Game Thread GAME# 4: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - DECEMBER 30, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
2 - 1
(1-0 Road)
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
2 - 1
(0-1 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS PATRICK BEVERLEY

SG

CJ McCOLLUM VS PAUL GEORGE

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS KAWHI LEONARD

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS NICOLAS BATUM

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS SERGE IBAKA


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

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 12/30/2020

WHERE: STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES , KANTER


- LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-

JACKSON , WILLIAMS , KENNARD

MANN , COFFEY

MORRIS , PATTERSON

KABENGELE , OTURU , ZUBAC


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Carmelo Anthony (health and safety protocols): QUESTIONABLE
Gary Trent Jr (right calf strain): : QUESTIONABLE
Nassir Little (illness): DOUBTFUL
Zach Collins (ankle): OUT
CLIPPERS
Kawhi Leonard (mouth): QUESTIONABLE
Marcus Morris (right knee): QUESTIONABLE
Jay Scrubb (foot surgery): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS ------------ TYRONN LUE




OFFICIAL CLIPPERS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Dec. 30 meeting with the Clippers is the first of three games between the two teams this season. The second two matchups will be during the second half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Clippers swept the season series against the Trail Blazers in 2019-20, 3-0.

• Damian Lillard averaged 20.0 points (39.3% FG, 24.1% 3-PT, 55.6% FT), 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists in three games against the Clippers last season.

• CJ McCollum averaged 23.7 points (47.5% FG, 36.0% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three games against the Clippers in 2019-20.

• In two games against the Trail Blazers last season, Paul George averaged 23.0 points (56.7% FG, 69.2% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.00 steal.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 147-81
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 88-25
LA HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 59-56

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Another game in L.A.
Another game at the Staples Center.
Another game versus a pair of superstars.
Another game on NBATV.
Another opponent on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.

Hopefully, another victory?

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm not saying Melo's a ball hog, but..........

Spoiler

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's not only a must win game, it's a must huge lead at halftime game.

If we're not leading by 51 points at halftime we're going to lose to the Mavs in the WCF.

 

[TBpup]

If they can get this one, this could really be a tremendous road trip.

Defending Kawhi/PG13 is a bit different than LeBron/AD. I think RoCo and DJJ will be up to the challenge.

 

[theprunetang]

Another game, another stupid fucking Morris twin.

 

[theprunetang]

If they can get this one, this could really be a tremendous road trip.

Defending Kawhi/PG13 is a bit different than LeBron/AD. I think RoCo and DJJ will be up to the challenge.

True. You could probably use DJJ and ROCO on PG and Kawhi and park CJ on Batum, since he most likely won't be aggressive and take advantage. Batum is going to Batum.

 

[TBpup]

True. You could probably use DJJ and ROCO on PG and Kawhi and park CJ on Batum, since he most likely won't be aggressive and take advantage. Batum is going to Batum.

So Batum for a season high?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was hoping just to split the 4 game road trip. But if we can beat the Clips and split with the desperate Warriors...even better.

 

[theprunetang]

So Batum for a season high?

Highly doubt it. Batum just doesn't have it in him to be the aggressor.

 

[riverman]

True. You could probably use DJJ and ROCO on PG and Kawhi and park CJ on Batum, since he most likely won't be aggressive and take advantage. Batum is going to Batum.

How the hell did Nico crack the Clips starting lineup?

 

[riverman]

It's not only a must win game, it's a must huge lead at halftime game.

If we're not leading by 51 points at halftime we're going to lose to the Mavs in the WCF.

nah...the parameter is not letting them score 70! Keep them under 70 first half and we can beat them!

 

[BlazerBeav]

I like that we can have a day off to practice tomorrow without having any travel, while the Clips have a game (albeit against the Wolves without KAT). I didn't want to play them coming off that last one - they'll be trying for some redemption.

 

[blazerkor]

I was hoping just to split the 4 game road trip. But if we can beat the Clips and split with the desperate Warriors...even better.

