Game Thread GAME# 29: BLAZERS @ HORNETS - DECEMBER 16, 2017 - SATURDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
15 - 13
(8-5 Road)
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
10 - 18
(8-7 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS KEMBA WALKER

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS NICOLAS BATUM

SF

EVAN TURNER VS MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS MARVIN WILLIAMS

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS DWIGHT HOWARD



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WHEN: 4:00 PM, SATURDAY, 12/16/2017

WHERE: SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON , HARKLESS

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN , VONLEH

COLLINS , DAVIS , LEONARD

------ CHARLOTTE HORNETS------

PAIGE , CARTER-WILLIAMS , STONE

MONK , GRAHAM , LAMB

BACON , O'BRYANT

MATHIANG , KAMINSKY


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT
HORNETS
Cody Zeller (left knee surgery): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- STEVE CLIFFORD

OFFICIAL HORNETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

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

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers and the Hornets split the season series, 1-1.

• Portland has won 12 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams with all four losses coming at Charlotte.

• Damian Lillard averaged 24.0 points (47.2% FG, 36.4% 3-PT, 100% FT), 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games against the Hornets last season.

• CJ McCollum averaged 18.0 points (43.8% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games against Charlotte in 2016-17.

• Kemba Walker averaged 22.5 points (50.0% FG, 46.7% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 2.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games against the Trail Blazers last season.

• Nicolas Batum averaged 17.5 points (44.4% FG, 45.5% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two games against Portland in 2016-17.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 38-16
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 21-6
AT THE HORNETS: Trail Blazers lead, 17-10

 

[GrandJury]

Damn I can’t believe Batum is getting paid 120M dollars

You guys thought Evan Turner was overpaid

Batum is terrible this year and has always been overrated period

 

[Darkwebs]

This is the only team with a Jordan Jumpman logo on their jerseys. Let's beat these guys and get revenge for the '92 Finals at last.

 

[BigGameDamian]

This is the only team with a Jordan Jumpman logo on their jerseys. Let's beat these guys and get revenge for the '92 Finals at last.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Kaminsky to drop 35 on us

 

[SIeepwalker]

Kaminsky to drop 35 on us

lot of bannable offense already in this thread

 

[Cippy91]

Batum was great man. One of my favorite blazers despite lazy passes at times. Feel like he could of been better in his prime though. Those chasedown blocks were beautiful

 

[stampedehero]

We will win three in a row. Can ET actually score 20+ and help us win?

 

[rotary111]

This game makes me nervous. A slightly rejuvenated Dwight up against Nurkic could mean foul trouble for our bigs. Kemba seems to play well against us too. We could use a game where we don't play down to our opponent. Is this it? Idk.

 

[BlazerBeav]

We played such a horrible game in Charlotte last season that it still stands out in my mind. It would be really nice to get this one today.

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers vs Hornets

Seems the Blazers are road warriors and they eat Eastern Conference teams up for travel munchies. Aminu continues to impress and moving Turner into the starting lineup for Harmless seems to be the next move. I am actually coming to see some of the things Stotts is doing with a little more clarity. The team has a bunch of diversity. No they are not stars but they do all have things they do well. It seems Stotts is trying to play each and every game with a methodical plan and certain rotation.

The Hornets are 10-18 for some reason? No question with players like Batum, Walker, Williams, Lamb, Howard they should be much better. Coach Clifford is on the proverbial "Hot Seat". I read there game thread from the loss to Miami last night and it reads like a group of fans waiting to Blow the team up. Batum taking essentially the exact same hits he was taking here. Howard sounds like he is a bust. They love Lamb and Walker but feel there is just no support for them. Does this sound familiar???? The Bench has been non-existent for this team but i swear if you look at the Box scores from games they are doing fairly well.

The simple fact is the Blazers cannot afford to look at the record and take this team lightly. They have players that can perform at a high level. They are also playing the second of a B2B and really how much travel is from Orlando to Charlotte? This seems to be the thing with east coast. There is usually very short travel distances. Both of these teams need wins. But again if you look at Charlotte some of the fans are talking "Tank".

The Blazers have dropped to 3rd in the Northwest Division. 1.5 games behind Minny and a game behind Denver. The Division has all 5 teams within 3 games and a loss with a Utah win put the Blazers in dead last while a win and a Twolves loss puts them close to the top. This division is the most balanced in the entire league.

Look for the Blazers to go bigger tonight. I'm thinking you will see Collins to continue to get minutes with Davis and Aminu. Those three off the bench can become a great group. I really like that size and quickness/tenacity level those three bring. Honestly at this point i don't even care if they struggle a bit. If this team is going to continue to grow those guys need to get used to playing together. I think you have found the Starters with Nurkic and Vonleh with the rotational player being who starts at SF. Aminu is making a statement so you can't deny his minutes at this point. Then i also think we have seen Dame and CJ with Pat and Bazz. That in my mind is the Blazers this year. You bring Meyers in situational and Layman/Harkless for a shot in the arm when things are going bad. I'm hoping Stotts settles in and gives this group a run. Not going to address trades and changes.....


Pick tonight is Nurkic. He should be able to abuse Howard. He is faster and he can shoot the mid range so Howard will have to work hard. If Nurk has a good game tonight the Blazers should get this win.

Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[KingSpeed]

We played such a horrible game in Charlotte last season that it still stands out in my mind. It would be really nice to get this one today.

I believe we were down 32 and came back to cut it to 6 at some point.

 

[Darkwebs]

Small sample size, but we seem to play better in the white jerseys.

 

[Chris Craig]

I have a feeling CJ is going to be on fire tonight

 

[THE HCP]

Nico told me to tell you S2 geeks ,”Bonjour FAMS!” Hope nobody quits because of this post.

 

[Scalma]

Meyers will probably play today. Buckle up.

 

[BonesJones]

Nico told me to tell you S2 geeks ,”Bonjour FAMS!” Hope nobody quits because of this post.

View attachment 17463

I love how Nic is trying to point back at Johnny by pointing his thumb backwards and chest level and he's still pointing above the HCPs head. Embarrassing photo fams. If you're gonna brag, do it right.

 

[BonesJones]

CHA needs to blow it up. Trade Kemba to NYK for their pick and Ntilikina. Trade Batum and Howard for an additional 2 first round picks. Rebuild around Lamb/Monk/Kaminsky/Young players

 

[Cippy91]

Nico told me to tell you S2 geeks ,”Bonjour FAMS!” Hope nobody quits because of this post.

View attachment 17463

See man this is why I love batum. Spends time with the homeless, what a good guy

 

[ripcityboy]

Nico told me to tell you S2 geeks ,”Bonjour FAMS!” Hope nobody quits because of this post.

View attachment 17463

You see this is in music what we used to call "guilt by association." Take someone who's cool, good looking, well dressed then put them in a promo picture with somebody that has none of these qualities. Then pray that "it factor" quality rubs off. Obviously, not possible in this case.

 

[DUB]

LET'S GO TRAIL BLAZERS!!!

 

[SIeepwalker]

Nice start !

 

[DUB]

Possibly one of the best passes I've seen Dame make.

 

[ripcityboy]

Possibly one of the best passes I've seen Dame make.

Who's leading the AFL? Pt. Hawthorn?

 

[DUB]

Dame with 4 assists already!

 

[SIeepwalker]

Nurk doesn't get continuation but this does ??

 

[Darkwebs]

Collins has been all over the glass

 

[Scalma]

Zack <3

 

[GrandJury]

Cj killing

 

[SIeepwalker]

Good effort Zach !