Game Thread GAME# 20: PACERS @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 30, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), NBATV & CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
INDIANA PACERS
9 - 9
(1-5 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
9 - 10
(5-4 Home)


______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

JEFF TEAGUE VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

MONTA ELLIS VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

GLENN ROBINSON III VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

THADDEUS YOUNG VS ED DAVIS

C

MYLES TURNER VS MASON PLUMLEE

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), WEDNESDAY, 11/30/2016​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

INDIANA PACERS

BROOKS, YOUNG , STUCKEY

MILES , NIANG , CHRISTMAS

ALLEN , JEFFERSON



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

NAPIER , QUARTERMAN , CONNAUGHTON

CRABBE , TURNER , LAYMAN

VONLEH , LEONARD


INJURIES
PACERS
C.J. Miles (sore left knee): QUESTIONABLE
Paul George (sore left ankle): OUT
Kevin Seraphin (sore left knee): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Al-Farouq Aminu (left calf strain): OUT
Festus Ezeli (left knee): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

NATE McMILLAN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL PACERS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday marks the first of two regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Pacers in 2016-17.

• Portland swept the season series from Indiana last year, and has now won four consecutive games against the Pacers.

• After Indiana won nine consecutive games over Portland from March 17, 2004 to Feb. 9, 2008, the Trail Blazers have won 11 of the past 15 contests between these two teams.

• Portland has won seven consecutive games against Indiana at the Moda Center. The Pacers last won in Portland on Nov. 28, 2007.

• Damian Lillard averaged a team-high 29.5 points and shot 10-of-17 from the three-point line in two games against Indiana last season.

• Damian Lillard has scored at least 20 points in seven of his eight career games against the Pacers.

• CONNECTION: Indiana head coach Nate McMillan served as Portland’s head coach for six-plus seasons from 2005-12. McMillan fi nished his Portland tenure with an overall record of 266-269.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 51-33
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 32-10
AT THE PACERS: Pacers lead, 23-19

​

 

[BonesJones]

Very important game to win as they're without Paul George. Our backcourt should be able to light theirs up.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Very important game to win as they're without Paul George. Are backcourt should be able to light theirs up.

But the Blazers don't play defense.

 

[BonesJones]

But the Blazers don't play defense.

Uhhh okay? What does that have to do with me saying George is out and our backcourt should be able to score on theirs pretty easily?

 

[Tunchi]

Uhhh okay? What does that have to do with me saying George is out and our backcourt should be able to score on theirs pretty easily?

Last ranked defense in the NBA. That's bad no matter whose out.

 

[illmatic99]

Not sure if everyone knows this , but Sling TV now streams NBA TV as part of their sports extra package for $5 more per month. PS Vue has a similar offering as well. After months of complaining about the lack of a streaming option for NBA TV, this is a good option.

Still annoying that NBA TV games are blacked out on League Pass though. Bogus deal with Turner.

 

[blue9]

Why is Paul George out? Do we know for certain that he's out? ESPN doesn't have anyone other than CJ Miles out...which is obviously wrong because Festus & Aminu.

 

[KingSpeed]

18-0 Stotts, lol

 

[Boob-No-More]

Why is Paul George out? Do we know for certain that he's out? ESPN doesn't have anyone other than CJ Miles out...which is obviously wrong because Festus & Aminu.

From basketball.reference.com:

"George has been shut down for three games to rest a sore left ankle but could return Wednesday against the Trail Blazers."

Of course he'll return against us. Everyone does. They want their first game back to be an easy one against the league's worst defense.

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

From basketball.reference.com:

"George has been shut down for three games to rest a sore left ankle but could return Wednesday against the Trail Blazers."

Of course he'll return against us. Everyone does. They want their first game back to be an easy one against the league's worst defense.

