Game Thread GAME# 34: SUNS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 30, 2019 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PHOENIX SUNS
12 - 20
(6-8 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
14 - 19
(8-8 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

RICKY RUBIO VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DEVIN BOOKER VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

KELLY OUBRE Jr. VS KENT BAZEMORE

PF

DARIO SARIC VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

ARON BAYNES VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

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

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

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), MONDAY, 12/30/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



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

-------- PHOENIX SUNS --------

HARPER , CARTER , LECQUE

JOHNSON , OKOBO , JEROME

BRIDGES , JOHNSON

DIALLO , KAMINSKY , AYTON

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

TOLLIVER , BROWN



INJURIES
SUNS
Frank Kaminsky (right knee soreness): PROBABLE
Deandre Ayton (ankle): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Skal Labissiere (left knee): OUT
Mario Hezonja (back spasms): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MONTY WILLIAMS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL SUNS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Monday’s game marks the second of four regular season meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Suns during the 2019-20 season. Portland leads the season series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: Portland defeated the Suns in Phoenix on Dec. 16, 111-110. CJ McCollum led the way for the Trail Blazers with 30 points (11-20 FG, 3-7 3-PT, 5-5 FT) to go with seven rebounds and six assists while Kelly Oubre Jr. paced the Suns with 24 points (10-21 FG, 3-7 3-PT, 1-1 FT), two assists and three steals.

• Damian Lillard recorded 27 points (9-21 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 6-7 FT), one rebounds and five assists against Phoenix on Dec. 16.

• Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points (8-16 FG, 4-6 3-PT, 3-4 FT) to go with eight rebounds, one assist, two steals and three blocks at Phoenix on Dec. 16.

• Ricky Rubio recorded a triple-double of 10 points (4-14 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds and 14 assists against the Trail Blazers on Dec. 16.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 120-107
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 71-43
AT THE SUNS: Suns lead, 77-36

​

 

[Darkwebs]

The Blazers have lost 3 straight games.
The Blazers have beaten the Suns 11 consecutive times.
One of these streaks will be broken when this game ends.

If Portland wants a playoff seed, this is a significant game to win, as it appears the Suns are one of the teams that will be breathing down the Blazers' necks for the last playoff spot as the season moves forward.

This is Portland's last game of the year and last game of the decade. Go and get 'em!

 

[TBpup]

A game against another garbage team....#Winning!

 

[Labinot41]

If Tolliver get's playing time, he shouldn't touch the ball except when he shots a 3

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Feel so bad a lot of fans criticisms CJ like he’s the one to blame, Dame was 0/10 3pt vs Pelicans I can’t imagine what would be if CJ does that, CJ is a elite player, elite scorer, who can bass the ball and has incredible range so start putting some respect on your 37 points game 7 vs Denver.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Strenuus]

Wondering how we lose this game.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Reep]

Wondering how we lose this game.

We will take contested threes and give them open threes. Their guards will do us in.

 

[Chris Craig]

Ready for another loss

 

[Chris Craig]

Wondering how we lose this game.

Easily

 

[Chris Craig]

Feel so bad a lot of fans criticisms CJ like he’s the one to blame, Dame was 0/10 3pt vs Pelicans I can’t imagine what would be if CJ does that, CJ is a elite player, elite scorer, who can bass the ball and has incredible range so start putting some respect on your 37 points game 7 vs Denver.

CJ isn't elite anything

 

[stampedehero]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PHOENIX SUNS
12 - 20
(6-8 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
14 - 19
(8-8 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

RICKY RUBIO VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DEVIN BOOKER VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

KELLY OUBRE Jr. VS KENT BAZEMORE

PF

DARIO SARIC VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

ARON BAYNES VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

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

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

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), MONDAY, 12/30/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



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

-------- PHOENIX SUNS --------

HARPER , CARTER , LECQUE

JOHNSON , OKOBO , JEROME

BRIDGES , JOHNSON

DIALLO , KAMINSKY , AYTON

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

TOLLIVER , BROWN



INJURIES
SUNS
Frank Kaminsky (right knee soreness): PROBABLE
Deandre Ayton (ankle): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Skal Labissiere (left knee): OUT
Mario Hezonja (back spasms): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MONTY WILLIAMS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL SUNS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

Work of ART!!!!!!

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers are saying Skal is out with "Left Knee Inflammation".

Doesn't sound like knee inflammation when a player is looking for a second MRI and will miss at least the next 5 games?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Work of ART!!!!!!

I wonder if HCP would be impressed?

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

Is the poll even debatable?? Forget the Blazers... CJ might be biggest ball hog in entire NBA.

 

[wizenheimer]

Feel so bad a lot of fans criticisms CJ like he’s the one to blame, Dame was 0/10 3pt vs Pelicans I can’t imagine what would be if CJ does that, CJ is a elite player, elite scorer, who can bass the ball and has incredible range so start putting some respect on your 37 points game 7 vs Denver.

"you keep saying the word 'elite'. I don't think the word means what you think it means"

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

Feel so bad a lot of fans criticisms CJ like he’s the one to blame, Dame was 0/10 3pt vs Pelicans I can’t imagine what would be if CJ does that, CJ is a elite player, elite scorer, who can bass the ball and has incredible range so start putting some respect on your 37 points game 7 vs Denver.

