Game 80: Denver Nuggets (53-26) @ Portland Trail Blazers (50-29) - 9:00 PM ET

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Sun Apr 7, 2019 9:46 pm

Post #2 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sun Apr 7, 2019 11:31 pm

We're lucky they won't have Nurkic, because Plumlee will be the only big guy, with actual muscle.

I'm assuming we're going to see Vanderbilt tonight. I like that.

No doubt Beasley will get quite a bit of playing time. I like that too.

Should be an interesting game, and I still believe we could actually win too.

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 1:19 am

NuggetsWY wrote:Should be an interesting game, and I still believe we could actually win too.

Do you know those close games where losing team want intentionally to miss last free throw trying to get offensive rebound and cut the lead, but ball somehow gets IN? If we win today without three best players, as our *little* gift and help to Blazers in their noble mission to dump Houston out from our road to Western Conference final, it would be that kind of situation :lol:

One thing is for sure, former Blazers Plumlee and Barton will be very motivated, Morris, Beasley, and Harris as well in their upgraded role today.

skywalker33 · Post #4 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 2:19 am

Giving backups some needed experience....yeah, that's it !!

manchambo · Post #5 » by **manchambo** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:15 am

Malone really wants to get IT going. Otherwise he would have gotten Morris in there.

manchambo · Post #6 » by **manchambo** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:19 am

Too bad they can’t review the three fouls they should’ve called before it went out.

skywalker33 · Post #7 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:31 am

Well, w/o out three topdogs, there is still some fight in this team, good to see

skywalker33 · Post #8 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:34 am

Mark Price needs to work with JV and Jancho, they needs some confidence !

manchambo · Post #9 » by **manchambo** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:39 am

skywalker33 wrote:Well, w/o out three topdogs, there is still some fight in this team, good to see

Yeah. More than Malone wanted I think. He had to make no subs in the 4th to seal the loss.

Post #10 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:53 am

OK, I will not pretend that I don't know what happens there in the last 4 minutes, and how the result miraculously turned from +7 lead 105-98 into 106-115, it is a legit decision which makes our team for their final strategy how to finish this (so far) great regular season. But if in Tuesday we lose our 2nd seed status, I will back to this game, and with the big question why we decided to follow this risky anti-Houston plan despite unexpected loss vs Washington?

Talking about players, if we ignore the last 4 minutes, they all well used today's chance in the absence of Jokic, Millsap, and Murray. But I really don't like to see this Lyles attitude. He played last couple months like G-League bench player, but suddenly he gets his chance as a starter and he suddenly played very well today, like TOP100 NBA player!? He has a similar attitude last season playing very well during Millsap injury where he gets big playing time, but almost pathetic before Millsap injury and after his comeback. We desperately needed this season decent extra 10 backup minutes for PF position (instead of Malone playing 4-guards rotation), but Juancho was inconsistent and seems that Lyles is simply not interested to play well if he does not get 25+ minutes, or simply have the awful mindset for such "small role".

manchambo · Post #11 » by **manchambo** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:29 am

Anyone else feel bad for Isaiah Thomas? I think the injuries are just too much to overcome. And, at less than 6 ft, its pretty hard to make up for losing a step.

skywalker33 · Post #12 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:36 am

manchambo wrote:Anyone else feel bad for Isaiah Thomas? I think the injuries are just too much to overcome. And, at less than 6 ft, its pretty hard to make up for losing a step.

Well, he (and the Nuggets) took the chance and it doesn't look like it'll pay off, but it was the chance he wanted

Post #13 » by **NuggetsWY** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 5:10 am

I wonder if Thomas won't be a very good 5th guard next year with training camp and preseason to work with the team. For the right contract he could be very worthwhile, sort of like Mike Miller was.

Malone's spread them minutes out quite evenly amongst 11 players. Some responded well, some good night. It's okay, it was nice seeing some of these guys.

Predicting Lillard to have a big game wouldn't have been difficult, I still think that their bigs were the difference in the game.

Post #14 » by **The Rebel** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 12:32 pm

I am not a fan of throwing the game like Malone did last night, never have been a fan of trying to work on positioning in the playoffs. Although from all reports the Rockets desperately want the 2 seed, this loss keeps it in reach and forces them to continue to go all out, which considering injury issues and Harden's issues with fatigue later in the playoffs could dramatically weaken them by the 2nd round.

Thomas is done, there is no reason for him to be with the team after this year, unless it is as a coach. At least Jefferson and Miller could come in and contribute when needed, Thomas is just a huge negative.

It was nice to see Harris get going a little, same with Juancho, and Lyles. Barton still looked terrible even with the ability to get touches when he wanted.

If we were planning on losing why not get Welch and Goodwin some minutes to see if they are worth holding onto over the summer?

Post #15 » by **NuggetsWY** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 5:25 pm

The Rebel wrote:Thomas is done, there is no reason for him to be with the team after this year, unless it is as a coach. At least Jefferson and Miller could come in and contribute when needed, Thomas is just a huge negative.

His salary isn't big enough to be an issue but he certainly seems to have lost a step. At a minimal salary, I'm okay with him coming back - if he regains that step. His hip injury might just be worse than it was thought.

The Rebel wrote:If we were planning on losing why not get Welch and Goodwin some minutes to see if they are worth holding onto over the summer?

Well, I've never like Malone's attitude towards young players, so I'll just say, your suggestion makes sense and that's probably why Malone wouldn't do it.

manchambo · Post #16 » by **manchambo** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 10:51 pm

The Rebel wrote:I am not a fan of throwing the game like Malone did last night, never have been a fan of trying to work on positioning in the playoffs. Although from all reports the Rockets desperately want the 2 seed, this loss keeps it in reach and forces them to continue to go all out, which considering injury issues and Harden's issues with fatigue later in the playoffs could dramatically weaken them by the 2nd round.

Thomas is done, there is no reason for him to be with the team after this year, unless it is as a coach. At least Jefferson and Miller could come in and contribute when needed, Thomas is just a huge negative.

It was nice to see Harris get going a little, same with Juancho, and Lyles. Barton still looked terrible even with the ability to get touches when he wanted.

If we were planning on losing why not get Welch and Goodwin some minutes to see if they are worth holding onto over the summer?

I actually think Malone was afraid at the end of the game that if he put in fresh players they might pull out the win. He was relying on the guys in the game being gassed, which was a big factor in them falling apart down the stretch.