Utah won, as it turned out. My prediction that the Blazers would catch up and make the playoffs, which I made just a week and a half ago, is looking a little shaky.
Sadly for POR, the only open shooter at the buzzer was Swanigan, who is dismal from that range. Or any range, really.
Too bad for the Blazers the refs missed that goal-tending call
They have 29 games left and are 2.5 back. They still have plenty of time.
Raptors started strong against the Nets and were up 15 points in the early 4th quarter. But playing back-to-back, they looked tired in the fourth. Brooklyn came back and the Raptors squeaked our a one point win.
But 14 straight wins! We’ll take it. Lowry and Powell out. Gasol better but why not rest until after the All Star? Davis played a great game, as did Matt Thomas. VanVleet shines when Lowry is out. Anyway, despite some jitters at the end, the boys did it again. Good thing they were at home.
Don’t get me started on that one. What a fuck-up! Everyone saw it except for the guys who are paid to see it! The refs admitted after post-game review that “Yep, we’re fucking idiots.”
Yes, that was unfortunate. I think that’s why the league didn’t fine Lillard. I always want fairness… They should have used that silly review, which they over-use for any physicality, wasting so much time trying to give a guy a flagrant 1/2.
The ending to last nights Jazz-Rockets game was really something. The Rockets went ahead by two after a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left… and lost, after the Jazz sunk a 3-pointer from Atlantis. Great game, these teams would make a tough playoff.
Fifteen in a row for the Raptors. OG Anunoby had his best game of the year, by far; 25 points on 10-for-13 and he was cleaning the glass big time, 12 boards.
Serge Ibaka was out (flu symptoms) and Gasol and Powell are still out, but apparently nothing can stop the Raps right now. They had to start Rondae HJ, who hasn’t played a lot lately, but he came in and was outstanding at center.
The Raptors only used four bench players, and of them Matt Thomas only played a few minutes, but all of them were bad, an unusual thing for a Raptor game.
It was a very strange game. The papers have been down on Anunoby, which I understand, but I had decided Nick Nurse knows a lot more about strategy than I do and defer to his expertise. With Ibaka and Gasol out, Anunoby played a great game. But in the first half, they seemed to abandon defence entirely, allowing 75 points or something. They didn’t miss many shots, but had 14 turnovers or so.
The T-wolves have so many recent trades they are a different team despite a long string of recent losses and a victory over the Clippers. But Lowry and VanVleet nearly lead the league in minutes played, and their endurance showed. When the Raptors finally began to play defence, they had a lot more energy in the fourth and put it away. Hollis-Jefferson played very well. But 538 called for an easy win, which was far from apparent after that strange first half.
Blazers got the crap kicked out of them by NOLA last night. They did fine in the first half, then crapped out and were outscored 2-1 in the 3rd. Zion Williamson shredded the defense. For a guy built like a fire plug, he’s fast and lethal underneath. POR gave up and pulled their starters about halfway through the 4th quarter. N’Orleans’ bench continued to outplay the Blazers and won by 21 points.
Well, shit. On the way to getting another shellacking (this time from Memphis), Damian Lillard suffered a groin injury. That means no All Star participation, of course. But he’s playing this down and saying that he’s focusing on getting well so the Blazers can make it into the playoffs. I’m betting that he’s down for longer than he’s letting on, which would mean that the Blazer’s slim chance of making the playoffs is likely now NO chance.
Does anyone think the All-Star Game will be a little more competitive in the spirit of Kobe Bryant? I hope so… It’s been getting very boring. I want to see the best compete against the best. I’d also be in favor of home-court advantage, which I think they do in baseball.
How would home-court advantage even work in a basketball All-Star Game?
If the East wins, then when the NBA Finals arrives, the team that comes out of the East (Raptors last year) would automatically get homecourt advantage.
This was a competitive all-star game, which is what people want – the best COMPETING against the best.
Cough, cough. Bump.
Am looking forward to seeing if the rested Taptors bring it during the next slog - lots of games against good teams; Gasol likely back.
The Nets sure did in the second half yesterday although the 76ers looked better in OT.
As I predicted, Lillard is out for at least five more games. The Blazers would have to win 16-20 games out of the 26 remaining in order to make the playoffs. I just don’t see it happening, particularly after their shitty performance in the last two games. Simons and Trent do well at times, but they’re inconsistent and no replacement for Lillard. The team really is tapped out for talent at this point. But stranger things have happened, so I’ll still be watching.
Any predictions? I think the Clippers beat the Bucks in The Finals.
Hmm, guess Gasol and Powell are out a little longer. No matter, the playoffs are more important.
Beat the Suns in a fairly choppy and inconsistent effort, with good shooting but tons of turnovers.
I say the final will be the Lakers versus the Raptors. Could happen.