Game 3 Portland vs LA Lakers 12:30pm Root+, NBAtv

[Case2012]

Some y'all so negative. Good win! Lakers are a good defensive team. Didn't expect us to start 3-0. I'll take it.

It's the Lakers, emotions run extra high. Lillard willed this one tonight, bad effort from most of the team. Glad we got the win though!!

[will]

I'm disgusted with the effort against a trash Lakers team. Why was Lillard out so long? For the people that wanted to trade Dame and give the team to Simons, how you feeling now?

Not a hotdamn chance. Depends on who comes back for Lilllard. Simons ain't ready...yet.

[BlazersBroncos]

IDK Nurk might have made the right call letting Bron get to the rim. He immediately realized he was beat and took the 2 knowing it ties. At that point LBJ scoring quick is smart if your a 290lb C stuck on a switch. We got it back with 7.7. I like pretending Nurk consciously made the decision.

[will]

Some y'all so negative. Good win! Lakers are a good defensive team. Didn't expect us to start 3-0. I'll take it.

It's the Lakers, emotions run extra high. Lillard willed this one tonight, bad effort from most of the team. Glad we got the win though!!

How many more times will Dame have to will the Blazers to a win in the regular season. The rest of the lot (outside of Hart) are absolutely not carrying their load. Pause.

[Dame Lizard]

IDK Nurk might have made the right call letting Bron get to the rim. He immediately realized he was beat and took the 2 knowing it ties. At that point LBJ scoring quick is smart if your a 290lb C stuck on a switch. We got it back with 7.7. I like pretending Nurk consciously made the decision.

I'm just glad no Portland player tried to stupidly contest LeBron at the rim and give away a 3 point play.

[Dame Lizard]

Dame and Hart carried us to that win. Ugly as anything, but I'll take it. We don't deserve to be 3-0, but consider me happy that we are.

[Goldbum]

We are 3 and 0. That's better than any of us thought. They are figuring things out but are winning and getting better. I still believe Ant will get going. Nurk will return to form and the turnovers will come down. GP2 is capable of changing the dynamics of our guard rotation and Little/Sharpe will only get better. So far Cronin has successfully thread that needle between competing and developing. It's far from perfect but let's see what we have available at the deadline. I would love this team to swap Hart for Achiuwa and Birch but without Josh I think we're 0-3

[Dame Lizard]

We are 3 and 0. That's better than any of us thought. They are figuring things out but are winning and getting better. I still believe Ant will get going. Nurk will return to form and the turnovers will come down. GP2 is capable of changing the dynamics of our guard rotation and Little/Sharpe will only get better. So far Cronin has successfully thread that needle between competing and developing. It's far from perfect but let's see what we have available at the deadline. I would love this team to swap Hart for Achiuwa and Birch but without Josh I think we're 0-3

I'm not going to be so quick to give Cronin kudos.

The reality is that Dame has carried us to two of our 3 wins.

My thoughts on his moves have not changed at all since before the season started, with the exception of me probably softening my stance on Dame's extension.

We have hopeless big man depth, and we overpaid for our only decent Center.

[Moonbeam]

What is the deal with Nurk?

Does he not actively look to get going on the offensive side? Been saying it for a few years...Portland needs to run the offense through him in a similar (not the exact) style that the Nuggets do with Jokic.

I like Nurkic a lot, but his engagement levels are quite variable and he's not the same player he was. That said, he can be a high-impact player at times and it's worth trying to ride the Lillard/Nurkic PnR if he's engaged. Unfortunately, he's pretty turnover-prone and can struggle finishing at the rim.

[Moonbeam]

Love seeing Portland start 3-0! I didn't expect it, particularly after a woeful preseason. These early wins while integrating the new additions last year with Dame and the new additions this year are fun to watch. There's clearly lots of room for improvement, but Portland winning three close games in which they trailed in the 4th quarter has been awesome. They've been pretty unflappable, and that's a good sign.

[will]

What is the deal with Nurk?

Does he not actively look to get going on the offensive side? Been saying it for a few years...Portland needs to run the offense through him in a similar (not the exact) style that the Nuggets do with Jokic.

I like Nurkic a lot, but his engagement levels are quite variable and he's not the same player he was. That said, he can be a high-impact player at times and it's worth trying to ride the Lillard/Nurkic PnR if he's engaged. Unfortunately, he's pretty turnover-prone and can struggle finishing at the rim.

He's been an offensive force in the past. Rarely taking 10 FG attempts is a bit mad. He has the ability to get by his man on a dribble. The PnR with Dame is always a staple...sadly like you said, its effective when he is engaged.

Still believe he needs to be force fed at times to get him going. You know when he is going, it is fun times on both sides of the floor.

