Game Thread GAME# 41: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - JANUARY 10, 2018 - WEDNESDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
22 - 18
(12-8 Road)
HOUSTON ROCKETS
28 - 11
(14-6 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS CHRIS PAUL

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS ERIC GORDON

SF

EVAN TURNER VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS RYAN ANDERSON

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS CLINT CAPELA



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




WHEN: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, 1/10/2018

WHERE: TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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



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

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON , HARKLESS

LAYMAN , VONLEH

COLLINS , DAVIS , LEONARD

- HOUSTON ROCKETS-

BROWN , JACKSON , WEBER

GORDON , TUCKER . WILLIAMS

MBAH A MOUTE, BLACK

ONUAKU , HILARIO

INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (right calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT
Wade Baldwin IV (G-League): OUT
Caleb Swanigan (G-League): OUT
ROCKETS
James Harden (Grade 2 Hamstring Strain): OUT
Luc Mbah a Moute (Right Shoulder Dislocation): OUT
Nenê (Right Knee Contusion): OUT
Troy Williams (Right Knee MCL Sprain): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MIKE D'ANTONI

OFFICIAL ROCKETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game marks the second of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and the Rockets during the 2017-18 season.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers led 98-84 at the end of the third quarter, but fell to the Rockets 124-117 on Dec. 9 in Portland. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 35 points, four rebounds and six assists while James Harden scored 48 points to go with
eight rebounds and three assists to pace Houston.

• Damian Lillard has scored 30-plus points in three of his last six games against Houston. In those games, Lillard averaged 27.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

• CJ McCollum had 28 points, two rebounds and four assists against the Rockets on Dec. 9. McCollum has scored 20-plus points in four of his last five games against Houston.

• James Harden has scored 30-plus points in seven of his last eight games against the Trail Blazers. Harden has scored 40 or more points against Portland six times.
• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Rockets lead, 106-84
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 51-44
AT THE ROCKETS: Rockets lead, 62-33

 

[Darkwebs]

Get ready for an exciting game of basketball! Or from Harden and CP3's perspectives, a game of "trick-the-refs".

 

[joeBlazers]

Our boys are definitely better looking than those Rockets. Don't you all think?

 

[BlazerBeav]

Man, if Dame can go, we could get a really huge road win to follow up on the really huge win we just got tonight in OKC.

 

[joeBlazers]

Tresor Ariza is still in the league? I thought he retired !!! Mike D'Antoni ... is capable of resurrecting people now? Mbah Aboute ?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
22 - 18
(12-8 Road)
HOUSTON ROCKETS
28 - 11
(14-6 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS CHRIS PAUL

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS ERIC GORDON

SF

EVAN TURNER VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS RYAN ANDERSON

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS CLINT CAPELA



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




WHEN: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, 1/10/2018

WHERE: TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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



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

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON , HARKLESS

LAYMAN , VONLEH

COLLINS , DAVIS , LEONARD

- HOUSTON ROCKETS-

BROWN , JACKSON , WEBER

GORDON , TUCKER . WILLIAMS

MBAH A MOUTE, BLACK

ONUAKU , HILARIO

INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (right calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT
Wade Baldwin IV (G-League): OUT
Caleb Swanigan (G-League): OUT
ROCKETS
James Harden (Grade 2 Hamstring Strain): OUT
Luc Mbah a Moute (Right Shoulder Dislocation): OUT
Nenê (Right Knee Contusion): OUT
Troy Williams (Right Knee MCL Sprain): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- MIKE D'ANTONI

OFFICIAL ROCKETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

The correct answer to your poll is obviously RipCityTwo!

 

[rotary111]

Nice work as always @Darkwebs!

 

[Darkwebs]

The correct answer to your poll is obviously RipCityTwo!

 

[theprunetang]

Now this is a game I really want to win. Shut those clutch fans up.

 

[BrianFromWA]

kpee.

