Millsapp fouled out in the fourth, but in most games, the Denver bigs have been mostly out of foul trouble in late game situations. Their interior D isn't great and after Jokic and Millsap their front court depth isn't great. I feel Stotts could do more to play into that situation.

 

[Cugel]

Hafta change something and I don't think we will. Murray cannot have easy uncontested shots.

 

[TBpup]

If Murray is an after thought as was suggested, well....perhaps that should not be the case.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Easy win in 6

 

[tester551]

Poll question : Bucks > Raptors > Sixers > Warriors > Nuggets > Celtics > Rockets

Poll question : Raptors > Bucks > Nuggets >>> Sixers > Warriors >>> Celtics >>>>>>>>>> Rockets

 

[tester551]

Looking at Dame's drives, especially in late game situations, I'm thinking CJ and Dame have to start driving more ealier on in the game. Last night, Millsapp fouled out in the fourth, but in most games, the Denver bigs have been mostly out of foul trouble in late game situations. Their interior D isn't great and after Jokic and Millsap their front court depth isn't great. I feel Stotts could do more to play into that situation.

Agreed. I couldn't believe they didn't attach Jokic more after he got his second foul with 8 minutes left in the 2nd.

The picks that Kanter is setting are good. Collins are adequate. I was thinking it would be good to get Meyers in there for 5 minutes setting great picks so that Dame & CJ could attack Jokic going downhill at him the entire time.

 

[Hoopguru]

I think I will be optimistic that this Blazer team once again can surprise, in game 5.