[will]

Love seeing Portland start 3-0! I didn't expect it, particularly after a woeful preseason. These early wins while integrating the new additions last year with Dame and the new additions this year are fun to watch. There's clearly lots of room for improvement, but Portland winning three close games in which they trailed in the 4th quarter has been awesome. They've been pretty unflappable, and that's a good sign.

Once Gary II is back...it is going to be fun!

Hart, Grant and Gary II are going to cause havoc. They need to stay healthy.

[Norm2953]

I forgot the game was on early.

It looks like Root sports doesn't show the Blazer game more than once, preferring to show the Kraken
and rehashing the Mariners season.

[DusterBuster]

Love seeing Portland start 3-0! I didn't expect it, particularly after a woeful preseason. These early wins while integrating the new additions last year with Dame and the new additions this year are fun to watch. There's clearly lots of room for improvement, but Portland winning three close games in which they trailed in the 4th quarter has been awesome. They've been pretty unflappable, and that's a good sign.

No matter how many times I tell myself preseason doesn’t matter, I never listen to myself.

Loving this team so far! Such a better product on the floor than in the past few years.

Low key, Josh Hart has continued to be amazing. That dude just does everything. 16 freaking rebounds… what?! And Grant has been a phenomenal fit. I was skeptical with him at PF or that his numbers in Detroit were a fluke, but dude has been legit. Best forward the Blazers have had since Aldridge, and it’s probably not close.

[soobias]

DAME raising that trade value for next year

a win is a win any and all times but its a little harder to judge a team until wins matter more like late in the season and playoffs.

[Shem]

The Blazers start 3-0 for the first time in 11 years. It's the first time in the Lillard era. I guess that is something to celebrate.

[Dogmont]

It's kinda sad to see how many posters put out nothing but negative, even when it's obvious that we are on a new direction.
This is now worse than b edge! used to be good.
So, all of you experts, dogging on the blazers, living in your mom's basement, go have another beer, bong, or whatever you do, and make an effort to be a bit more mellow.
Amen.

[monopoman]

Just got a chance to watch this game, Dame looks like he did in the 2020-2021 season more or less. He may still be a bit rusty with taking care of the ball but he is clutch as ****, and still puts the fear of God into the opposing team when he has the ball in his hand in the 4th quarter of a close game.

The Blazers start 3-0 for the first time in 11 years. It's the first time in the Lillard era. I guess that is something to celebrate.

Indeed even on the most stacked teams Lillard has played on perhaps in the LMA year where we beat Houston the team has never done this. I think Dame realizes his time is running out and he will do anything in his power to make another playoff run. **** he typically has been on teams that have started roughly but finished strong if we look good early in the season that is a huge upside.

This is the most focused I have seen Dame 3 games in in my life, he wants to win so badly you can tell.

[Dame Lizard]

Love seeing Portland start 3-0! I didn't expect it, particularly after a woeful preseason. These early wins while integrating the new additions last year with Dame and the new additions this year are fun to watch. There's clearly lots of room for improvement, but Portland winning three close games in which they trailed in the 4th quarter has been awesome. They've been pretty unflappable, and that's a good sign.

No matter how many times I tell myself preseason doesn’t matter, I never listen to myself.

Loving this team so far! Such a better product on the floor than in the past few years.

Low key, Josh Hart has continued to be amazing. That dude just does everything. 16 freaking rebounds… what?! And Grant has been a phenomenal fit. I was skeptical with him at PF or that his numbers in Detroit were a fluke, but dude has been legit. Best forward the Blazers have had since Aldridge, and it’s probably not close.

Grant has been very good for us so far. He's playing exactly the role he should be.

I'm very critical of our lack of big man depth, but when Hart grabs 16 boards in a regulation time game, it helps make up for the lack of depth!

[DusterBuster]

Love seeing Portland start 3-0! I didn't expect it, particularly after a woeful preseason. These early wins while integrating the new additions last year with Dame and the new additions this year are fun to watch. There's clearly lots of room for improvement, but Portland winning three close games in which they trailed in the 4th quarter has been awesome. They've been pretty unflappable, and that's a good sign.

No matter how many times I tell myself preseason doesn’t matter, I never listen to myself.

Loving this team so far! Such a better product on the floor than in the past few years.

Low key, Josh Hart has continued to be amazing. That dude just does everything. 16 freaking rebounds… what?! And Grant has been a phenomenal fit. I was skeptical with him at PF or that his numbers in Detroit were a fluke, but dude has been legit. Best forward the Blazers have had since Aldridge, and it’s probably not close.

Grant has been very good for us so far. He's playing exactly the role he should be.

I'm very critical of our lack of big man depth, but when Hart grabs 16 boards in a regulation time game, it helps make up for the lack of depth!

I have the same concern. If Nurk goes down, it’s gonna be all small ball with Winslow and Eubanks off the bench… not great.