Game Thread GAME# 36: BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 1, 2017 - SUNDAY, 4:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
14 - 21
(5-14 Road)
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
11 - 22
(6-11 Home)

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

PG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS RICKY RUBIO

SG

ALLEN CRABBE VS ZACH LaVINE

SF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS ANDREW WIGGINS

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS GORGUI DIENG

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS

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WHEN: 4:00 PM, SUNDAY, 1/1/2017

WHERE: TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

NAPIER , QUARTERMAN , CONNAUGHTON

TURNER , LAYMAN

VONLEH , DAVIS , LEONARD

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

LUCAS III , JONES , DUNN

RUSH , MUHAMMAD , BJELICA

PAYNE , HILL , ALDRICH


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (sprained left ankle): DOUBTFUL
Festus Ezeli (left knee): OUT
TIMBERWOLVES
Nikola Pekovic (right ankle): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- TOM THIBODEAU



TIMBERWOLVES' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Sunday marks the first of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves in 2016-17.

• Portland won three of its four games against Minnesota in 2015-16, marking its third series win over the Timberwolves in the last four seasons (one tie). Minnesota last won its season series over Portland in 2011-12 (2-1).

• The Trail Blazers are 12-4 against the Timberwolves since the start of the 2012-13 season.

• Portland went 2-0 vs. the Timberwolves in Minnesota last year, and is 13-4 at the Target Center since the start of the 2007-08 season.

• Portland is 4-1 against fellow Northwest Division opponents, while Minnesota is 0-5 vs. the Northwest Division (0-2 at home) this season.

• Damian Lillard averaged a team-high 26.3 points on 47.4% shooting in four games against the Timberwolves in 2015-16. Lillard has scored at least 20 points in six of his past nine games against Minnesota (four games of 30+ points).

• In his most recent game against the Timberwolves on April 9, 2016, Mason Plumlee notched a double-double with 15 points (6-9 FG) and 15 rebounds. That represents his lone double-double and his highest scoring total in eight career games vs. Minnesota.

• Evan Turner has scored in double figures in six of his past eight games against the Timberwolves. Turner has shot atleast 50.0% from the fi eld in fi ve straight games vs. Minnesota.

• Karl-Anthony Towns averaged team highs of 21.5 points (58.8% FG) and 9.8 rebounds against the Trail Blazers as a rookie in 2015-16.

• Karl-Anthony Towns recorded two double-doubles in four games against Portland last season.

• Andrew Wiggins averaged 17.8 points on 31.9% shooting in four games against the Trail Blazers last season. Wiggins scored 20+ points just once in that four-game stretch.

• CONNECTION: Festus Ezeli and Minnesota guard Brandon Rush spent three seasons as teammates with Golden State and won an NBA championship together with the Warriors in 2014-15.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 76-30
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 42-12
AT THE TIMBERWOLVES: Trail Blazers lead, 34-18

​

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[theprunetang]

Hopefully the Blazers have a New Years resolution to stop sucking.

 

[Orion Bailey]

New Yearss resolutions are dumb and almost always not followed through with. Why? Because it isnt important enough for us as individuals to just stop what we are doing right then. we need a future date?

IF you really need to stop or start doing something, you should... we should... just start or stop now, or it really isn't that important and we likely will not have follow through.

I tried quiting smoking twice on new years. Started back up. But then when I realized I could actually sing, I stopped instantly and never went back.

Individuals just need to find the right reason or answer and it will click....if it is important enough to you.

With that said, I do have goals... to get back on stage in 2017.
To improve my band's live performance with all the new gear we have that I must learn how to use, so our sound is of a truly pro caliber.

Maintain a 235-240 weight.
Take a trip to Vegas/Grand Canyon and southern LA this summer.
Finally complete Swil's albulm
Finally complete my Blazers intro song


These will all happen whether there was a new year or not.

Just saying, I don't need some date to force me up off my ass.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Blazers are undefeated this year.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Blazers are undefeated this year.

See? We are already on a winning streak this year!!!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

See? We are already on a winning streak this year!!!

More of a not losing streak but at this point I'll take it.

 

[Orion Bailey]

More of a not losing streak but at this point I'll take it.

Hey.. Now dont even try to break..or bend... that positive streak!

 

[Cippy91]

Is it bad that I don't even wanna watch Blazer games anymore? coming from somebody that honestly hasn't missed a game the last 5 years. That's how bad this season is to me. I just don't care.

 

[DreamKillah]

Dame sounds ready to play: http://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/lillard-doubtful-feels-way-better-after-returning-workouts

 

[BBert]

Blazers are undefeated this year.

