Game Thread GAME# 30: BLAZERS @ SUNS - FEBRUARY 22, 2021 - MONDAY, 6:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
18 - 11
(10-5 Road)
PHOENIX SUNS
19 - 10
(10-5 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS CHRIS PAUL

SG

GARY TRENT Jr. VS DEVIN BOOKER

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS MIKAL BRIDGES

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS FRANK KAMINSKY

C

ENES KANTER VS DeANDRE AYTON


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

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WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), MONDAY, 2/22/2021

WHERE: TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA, PHOENIX, AZ

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------RESERVES--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES


- PHOENIX SUNS-

PAYNE , CARTER , GALLOWAY

MOORE , ALEXANDER , NADER

CROWDER , JOHNSON , SARIC

SMITH , JONES



INJURIES
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
SUNS
NONE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MONTY WILLIAMS

OFFICIAL SUNS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Feb. 22 game against Phoenix will be the first matchup between the Trail Blazers and Suns during the 2020-21 season. The remaining two games will be played during the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: Portland and Phoenix split the season series in 2019-20, 2-2, with the final meeting on March 10th being both teams last game prior to the shutdown.

• Damian Lillard averaged 27.3 points (44.6% FG, 43.2% 3-PT, 81.8% FT), 3.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.00 steals in four games against Phoenix last season.

• In four games against the Suns last season, Carmelo Anthony averaged 15.3 points (40.0% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.50 blocks. Anthony recorded a career-high 22 rebounds against Phoenix while with the Knicks.

• Devin Booker averaged 28.3 points (40.6% FG, 31.3% 3-PT, 96.6% FT), 5.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists over three games against Portland last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 122-108
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 72-44
PHOENIX HOME: Suns lead, 78-36

​

 

[Darkwebs]

It's a sad day to be a Blazer. Our 6-game win streak has been snapped like Oden's kneecap.

After winning 3 games at home, then 3 more on the road, Portland returned home to lose to the Wizards. Now the Blazers are back on the road again for 3 more.

This will be a good test. The Suns are right above the Blazers in the standings.

Time to get back to our winning ways!

 

[Serbian]

Healty blazers team i think we whop their ass. Right now we got too many guys injured the suns are at full strength and are playing great. For as popular as Dame is NBA2k cover, Hulu , Gatorade commercials, espn talking about him a lot millions of views on YouTube after 3 days....The NBA refs treat him like shit. The way teams are able to play so physical with him and foul the hell out of him he not only not getting star treatment but AI treatment. Something has to be done because Trea young and Luka get superstar treatment pathetic weak foul calls, and Dame can not even get the normal calls. WTF is the nba doing? If the nba want a narrative of Dame being their superstar why do they treat him like shit? Wtf is going on here? Some of the no calls he gets are absolutely outrageous

 

[kjironman1]

Not one injured player for the Suns?
I still think they will be ready to play this team and will give them a good game.

Blazers need to be in the game at the end. That is what you try to do on the road.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Nassir Little (Coaching incompetence): OUT

 

[illmatic99]

they play a methodical pace and CP is always allowed to be super physical with Dame. Might be a long night

 

[Cugel]

This could be ugly.

 

[blazerkor]

We could win this going away. When this team hits their open threes that Dame usually sets up for them or after Dame draws a crowd and kicks it out, they find the open man by swinging the ball around and we get just a little off ball action, this offenses is probably the most potent offense in the NBA and will never be out of a game. When that is coupled with defensive effort that will likely only make us an average defense, then we can only be outplayed by the elite teams in this league and Phoenix isn't one of them. So we could blow the doors off of this Phoenix team, not playing like we did last night but by playing our best ball.

 

[wizenheimer]

We could win this going away. When this team hits their open threes that Dame usually sets up for them or after Dame draws a crowd and kicks it out, they find the open man by swinging the ball around and we get just a little off ball action, this offenses is probably the most potent offense in the NBA and will never be out of a game. When that is coupled with defensive effort that will likely only make us an average defense, then we can only be outplayed by the elite teams in this league and Phoenix isn't one of them. So we could blow the doors off of this Phoenix team, not playing like we did last night but by playing our best ball.

huh?....the Suns have played a harder schedule, have a better record, and have an average point differential 12 times better than Portland's, will be playing at home, and you think Portland can "blow the doors off" the Suns if Portland plays their best game. What if Phoenix plays their best game at the same time?

