Game Thread GAME# 32: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - DECEMBER 26, 2019 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM, TNT

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
14 - 17
(6-10 Road)
UTAH JAZZ
18 - 12
(11-3 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS DONOVAN MITCHELL

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS JOE INGLES

SF

KENT BAZEMORE VS ROYCE O'NEALE

PF

CARMELO ANTHONY VS BOJAN BOGDANOVIC

C

HASSAN WHITESIDE VS RUDY GOBERT




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

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 12/26/2019

WHERE: VIVINT SMART HOME ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

TOLLIVER , LABISSIERE , BROWN


------ UTAH JAZZ------

WRIGHT-FOREMAN , WILLIAMS-GOSS , MUDIAY

CLARKSON , ONI , NIANG

MORGAN , BRANTLEY

DAVIS , BRADLEY



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Mario Hezonja (back spasms): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT
JAZZ
Mike Conley (Left Hamstring Tightness): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- QUIN SNYDER

OFFICIAL JAZZ'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Thursday’s game marks the first of four games between the Trail Blazers and the Jazz this season.

• LAST SEASON: Portland and Utah split the season series, 2-2, during the 2018-19 season.

• Damian Lillard averaged 25.3 points (48.7% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 88.2% FT), 6.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in four games against the Jazz during the 2018-19 season.

• In his lone game against the Jazz last season, Hassan Whiteside had 23 points, (11-17 FG, 1-6 FT), 20 rebounds, and three blocks.

• In four games against Portland last season, Donovan Mitchell averaged 20.0 points (40.3% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 70.8% FT), 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

• Bojan Bogdanovic averaged 14.5 points (38.5% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games against Portland with Indiana last season.14.5 points (57.9% FG, 58.3% FT), 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 4.50 blocks.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Jazz lead, 102-87
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 64-31
AT THE JAZZ: Jazz lead, 71-23

​

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

Tough loss against the Pels, but let's get back on the winning track.

This won't be easy, but maybe Santa brings the Blazers a late Christmas present.

This is a late start for Utah, so perhaps Portland can take advantage and catch the Jazzzzzzzzzz sleeping.

 

[DUB]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

 

[blazerkor]

If we can shoot well from three then we can get this win.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Bounce back game, let’s go!

 

[BonesJones]

If we had to lose one of the Pelicans game or this, then this is the one to win.

 

[kjironman1]

If we had to lose one of the Pelicans game or this, then this is the one to win.

That a way to go for the positives! I knew you could do it!

 

[kjironman1]

Joe Ingles has a way of torching the Blazers. He just works hard and the Blazers have problems with those kinds of players.
I'm interested in the Whiteside vs Gobert matchup.

If the law of averages starts to kick in the Blazers should hit like 15 straight 3's to start the game. --- Yes i understand averages don't work like that.----

No way they should have lost that last game so put it behind them. They did everything they needed to do to win that game but shots didn't fall. They held the Pels to 102 points. Easily shot well enough from 2 pt at 52%. Matter of fact if you look at it they went to what was working and it kept them in the game. I was kind of impressed that they were that bad from 3 and still in the game with 2 mins left. Up until that point they had only shot 25 threes. If they make 2 of the last 4 they probably win that game?

Anyway you look at it my bet is you will not see another shooting night as poor as that all season.

Enjoy your Christmas off and go take care of business against the Jazz.

Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

Poll question... Right now i would say yes. Green is experienced and could contribute. The Blazers sorely need depth and he could add it for sure.

 

[Labinot41]

Now the real opponents are coming

 

[BigGameDamian]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

 

[royo]

About Jeff Green, I feel like fans are desperate to pick up literally anything that falls on the ground and it does not look good. Fact, that we talk about bringing player, that wasn't good enough for Jazz is not fun. Soon we will be desperate enough to bring Jimmer Fredette or Amare and in that case I'm willing to wait for next season than be NBA loughing stock.

Wish Blazers can win this game, but

 

[tlongII]

We’ll get our ass kicked.

 

[KingSpeed]

About Jeff Green, I feel like fans are desperate to pick up literally anything that falls on the ground and it does not look good. Fact, that we talk about bringing player, that wasn't good enough for Jazz is not fun. Soon we will be desperate enough to bring Jimmer Fredette or Amare and in that case I'm willing to wait for next season than be NBA loughing stock.

Wish Blazers can win this game, but

Cavs traded Hood to us for Baldwin/Nik. Nuggets gave us Nurk AND a pick for Plumlee. Another team’s trash can often be your treasure. Melo didn’t work in Houston but he’s been great for us. Jeff Green has deep playoff experience and that can be good for us.

 

[royo]

I see your point KingSpeed, but this time, this team is kind of depresing. It seems like they would play same with Jordan and Pippen added.

 

[KingSpeed]

I see your point KingSpeed, but this time, this team is kind of depresing. It seems like they would play same with Jordan and Pippen added.

Team is 9-5 since Whiteside came back from injury. Only 4.5 games behind 6th seed Utah. This would be a big win that could change the direction of our season.

 

[kjironman1]

Team is 9-5 since Whiteside came back from injury. Only 4.5 games behind 6th seed Utah. This would be a big win that could change the direction of our season.