You feel bad that a player getting paid 30-35 mil has expectations to live up to his contract?

 

[Orion Bailey]

You feel bad that a player getting paid 30-35 mil has expectations to live up to his contract?

Did he offer it to himself?

Would you have declined it if you were CJ? Did CJ say hey, my talents are worth 30 mill? NOT that I recall.

No I dont like his iso ball either, but im not going to blame him for it. Im gonna blame the coach for letting him do it. i'm not going to blame his wallet for it, ill blame the GM for that.

CJ isnt the issue. The trust management and coaches have put into him is.

 

[Tince]

You feel bad that a player getting paid 30-35 mil has expectations to live up to his contract?

I know being factual isn't something you're worried about, but CJ has never made $30m/year in his career. Also, a player does not gain any extra skills by getting paid more. If a GM is willing to overpay a player, you should be upset with your GM, not increase your expectations of the player.

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

Did he offer it to himself?

Would you have declined it if you were CJ? Did CJ say hey, my talents are worth 30 mill? NOT that I recall.

No I dont like his iso ball either, but im not going to blame him for it. Im gonna blame the coach for letting him do it. i'm not going to blame his wallet for it, ill blame the GM for that.

CJ isnt the issue. The trust management and coaches have put into him is.

You are right... but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating as a fan. Neil decided to commit a large percentage of salary cap resources to CJ instead of using for a more balanced roster. Fair or not, as a fan I have to expect him to live up to the contract or there is no hope.

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

I know being factual isn't something you're worried about, but CJ has never made $30m/year in his career. Also, a player does not gain any extra skills by getting paid more. If a GM is willing to overpay a player, you should be upset with your GM, not increase your expectations of the player.

I’m referring to his extension... and I’d appreciate you not trying to insult me. Also, fair or not, as a fan I have to hope CJ lives up to contract or else this team has no hope.

 

[Tince]

I’m referring to his extension... and I’d appreciate you not trying to insult me. Also, fair or not, as a fan I have to hope CJ lives up to contract or else this team has no hope.

I'm with you that it would be amazing if CJ lived up to the contract Olshey gave him, but that would mean he's an multiple time all-star. I have no seen anything from CJ that indicates he'll ever make 1 all-star game let only many.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You are right...

You shoulda stopped right there.

but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating as a fan. Neil decided to commit a large percentage of salary cap resources to CJ instead of using for a more balanced roster. Fair or not, as a fan I have to expect him to live up to the contract or there is no hope.

You don't HAVE to do anything that doesn't make sense to you. As a fan, you have unreasonable expectations. Until you curb them, you will only be frustrated.

You write as though you think we are the only team in the last decade who hasn't won a ring. I think 90% of the league hasn't won? MINNI with KAT, Butler and Wiggins? NO with AD and Boogie?

I mean I can list tons of examples where players make too much or a trade didn't work or, whatever you want to counter whatever you say.

With that said, I agree with most of what you say here, until you extend your statements with hyperbole like CJ makes 30mill.

Keep it real and you wont get so much flack around here. My .02

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

You shoulda stopped right there.



You don't HAVE to do anything that doesn't make sense to you. As a fan, you have unreasonable expectations. Until you curb them, you will only be frustrated.

You write as though you think we are the only team in the last decade who hasn't won a ring. I think 90% of the league hasn't won? MINNI with KAT, Butler and Wiggins? NO with AD and Boogie?

I mean I can list tons of examples where players make too much or a trade didn't work or, whatever you want to counter whatever you say.

With that said, I agree with most of what you say here, until you extend your statements with hyperbole like CJ makes 30mill.

Keep it real and you wont get so much flack around here. My .02

Unfortunately CJ’s salary limits what Blazers can do with the rest of roster. I understand we aren’t the only team that hasn’t won a ring lately, but as a fan I want to see the organization always making an effort to get to next level. I feel like we have given, Dame/CJ/Stotts combo enough years... and this just feels stale at this point. I don’t think it’s unfair to want to see what Dame could do with a different #2 option by his side and under a different coach while he still has some prime years left.

 

[Terry Stotts]

If Neil spent CJ's money on a SF everyone would be angry that whoever that SF is is making way too much money and groaning over the fact that we dont have a starting level SG. You're basically looking at Wiggins or Porter as CJ equivalent SFs. Or would it be worth saving a few million to go with Barnes? Only dummies would take Wiggins or Porter or Barnes over CJ. Is that what you all are? Dummies? Because you should sound like dummies. But I'm a pretty big dummy myself, so what do I know.

 

[Strenuus]

If Neil spent CJ's money on a SF everyone would be angry that whoever that SF is is making way too much money and groaning over the fact that we dont have a starting level SG. You're basically looking at Wiggins or Porter as CJ equivalent SFs. Or would it be worth saving a few million to go with Barnes? Only dummies would take Wiggins or Porter or Barnes over CJ. Is that what you all are? Dummies? Because you should sound like dummies. But I'm a pretty big dummy myself, so what do I know.

I didnt think you were in the terry stotts schtick until the last sentence.

 

[kjironman1]

So i'm thinking the Blazers will win tonight.

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

Ayton returning tonight