 

[blazerkor]

huh?....the Suns have played a harder schedule, have a better record, and have an average point differential 12 times better than Portland's, will be playing at home, and you think Portland can "blow the doors off" the Suns if Portland plays their best game. What if Phoenix plays their best game at the same time?

I don't know if we can win the game if the Suns play their best but we can blow them out if they have an average night, we shoot the lights out and play decent D. Our offense is just very potent when on. Our defense can be very disrupting. I don't think we necessarily are the better team right now but we can definitely beat these guys asses if they don't come in with a sense of urgency and we do. Also home court doesn't mean shit to these two teams this season, we're actually better on the road and the Suns are a half game better at home.

 

[kjironman1]

We could win this going away. When this team hits their open threes that Dame usually sets up for them or after Dame draws a crowd and kicks it out, they find the open man by swinging the ball around and we get just a little off ball action, this offenses is probably the most potent offense in the NBA and will never be out of a game. When that is coupled with defensive effort that will likely only make us an average defense, then we can only be outplayed by the elite teams in this league and Phoenix isn't one of them. So we could blow the doors off of this Phoenix team, not playing like we did last night but by playing our best ball.

When the Blazers shoot well they can always win no question.
One thing that helps is hitting shots gets them back on defense and that plays into RoCo, Trent's and Jones's defensive abilities. They play the lanes well and anticipate passes. Lots of tipped balls.

Last night the team didn't shoot well at all and they paid for it on the defensive side. Lots of fast transition type offense for a team like the Wiz which they really like.

 

[Chris Craig]

When the Blazers shoot well they can always win no question.
One thing that helps is hitting shots gets them back on defense and that plays into RoCo, Trent's and Jones's defensive abilities. They play the lanes well and anticipate passes. Lots of tipped balls.

Last night the team didn't shoot well at all and they paid for it on the defensive side. Lots of fast transition type offense for a team like the Wiz which they really like.

Yeah, you can't win when everyone is cold. Most games aren't like that. Blazers will be looking to win this one. They need to stop going for the foul and go for the shot. If you get the foul good,, if not get back and play defense. Stop arguing with refs who don't give a fuck. Don't let refs control the game. You do that and the game is already lost before it starts.

 

[Chris Craig]

As long as Lillard is a Blazer he will never be picked as a starter in an NBA All Star Game. Doncic has been a starter two if three seasons he has been in the league. Lillard has been in the league for nine seasons, three times as long as Doncic and no starting spot. He waited for Kobe to retire and Harden to be traded and still no starting spot for him.

It has nothing to do with stats and win/loss records. The Warriors are in 8th with a 16-15 record and Curry still gets to start. Fuck that. Fuck this clown show of a popularity contest.

 

[kjironman1]

They need to stop going for the foul and go for the shot. If you get the foul good,, if not get back and play defense. Stop arguing with refs who don't give a fuck. Don't let refs control the game. You do that and the game is already lost before it starts.

Absolutely agree.
Could not have said it better.

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't know if we can win the game if the Suns play their best but we can blow them out if they have an average night, we shoot the lights out and play decent D. Our offense is just very potent when on. Our defense can be very disrupting. I don't think we necessarily are the better team right now but we can definitely beat these guys asses if they don't come in with a sense of urgency and we do. Also home court doesn't mean shit to these two teams this season, we're actually better on the road and the Suns are a half game better at home.

of course....if any decent team plays their optimal game against another decent team, it could be a blowout if the opponent has an average or worse game. The Blazers and Warriors proved that already in consecutive games this season.

A Suns fan could say the same thing about his team blowing the doors off the Blazers if Phoenix plays their best and Portland plays so-so. Both cases are true. It's darker at night too

 

[blazerkor]

of course....if any decent team plays their optimal game against another decent team, it could be a blowout if the opponent has an average or worse game. The Blazers and Warriors proved that already in consecutive games this season.

A Suns fan could say the same thing about his team blowing the doors off the Blazers if Phoenix plays their best and Portland plays so-so. Both cases are true. It's darker at night too

You're right. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not afraid of the Suns, I don't predict that this will be a loss and in fact I predict that we surprise some people and win going away but obviously I could be wrong about those last two things but I'm right when I say we shouldn't fear the Suns. They're not as good as a healthy Lakers team and they're not even as good as the Philly team we just beat ten days ago.

