tlongII
10-22-2014, 10:19 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/10/trail_blazers_nuggets_game_rewind.html
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/10/21/-93b5f6a562eb6e63.JPG
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, of Russia, during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Boulder, Colo.
BOULDER, CO — The Trail Blazers defeated the Denver Nuggets 93-75 Tuesday night at Coors Events Center, improving to 3-2 in the exhibition season.
LaMarcus Aldridge started hot and never cooled down and Damian Lillard seemed to be in midseason form, as the Blazers' All-Star duo carried them to a convincing victory over the Nuggets, who fell to 2-4 in the exhibition season.
As promised, Stotts leaned on his starters more than he has at any point in the preseason, playing each of the five mainstays except Robin Lopez at least 30 minutes.
With 9:41 remaining, the Blazers led 76-64 and the Nuggets were running with most of their backups. But Stotts decided to insert Lillard and Lopez into the game, meaning all five starters would play rare fourth quarter exhibition minutes. They ended up playing another six minutes, 18 seconds, extending the Blazers' lead to 87-68.
No starter had played more than 25 minutes in any preseason outing before Tuesday night, so the extended time pushed them one step closer toward being ready for the regular season opener. Also, the matchup against the Nuggets was the first game of a back-to-back and Stotts will not play any starter except Lillard when the Blazers visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
"It's that time of the preseason where we have to start preparing our bodies to play the amount of minutes that we're going to play in a regular game and get ready for the regular season," Lillard said. "It was big for us. It felt good to be out there."
Aldridge finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks — recording his first double-double of the preseason — in 37 minutes. Lillard added 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes.
Kaman suffers head laceration, gets three stitches
Backup big man Chris Kaman suffered a head laceration in the second half against the Nuggets and was given three stitches.
Kaman suffered the cut went he was boxing out 7-foot-1 center Timofey Mozgov. As he went to push Mozgov back, he folded over on the back side of Kaman and chomped down on Kaman's head with his teeth.
Kaman instantly cupped his head, felt a gash and blood.
As part of his treatment, Kaman was tested for a concussion. Kaman said he didn't think he suffered one, but the results were not immediately known. He finished with four points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes against the Nuggets.
Blake skips trip with illness
Backup point guard Steve Blake did not travel with the team on its three-game preseason trip because of an upper respiratory illness. He did not play against the Nuggets and probably won't play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Blake's status for Friday's exhibition finale vs. the Los Angeles Clippers has not yet been determined, but it's possible he could join the team for its matchup at the Staples Center.
In Blake's absence, CJ McCollum was the first guard off the bench — subbing in during the first and third quarters in place of Lillard — and was hit-and-miss. He steered the team in and out of it sets effectively in the first half, but coughed up a couple turnovers after halftime after the Nuggets ramped up their defensive pressure.
McCollum's shot was off all night — he went 0 for 4 from the field — so he wasn't able to create for himself, and he finished scoreless in 14 minutes. But even though it wasn't anywhere near the standout outing McCollum had the last time he filled as a point guard — in a win over the Clippers at the Moda Center — Stotts said he remains confident with McCollum playing point.
"I thought he tried to make the right plays," Stotts said. "He didn't make his shots, but I'm not concerned about that."
Blazers cashing in on free throws
If the first five games of the exhibition season are any indication, the Blazers are yet again going to be one of the best free throw shooting teams in the NBA.
The Blazers entered Tuesday night's game shooting 87 percent from the free throw line (80 of 92) and continued to sparkle from the stripe against the Nuggets. The Blazers made 12 of their first 14 and finished 21 of 27 from the line. Over the last two games, the Blazers are 41 of 49.
Last season, the Blazers shot 81.5 percent from the line — the best percentage in the NBA.
Wright produces
Dorell Wright, who has quietly had a consistent and effective preseason, had another solid outing. The backup forward recorded eight points in 12 minutes, hitting 2 of 3 field goals, including 1 of 2 three-pointers.
Lillard will be guest on 'Conan'
Lillard will make a guest appearance on the TBS late-night talk show 'Conan' on Thursday, when the Blazers have an off day in Los Angeles during their three-game preseason trip.
Lillard is expected to talk about a host of his off-the-court endeavors, including 4BarFriday and being on the cover of the video game NBA Live. And he might be given the chance to show off his rap skills, too. The show airs in Portland at 11 p.m.
