Game Thread GAME# 38: BLAZERS @ KINGS - JANUARY 1, 2019 - TUESDAY, 6:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
21 - 16
(7-10 Road)
SACRAMENTO KINGS
19 - 17
(10-7 Home)


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---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS De'AARON FOX

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS BUDDY HIELD

SF

EVAN TURNER VS IMAN SHUMPERT

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS NEMANJA BJELICA

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN


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WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 1/1/2019

WHERE: GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

SWANIGAN , COLLINS , LEONARD


- SACRAMENTO KINGS-

MASON III , FERRELL , McLEMORE

BOGDANOVIC , JACKSON , WILLIAMS

GABRIEL , RANDOLPH , GILES

LABISSIERE , KOUFOS



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee soreness): QUESTIONABLE
KINGS
Marvin Bagley III (Left Knee Bone Bruise): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- DAVID JOERGER

OFFICIAL KINGS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Tuesday’s game marks the first of three meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Kings during the 2018-19 season. Portland won the season series in 2017-18, 1-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers shot 52.4% from the field and 44.1% from the three-point line in a 116-99 victory over the Kings at Moda Center on Feb. 27. Damian Lillard had a double-double of 26 points (11-19 FG, 4-8 3-PT) and 12 assists for the Trail Blazers while Willie-Cauley Stein had 17 points (8-13 FG, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds, two steals and one block for Sacramento.

• In four games against the Kings last season, Damian Lillard averaged 31.8 points (50.6% FG, 42.9% 3-PT, 95.5% FT), 1.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.75 steals.

• CJ McCollum averaged 16.5 points (42.9% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 87.5% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.50 steals in four games against Sacramento in 2017-18.

• In four games against Portland last season, Willie Cauley-Stein averaged 19.0 points (54.4% FG, 76.5%FT), 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.75 steals and 1.25 blocks.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 131-78
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 86-18
AT THE KINGS: Kings lead, 60-45

 

[Darkwebs]

First game of the new calendar year and on New Year's Day, no less.

The Kings have Playoffs aspirations after for 12 straight years in the lottery. But after losing their most recent game to the Lakers, they have dropped to 9th in the West after being in the top 8 for a while now. Also, Sacramento has lost 3 straight games to the Blazers, so you can expect them to play this game with a sense of urgency, especially since the Blazers are seemingly one of the teams they will be fighting against for a playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the Blazers are currently in 7th and are only a game and a half in front of the Kings in the West. Portland has been alternating wins and losses since December 19th (i.e., they haven't had a winning streak of at least 2 since Dec. 19th), so if the pattern holds true, they will lose this game. However, the way the Blazers won their previous game against Philly- with such great ball movement and some lock-down defense - it's easy to think they grab a victory in Sac-town, no matter how much the Kings have improved from last season.

Hopefully, there is no hangover for the Blazers from both dominating the Sixers so effortlessly and from New Year's Eve celebrations.

Instead, let's hope Portland carries that momentum from their blowout victory into 2019 and win to start off the year right!

 

[Darkwebs]

So I hear that Caleb is being sent down to the G-league.

 

[Darkwebs]

So I hear that Caleb is being sent down to the G-league.

I believe this allows us to now dress both rookies, so they could both play in games.

This could also mean we are looking to make a trade.

Or it could mean absolutely nothing. Lol

 

[Labinot41]

I will predict a big Time loss just like against Dallas, 1st Game at Golden State and now Philly

 

[DUB]

Hopefully, there is no hangover for the Blazers from both dominating the Sixers so effortlessly and from New Year's Eve celebrations.

Yep, this is a danger game. Players relaxing after a hard fought last three games, playing a lesser opponent, New Years Eve inbetween. Could be a big banana skin we slip up on.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Time to turn the key and make our run. W.

 

[Scalma]

I believe this allows us to now dress both rookies, so they could both play in games.

This could also mean we are looking to make a trade.

Or it could mean absolutely nothing. Lol

Stauskas wasn’t in the rotation tonight. I don’t know how permanent that is, but it could open up time for one of the rookies. Stauskas hasn’t topped 15 minutes in awhile, so it’s not like it would make the difference between us winning or losing. Could be a way to really start the development of Trent or Simons.

Knowing stotts, he’s probably just shortening his rotation though.

 

[TBpup]

This should be an interesting game. High scoring guards often cause havoc for our offensive minded guards

 

[Blazer4ever]

This is gonna be about effort and execution. The Kings play with enthusiasm, if we don't match their intensity, we can lose this game easy.

