Game Thread GAME# 29: WIZARDS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 20, 2021 - SATURDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW (1 Viewer)

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
9 - 17
(4-8 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
18 - 10
(8-5 Home)

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

PG

RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

BRADLEY BEAL VS GARY TRENT Jr.

SF

GARRISON MATHEWS VS DERRICK JONES Jr.

PF

RUI HACHIMURA VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

MORITZ WAGNER VS ENES KANTER

-----------------------------------------------------------------
------- JERSEYS -------

------

--------------------------------------------------------------


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), SATURDAY, 2/20/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

---- WASHINGTON WIZARDS ----

SMITH , NETO , WINSTON

AVDIJA , BROWN Jr. , ROBINSON

BONGA , GILL , BERTANS

LEN , LOPEZ



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES



INJURIES
WIZARDS
Ish Smith (strained right quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Thomas Bryant (left knee; left ACL injury): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Harry Giles (left calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. McCollum (left foot fracture): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

SCOTT BROOKS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL WIZARDS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Feb. 20 game against Washington is the second and final meeting between the Trail Blazers and Wizards during the 2020-21 season. Portland leads the season series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers took down the Wizards on February 2nd, 132-121 in Washington. Damian Lillard led Portland with 32 points (9-23 FG, 4-14 3-PT, 10-10 FT), two rebounds and eight assists. Bradley Beal was the catalyst for the Wizards, scoring 37 points (14-24 FG, 6-12 3-PT, 3-5 FT) to go with two rebounds and four assists.

• Robert Cvoington scored a season-high 19 points (6-10 FG, 5-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT) and pulled down nine rebounds against the Wizards on Feb. 2.

• Carmelo Anthony added 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field (1-5 3-PT, 4-4 FT) and four rebounds in the Trail Blazers previous meeting with the Wizards.

• Rui Hachimura had a season-high 24 points (10-12 FG, 3-4 3-PT, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and one assist against Portland on Feb. 2.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 61-55
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 35-22
WASHINGTON HOME: Wizards lead, 33-26

 

[Darkwebs]

Both of these teams played on Wednesday, and have Thursday & Friday off, before facing each other on Saturday in Portland.

The Wizards have won 3 straight games, and 4 of their last 6.

The Blazers have won 6 in a row, and 8 of their last 9. Wow, typing that feels so unreal.

I know 6 straight victories make it seem like the Blazers have been dominating, but in actuality, this short-handed Portland squad had to scrap and claw their way to the W's. In their last 3 wins, there has been a point in the 4th quarter where the Blazers didn't have the lead. Their skill and their will have been tested in crunch time, and they passed with flying colors.

Blazers, give us a taste of heaven, extend this streak to seven!

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers need a couple good rest days.
I'm betting Stotts gives them one off tomorrow.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Dame vs his 4th son

 

[Orion Bailey]

Dame vs his 4th son

is that a game of thrones take?

 

[stampedehero]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
9 - 17
(4-8 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
18 - 10
(8-5 Home)

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

PG

RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

BRADLEY BEAL VS GARY TRENT Jr.

SF

GARRISON MATHEWS VS DERRICK JONES Jr.

PF

RUI HACHIMURA VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

MORITZ WAGNER VS ENES KANTER

-----------------------------------------------------------------
------- JERSEYS -------

------

--------------------------------------------------------------


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), SATURDAY, 2/20/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

---- WASHINGTON WIZARDS ----

SMITH , NETO , WINSTON

AVDIJA , BROWN Jr. , ROBINSON

BONGA , GILL , BERTANS

LEN , LOPEZ



---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES



INJURIES
WIZARDS
Ish Smith (strained right quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Thomas Bryant (left knee; left ACL injury): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Harry Giles (left calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. McCollum (left foot fracture): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

SCOTT BROOKS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL WIZARDS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

The "mud man" is back in town.

 

[trailblazer18]

Wizards have been playing well recently and have beaten a couple good teams (Boston and Denver). Getting a W is never easy, let's not have a let down. Go Blazers!

 

[blazerkor]

I think because Dame is so competitive with Russ that he will not let anyone take this match up lightly, so that eliminates this being a trap game. Russ and Beal are just too damn good to sleep on. With that said, we are the better team. So we should come out ready for a team led by two great players and kick their asses. That's my prediction, you heard it here first, we're going to kick their asses.

If you are wondering if that will be my prediction every game for the rest of the season, the answer is that I'm not sure. I thought I wouldn't make that prediction against the Lakers in our upcoming game but then AD went down. I look at our remaining first half schedule and while it's not easy, I think we should kick all of their asses. That is unlikely to happen, we'll probably drop a game or two that we could win but then again maybe not.

For this game though. Ass kicking!

 

[maxiep]

Trap game. First game home from a road trip is always tough.

These are the wins we need. Beat the poorer teams to give a cushion against the better ones. Great teams don't play down to the level of competition.

 

[maxiep]

Make the game about Russ. If he goes into stat mode, we'll beat them.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

I've been watching a lot of the wizards lately, they score a lot of points but their defense is poor. They've looked better of late, coming together a bit. Beal is getting less points but is a little more efficient, Westbrook is at least less uninterested. They have a good player in Hachimura who can score in different ways and is also solid defensively, they have Avdija who's bvery smart and a terrific defender, he's usually their leader in +/- as the team plays better with him on the floor. They have 3 centers, 2 of them will play, in Wagner, Len and RoLo. Raul Neto can score some points and of course Davis Bertans who just made 9 3s against Denver is a shooting machine.
If Giles plays and we have a backup Center i think that's a fairly easy win for us, if he isn't it could go either way

 

[THE HCP]

Trap game. First game home from a road trip is always tough.

