Playoffs Game 2 Rd 1 Portland vs Denver 7:00pm SNW/TNT

[Brandon-Clyde]

vs




Time: 7:00pm
Place: Denver
TV: SNW/TNT



GLB of the game Jennifer Lawrence

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[Brandon-Clyde]

Sadly must miss the game because of work so the game's GLB pics here

1st quarter

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2nd quarter

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Halftime

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3rd quarter

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4th quarter

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1st bonus GLB pic

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2nd bonus GLB pic

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[ducler]

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[d-train]

So, Barton is out again and they are going to start Rivers.

I wonder if Joker is going to be a scorer again. He can score. I bet he can score 60 points if he wants to.

[d-train]

We have to do better stoping the ball. To often MPJ made it to the basket after long drives for easy finishes because there was no help defender. Kanter doesn't help us much when he's not dominating the paint. I'm don't believe Kanter can dominate Joker. Stotts should extend Nurk's minutes or try something else.

[BNM]

We have to do better stoping the ball. To often MPJ made it to the basket after long drives for easy finishes because there was no help defender. Kanter doesn't help us much when he's not dominating the paint. I'm don't believe Kanter can dominate Joker. Stotts should extend Nurk's minutes or try something else.

Nurk played 33 minutes and Kanter 15. I am fine with this division of labor. It's going to be a long, physical series. I'd rather have Nurk fresh, rested and healthy than worn down. Nurk only averaged 23.8 MPG during the regular season, and other than the 8 games in the bubble last year, has never averaged more than 27.2 MPG for a season. Let's not overwork him, reduce his effectiveness and increase the chance of injury due to fatigue.

While Kanter isn't Nurk, especially on defense, he's strong and active. He may not be able to defend Jokic 1-on-1 as well as Nurk, but he makes Jokic work - especially on the glass. Kanter had 3 offensive rebounds in his 15 minutes. Those extra possessions help make up for his defensive limitations. Also, remember how hard Kanter, with an injured shoulder, played against Jokic 2 years ago? Clearly Jokic wins that individual match up, but Kanter certainly didn't embarrass himself in that series.

[PDXKnight]

Sco blazers!

[d-train]

We have to do better stoping the ball. To often MPJ made it to the basket after long drives for easy finishes because there was no help defender. Kanter doesn't help us much when he's not dominating the paint. I'm don't believe Kanter can dominate Joker. Stotts should extend Nurk's minutes or try something else.

Nurk played 33 minutes and Kanter 15. I am fine with this division of labor. It's going to be a long, physical series. I'd rather have Nurk fresh, rested and healthy than worn down. Nurk only averaged 23.8 MPG during the regular season, and other than the 8 games in the bubble last year, has never averaged more than 27.2 MPG for a season. Let's not overwork him, reduce his effectiveness and increase the chance of injury due to fatigue.

While Kanter isn't Nurk, especially on defense, he's strong and active. He may not be able to defend Jokic 1-on-1 as well as Nurk, but he makes Jokic work - especially on the glass. Kanter had 3 offensive rebounds in his 15 minutes. Those extra possessions help make up for his defensive limitations. Also, remember how hard Kanter, with an injured shoulder, played against Jokic 2 years ago? Clearly Jokic wins that individual match up, but Kanter certainly didn't embarrass himself in that series.

Kanter is good when Joker is out. If Nurkic can't go every minute Joker does, I prefer Melo or a 4th guard. Kanter causes no problem for Joker. At least Melo or a 4th guard can cause matchup problems for Nuggets. Or, Kanter has to play way better than he did last game. Joker dominated him like he was nothing.

[d-train]

Another option would be to double Joker when Kanter is in the game. This might be the 2nd best option. The first best is matching every Joker minute played with Nurkic.

[BNM]

We have to do better stoping the ball. To often MPJ made it to the basket after long drives for easy finishes because there was no help defender. Kanter doesn't help us much when he's not dominating the paint. I'm don't believe Kanter can dominate Joker. Stotts should extend Nurk's minutes or try something else.