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/10/21/-93b5f6a562eb6e63.JPG
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, of Russia, during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Boulder, Colo.
BOULDER, CO — The Trail Blazers defeated the Denver Nuggets 93-75 Tuesday night at Coors Events Center, improving to 3-2 in the exhibition season.
LaMarcus Aldridge started hot and never cooled down and Damian Lillard seemed to be in midseason form, as the Blazers' All-Star duo carried them to a convincing victory over the Nuggets, who fell to 2-4 in the exhibition season.
As promised, Stotts leaned on his starters more than he has at any point in the preseason, playing each of the five mainstays except Robin Lopez at least 30 minutes.
With 9:41 remaining, the Blazers led 76-64 and the Nuggets were running with most of their backups. But Stotts decided to insert Lillard and Lopez into the game, meaning all five starters would play rare fourth quarter exhibition minutes. They ended up playing another six minutes, 18 seconds, extending the Blazers' lead to 87-68.
No starter had played more than 25 minutes in any preseason outing before Tuesday night, so the extended time pushed them one step closer toward being ready for the regular season opener. Also, the matchup against the Nuggets was the first game of a back-to-back and Stotts will not play any starter except Lillard when the Blazers visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
"It's that time of the preseason where we have to start preparing our bodies to play the amount of minutes that we're going to play in a regular game and get ready for the regular season," Lillard said. "It was big for us. It felt good to be out there."
Aldridge finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks — recording his first double-double of the preseason — in 37 minutes. Lillard added 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes.
Kaman suffers head laceration, gets three stitches
Backup big man Chris Kaman suffered a head laceration in the second half against the Nuggets and was given three stitches.
Kaman suffered the cut went he was boxing out 7-foot-1 center Timofey Mozgov. As he went to push Mozgov back, he folded over on the back side of Kaman and chomped down on Kaman's head with his teeth.
Kaman instantly cupped his head, felt a gash and blood.
As part of his treatment, Kaman was tested for a concussion. Kaman said he didn't think he suffered one, but the results were not immediately known. He finished with four points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes against the Nuggets.
Blake skips trip with illness
Backup point guard Steve Blake did not travel with the team on its three-game preseason trip because of an upper respiratory illness. He did not play against the Nuggets and probably won't play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Blake's status for Friday's exhibition finale vs. the Los Angeles Clippers has not yet been determined, but it's possible he could join the team for its matchup at the Staples Center.
In Blake's absence, CJ McCollum was the first guard off the bench — subbing in during the first and third quarters in place of Lillard — and was hit-and-miss. He steered the team in and out of it sets effectively in the first half, but coughed up a couple turnovers after halftime after the Nuggets ramped up their defensive pressure.
McCollum's shot was off all night — he went 0 for 4 from the field — so he wasn't able to create for himself, and he finished scoreless in 14 minutes. But even though it wasn't anywhere near the standout outing McCollum had the last time he filled as a point guard — in a win over the Clippers at the Moda Center — Stotts said he remains confident with McCollum playing point.
"I thought he tried to make the right plays," Stotts said. "He didn't make his shots, but I'm not concerned about that."
Blazers cashing in on free throws
If the first five games of the exhibition season are any indication, the Blazers are yet again going to be one of the best free throw shooting teams in the NBA.
The Blazers entered Tuesday night's game shooting 87 percent from the free throw line (80 of 92) and continued to sparkle from the stripe against the Nuggets. The Blazers made 12 of their first 14 and finished 21 of 27 from the line. Over the last two games, the Blazers are 41 of 49.
Last season, the Blazers shot 81.5 percent from the line — the best percentage in the NBA.
Wright produces
Dorell Wright, who has quietly had a consistent and effective preseason, had another solid outing. The backup forward recorded eight points in 12 minutes, hitting 2 of 3 field goals, including 1 of 2 three-pointers.
Lillard will be guest on 'Conan'
Lillard will make a guest appearance on the TBS late-night talk show 'Conan' on Thursday, when the Blazers have an off day in Los Angeles during their three-game preseason trip.
Lillard is expected to talk about a host of his off-the-court endeavors, including 4BarFriday and being on the cover of the video game NBA Live. And he might be given the chance to show off his rap skills, too. The show airs in Portland at 11 p.m.