Seriously, I said Myers not because I think he's the best, but b/c he's accomplished the mission better than most ever will. He's done the following "GM-y" things:
a) built a team that won multiple championships
b) hired a coach that ^^^ (Kerr, even Walton)
c) drafted extremely well (Klay, Draymond, even HFB)
d) scored on his high-profile FA targets (Durant, Iggy)
e) got value from his under-the-radar targets (Livingston, West, Ezeli, Speights)
f) came out on top on most trades (specifically the Iggy S&T and Monta/SJax)

Ok, nevermind, he's probably the best.

Presti loses out b/c he thought (or couldn't get his owners to understand) that Harden couldn't work with Durant and RW and didn't want to pay salary tax.
NO....yeah.
Ainge "got lucky" by trading with McHale and Billy King. But he's drafted cannily the last couple of years.
I still think Hinkie is underrated. Trust the Process is looking ok right about now.
Morey is smart, and has some good unorthodox ideas, but doesn't seem to have the strategic chops (really, Ryan Anderson was your only value piece left this summer?) or followthrough. Especially in a big-market city.

 

[BrunoSOC]

Big game. I dont know if Dame will be able to play, my guess is he sits twomorrow and only comeback against Wolves. Otherwise, Shabazz has really playing well and Dame needs to be 100% healthy. Wizz Bazz, i think we have a chance on this one, we gonna need a big game from CJ again. We gotta be able to win this game in the 4qr. It's time to win 4 in a row.

 

[SIeepwalker]

No Harden ? Gotta win this !

 

[Chris Craig]

No Harden I've got a hardon

 

[PHXBlazer1]

I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t win this game easily

 

[theprunetang]

Should I link this thread in the clutchfans forum? Could be some fun back and forth?

 

[stampedehero]

Man, if Dame can go, we could get a really huge road win to follow up on the really huge win we just got tonight in OKC.

We can do this Texas Road House style. because these guys are not playing>>>
* James Harden (Grade 2 Hamstring Strain): OUT
Luc Mbah a Moute (Right Shoulder Dislocation): OUT,
*Nenê (Right Knee Contusion): OUT
*Troy Williams (Right Knee MCL Sprain): OUT

 

[SIeepwalker]

Should I link this thread in the clutchfans forum? Could be some fun back and forth?

Wait till we win

 

[BrunoSOC]

This is a tough game they are a great team without Harden. Otherwise we probably be without the services of damian lillard.

 

[illmatic99]

No way we get this one. Think OKC slept through most of the game and we pounced. Chris Paul won't let that happen

 

[e_blazer]

No way we get this one. Think OKC slept through most of the game and we pounced. Chris Paul won't let that happen

 

[illmatic99]

You don't know what I'm doing. Just go with it. Smh

 

[e_blazer]

You don't know what I'm doing. Just go with it. Smh

Ah, well, may the reverse jinx be with you.

 

[BlazerBeav]

The key will be keeping the FTA differential under 30 this time. Out FTA defense last time was weak.

 

[Minstrel]

Ordinarily, I'd see this as a toss-up, but I think this is a schedule loss, unfortunately. Back-to-back for Portland on the road, not a back-to-back for Houston.

Portland is playing better than Houston right now, but it's pretty hard to overcome a potential energy deficit.

Love to be wrong--I'd take special enjoyment in Portland beating Houston after that Carmelo Anthony saga.

 

[e_blazer]

The key will be keeping the FTA differential under 30 this time. Out FTA defense last time was weak.

Given that James Hard-flop isn’t playing, that may be doable.

 

[dviss1]

Nice work as always @Darkwebs!

 

[Chris Craig]

What are the Rockets going to do without all those flops...wait Paul is still playing, there will be plenty of flops

 

[PtldPlatypus]

 

[Driew]

He should just take two weeks off and let it completely heal.

 

[Mr. Robot]

He should just take two weeks off and let it completely heal.

it depends which grade it is... I doubt its grade I, cause hed be playing