Game Thread GAME# 3: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - DECEMBER 28, 2020 - MONDAY, 7:00, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
1 - 1
(0-0 Road)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
1 - 1
(1-1 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS DENNIS SCHRODER

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS
KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS LeBRON JAMES

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS ANTHONY DAVIS

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS MARC GASOL


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

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), MONDAY, 12/28/2020

WHERE: STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES , KANTER


- LOS ANGELES LAKERS-

COOK , HORTON-TUCKER , CARUSO

MATTHEWS , McKINNIE

DUDLEY , KUZMA , CACOK

MORRIS , ANTETOKOUNMPO , HARRELL



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Nassir Little (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (ankle): OUT
LAKERS
Anthony Davis (right calf contusion): PROBABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- FRANK VOGEL

OFFICIAL LAKERS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Dec. 28 matchup against the Lakers will be the first of three games between the two teams this season. The Trail Blazers make the trip to L.A. again on Feb. 26. The third meeting will occur in Portland during the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Lakers won the season series in 2019-20, 2-1, and defeated the Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs, 4-1.

• Damian Lillard averaged 36.0 points (50.8% FG, 39.4% 3-PT, 87.9% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.00 steal in three games against the Lakers in 2019-20.

• CJ McCollum averaged 17.3 points (41.2% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three games against L.A. last season.

• Anthony Davis averaged 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.67 blocks in three games against the Trail Blazers last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Lakers lead, 122-108
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 70-44
LOS ANGELES HOME: Lakers lead, 78-38

​

 

[LayneStaley]

Covington on AD should work. I’m gonna go out on a limb and project a massive ass beating to start off the work week.

 

[Darkwebs]

Covington on AD should work. I’m gonna go out on a limb and project a massive ass beating to start off the work week.

Is Portland the giver or the receiver of said massive ass beating?

 

[BlazerBeav]

Well, here’s hoping!

 

[Strenuus]

Over under we lose this game by 20.

I say over.

 

[Darkwebs]

This will be the 2nd night of a back-to-back for LA, so I'm intrigued to see which Flakers, if any, will sit out this game. Or maybe LA will sit players for the game against the Wolves. Guess we'll see.

 

[THE HCP]

Big game for US!

 

[blazerkor]

Big game for US!

Wait a minute... who do you mean by "us"?

 

[Mr. Robot]

oh look, anthony fuckin davis again

 

[blazerkor]

A lot of people in here are talking about the prospect of getting an easier win because the Lakers decide to sit some of their better players on the second game of a back to back, I have to disagree. We just got a win and that should give this team some confidence and faith in each other. The Lakers are the reigning champions and the presumptive favorites to repeat, so losing to them shouldn't discourage our guys.

So I want to see how RoCo and DJJ match up with LeBron and AD. I want to see what Nurk can do against these guys. I also want to see with a bunch of floor spacers that showed that they're better for more than just that on offense this past game, how the elite team in the league handles Dame and CJ. Overall I actually think this is a better barometer than it is as a win... I'd love to get both but I really want to see this team against the best and see glimpses of what we might have.

 

[TBpup]

If the Lakers sit a bunch of players and role out the likes of what the Rockets put on the floor minus Harden/Wood, I predict good things for the Blazers.

It looks like Dia from BlazersEdge voted in the poll.

 

[bobf]

Voted no because I wouldn’t be willing to include Nurk in a Harden trade.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I voted yes but its not black and white.
Need to keep Nurk too.

otherwise if you can get him you get him. With that said, CJ planted the seed of doubt last night, didn't he?

 

[LayneStaley]

I voted yes but its not black and white.
Need to keep Nurk too.

otherwise if you can get him you get him. With that said, CJ planted the seed of doubt last night, didn't he?

I don’t believe so, I’ve seen too many CJ “Fools Gold” games to think last night was maintainable.

 

[kjironman1]

This is a tough matchup for any team. Both Davis and Gasol can torch you from 3. We all know what James does with space. Schroeder seems to be finding his rhythm and we all know can score. Pope was hitting shots and playing defense well in the bubble.

The Lakers have an excellent team and their bench with Caruso, Morris, Mathews, Harrell is a handful.