BNM

Rotoworld: http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nba/1731/paul-george

Paul George (sore left ankle, back) could return as soon as Sunday's game vs. the Clippers.
The Pacers only have two games in Week 6 and George has already been ruled out for Wednesday's game vs. the Blazers. George did not practice on Tuesday and coach Nate McMillan didn't provide much of an update. Expect Glenn Robinson III to have a heavy workload vs. the Blazers. Nov 29 - 7:37 PM

 

[riverman]

It's working! Teams are resting superstars against us now! The rope a dope brings another win tonight!

 

[Boob-No-More]

It's working! Teams are resting superstars against us now! The rope a dope brings another win tonight!

Hopefully, it will have the same result as Doc resting Blake against BRK last night.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Rotoworld: http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nba/1731/paul-george

Normally, I like to see us play teams at full strength, but with the way we are playing right now, this team should be grateful for any break they can get.

They say winning cures all, and this team needs a few wins to energize themselves (evidently, those huge contracts weren't sufficient motivation).

Both Stotts and Dame have said it's not about a lack of effort, but I disagree. Go back and watch that first quarter against CLE and look how ridiculously wide open Kevin Love was on all 8 of his made 3-pointers. Defenders were sagging off him and then made a token lunge in his general direction after he'd caught the ball and was already in his shooting motion. Nobody was busting their ass to cover him and nobody was fighting through screens. Same with Harden and HOU.

Lack of effort is a HUGE part of the problem on the defensive end. Hopefully, the guys won't let up even more because Paul George isn't playing. Hopefully, they will see it as a chance to seize a much needed win and will play like they want it for a change.

BNM

 

[TBpup]

Didn't the Lakers just hold this team to something like 68 points....without Randle and Russell? Perhaps Portland can actually hold them under 100.

Too much to ask for?

 

[Strenuus]

Didn't the Lakers just hold this team to something like 68 points....without Randle and Russell? Perhaps Portland can actually hold them under 100.

Too much to ask for?

Way too much. Plumlee will guard the hot dog vendor out of confusion and miscommunication.

 

[riverman]

I think this is Nate's debut return to Portland as a head coach if I'm not mistaken.....I expect him to play the oldest guys big minutes and not play any rookies...slow the game down to a snail pace and forget to call timeouts

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think this is Nate's debut return to Portland as a head coach if I'm not mistaken.....I expect him to play the oldest guys big minutes and not play any rookies...slow the game down to a snail pace and forget to call timeouts

And stand in silence on the sidelines with his arms crossed while we (hopefully) go on a big run.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Way too much. Plumlee will guard the hot dog vendor out of confusion and miscommunication.

But it won't be for lack of effort. I bet he holds the hot dog vendor scoreless.

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

But it won't be for lack of effort. I bet he holds the hot dog vendor scoreless.

BNM

2 blocked shots? No, no, sir. Two blocked hot dogs.

 

[Cippy91]

 

[Darkwebs]

2 blocked shots? No, no, sir. Two blocked hot dogs.

I'm sure he would relish the chance.

 

[julius]

I just noticed that lotto commercial has a poster that says "Portland Champs Again! 2018"

Which is funny because the calendar switches over to 2018 right before you see it, so it's a prediction INSIDE a prediction.

 

[illmatic99]

NBA TV and its blackout restrictions can go fuck itself.

I'm blacked out even on NBA TV because I'm in Indiana. FUCK YOU NBA.

I'm not giving another dime. Fuckers

 

[julius]

So, this is after working on defense for 2 days?

 

[Darkwebs]

Lillard picked up a foul there, but I like the physicality on the defensive end. Laying the wood on them fools!

 

[julius]

So far I'm not seeing much improvement in the defense.

 

[Darkwebs]

Love the help defense by the Blazers. Especially Dame.

 

[illmatic99]

So far I'm not seeing much improvement in the defense.

11 points, 6 minutes.

Scales to 88 for the game.

Not too bad

 

[Scalma]

No way was the effort the past two weeks or whatever the same as it is so far tonight.

 

[Darkwebs]

Lillard has stripped the ball 2 or 3 times already.