 

[KingSpeed]

Stauskas wasn’t in the rotation tonight. I don’t know how permanent that is, but it could open up time for one of the rookies. Stauskas hasn’t topped 15 minutes in awhile, so it’s not like it would make the difference between us winning or losing. Could be a way to really start the development of Trent or Simons.

Knowing stotts, he’s probably just shortening his rotation though.

It's because the bench was sucking so he is now making sure Dame or CJ are in with the bench instead of 5 in, 5 out.

 

[KingSpeed]

Oh and I'm driving Uber tonight. 4pm to 4am. Going to bed now.

 

[James lamphear]

Kings to play hard and we need to be up for the them.

 

[Strenuus]

Oh and I'm driving Uber tonight. 4pm to 4am. Going to bed now.

You didn't go to the game last night? nvm. I just realized that was at 5:40 am. lmao. I'm so silly.

 

[Strenuus]

It's because the bench was sucking so he is now making sure Dame or CJ are in with the bench instead of 5 in, 5 out.

To be fair, that's what we've done in years past and while it's made our regular season better, it's still no answer to the problems we have when it matters most.

 

[Blazer4ever]

To be fair, that's what we've done in years past and while it's made our regular season better, it's still no answer to the problems we have when it matters most.

The problem we have is Dame and CJ don't cooperate well. They barely pass to each other, barely feed off each other. I think the idea of playing them together as much as possible to maximize their impact is the right idea but only if they develop better chemistry

 

[oldmangrouch]

Oh and I'm driving Uber tonight. 4pm to 4am. Going to bed now.

Oy....I don't envy you that job tonight!

 

[blazerkor]

I think we should win this game and it shouldn't be a struggle. I know it has the makings of a "trap game" but I think our guys, Dame especially, get up for these kinds of games. Time to teach a young team a lesson. GO BLAZERS! Oh and a Happy New Year to all of you.

 

[BonesJones]

Damn I thought this game was on the 2nd.

 

[TBpup]

No Bagley? It sure does seem like we play
a lot of teams with a major player missing...

 

[kjironman1]

It's because the bench was sucking so he is now making sure Dame or CJ are in with the bench instead of 5 in, 5 out.

That is exactly what is going on. Stotts is starting to tighten up the lineups.

 

[kjironman1]

To be fair, that's what we've done in years past and while it's made our regular season better, it's still no answer to the problems we have when it matters most.

Every team does it. Unless that team is the Warriors that have a host of players to draw from.

 

[KingSpeed]

Oy....I don't envy you that job tonight!

It was actually great. Everyone was good and no one threw up. Uber never shut me down so I worked til 8am and made a bundle. I wish every day was like that!

 

[KingSpeed]

No Bagley? It sure does seem like we play
a lot of teams with a major player missing...

There are always injured players and every team plays against the injured teams. We’re not special. Chris Paul, for instance, is missing games against every team right now. Also, Bagley is a bench player, not a major player. Fox is their star.

 

[BigGameDamian]

No Bagley? It sure does seem like we play
a lot of teams with a major player missing...

I thought we where supposed to be happy when an opposing teams top 3 player is injured. It makes getting a W easier.

 

[brooklynballer]

Buddy Hield just hasn’t had it lately. After trending towards stardom after a blistering stretch of great games, Hield has just disappeared entirely. In his last three games, Hield is shooting just 30.2 percent (13-43) from the field and is averaging just 12.6 points per game. Coincidentally, the Sacramento Kings are 1-2 in those games and will likely continue to drop contests as long as Buddy’s slunp continues.

Nothing like playing against the slump-busting Blazers to get you back on track. I fully expect Hield and Fox to go off in this game ... can the Blazers guard duo BOTH have a good game tonight? Could be the difference between a W and a L.

 

[Jade Falcon]

I don't follow Sacramento at all. No idea who their guards are.

But it sounds like they're better than people give them credit for.

We better not blow this.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It was actually great. Everyone was good and no one threw up. Uber never shut me down so I worked til 8am and made a bundle. I wish every day was like that!

Glad it went well for you.

 

[brooklynballer]

I don't follow Sacramento at all. No idea who their guards are.

But it sounds like they're better than people give them credit for.

We better not blow this.

Hield is averaging 19.7 ppg and Fox is scoring 18.3 ppg. And Bogdanovic off the bench is averaging 15.6 ppg. They’re going to be a handful.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Hield is averaging 19.7 ppg and Fox is scoring 18.3 ppg. And Bogdanovic off the bench is averaging 15.6 ppg. They’re going to be a handful.

Hmm. Yeah, that's gonna be a handful alright. Dame and CJ better step up. And Nurk needs to beast against Stein.

Unless Stein is one of those athletic centers that gives us nightmares.....