Game Thread GAME# 25: ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 9, 2017 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
HOUSTON ROCKETS
18 - 4
(10-1 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
13 - 11
(7-7 Home)

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

PG

CHRIS PAUL VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

JAMES HARDEN VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

TREVOR ARIZA VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

PF

RYAN ANDERSON VS NOAH VONLEH

C

CLINT CAPELA VS ED DAVIS

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), SATURDAY, 12/9/2017

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

---- HOUSTON ROCKETS ----

BROWN , JACKSON , WEBER

GORDON , TUCKER . WILLIAMS

MBAH A MOUTE, BLACK

ONUAKU , HILARIO


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

NAPIER , TURNER , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
ROCKETS
Ryan Anderson (Back Tightness): QUESTIONABLE
Troy Williams (Right Knee MCL Sprain): OUT
Zhou Qi (sore left calf): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (sprained right ankle): OUT
Moe Harkless (left quad contusion): QUESTIONABLE
Wade Baldwin (thumb surgery rehab): OUT
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE D'ANTONI --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL ROCKETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday’s game marks the first of four regular season meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Rockets during the 2017-18 season.

• LAST SEASON: Houston won the season series with the Trail Blazers in 2016-17, 2-1.

• The Trail Blazers have won four of their last six home games against the Rockets.

• Damian Lillard averaged 25.3 points (43.6% FG, 31.8% 3-PT, 84.0% FT), 4.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in three games against the Rockets in the 2016-17 season. Lillard has scored 30-plus points in two of his last four home games against Houston.

• CJ McCollum averaged 22.0 points (45.3% FG, 31.8% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in three games against Houston last season. McCollum has scored 20-plus points in three of his last four games against the Rockets.

• James Harden averaged 31.3 points (42.0% FG, 30.3% 3-PT, 83.9% FT), 7.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists in three games against the Trail Blazers last season. Harden has recorded a double-double in four of his last seven games against Portland.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Rockets lead, 105-84
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 51-43
AT THE ROCKETS: Rockets lead, 62-33

​

 

[jlprk]

I see right through you. Trying to change the subject! We are all busy dissing the game that just ended!

 

[KeepOnRollin]

At least we are off until Saturday. Long time between games. I guess that could be good or bad but at this point no where to go but (stay the same or go) up.

 

[BrunoSOC]

I love Portland, and I will see all the season, but We are about to have a 5 game losing streak, lost to the rockets and after we face the warriors. We are playing like shit, Stotts is desesperate because he knows he's about to be fired. Try other line up everygame, but he just can't make us better, he's system is limited and we are starting to get embarrassing at home.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Oh and the poll was actually a tough choice. Nurk is a given for me. Between Vonleh and Napier. I picked Napier although I know I will be the in minority on that. I would like to keep all 3 of those. And maybe even Pat provided he still just gets minimum. But would love to keep Vonleh and Napier somehow (which probably means trading other players - which I am fine with at this point).

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Yeah, but We will face a team hard to beat. There's absolutely no chance we beat them. I just don't wanna se a blowout again, and a big perfomance by harden, like 45 points for sure

We seem to win against teams we shouldn't and lose against teams we shouldn't. I wouldn't be surprised if we win one of our next two games.

 

[Darkwebs]

Maybe the poll question should've been: will James Harden score 60?

 

[BrunoSOC]

We seem to win against teams we shouldn't and lose against teams we shouldn't. I wouldn't be surprised if we win one of our next two games.

I Would bet 1000 dolars we will lose those 2

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I Would bet 1000 dolars we will lose those 2

For real? This is tempting. Put it in escrow? And what kind of odds because obviously we will be the underdog in both games.

 

[Strenuus]

Man, DW... I'd let HCP take these so you can take a couple of the losses off your record for game threads.

 

[jlprk]

I vote Napier and Nurkic. Napier is just as good as McCollum, just a tad shorter.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Skipping this one to go to the Teddy Bear Toss Winterhawks game next door at the Coliseum - maybe I'll actually see a Portland win.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I don't know how to say this DW, but if we lose many more games in a row, say 300-400, we'll get HCP to make a game thread.