Nope, we go for the win against the Clips and then beat the Warriors twice. That's the mindset. I don't think the Warriors are very good and they just lost their backup big Chriss for the season. They're snake bitten.

 

[riverman]

I think Dame owns real estate in Paul George's head

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think Dame owns real estate in Paul George's head

Talk about a small market...

 

[Chris Craig]

Is Kawhi even playing?

 

[riverman]

Is Kawhi even playing?

He has 8 stitches around his mouth I think I read...probably not playing

 

[Scalma]

The good thing about having depth is you have the luxury of not having to play guys (outside of Dame) when they’re having an off night. So Stotts doesn’t need to play Melo, but I guarantee there will be games he will carry the team, particularly down the stretch. He still has value, but you don’t need to ride him for 30 minutes every night.

 

[Chris Craig]

He has 8 stitches around his mouth I think I read...probably not playing

Then the Blazers should win

 

[Pinwheel1]

He has 8 stitches around his mouth I think I read...probably not playing

Yeah, he wouldn't want to catch an "accidental" elbow in the mouth from Nurk. He should sit out another week.

 

[kjironman1]

I was hoping just to split the 4 game road trip. But if we can beat the Clips and split with the desperate Warriors...even better.

A split 2-2 would still be fine with me.

 

[B-Roy]

He has 8 stitches around his mouth I think I read...probably not playing

He may be playing tonight, so....

 

[kjironman1]

So Batum for a season high?

Well so far he has scored 3, 13, and 4 against the Mavs. On this pace he should get a 12-14 against the T-Wolves and then under 5 against the Blazers.
Seems about right for Nic Batum. He will average around 6 this year i would expect?

 

[DDolla]

Another blow out win.... We beat the Lakers we should be able to blow out the Clippers

 

[THE HCP]

Well so far he has scored 3, 13, and 4 against the Mavs. On this pace he should get a 12-14 against the T-Wolves and then under 5 against the Blazers.
Seems about right for Nic Batum. He will average around 6 this year i would expect?

Thats not why he was brought in. I've watched a couple of their games and he has been running point. He still plays great D a well.

 

[Further]

Far as the Melo question- he’s more than his stats. If he plays like garbage, of course you yank him but he also deserves a chance to get it going. Sucks for others who may get less and playing time but Melo has proven he will also win us games. Stotts and NO made a deal and if they don’t honor it they would lose respect from Dame and other players around the league. They need to figure their shit out.

P.S. - I hate the term “short leash” with people. It’s just disrespectful to compare any person, especially HOF’s who have put decades of professionalism, to an unruly dog. I’m sure nothing offensive was meant by it from the poster. Just expressing my dislike of the term.

 

[B-Roy]

Guarantee you Melo is looking at these stats and wondering why he isn't starting over one of these guys.

"It's not like I'm coming off the bench because of basketball skill reasons or anything".

Actually Melo, that's exactly why you're coming off the bench. Says a lot when everyone is almost universally happy with DJJ/Cov even though their stats are absolute trash.

 

[julius]

Remember the old days when the team would follow up a big win with a let down? I hope this ends now.

 

[kjironman1]

Thats not why he was brought in. I've watched a couple of their games and he has been running point. He still plays great D a well.

My response was more geared toward him getting a season high. That might be 14 points witch would be just fine in my book if the Blazers are playing defense well enough that Batum has to take enough shots to get a season high. He isn't stopping Dame or CJ. We have already seen that. He can't stop Nurk. So his defense won't be a huge issue. Now one thing he has always done well is pass but again DJJ, Covington and even Trent will create problems for Nicco running point. Dame has also been showing pretty well on defense thus far this season.
In short. I'm not worried about Batum. Leonard and George now can always be a problem. We all know Beverly creates issues and Williams can score in bunches. Zubac and Ibaka seem to give teams fits as well.
The Clippers are a good team. Doesn't matter what happened against Dallas. They can play ball.