Nurk played 33 minutes and Kanter 15. I am fine with this division of labor. It's going to be a long, physical series. I'd rather have Nurk fresh, rested and healthy than worn down. Nurk only averaged 23.8 MPG during the regular season, and other than the 8 games in the bubble last year, has never averaged more than 27.2 MPG for a season. Let's not overwork him, reduce his effectiveness and increase the chance of injury due to fatigue.

While Kanter isn't Nurk, especially on defense, he's strong and active. He may not be able to defend Jokic 1-on-1 as well as Nurk, but he makes Jokic work - especially on the glass. Kanter had 3 offensive rebounds in his 15 minutes. Those extra possessions help make up for his defensive limitations. Also, remember how hard Kanter, with an injured shoulder, played against Jokic 2 years ago? Clearly Jokic wins that individual match up, but Kanter certainly didn't embarrass himself in that series.

Kanter is good when Joker is out. If Nurkic can't go every minute Joker does, I prefer Melo or a 4th guard. Kanter causes no problem for Joker. At least Melo or a 4th guard can cause matchup problems for Nuggets. Or, Kanter has to play way better than he did last game. Joker dominated him like he was nothing.

I think playing Nurk as many minutes as Jokic is a recipe for disaster. Jokic is used to playing 36 MPG, Nurk is used to playing 24 minutes. In the last POR vs. DEN series, Jokic averaged 422.2 MPG. No way is Nurk, with his injury history, built for playing that kind of minutes.

Yes, Jokic was 4 - 6 while Kanter was guarding his, but he had only 1 rebound and 0 assists. It's a very small sample size. Have you forgotten the way Kanter battled Jokic for 35 minutes a game two years ago? POR won that series (and had a healthy Jamal Murray). Jokic may be able to score 1-on-1 against Kanter (he does against most people), but at least Kanter forces Jokic to box him out and keep him off the offensive glass. It's not like Jokic can relax on the defensive end when Kanter is in the game.

[JasonStern]

Another option would be to double Joker when Kanter is in the game. This might be the 2nd best option. The first best is matching every Joker minute played with Nurkic.

Doubling Jokić is a terrible idea. As great as he is, he isn't going to put up 100. Trust Nurkić/Kanter to contain him as best they can, then dare his supporting cast to beat us - especially with their guards and wings being injured. Overlooked aspect is that Dame/CJ/Powell can relax a bit on defense against Rivers/Campazzo, which gives them that much more energy on the offensive end.

[BNM]

Another option would be to double Joker when Kanter is in the game. This might be the 2nd best option. The first best is matching every Joker minute played with Nurkic.

Even then, I would do it on a limited basis. Only when Jokic has the ball in the low post, and only if you can double off a non-shooter. I'd rather give Jokic 2 points than let him find an open shooter for a wide open 3. The last thing you want to do is let DEN's role players get open looks and build their confidence.

[Epicurus]

We have to do better stoping the ball. To often MPJ made it to the basket after long drives for easy finishes because there was no help defender. Kanter doesn't help us much when he's not dominating the paint. I'm don't believe Kanter can dominate Joker. Stotts should extend Nurk's minutes or try something else.

Nurk played 33 minutes and Kanter 15. I am fine with this division of labor. It's going to be a long, physical series. I'd rather have Nurk fresh, rested and healthy than worn down. Nurk only averaged 23.8 MPG during the regular season, and other than the 8 games in the bubble last year, has never averaged more than 27.2 MPG for a season. Let's not overwork him, reduce his effectiveness and increase the chance of injury due to fatigue.

While Kanter isn't Nurk, especially on defense, he's strong and active. He may not be able to defend Jokic 1-on-1 as well as Nurk, but he makes Jokic work - especially on the glass. Kanter had 3 offensive rebounds in his 15 minutes. Those extra possessions help make up for his defensive limitations. Also, remember how hard Kanter, with an injured shoulder, played against Jokic 2 years ago? Clearly Jokic wins that individual match up, but Kanter certainly didn't embarrass himself in that series.