 

[THE HCP]

Why am I not allowed to take back over creating the game threads? This kid has lost his mojo.

 

[Strenuus]

Why am I not allowed to take back over creating the game threads? This kid has lost his mojo.

There's a hierarchy... it goes replay man then game thread creator.

 

[TBpup]

Harden could go for 60 and Stotts wouldn't double team him.

 

[ripcityboy]

 

[Jade Falcon]

I love Portland, and I will see all the season, but We are about to have a 5 game losing streak, lost to the rockets and after we face the warriors. We are playing like shit, Stotts is desesperate because he knows he's about to be fired. Try other line up everygame, but he just can't make us better, he's system is limited and we are starting to get embarrassing at home.

This. I'll watch every game, but I'm not taking them seriously from this point forward unless something major changes. Without Nurk, this game is DEFINITELY a loss.

I mean, you know....it won't matter anyways because we have NO answer for Defense at the 3. Which means that Harden and Paul can pretty much do whatever the fuck they want.

 

[TBpup]

So since Stotts has repeatedly said he doesn't like to mess with the rotation when a starter is out, does that mean he will start Zach Collins at center?

 

[H.C.]

So since Stotts has repeatedly said he doesn't like to mess with the rotation when a starter is out, does that mean he will start Zach Collins at center?

I might be biting into something really sour by saying this but...
I hope Nards starts. As I don't know why he didn't get back in, in the Washington game. Personally I think he should've been in.
Lillard/CJ/Aminu/Davis/Nards.

Granted this is the Rockets, and their small ball lineup is prolly not the best for Nards to be involve in.

 

[dviss1]

I might be biting into something really sour by saying this but...
I hope Nards starts. As I don't know why he didn't get back in, in the Washington game. Personally I think he should've been in.
Lillard/CJ/Aminu/Davis/Nards.

Granted this is the Rockets, and their small ball lineup is prolly not the best for Nards to be involve in.

While I can't stand him, I agree. Plus Collins knowing he's gonna get some time should get him pumped. Maybe he'll bring some bench energy.

 

[kjironman1]

I might be biting into something really sour by saying this but...
I hope Nards starts. As I don't know why he didn't get back in, in the Washington game. Personally I think he should've been in.
Lillard/CJ/Aminu/Davis/Nards.

Granted this is the Rockets, and their small ball lineup is prolly not the best for Nards to be involve in.

You are fine on this. But knowing Stotts he will stay rigid in all he does. He will start Davis and bring Leonard off the bench. Collins or Swanigan will get limited run if any. Look more for Aminu playing more PF.

 

[BrunoSOC]

I just hope rockets beat utah. Utah is killing everyobody at their home

 

[BBert]

So since Stotts has repeatedly said he doesn't like to mess with the rotation when a starter is out, does that mean he will start Zach Collins at center?

Meyers

 

[BrunoSOC]

So Nurkic and Moe are not sure if they will play? we need updates

 

[Chris Craig]

I might be biting into something really sour by saying this but...
I hope Nards starts. As I don't know why he didn't get back in, in the Washington game. Personally I think he should've been in.
Lillard/CJ/Aminu/Davis/Nards.

Granted this is the Rockets, and their small ball lineup is prolly not the best for Nards to be involve in.

Yeah, Capella is going to be throwing down lobs...if he does start Nards should guard Anderson and noah should guard capella.

 

[Strenuus]

Dude, when the team is going good these days off in between don't suck nearly as much. But when we suck having 2 games in 7 days suck. It's like "Im hopeful we changed" mixed with "Just delaying the inevitable... just move on from these next few games and see if results happen".

I hate this many days between games as a fan.

 

[THE HCP]

I love them as a husband and dad.

 

[Strenuus]

I love them as a husband and dad.

Oh, I know. That makes sense.

 

[Labinot41]

With Nurk out, i like to see Zach Collins as the starting center. Capela is a good matchup for him and he is quick enough to defend the Pnr with Harden. But I bet Stotts let Meyers start and Ed is the backup..