RealGM

vs




Time: 7:30pm
Place: Denver
TV: SNW/ESPN



GLB of the game Scarlett Johansonn

Didn't PDX beat these guys 2 years ago without Nurkic? Doesn't Nurk get fired up when he plays against these guys? What is Portland's record against Denver when Nurkic plays? If Portland beat them 2 years ago without arguably Portland's second best player, and this year arguably Denver's second best player is out, shouldn't we feel good about the series?

Nuggets will be starting 4 players that didn't start in the series 2 years ago. Joker is the only Nugget starting this series for Nuggets that also started 2 years ago. Blazers are starting 3 new players.

Blazers have lost most of the games against Nuggets since beating them in 2019 WCSF. Blazers hope Nurk, who missed many of the games, and Powell will be the positive change that makes the difference in their favor.

Nuggets had a size advantage against Blazers in the last playoff meeting that they have expanded for this meeting. Nuggets frontcourt is bigger and Blazers forwards are even smaller than last time. However, Nurkic brings size against Joker the Blazers didn't have the last playoffs meeting.

Both teams enjoy mismatches. Lillard, CJ, and Powell have mismatch advantages. Joker and MPJ have a mismatch over their counterparts. Who will win the mismatches?

I'm more interested on the impact of the fans attending the games in increasing numbers for the
entire season has been played in empty arenas and now suddenly I see basketball stadiums in
NYC increasing to 13k with Philadelphia at 10k and Utah at 13k. The Blazers postponed their
playoff season sale into next week in hopes of increasing their ticket sale to perhaps equal to
the other arenas. How much of an impact will half full arenas will have in these games?

Sure would have been nice right now if the Blazers had picked up Austin Rivers for that 15th roster spot.
Also would have been nice right now if the Blazers had traded for Aaron Gordon.
Is what it is.

JasonStern wrote:Sure would have been nice right now if the Blazers had picked up Austin Rivers for that 15th roster spot.
Also would have been nice right now if the Blazers had traded for Aaron Gordon.
Is what it is.

I don't want Rivers. He's not terrible, but our players are better. I'm ecstatic that Nuggets have Rivers instead of Murray, Barton, and Dozier. I'm also feeling good about facing Gordon rather than Harris. I know Lillard is happy Harris is gone.

No way would Olshey pass on a chance to get Powell to make a trade for Gordon.

I'm afraid Joker might be too good for us to overcome. I remember what Magic did to us in 91. Magic pounded us by setting up easy post-ups by Perkins and Divac. Joker is so smart, like Magic, he worries me.

OBVIOUS: Portland needs this game. Killer instinct. Denver personnel down. Snatch home court. Insert doubt into Denver.

d-train wrote:

JasonStern wrote:Sure would have been nice right now if the Blazers had picked up Austin Rivers for that 15th roster spot.
Also would have been nice right now if the Blazers had traded for Aaron Gordon.
Is what it is.

I don't want Rivers. He's not terrible, but our players are better. I'm ecstatic that Nuggets have Rivers instead of Murray, Barton, and Dozier. I'm also feeling good about facing Gordon rather than Harris. I know Lillard is happy Harris is gone.

No way would Olshey pass on a chance to get Powell to make a trade for Gordon.

The Blazers had a roster spot and cap room to sign Rivers. It's not Rivers or Murray+Barton+Dozier. It's Rivers or no Rivers.

Same with Gordon. You could still do GTJ+Hood for Powell and something like DJJ+1st for Gordon. You can make multiple moves as long as they don't violate the CBA. And a DJJ+1st for Gordon swap starts having this team resemble the 2000 squad. Not exactly overflowing with top end talent, but a lot of above average starters and some bench players that could start for other teams.

JasonStern wrote:

d-train wrote:

JasonStern wrote:Sure would have been nice right now if the Blazers had picked up Austin Rivers for that 15th roster spot.
Also would have been nice right now if the Blazers had traded for Aaron Gordon.
Is what it is.

I don't want Rivers. He's not terrible, but our players are better. I'm ecstatic that Nuggets have Rivers instead of Murray, Barton, and Dozier. I'm also feeling good about facing Gordon rather than Harris. I know Lillard is happy Harris is gone.

No way would Olshey pass on a chance to get Powell to make a trade for Gordon.

The Blazers had a roster spot and cap room to sign Rivers. It's not Rivers or Murray+Barton+Dozier. It's Rivers or no Rivers.

Same with Gordon. You could still do GTJ+Hood for Powell and something like DJJ+1st for Gordon. You can make multiple moves as long as they don't violate the CBA. And a DJJ+1st for Gordon swap starts having this team resemble the 2000 squad. Not exactly overflowing with top end talent, but a lot of above average starters and some bench players that could start for other teams.

'No Rivers,' is an excellent choice for us, by far the best choice . OTOH, I understand Nuggets were disparate. They wouldn't have been disparate if they didn't trade Harris, but that's water under the bridge.

Let's pretend luxury taxes don't exist and it's possible to absorb the contracts of Powell and Gordon. We might also have to pretend the hardcap doesn't exist as well. DJJ and a 1st round pick for a player that would be a seldom used backup is not a good trade at all.

1st quarter GLB pic

Brandon-Clyde wrote:1st quarter GLB pic

Spoiler:

I can't even wait for all the pics before giving this one a thumbs up.

Fun game to start. Portland can stop Jokic and Denver can't stop Dame.

Great to see Melo and Simons start out hot.

2nd quarter GLB pic

Cutting our rotation to 8 is paying big dividends when our bench comes in.

Not sure if I'm concerned or encouraged so far. Fun to see Carmelo on fire, but not the best sign to be down with Carmelo on fire.

This series looks like it will be close between both teams.