Game Thread GAME# 1: BLAZERS @ SUNS - OCTOBER 18, 2017 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 (PDT), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS ERIC BLEDSOE

SG

EVAN TURNER VS DEVIN BOOKER

SF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS T.J. WARREN

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS MARQUESE CHRISS

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS TYSON CHANDLER


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WHEN: 7:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, 10/18/2017

WHERE: TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA, PHOENIX, AZ

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON , WILCOX

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD , DAVIS

PHOENIX SUNS

ULIS , JAMES , DANIELS

JONES Jr. , JACKSON , PETERS

BENDER , LEN



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. McCollum (suspended): OUT
Shabazz Napier (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (right knee): QUESTIONABLE
Noah Vonleh (right shoulder): OUT

SUNS
T.J. Warren (low back contusion): QUESTIONABLE
Jared Dudley (left foot surgery rehab): OUT
Brandon Knight (left ACL tear): OUT
Davon Reed (left meniscus repair): OUT
Alan Williams (right meniscus repair): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- EARL WATSON



SUNS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game marks the first of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Suns in the 2017-18 season. The teams played twice in the preseason, with each team getting a victory.

• The Trail Blazers defeated the Suns in three of the four regular season meetings between the teams in 2016-17. Portland has won the season series against Phoenix in two of the last three seasons.

• Portland has won seven of its last ten regular season games against Phoenix dating back to start of the 2014-15 season.

• Damian Lillard averaged a team-high 33.8 points on 47.1% shooting in four games against Phoenix last season, while CJ McCollum was second with an average of 28.0 points on 53.3% shooting in four contests.

• Devin Booker led Phoenix with 24.3 points per game in four meetings with the Trail Blazers in 2016-17, while Eric Bledsoe was second with an average of 23.3 points in three games against Portland.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 120-99
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 67-43
AT THE SUNS: Suns lead, 77-32

​

 

[THE HCP]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Darkwebs]

In before HCP screams "DaaarkWiiiiingg!"

 

[THE HCP]

DAMN YOU DUCK!

 

[Scalma]

Chriss would be a good matchup for Collins.

It won't happen but I'd go

Dame
Turner
Harkless
Collins
Nurkic

Turner
Connaughton
Aminu
Swanigan
Davis

 

[theprunetang]

I'd start Patty Baseball. He will have a much easier time playing with Dame and Nurk, being used as just another cog in the machine. Have Turner play his 6th man role.

Admittedly, it would be fun see Turner, Moe, and Aminu start. They are all roughly the same size and could switch on anything from 2 to 4. The outside shooting looks bad on paper from that crew though.

 

[Scalma]

I don't want to see Connaughton try and guard Booker. Turner should get that assignment.

 

[Strenuus]

Look at aminus smile.

He just got some of that good shit.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yay a real regular season game thread!!! I picked Collins since he's good on 2K18. Vonleh is too. Thanks Darkwebs! Go Blazers. If we lose, it's Season Over!!!!

 

[Blazer4ever]

I'd start Patty Baseball. He will have a much easier time playing with Dame and Nurk, being used as just another cog in the machine. Have Turner play his 6th man role.

Admittedly, it would be fun see Turner, Moe, and Aminu start. They are all roughly the same size and could switch on anything from 2 to 4. The outside shooting looks bad on paper from that crew though.

This. Starting Patty would be better than starting Turner at SG. Talk about starting with the wrong foot...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why can't I see this game thread I'm posting in?

 

[SIeepwalker]

HYPED !

Turner is so good he's both starting and on the bench WOW

 

[theprunetang]

Why can't I see this game thread I'm posting in?

One should never have DarkwingDuck on ignore, even if you are the local antidisestablishmentarianist when it comes to Blazers love. I will say, Darkwing is, currently, the best Duck in the state of Oregon.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Before Game 1:

Blazers ESPN Rank: #14
nba.com Rookie Ladder: Swanigan ranked #5

 

[SIeepwalker]

Before Game 1:

Blazers ESPN Rank: #14
nba.com Rookie Ladder: Swanigan ranked #5

How 'bout Collins ?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

How 'bout Collins ?

The ranking only goes to 10. It's clear that it hasn't been updated since summer league as Josh Jackson is somehow only ranked #10.

 

[TBpup]

HYPED !

Turner is so good he's both starting and on the bench WOW

Just early season jitters for @Darkwebs

 

[Denny Crane]

For all his faults, Aminu had a fine enough season as a PF two years ago, hitting .361 from 3pt. I'd take that from a PF, though some guys can do better. Aminu is a weak rebounder for a PF, but really helps out on the pick and roll defense at the perimeter. He pairs well with Mo on the front line.

I'll give him a pass for last season when he was hurt and never seemed to get back to where he was two seasons ago.

I expect he's the starter.