Kanter is good when Joker is out. If Nurkic can't go every minute Joker does, I prefer Melo or a 4th guard. Kanter causes no problem for Joker. At least Melo or a 4th guard can cause matchup problems for Nuggets. Or, Kanter has to play way better than he did last game. Joker dominated him like he was nothing.

Player tracking matchups has Jokic scoring 6 pts on Kanter ( 3 of 5) and the Nuggets scoring no more points during those matchups.

[d-train]

Another option would be to double Joker when Kanter is in the game. This might be the 2nd best option. The first best is matching every Joker minute played with Nurkic.

Even then, I would do it on a limited basis. Only when Jokic has the ball in the low post, and only if you can double off a non-shooter. I'd rather give Jokic 2 points than let him find an open shooter for a wide open 3. The last thing you want to do is let DEN's role players get open looks and build their confidence.

Of course, you would only double when he has the ball. You can't let Joker put Kanter on his back and have all the time he wants to back him in for an easy 2.

[d-train]

Another option would be to double Joker when Kanter is in the game. This might be the 2nd best option. The first best is matching every Joker minute played with Nurkic.

Doubling Jokić is a terrible idea. As great as he is, he isn't going to put up 100. Trust Nurkić/Kanter to contain him as best they can, then dare his supporting cast to beat us - especially with their guards and wings being injured. Overlooked aspect is that Dame/CJ/Powell can relax a bit on defense against Rivers/Campazzo, which gives them that much more energy on the offensive end.

You have it backwards. You double Joker, rather than letting Joker beat us, and make the supporting players beat us. Nurkic is doing well 1on1, Kanter was killed.

[d-train]

Have you forgotten the way Kanter battled Jokic for 35 minutes a game two years ago?

No, Joker killed Kanter 2 years ago and he's killing him worse now.

2 years ago, we tried our small forwards on Joker and Millsap, both players killed us. Kanter was maybe the least bad, but still bad. Actually, ET did well on defense against Nuggets bigs. Collins did ok, but not 1on1 against Joker. Leonard was Joker's lunch.

Edit:. We did win. Good thing it was a 7 game series and not 9, because Joker got better as the series went on.

[d-train]

As I think about it, it would be a great plan for Nuggets to go at Nurk and try to get him in foul trouble. Nurk is the only thing between Nuggets and an easy win this series.

[GEE]

Loved the fairly quick hooks of CJ and Powell last game for a very ready duo of Melo and Simons. Also loved the 29 Assists, with 13 from Dame. Stotts was smart with his rotations IMO, and coached well... Kudos! Dame was totally locked in for almost all of the 48 minutes, only losing it for a minute, when he drove recklessly twice B2B, forcing contact, and crying when he didn't get a foul called.

"Collective Group Effort"....Dame's words. Dame may have figured it out. If Stotts continues to play more with two forward, and less of the three guards, I think it's not too late to have big expectations of going deep into this playoff run.

Dame/CJ/Powell/Simons
Nurkic/Kanter
ROCO/Melo/Jones Jr./Little

Pressure is on Denver! Stotts should be able to take advantage of this. Maybe trust Jones Jr. and/or Little for a few minutes here and there. Keep them engaged and ready. Tonight should be like playing with "House Money".

[monopoman]

The last game proved that you can let Jokic score as long as he doesn't get others involved, Jokic ended up with 1 assist. Sure sending a double team to him at a random time to throw him off his game a bit maybe, but constantly double teaming Jokic is a recipe for other Nuggets players to get wide open shots or wide open layups.

I find it funny that people want to nitpick the last game when the Blazers won it very convincingly and in the second half played better defense.

[d-train]

We can't let him score. We have to make it difficult. We can't let him put Kanter on his back and back in for easy layups. Yeah, it's fine if he uses up all his possessions trying to score against effective defense. He can score 60 points against Nurk's defense, that's fine. I think we will win against that.