Edit: And by the way, you've said nothing since inferring that my prediction that we can "blow the doors off" of the Suns if we play our best was preposterous, to back that up. So to answer that initial question, not only do I believe that we can blow the doors off of the Suns... now you've said that you do too.

 

[wizenheimer]

You're right. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not afraid of the Suns, I don't predict that this will be a loss and in fact I predict that we surprise some people and win going away but obviously I could be wrong about those last two things but I'm right when I say we shouldn't fear the Suns. They're not as good as a healthy Lakers team and they're not even as good as the Philly team we just beat ten days ago.

Edit: And by the way, you've said nothing since inferring that my prediction that we can "blow the doors off" of the Suns if we play our best was preposterous, to back that up. So to answer that initial question, not only do I believe that we can blow the doors off of the Suns... now you've said that you do too.

I'm not sure where it was I said it was "preposterous". Just that the conditions you set made it really obvious. Portland could probably clobber the Lakers or the Jazz if they played their best game and the opponent played poorly. I mean, just look at what happened last night

 

[blazerkor]

I'm not sure where it was I said it was "preposterous". Just that the conditions you set made it really obvious. Portland could probably clobber the Lakers or the Jazz if they played their best game and the opponent played poorly. I mean, just look at what happened last night

I'm not trying to argue about semantics but I said that you inferred that my prediction was preposterous and if you read the post you start it out with "huh?" and then say "and you think Portland can 'blow the doors off' the Suns..."

huh?....the Suns have played a harder schedule, have a better record, and have an average point differential 12 times better than Portland's, will be playing at home, and you think Portland can "blow the doors off" the Suns if Portland plays their best game. What if Phoenix plays their best game at the same time?

It seemed like you were making it seem like my prediction was at least ridiculous but I probably misread it.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm not trying to argue about semantics but I said that you inferred that my prediction was preposterous and if you read the post you start it out with "huh?" and then say "and you think Portland can 'blow the doors off' the Suns..."
It seemed like you were making it seem like my prediction was at least ridiculous but I probably misread it.

sure....I wasn't saying you were a lunatic or anything. Maybe you were pushing back against somebody who gave Portland little chance. The two teams are probably pretty evenly matched, but CP3 has always made things tough for Dame so I'd say the Suns have an edge. They are also, just like Portland 8-2 over their last 10 games so there's no real momentum edge for either team. They have to be the favorite but like I said, last night the Blazers were favored and that didn't mean much

 

[DDolla]

This is the game that you wish the Blazers are healthy. No way they can beat the Suns

 

[KSF-ERIC]

This is the game that you wish the Blazers are healthy. No way they can beat the Suns

What? Suns aren’t world beaters. And we blew out the Sixers without Dame. We can beat anybody, including Suns.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Guaranteed loss

 

[stampedehero]

Another loss. I'm feeling it although at this time, I wish I was numb to this game.

 

[James lamphear]

If our offense his humming like in our 6 game win streak then we can win. Due to the fact we usually play defense how our offense is going. Another factor is our bench must product over 35 points tonight if we going to win.

 

[DDolla]

Suns and Nuggets will beat the Blazers. Blazers re-group and beat the Lakers then come home and win all their home games. Dame averages 30+ points with 9 assist on all games. My predictions.

 

[Tince]

What? Suns aren’t world beaters. And we blew out the Sixers without Dame. We can beat anybody, including Suns.

Not just directed at you, but any team can beat any other team in the NBA.

I find it comical that when we play a great game people say something along the lines of, "See, we can play this well, so no excuses to not play this well all the time." Kinda like saying, "See, Nurk made a 3, so he should be able to make all of his future 3's." That's not how it works though.

I'm far more interested in who is more likely to win. In this case, I think the answer is clearly the Suns. But yes, we could win, of course.

 

[illmatic99]

Unless Steph and/or Luka are hurt, or they move Luka to the frontcourt, Dame might not ever be voted in as a starter

 

[AldoTrapani]

Unless Steph and/or Luka are hurt, or they move Luka to the frontcourt, Dame might not ever be voted in as a starter

Oh he never will be trust me. Mind you this is as good as Dame has ever been and he still couldn’t make it in

 

[Strenuus]

Guaranteed loss

This is that good jinx right there.

 

[Strenuus]

Oh he never will be trust me. Mind you this is as good as Dame has ever been and he still couldn’t make it in

He didn't get in because of the fan vote. The fan vote isn't a fair representation of a player.

So, find another way to bash dame.