It's no wonder they are favorites to win again.

Now can the Blazers feed off that win and see some of the things that went right? The way i am looking at things right now is every game is a practice and a chance to improve. It's also another step at getting in better shape.

No matter how this game turns out i want to see energy and defense. Then make the Lakers guard every player on offense and the Blazers will be in this game.

 

[LayneStaley]

I want James Harden. All-NBA backcourt with Nurk/RoCo/DJJ frontcourt.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I don’t believe so, I’ve seen too many CJ “Fools Gold” games to think last night was maintainable.

well of course last night isnt maintainable.
Please point out the player who does average 40plus a game?

Cj has flaws but he showed again last night he is an elite scorer and his %’s back that up.

the one thing he is missing that Hardon has is the ability to draw fouls.
I think this hurts the team more than anything. And its a team thing. Not just him.
Getting fouls forces defenses to question thier movements for fear of more fouls.
It stops the pace of the game(of which it seems the other teams control to thier advantage)

and of course often eliminates players from the court in the fourth quarter.

the biggest thing i saw last night though is how when Hardon dribble penetrate, his guys know when to cut and when to spot up( barring a few plays like the last one) their spacing is sooo much better.
This is a big issue to me. either the coach cant figure out how to space properly, or the platers are not following orders or not comprehending the proper rotation at given times.

if its the coach, well there are many threads for that. if its a player, we are deep. Sit his ass until he figures it out.

Im not saying make a scene on the sidelines, but reduce minutes. Bust his balls in the film room. But either get them to get it or get out.

 

[kjironman1]

the one thing he is missing that Hardon has is the ability to draw fouls.

Yep same contact last night Harden went to the line. CJ was still laying on the floor wondering why no foul?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yep same contact last night Harden went to the line. CJ was still laying on the floor wondering why no foul?

there is that.
Most biased officiating in all of sports. The NBA that stands for equality. But cant get impartial refs to run thier game.

 

[TBpup]

With that said, CJ planted the seed of doubt last night, didn't he?

Absolutely not. It was an incredible game for CJ, but until I see that type of game (obviously less scoring) more than 2-3 times a season, there will be no doubt here.

 

[riverman]

I like our chances....bring on the purple and piss...beating them is like Popeye eating spinach! Fuel for the season!

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Well, we know at some point we'll be down 20. Question is, first or second half?

 

[THE HCP]

Looks like AD might be out.......
Sure seems like we catch a lot of teams without one of their keys players or stars...... or is it just @THE HCP ?

 

[TBpup]

If teams keep rolling out rosters with major components out, we have a shot. Go Blazers!

 

[THE HCP]

If teams keep rolling out rosters with major components out, we have a shot. Go Blazers!

This basically is the motto for this season FAMS. For the whole league.

 

[DDolla]

Another blow out Win!!!

 

[Labinot41]

I love Covington and Jones Jr.

I hope Stotts doesn't waste their talent even longer

 

[BigGameDamian]

I love Covington and Jones Jr.

I hope Stotts doesn't waste their talent even longer

Falling in love with players of your favorite team is never a good sign.

 

[blazerkor]

I voted yes but its not black and white.
Need to keep Nurk too.

otherwise if you can get him you get him. With that said, CJ planted the seed of doubt last night, didn't he?

He didn't plant anything for me. I'd still pull the trigger on CJ, Nurk and a first or two for Harden in a second. CJ is really good to great offensively but not even a generational talent Harden is an all time great, so I would give up pretty much anything to pair him and Dame (who is generationally great). Then if we have to strip the team to make that work we will still have pro level players (even if they're not too good) to play with them this season but we would have an off season after this to use exceptions, trades, ring chasers and the guys that stepped up this season to win championships... if we aren't already knocking at that door with the team we would have right after the trade.

Like I've said this whole time, if we find that Harden isn't a fit then we could move him again for a haul that is immediately equal but likely greater than what we give up for him because I think we would give up future assets to get Harden here but would only want immediate returns to help Dame if we had to end up flipping Harden.

 

[Labinot41]

Falling in love with players of your favorite team is never a good sign.

Yeah i know, there is something about those two i really like, and i can't explain why. Haha