Go Blazers!

 

[BrunoSOC]

Cant wait for the game. We Will miss CJ, but we gotta take this. Im nervous

 

[Wizard Mentor]

For all his faults, Aminu had a fine enough season as a PF two years ago, hitting .361 from 3pt. I'd take that from a PF, though some guys can do better. Aminu is a weak rebounder for a PF, but really helps out on the pick and roll defense at the perimeter. He pairs well with Mo on the front line.

I'll give him a pass for last season when he was hurt and never seemed to get back to where he was two seasons ago.

I expect he's the starter.

Go Blazers!

Absolutely agree about Aminu, except..... His shooting this preseason looks like his shooting from last season, not 2 years ago...

So, I'd go Biggie, and just outrebound the other teams.

 

[Denny Crane]

Absolutely agree about Aminu, except..... His shooting this preseason looks like his shooting from last season, not 2 years ago...

So, I'd go Biggie, and just outrebound the other teams.

FWIW



I would think he'll get his 3p% higher once the regular season is underway.

We're talking 3 less 3PM per 100 attempts difference over two seasons ago. Maybe 30 points over 82 games.

 

[kjironman1]

So it begins.....
I can look at these projected starters and see that there could be changes made right up to game time. But this to me looks like the best overall and most experienced group available to take the floor. Kind of sucks not having your starting SG to start the season, But lets try to look at the bright side. It's against a team the Blazers can beat on the road and the first of a three game road trip to start the season. CJ will be available for the first of the B2B vs Indiana. The real thing to look at here is who will be coming off the bench first and who can step into the spotlight without wilting. For a couple years now the Blazers have really had a tough time supporting the starters. I am looking for improved bench on both sides of the court. Finding someone to take Crabbe's minutes and produce will be key as well as finding a way to play some defense when Nurkic is out. For this game not only do they have to replace Crabbe but also CJ?

Rebounding is one of the keys to getting this team off to a good start. The scuffle that left CJ suspended and sitting on the bench for this game was all about rebounding. Swanigan was holding his own against Len and of course that led to a shoving match. I expect to see that quite a bit this year. Seems Nurkic has been involved in a couple pushing and shoving matches as well. The Blazers could really benefit from improved rebounding and it seems like they have a few players willing to provide that very thing.

Tonight you will see a different Suns team than what you watched in preseason. The Bledsoe/Booker guard combo can be very dynamic. I have little worry about Dame stepping up but without CJ this could be an advantage on the offensive side for the Suns. My hope is that Pat Con will continue to hit from the arc (39% in preseason) and show some defensive help. Blazers have had a tough time containing Bledsoe in the past. This is their opening night game and they will be hyped to get a win to start out their season. Of this i am certain.

I have not been a supporter of starting Aminu. But with the suspension of CJ it seems this is probably for the best to move Turner into the starting SG spot and go with what you know at the 3 and 4. Now the question seems to be what Aminu will show up? Will it be the one that can hit a three and play dynamic defense or will it be the one that suffers at the ARC and dribble drives to a turnover sending the Suns to huge thundering fast break dunks and dagger threes? I have long said if Aminu plays solid the Blazers usually do well. When he doesn't get him off the floor. Aminu is a defensive specialist and IMO should be coming off the bench.

My pick to watch for this game is Nurkic. Obviously much is riding on this young man. He is the one true hope the Blazers have that can really be considered marked improvement over last year. In this game he will be asked to become the true 3rd piece of the big three because one of those pieces is missing. How does he respond when he has to carry more load? CJ can make your game easy when the other team has to worry about covering a guy that can literally make you pay from anywhere on the court. My bet is the Suns will double Dame and make someone else be the key. Look for how Nurkic responds? Does he use Turner, Pat, Harkless, Collins and Leonard or does he try to do too much?
This is going to be a very entertaining game. Lets see if the Blazers can get through the first quarter hype and keep victory in their sights?

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[blue9]

Admittedly, it would be fun see Turner, Moe, and Aminu start.

You've got a weird definition of "fun"...

 

[THE HCP]

Yay a real regular season game thread!!! I picked Collins since he's good on 2K18. Vonleh is too. Thanks Darkwebs! Go Blazers. If we lose, it's Season Over!!!!

Hey man, how are you and the family? good I hope. Oh......that's right.....

 

[THE HCP]

Cant wait for the game. We Will miss CJ, but we gotta take this. Im nervous

Most win?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Hey man, how are you and the family? good I hope. Oh......that's right.....

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[Denny Crane]

@HCP

 

[SlyPokerDog]

@HCP

@HCP, that's Denny's way of saying he wants to be your trophy wife.

 

[kjironman1]

@HCP, that's Denny's way of saying he wants to be your trophy wife.

You are saying he wants to be "Mrs HCP"?
That would be tough for many on this forum.....