Thanx JinxPokerDog

 

[THE HCP]

Is it bad that I don't even wanna watch Blazer games anymore? coming from somebody that honestly hasn't missed a game the last 5 years. That's how bad this season is to me. I just don't care.

Doesn't sound BAD, sounds SAD. Don't know how you can enjoy the wins if you don't get crushed by the losses. #FairWeather

 

[Strenuus]

Doesn't sound BAD, sounds SAD. Don't know how you can enjoy the wins if you don't get crushed by the losses. #FairWeather

For lack of a better word, I don't think that's too fair... Yes, a crushing loss is one thing... but when you have lost so many in a row, and most of them haven't even been close... I can see where people are coming from. Doesn't make them fairweather, it makes them human.... you get beat up so much - you're going to desensitize yourself. As players, they are still motivated, driven... but as a fan - an outsider - you have the right to obtain apathy if that's how you feel.

 

[Cippy91]

Doesn't sound BAD, sounds SAD. Don't know how you can enjoy the wins if you don't get crushed by the losses. #FairWeather

Fairweather? You obviously dont know who you're not talking to. I have stuck around for many bad seasons, I'm sorry that the lack of effort from guys more talented than they show makes me not give a shit

 

[Cippy91]

And also according to these game threads a lot of others also must be fairweather fans. Must be nice to be able to shit talk others just because you work with the crew. Jesus

 

[THE HCP]

Must be nice to be able to shit talk others just because you work with the crew. Jesus

1st off, what does where I work have anything to do with this? I've been a fan my whole life and have only worked for them for 16 years. Secondly, why am I talking "shit" by calling you out for bailing on the team in the down times? Real fans don't bounce when things aren't going well. Actually I think this is good, clears our some bandwagons, and those who EVERY season think we are going to win 60+ games.

 

[THE HCP]

I truly believe if you aren't there supporting thru the loses, you can't celebrate the Ws.

 

[Cippy91]

1st off, what does where I work have anything to do with this? I've been a fan my whole life and have only worked for them for 16 years. Secondly, why am I talking "shit" by calling you out for bailing on the team in the down times? Real fans don't bounce when things aren't going well. Actually I think this is good, clears our some bandwagons, and those who EVERY season think we are going to win 60+ games.

because nobody will call you out, you can say what you want and everybody here will be cool with it just because you work with them. There you go again calling me a bandwagon. Don't know me at all, just basing everything off me saying I am tired of this season. Little do you know I am a diehard fan and have been since I can remember. Watching even the bad seasons, difference is those teams gave effort. This one doesn't and obviously with how little traffic the game threads get anymore a lot of people feel the same

 

[Cippy91]

Apparently I am not supporting, chilling in blazer gear right now fuck outta here

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I truly believe if you aren't there supporting thru the loses, you can't celebrate the Ws.

Or we could be like you and root for more loses #23 #closetl*kerfan

 

[SlyPokerDog]

because nobody will call you out, you can say what you want and everybody here will be cool with it just because you work with them. There you go again calling me a bandwagon. Don't know me at all, just basing everything off me saying I am tired of this season. Little do you know I am a diehard fan and have been since I can remember. Watching even the bad seasons, difference is those teams gave effort. This one doesn't and obviously with how little traffic the game threads get anymore a lot of people feel the same

Don't take HCP serious, none of us do.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

and those who EVERY season think we are going to win 60+ games.

82 games.

 

[Cippy91]

Don't take HCP serious, none of us do.

It's fine it's just annoying when I post here all the time, most of the game threads of this season and somebody wants to call my ass out like I have been some fairweather fan, I take that shit personally because I have been with this team my whole damn life

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's fine it's just annoying when I post here all the time, most of the game threads of this season and somebody wants to call my ass out like I have been some fairweather fan, I take that shit personally because I have been with this team my whole damn life

Hang in there, I'll send you your pass to visit Mrs HCP immediately after your 2000 post.

 

[DUB]

LET'S GO BLAZERS!

Mid morning game for me. I always find it a little weird.

 

[THE HCP]

because nobody will call you out, you can say what you want and everybody here will be cool with it just because you work with them.

I can say what I want and everybody is cool with it, because the majority if the time I know what I speak of. They treated me the same way BEFORE they figured out who I worked for. So there goes THAT theory.

 

[THE HCP]

There you go again calling me a bandwagon

I said you were ON the bandwagon, not THE bandwagon.

 

[THE HCP]

Don't know me at all, just basing everything off me saying I am tired of this season.

Basing it on you saying you were done with this team. Don't know how a real fan would ever say that.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I can say what I want and everybody is cool with it

It's not polite to make fun of the kids on the short bus.