Trail Blazers (30-37) at Celtics (43-22) Seeding Game #2 8/2/20

[Vox_Populi]

I disagree that this was a moral loss. 

Team blew a big lead, lost the momentum and then hung tough.  It was a tough quarter and they pulled it out with Portland shooting lights out.

Agreed Portland are fighting for their (Playoff) lives. Like Stevens said, this isn't the version from the regular season, Nurkic and Collins are back too, they're a good team with an MVP candidate having his best season. C's need to be better for sure.

Also, Jaylen has been terrific basically since the 2nd bubble game.

[Phantom255x]

I disagree that this was a moral loss. 

Team blew a big lead, lost the momentum and then hung tough.  It was a tough quarter and they pulled it out with Portland shooting lights out.

Agreed Portland are fighting for their (Playoff) lives. Like Stevens said, this isn't the version from the regular season, Nurkic and Collins are back too, they're a good team with an MVP candidate having his best season. C's need to be better for sure.

Also, Jaylen has been terrific basically since the 2nd bubble game.

Yeah honestly, Theis and Kanter did their best. But boy, Nurkic and Collins are some big guys. Like against our shorter guards it almost looked like they could just walk over and dunk the ball if they wanted to (like Tacko Fall sometimes can) LOL

[Atzar]

Is 8 assists a career high for Tatum?

His growth as a passer is very important for our future, so I'm encouraged by that.

[SparzWizard]

I like how Boston was a 4-point favorite tonight...up by 20+ points at one point and only won by 4.

Coincident? I think not.

[Phantom255x]

These refs really are going to remain a problem come playoff time, especially late in close 4th quarters

[keevsnick]

Is 8 assists a career high for Tatum?

His growth as a passer is very important for our future, so I'm encouraged by that.

It felt like 3/4 of those were to Jaylen. It was basically Tatum gets doubled or pressured, and he made the correct play to get it to the open guy who seemed to be Jaylen this game. Its big this season for Tatum to be able to find the right guy when he's doubled.

[jambr380]

See how quickly their coach took a timeout??

What's a timeout?

Not picking on you guys in particular, but Stotts' use of his timeouts down the stretch is literally why the Blazers lost the game (or had no chance after the Nurkic lay-up). The Blazers had forever to decide what play they would run during the Brad challenge. Apparently they didn't discuss anything because Stotts immediately took his last timeout with just over 6 seconds. The fact that the Blazers only came out of that possession with 2 is what essentially cost them the game. There was no way they were going to go full court and score again after the Cs FTs.

[Neurotic Guy]

Kept Kemba on his restriction.  Only 6 games left till the playoffs -- I'm pretty good with him playing 22 minutes till then.  If JT truly can play to his capability -- C's look pretty tough with JT, JB, KW and GH.  And Marcus.

[jambr380]

Also, great game by our top 4. Hayward and Kemba were so strong to start, Tatum went full NBA Jam on-fire mode, and Jaylen was incredible in the 4th. Not the kind of win you hoped for after the first half, but nice to see them come out and punch back when they were getting down. This was like the opposite of the Bucks game.

[Neurotic Guy]

Meanwhile SA about to completely blow their game v. Memphis.

[gouki88]

See how quickly their coach took a timeout??

What's a timeout?

Not picking on you guys in particular, but Stotts' use of his timeouts down the stretch is literally why the Blazers lost the game (or had no chance after the Nurkic lay-up). The Blazers had forever to decide what play they would run during the Brad challenge. Apparently they didn't discuss anything because Stotts immediately took his last timeout with just over 6 seconds. The fact that the Blazers only came out of that possession with 2 is what essentially cost them the game. There was no way they were going to go full court and score again after the Cs FTs.

I think that's more poor coaching generally than his use of a timeout. Like you say, he should have drawn something up during the Boston timeout

[Neurotic Guy]

Meanwhile SA about to completely blow their game v. Memphis.

SA should hang on.

Sorry -- I jinxed.  SA blowing it.


Well.... I reverse jinxed, jinxed, then double-reverse jinxed

ANd SA wins.

[Phantom255x]

Lol on social media, the video of Nurkic throwing the ball away on the final inbounds pass was posted, and someone replied "he called game!"

 

[jambr380]

Meanwhile SA about to completely blow their game v. Memphis.

Luckily this doesn't appear to be happening after all. The Cs losing tonight would have certainly helped with the MEM pick, but there are a lot of teams vying for that last spot. A healthy Portland team should - in theory - be able to win the play-in.

Edit: Lol - DeRozan choked both of his FTs as I wrote this and Jaren Jackson sank a 3 to tie it. Luckily, DeRozan redeemed himself on his next trip to go back up 2.

[footey]

Meanwhile SA about to completely blow their game v. Memphis.

SA should hang on.

Sorry -- I jinxed.  SA blowing it.

No u didn’t. S A with the win