Series Thread: 2nd Round: 3) Portland vs. 2) Denver

[MileHigh64]

Denver Nuggets in seven. Trail Blazers are too banged up and home court (altitude) will eventually prevail. Blazers are a damn good team but the Nuggs pull it out in the end.

 

[The Derski]

Holy shit I did not realize this series started. Denver got one day off.

 

[handicappers]

Jokic bangin 3's...

nice to see a real Center in the league again

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Portland we have a Milsap problem

 

[msgkings322]

Holy shit I did not realize this series started. Denver got one day off.

That's all the Warriors got. You don't take care of business, the TV people make you play

 

[Hambombs]

Portland in 6

 

[Duffman]

Good first game win for Denver.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Portland being rusty and playing in that altitude was not a good combo for them tonight. I suspect they'll rebound and win game 2 then head to Moda having accomplished their goal of getting the road split.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Holy shit I did not realize this series started. Denver got one day off.

That's what happens when you go 7.
On the other hand, it may have helped them ironically as they didn't look near as rusty as Portland, who haven't played since last Tuesday.

 

[MileHigh64]

This one could go the distance but Denver is the better team, having won 3 out of 4 in the regular season when Portland was fully healthy. Throw in home court advantage, a game one playoff win, the Blazers injuries, etc and I just don't see the Blazers taking this series.

Obviously anything can happen but I think the Nuggets take this in 6 or 7.

 

[tlance]

This one could go the distance but Denver is the better team, having won 3 out of 4 in the regular season when Portland was fully healthy. Throw in home court advantage, a game one playoff win, the Blazers injuries, etc and I just don't see the Blazers taking this series.

Obviously anything can happen but I think the Nuggets take this in 6 or 7.

I don't necessarily think Denver is better.

I just don't believe Portland matches up very well with them.

Maybe semantics. Because all the same I agree Denver probably wins the series.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Seems the majority of the Nugs' plays go thru Jokic...especially on pick and rolls as the shot clock is winding down.

It's easier said than done, but..if Portland's bigs can figure out how to get him into early foul trouble in these next few games they'll be okay.

Millsap & Craig are foul machines. If those 3 are sitting for long stretches, they can be neutralized.

Also....Aminu & Harkless were basically non factors for the Blazers in game 1.
That needs to change in game 2 if they want to head home with a 1-1 split.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Mad respect for Lilliard. He gets it.

"Pressure? Nah. Fam, this is just playing ball. Pressure is the homeless man who doesn't know where his next meal is coming from. Pressure is the single mom who is trying to scuffle and pay her rent. We get paid a lot of money to play a game. Don't get me wrong....there are challenges.....but to call it pressure is almost an insult to regular people."

 

[wingsauce7]

The Joker literally plays all 5 positions. It's pretty impressive.

 

[OregonDucks]

Jokic is going to dominate this series. If Portland wants to have a chance they need to get him into foul trouble and get him off the court. This is the big problem with Nurk being hurt, he could at least momentarily contain Jokic for a possession or two, right now Portland has no one that can guard him.

Lillard will keep Portland in every game this series, the question will be will others steps up to help the game fall to the Blazers. I thought this was Portland's best chance to take a game in Denver given the Nuggets only had one day off from a tough 7 games series. I don't see Portland winning game 2, but I see them playing better in game 2.

Game 3 will be the deciding factor of how this series goes.

 

[SpringStein]

I'm not loving playing the Blazers - they are a likeable team. So there's no great joy in beating them. I'll certainly be for the underdog in the next series.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Watching the 30 for 30 on Felipe Lopez....

 

[bksballer89]

what's with the bow tie for the blazers staff

 

[bksballer89]

good start for portland

 

[naslundfan19]

what's with the bow tie for the blazers staff