Yeah that Pels game was kind of a stinker to lose also. Wish they would have got that one.
Blazers kind of need this game.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yeah that Pels game was kind of a stinker to lose also. Wish they would have got that one.
Blazers kind of need this game.

Yep. We’re still gonna have disappointing losses (see Bucks today) but if we surround those losses with 3, 4, 5 game winning streaks, we’ll be in great shape by end of season. That’s my mindset.

 

[hoopsjock]

Yep. We’re still gonna have disappointing losses (see Bucks today) but if we surround those losses with 3, 4, 5 game winning streaks, we’ll be in great shape by end of season. That’s my mindset.

Bucks lost in Philly. That isn't comparable to losing at home to the Pelicans who are 8-23 with 25% of their wins coming against us.

 

[KingSpeed]

Bucks lost in Philly. That isn't comparable to losing at home to the Pelicans who are 8-23 with 25% of their wins coming against us.

The point is that even the Bucks, who are having perhaps the best regular season ever, can have a disappointing loss. I think the blowout loss counts as disappointing to Bucks fans ESP since that is a team they’ll have to play in playoffs.

 

[hoopsjock]

The point is that even the Bucks, who are having perhaps the best regular season ever, can have a disappointing loss. I think the blowout loss counts as disappointing to Bucks fans ESP since that is a team they’ll have to play in playoffs.

When you have the best record in the NBA and won like 18 games in a row or something just a short time ago losing on the road to a good team isn't a big deal. When you get off to a crappy start and are fighting to get back into the mix losing at home to the Pelicans (after you already lost to them, the Cavs, the Warriors, etc.) is not even in the same ballpark for disappointments.

 

[KingSpeed]

When you have the best record in the NBA and won like 18 games in a row or something just a short time ago losing on the road to a good team isn't a big deal. When you get off to a crappy start and are fighting to get back into the mix losing at home to the Pelicans (after you already lost to them, the Cavs, the Warriors, etc.) is not even in the same ballpark for disappointments.

I think it is. After all, we won’t be facing Cavs, Warriors, Pels in playoffs. Bucks have to solve Philly who completely shut down their best player. I’m fine with us disagreeing though.

 

[KingSpeed]

See- last year when people were bitching about losses mid season, I started a thread saying if we want a 50 win season, we’d have to stomach 32 losses without flipping out. Most said we wouldn’t win 50 and continued to bitch. We won 53 and in 4th qtr vs Denver Game 7, did a loss in December matter to us? Of course not. Keep things in perspective. You have to take losses in stride to get through a long season.

 

[BonesJones]

Team is 9-5 since Whiteside came back from injury. Only 4.5 games behind 6th seed Utah. This would be a big win that could change the direction of our season.

How many winning teams have we beat?

 

[BonesJones]

See- last year when people were bitching about losses mid season, I started a thread saying if we want a 50 win season, we’d have to stomach 32 losses without flipping out. Most said we wouldn’t win 50 and continued to bitch. We won 53 and in 4th qtr vs Denver Game 7, did a loss in December matter to us? Of course not. Keep things in perspective. You have to take losses in stride to get through a long season.

Jesus. Not really what happened and we had a far better record at this point, but paint your own narrative Eric.

 

[BonesJones]

When you have the best record in the NBA and won like 18 games in a row or something just a short time ago losing on the road to a good team isn't a big deal. When you get off to a crappy start and are fighting to get back into the mix losing at home to the Pelicans (after you already lost to them, the Cavs, the Warriors, etc.) is not even in the same ballpark for disappointments.

I have no idea how someone can argue against this.

 

[hoopsjock]

See- last year when people were bitching about losses mid season, I started a thread saying if we want a 50 win season, we’d have to stomach 32 losses without flipping out. Most said we wouldn’t win 50 and continued to bitch. We won 53 and in 4th qtr vs Denver Game 7, did a loss in December matter to us? Of course not. Keep things in perspective. You have to take losses in stride to get through a long season.

No problem agreeing to disagree, but isn't this the opposite of what you're saying for the Bucks? They're going to win 60 games so they have to lose 22, why be disappointed in a December loss to the 76ers if the Blazers shouldn't have been last year?

BTW, losing 1 extra game last year cost us home court advantage against the Nuggets. They obviously won anyway but that can be the difference between winning a series and losing one.

 

[DDolla]

If we lose this game, it’s another 3 game losing streak for the Blazers

 

[wizenheimer]

the Blazers really need a win against Utah. If they lose tomorrow, then lose Saturday against the Lakers, the best they could finish this year is 15-19. I'm a pessimist about this team and I've been thinking for a while they'd be 17-17 on Dec 31. A 15-19 record is a pretty deep hole to climb out of considering their schedule for the first 6 weeks of Jan-Feb

 

[KingSpeed]

No problem agreeing to disagree, but isn't this the opposite of what you're saying for the Bucks? They're going to win 60 games so they have to lose 22, why be disappointed in a December loss to the 76ers if the Blazers shouldn't have been last year?

BTW, losing 1 extra game last year cost us home court advantage against the Nuggets. They obviously won anyway but that can be the difference between winning a series and losing one.

Exactly. The point is we have to put disappointing losses behind us and not freak out. The same is true for all fans, even for Bucks fans. That was my point.