Game 13: Portland vs Dallas 5:30pm Root,Root+

[Brandon-Clyde]

Portland needs to keep it close. Can't afford to fall too far behind before trying to comeback. Luka has also been having shooting problems in the fourth quarter. Won't guarantee the win but would certainly feel good about our chances.

[Case2012]

Dame needs to get it going. Need his offense badly.

[Brandon-Clyde]

3rd quarter GLB pic

Spoiler:

[Moonbeam]

Jerami Grant has been awesome these past few games!

[Moonbeam]

I love Josh Hart for all the extras he brings to the game. It'd be nice if he hit a couple shots (or FTs) in this game, though.

[Brandon-Clyde]

4th quarter GLB pic

Spoiler:

[Brandon-Clyde]

I love Josh Hart for all the extras he brings to the game. It'd be nice if he hit a couple shots (or FTs) in this game, though.

We know he can score though as last season in Portland he developed a sudden "injury" when he looked to be hurting the tank.

[Moonbeam]

I love Josh Hart for all the extras he brings to the game. It'd be nice if he hit a couple shots (or FTs) in this game, though.

We know he can score though as last season in Portland he developed a sudden "injury" when he looked to be hurting the tank.

Absolutely. I'm not concerned about it. But in this close game, a few of those misses going in would give Portland a bit of a cushion.

And Shaedon, watch that pinky finger!

[Moonbeam]

That Lillard-to-Simons play was a beauty!

[Case2012]

Simons is such a **** ball hog sometimes. Pass the ball.

[Moonbeam]

Bad defense by Portland down the stretch. Bad, bad defense.

[The Sebastian Express]

I think we really need to talk about how not great Simons has been this season in driving and trying to pass. It ends up in a turnover so, so much.

[monopoman]

Tough loss but this is still a 4-2 road trip that was a pretty damn challenging road trip all things considered. This might actually be the toughest road trip of the entire season when looking at length and quality of opponents. We weren't even at full strength throughout this road trip and the Blazers still won 66% of the games in it.

Outside of Charlotte I think every team we faced during this road trip is nearly a lock to make the playoffs.

[The Sebastian Express]

I didn't expect to win so I'm not down at all. I just wish Ant would clean up his work in the paint when trying to pass. That turnover when he was trying to drive and pass was pretty crucial.

[Wizenheimer]

spent most of the evening watching the Ducks choke their game away. Was bouncing to the Blazer game when I could. So I watched bad Duck defense then bad Blazer defense. Looks like I picked the wrong night to quit sniffing glue

[DaVoiceMaster]

spent most of the evening watching the Ducks choke their game away. Was bouncing to the Blazer game when I could. So I watched bad Duck defense then bad Blazer defense. Looks like I picked the wrong night to quit sniffing glue

Nice quote! It also looks like $hi+ hit the fan, as well.

Billups got outcoached tonight. I wish the Blazers would figure out how not to end up with Simon's and/or Lillard isolated on defense. Any time the Blazers tried to switch and get Luka defending Lillard, Dallas countered quickly and got him out of it. The free throwing shooting is starting to piss me off, as well. Another winnable game down the toilet. Could easily be 11-2 this season.

[Case2012]

Hero ball down the stretch for the blazers and bad bad passing/lack of passing by ant cost us the game, while the mavericks moved the ball and consistently found the open man for wide open 3s on the other end. Ant had 2 assists and somehow only 2 turnovers but driving on 2 defenders and forcing up the ugliest shots I've ever seen were basically turnovers. He didn't have a single assist the last 18 minutes of the game. Ridiculous.

[Norm2953]

Long road trip. Team was short handed, playing without two of their rebounders/defenders against
a quality, playoff caliber team. Team was in the game and had their chances.

The thing about the NBA season is the next game isn't far off and the SA Spurs are in town and once
again, Zach Collins is injured. Hopefully Nurk will be back

[GEE]

Wow, Great game! Too bad we couldn't pull out the W, but happy with how we played... mostly. Dallas had it going on all cylinders especially at the end. Hats off to 'em.

Game within the Game:
Likes:
- I think Dame had his best game yet, if one believes like me that Dame is trying his ass off to pickup what Chauncey is laying down for him. Dame was setting up his teammates 1st, while seeming to also know when to take over. IMO, to win it all we have a far better chance if Dame doesn't score 40+, but shoots for triple doubles like he did in this one: 29pts, 12asst, 7reb. BRAVO!
- Simons looked lost at times, but is clearly trying to adjust his game as well, to co-exist with Dame on the court. We are trying to thread the tinniest of needles, but if Chauncey can figure this thing out, we could be a nightmare for opposing teams with two 50/40/90 guys, both likely All-Stars if we continue to get better, which we definitely will. This game gave me alot of hope it CAN work.
- Jerami Grant with another monster outing. One can see him getting more comfortable game by game.

Dislikes:
- Watford. It felt to me that Chauncey had his sights/lessons set on both Watford and Eubanks in this game, and Watford looked pretty bad to me. Eubanks did too early, but improved after getting coached up. Watford did not.
- Our starting SG, Hart... Dude, are you OK? 0/9? Make a freakin' shot! Also, Start Little! After that shooting performance... Start Little. Hart can always earn it back.
- Only a handful of shot attempts between Sharpe and Eubanks combined.

Quite happy and impressed with the grit of this team, and the outcome of this long brutal road trip.

[Norm2953]

I do wonder if ultimately the team will need to add a better rebounder/defender, especially when
Nurk is out.

The upcoming free agency of Hart and the return of GP2 suggests where will go to add to the roster
at the trade deadline.