These are the wins we need. Beat the poorer teams to give a cushion against the better ones. Great teams don't play down to the level of competition.

Good to see you back Max!

 

[THE HCP]

I've been watching a lot of the wizards lately, they score a lot of points but their defense is poor. They've looked better of late, coming together a bit.

Sure you weren’t watching Blazer games?

 

[blazerkor]

Sure you weren’t watching Blazer games?

or Nets games?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This guy acknowledges how great Lillard is and how he is able to take over games at the end more than Curry since he always has the ball. But he is concerned how far this can take the Blazers until they get a playmaking big:
"A play-making big man is the natural partner for a good pick and roll point guard.
Draymond unlocks the rest of Steph’s game and gives him a counter for anything the defense throws at him.

Dame has never played with that kind of teammate, and until he does, there’s a ceiling to how far he can go in the playoffs. He has put himself firmly in the MVP discussion over the past month. But Portland still knows how this story ends, even when McCollum and Nurkic return. Eventually, it will run into an elite defense with a mobile center who blitzes Lillard on pick-and-rolls and exposes the fact that his teammates can’t make enough plays to make them pay for it. Dame Time is the most thrilling one-man show in the NBA. The problem is that the clock always runs out."


https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/2/18/22289410/damian-lillard-clutch-all-star-mvp-blazers

 

[DDolla]

Trap Game but Just Win Baby!

 

[kjironman1]

This guy acknowledges how great Lillard is and how he iable to take over games at the end more than Curry since he always has the ball. But he is concerned how far this can take the Blazers until they get a playmaking big:
"A play-making big man is the natural partner for a good pick and roll point guard.
Draymond unlocks the rest of Steph’s game and gives him a counter for anything the defense throws at him.

Dame has never played with that kind of teammate, and until he does, there’s a ceiling to how far he can go in the playoffs. He has put himself firmly in the MVP discussion over the past month. But Portland still knows how this story ends, even when McCollum and Nurkic return. Eventually, it will run into an elite defense with a mobile center who blitzes Lillard on pick-and-rolls and exposes the fact that his teammates can’t make enough plays to make them pay for it. Dame Time is the most thrilling one-man show in the NBA. The problem is that the clock always runs out."


https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/2/18/22289410/damian-lillard-clutch-all-star-mvp-blazers

What I was seeing is Nurk getting in better shape and "Making Plays" both assisting other players and passing from the post while rolling at times to the rim.
I think Nurk very well could become a good enough playmaking big that this team could contend. If He Stays Healthy! Another issue has been Collins. They need a defensive PF. Melo is doing what Melo should be expected to do. But he isn't going to bring them the trophy. They need a defensive big that can score at the PF position.

 

[DDolla]

We need to win this game before that 3 brutal road games of Suns, Denver and Lakers

 

[blazerkor]

We need to win this game before that 3 brutal road games of Suns, Denver and Lakers

I think we will get up for this one because of the Russ factor. So we'll win it but I don't think those following three games are really that brutal.

Both of the Suns and Nuggets should be great tests for our team and tell us we're at and the Lakers should be very winnable without AD and the rest of the team outside of LeBron is pretty banged up with Morris and Kuzma working through nagging injuries and not knowing what's going on with Schroder and COVID. Regardless AD will be out so we have a great chance in that game too.

What I'm saying is that playing the Jazz getting a day off and then playing the LA teams when they're healthy back to back is brutal. What we have coming up is manageable and exciting because it will tell us a lot about the team.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Looking forward to seeing Blevins play. He and Dame combined for 43 points and 16 assists last game...

 

[Labinot41]

Can't wait to see Dame beating the shit out of Westbrick again

 

[illmatic99]

bertans has found his shot again. gonna be tricky to guard him with his quick trigger from 25-30'

 

[kjironman1]

bertans has found his shot again. gonna be tricky to guard him with his quick trigger from 25-30'

He is the new JJ Redick for this team. Doesn't matter who he is playing for and no matter how many points/minutes he will get normally. He will play more and score more against the Blazers.

 

[riverman]

Great to see CJ and Nurk practice today and Zach back in the PF walking just fine.....second half of the season is going to be interesting

 

[Wizard Mentor]

 

[Serbian]

Wiz are on 3 game winning streak including beating nuggets. We gotta be ready and take them very very serious because wiz got confidence, but Dame sees Russ and its an ass beating I expect big game from Dame

 

[Darkwebs]

Tonight's Refs

John Goble (#30)
Kevin Cutler (#34)
Andy Nagy (#83)

 

[Serbian]

This guy acknowledges how great Lillard is and how he is able to take over games at the end more than Curry since he always has the ball. But he is concerned how far this can take the Blazers until they get a playmaking big:
"A play-making big man is the natural partner for a good pick and roll point guard.
Draymond unlocks the rest of Steph’s game and gives him a counter for anything the defense throws at him.

Dame has never played with that kind of teammate, and until he does, there’s a ceiling to how far he can go in the playoffs. He has put himself firmly in the MVP discussion over the past month. But Portland still knows how this story ends, even when McCollum and Nurkic return. Eventually, it will run into an elite defense with a mobile center who blitzes Lillard on pick-and-rolls and exposes the fact that his teammates can’t make enough plays to make them pay for it. Dame Time is the most thrilling one-man show in the NBA. The problem is that the clock always runs out."


https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/2/18/22289410/damian-lillard-clutch-all-star-mvp-blazers

I already made thread about it 2 days ago

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I already made thread about it 2 days ago

Thank you for that information, sir. You might notice that mine was also posted two days ago and I made a conscious decision not to clutter the board with an extra thread.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Great to see CJ and Nurk practice today and Zach back in the PF walking just fine.....second half of the season is going to be interesting

Ya hopefully Gary doesn't mind going back to coming off the bench.