Game Thread GAME# 13: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - NOVEMBER 18, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
4 - 8 (2-5 Road)
HOUSTON ROCKETS
4 - 7 (2-5 Home)



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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS TY LAWSON

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS JAMES HARDEN

SF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

NOAH VONLEH VS TERRENCE JONES

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS DWIGHT HOWARD




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WHEN: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, 11/18/2015

WHERE: TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

FRAZIER , HENDERSON , CRABBE , HARKLESS

CONNAUGHTON , ALEXANDER , DAVIS , KAMAN

HOUSTON ROCKETS

TERRY , THORNTON , McDANIELS

BREWER , HARRELL , CAPELA



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Meyers Leonard (Left Shoulder Dislocation): OUT
ROCKETS
Patrick Beverley (Left Ankle Sprain): OUT
Sam Dekker (Sore Back): OUT
Donatas Motiejunas (Low Back Pain): OUT





HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- KEVIN MCHALE




ROCKETS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday marks the first of four matchups between the Trail Blazers and Rockets in 2015-16.

• Portland was victorious in two of its three games against Houston last season, marking the Trail Blazers first regular season series win over the Rockets since 2010-11 (2-2 series tie in 2012-13).

• A win for the Trail Blazers would mark Portland’s first three-game win streak over Houston since 11/26/02 to 11/21/03, when it won four straight games over the Rockets.

• Houston is 11-3 at home against Portland since the start of the 2007-08 season.

• The Trail Blazers last claimed the season series over Houston in back-to-back years in 2001-02 and 2002-03.


• Portland is in the midst of a six-game losing streak, while Houston has dropped four games in a row.

• Houston has surrendered at least 100 points in all 11 games this season, and ranks 28th in the league with 108.5
points allowed per game. The Trail Blazers have scored 100+ points in eight of their 12 games this season, and are 4-4
when doing so (0-4 when finishing with under 100 points).

• Damian Lillard has scored 20 or more points in six of his 11 career games against the Rockets (three of last 5).

• Houston guard James Harden has scored 40-plus points in three of his past four games against the Trail Blazers. He’s
scored at least 20 points in 11 of his past 12 games against Portland (three games with 30-39 points).

• James Harden’s 45 points (11-25 FG, 19-23 FT) against Portland on Feb. 8 of last season was his highest point total ever against the Trail Blazers, while his 18 points on March 11 of last season is his lowest scoring total against Portland.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Rockets lead, 101-81
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 49-41
AT THE ROCKETS: Rockets lead, 60-32

 

[Darkwebs]

We need a win desperately.

The Rockets have lost 4 in a row, so they are vulnerable right now. But I'm sure Houston is looking at the Blazers' 6-game losing streak and is thinking the same about us.

 

[Darkwebs]

I wanna see Harden play some defense like this

 

[Natebishop3]

Must win. I can't stand losing to these pikers.

 

[Superbeard]

With how the Rockets are playing now it's going to be very hard to lose to this them. Unless they have some spirited team meeting or a new coach, this will be a very easy win for the Blazers. I think only Ariza and Howard even care right now. The rest of the team seems to have given up, ESPECIALLY James Harden. Who either takes too many threes (some nights where he takes 10 threes a night and misses all of them) or some nights where he will not shoot much at all. The team is pretty much completely broken. Many times you will be confused as to WTF is going on as Lawson even without Harden on the floor will pass off and let someone else play PG as the team gets killed on the boards and the coach will go small as possible because that works right? When you need rebounds just go smaller! Capped off by Harden mimicking Curry except he's forgot that Curry actually makes those 3s.

Don't worry about it, I actually see no fix right now for my Rockets. Harden could go off, like he did against the Thunder and Clippers. Some nights he remembers that he's not even a good 3 point shooter and more of a slasher like Wade but it seems many nights he's just out there...dribbling on the perimeter...jacking up threes...

 

[Strenuus]

I wanna see Harden play some defense like this

Wow... I hadn't seen that one. That's... I mean, that's unexcusable.

I almost feel bad for Rockets fans.

Almost.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I thought you meant Terrence Ross so I voted bad comparison (obviously), Terrence Jones isn't a bad comparison but not accurate IMO, I think Vonleh could be a better player

 

[Draco]

I thought you meant Terrence Ross so I voted bad comparison (obviously), Terrence Jones isn't a bad comparison but not accurate IMO, I think Vonleh could be a better player

You can hit the change my vote button dude.

 

[Draco]

Along with Lakers my least favorite team. Would like to beat the crap outta these guys. Let's suspend operation tank for 3 hours.

Never been to a Houston game, not sure if I wanna make the drive would make for a long night.

Go Blazers!

 

[Eastoff]

I think this could be a blood bath.

 

[blue9]

Terrence Jones isn't a bad comparison but not accurate IMO, I think Vonleh could be a better player

God, he BETTER become a better player. But right now I wish he was half the player Jones is.

 

[KingSpeed]

Chance to pass Rockets in the standings. Go Blazers!

 

[BBert]

I wanna see Harden play some defense like this

LOLOLOLOL

 

[riverman]

I think it's time we had 5 guys scoring in double digits and owned the rebounding battle for a change...Go Blazers!

 

[Draco]

God, he BETTER become a better player. But right now I wish he was half the player Jones is.

So what do you want out of him, to be an allstar?

Way to early from a players who's displayed so little to throw those expectations on him. If he could become an average to below average starter like Jones I'll be more than happy. We don't need to hit a home run with every rostered player just a bunch of singles and we're good. I'm more worried we might have a run of strikeouts.

Jones probably gets $13+/mil a year this summer in free agency.

Vonleh only has two more seasons on his rookie deal, then if he's worth keeping he's taking up full market value on our cap.

 

[riverman]

Vonleh can't buy a beer legally..might want to let him make mistakes now and get a feel for the system ...was there ever a better time to experiment with the bench and get them some time on the court? I think Vonleh will turn out to be better than Meyers in a few years.

 

[blue9]

So what do you want out of him, to be an allstar?

Way to early from a players who's displayed so little to throw those expectations on him. If he could become an average to below average starter like Jones I'll be more than happy. We don't need to hit a home run with every rostered player just a bunch of singles and we're good. I'm more worried we might have a run of strikeouts.

Jones probably gets $13+/mil a year this summer in free agency.

Vonleh only has two more seasons on his rookie deal, then if he's worth keeping he's taking up full market value on our cap.

I don't care about accolades like all-star. I also think PF is the least important position at which to have top tier talent. I'd just hope he'd be above average...or that we are able to trade him in a package for a really good player.

 

[Strenuus]

Vonleh can't buy a beer legally..might want to let him make mistakes now and get a feel for the system ...was there ever a better time to experiment with the bench and get them some time on the court? I think Vonleh will turn out to be better than Meyers in a few years.

I agree. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong, but god damn, he's 20. I'd love to see someone go into a high stress, time-consuming job at 20.

No matter how prepared you are, you will falter at times.

Even that guy from that team in LA will.

 

[oldmangrouch]

If he was making a mix of mistakes and big plays, I would agree with the patience argument. If his ceiling is "merely OK" or "not awful", there is no need for patience. Project status only makes sense if you believe the kid is a future star. If he is just a journeyman, you don't need to develop him - there are guys like Aminu and Davis available to fill that role.

 

[Draco]

I don't care about accolades like all-star. I also think PF is the least important position at which to have top tier talent. I'd just hope he'd be above average...or that we are able to trade him in a package for a really good player.

Well I think positions are the least important part of basketball. They were invented by fans to have an easier time of understanding the game.

 

[Natebishop3]

Start Vonleh!

 

[illmatic99]

bwhahahaha

players only meeting.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ers-only-meeting-amid-four-game-losing-streak

 

[Draco]

Gosh I hope we beat these guys.

I wonder who guards Harden? I'd think about putting Aminu on him right off the bat. CJ could guard Ariza. If they are forcing offense through Ariza when Lawson, Harden, Howard are on the floor thats good for us.

 

[Draco]

Can't wait to see CJ and Dame attacking him.

 

[Eastoff]

bwhahahaha

players only meeting.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ers-only-meeting-amid-four-game-losing-streak

I didn't read the full link title and got nervous it was about us.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Well I think positions are the least important part of basketball. They were invented by fans to have an easier time of understanding the game.

Positions are pretty much just roles, which are definitely important.

 

[PDXFonz]

Can't wait to see CJ and Dame attacking him.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

That's the best one yet, it's like one of his many compilation videos, but in just one game!

 

[Tunchi]

bwhahahaha

players only meeting.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ers-only-meeting-amid-four-game-losing-streak

Ours is coming soon

 

[Strenuus]

Ours is coming soon

They'd be saying "Keep up the good work! Lets get Wiggins!"

 

[Draco]

Ours is coming soon

We're basically right around preseason projections; maybe one win short. The team is in a good mood I don't see any disappointment or players only type of meeting looming.