Game Thread GAME# 42: BLAZERS @ PELICANS - JANUARY 12, 2018 - FRIDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
22 - 18
(12-8 Road)
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
20 - 19
(10-9 Home)


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

----PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS----

DAMIAN LILLARD (PG) , C.J. McCOLLUM (SG)

MAURICE HARKLESS (SF) , AL-FAROUQ AMINU (PF)

JUSUF NURKIC (C)



-------- NEW ORLEANS PELICANS --------

RAJON RONDO (PG) , JRUE HOLIDAY (SG)

E’TWAUN MOORE (SF) , ANTHONY DAVIS (PF)

DeMARCUS COUSINS (C)



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WHEN: 5:00 PM, FRIDAY, 1/12/2018

WHERE: SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON

LAYMAN , VONLEH

COLLINS , DAVIS , LEONARD

- NEW ORLEANS PELICANS-

NELSON , CLARK , COOKE

LIGGINS , JONES , MILLER ,

CUNNINGHAM , DIALLO , ASIK

INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (right calf strain): QUESTIONABLE
Even Turner (illness): OUT
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT
Wade Baldwin IV (G-League): OUT
Caleb Swanigan (G-League): OUT
PELICANS
Anthony Davis (Right Ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Tony Allen (Left Fibula Fracture): OUT
Alexis Ajinca (Right Knee Injury): OUT
Solomon Hill (Left HamstringTear): OUT
Frank Jackson (Right Foot Fracture): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- ALVIN GENTRY

OFFICIAL PELICANS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday’s game marks the third of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and the Pelicans during the 2017-18 season.

• LAST MEETING: Despite a 49-29 bench scoring advantage in favor of Portland, the Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers 123-116 at Moda Center on Dec. 2. DeMarcus Cousins led New Orleans with 38 points and eight rebounds while Damian Lillard had 29 points, five rebounds and eight assists to lead the Trail Blazers.

• Damian Lillard has scored 25-plus points and made at least three three-pointers in six of his last seven games against the Pelicans. In his last three visits to New Orelans, Lillard has averaged 29.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

• CJ McCollum had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists against New Orleans on Dec. 2. McCollum has scored 20+ points in four of his last six games against the Pelicans and is shooting 17-of-37 (45.9%) from deep during that span.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 29-24
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 19-8
AT THE PELICANS: Pelicans lead, 16-10

​

 

[KingSpeed]

I think we could conceivably win our next 9 games. That would make us 31-19 and likely 4th in West with time to chase Spurs.

 

[BonesJones]

I think we could conceivably win our next 9 games. That would make us 31-19 and likely 4th in West with time to chase Spurs.

Lol.

 

[BBert]

I think we could conceivably win our next 9 games. That would make us 31-19 and likely 4th in West with time to chase Spurs.

I do not think that word means what you think it means

 

[KingSpeed]

Look at the schedule. It's a Cake Walk.

 

[BonesJones]

Look at the schedule. It's a Cake Walk.

It's more likely we go 0-2 over the next two games than 2-0. 5 of our next 9 games are against .500+ teams.

I expect us to go 5-4 and end up with a 27-23 record. What's your honest opinion?

 

[KingSpeed]

It's more likely we go 0-2 over the next two games than 2-0. 5 of our next 9 games are against .500+ teams.

I expect us to go 5-4 and end up with a 27-23 record. What's your honest opinion?

Um next 2 games are easy. We are elite road team with elite defense against two teams full of "stars" who have never reached playoffs. I expect wins in both. As for the next 7, a bad bounce of the balk could cost us 2 wins I suppose but honestly, I'll go 8-1. 9-0 is completely doable though. Just watch. Nurkic and Turner are going to hit a groove. Don't look now but Turner has raised his 3point % from 19 to 30 and rising.

 

[Strenuus]

Um next 2 games are easy. We are elite road team with elite defense against two teams full of "stars" who have never reached playoffs. I expect wins in both. As for the next 7, a bad bounce of the balk could cost us 2 wins I suppose but honestly, I'll go 8-1. 9-0 is completely doable though. Just watch. Nurkic and Turner are going to hit a groove. Don't look now but Turner has raised his 3point % from 19 to 30 and rising.

Butler has played 35 games in the playoffs. (Considered a star - which he is)

Tony Allen has been in 50 games (not a star, but we're looking overall now)

And although not a star anymore - There's Rondo.

I know you're going to come back and say I said "stars" but anyone with that much playoff experience is good as a starter or on the bench, so indirectly or directly they can affect the game.

 

[BonesJones]

Um next 2 games are easy. We are elite road team with elite defense against two teams full of "stars" who have never reached playoffs. I expect wins in both. As for the next 7, a bad bounce of the balk could cost us 2 wins I suppose but honestly, I'll go 8-1. 9-0 is completely doable though. Just watch. Nurkic and Turner are going to hit a groove. Don't look now but Turner has raised his 3point % from 19 to 30 and rising.

How??? We already lost to the Pelicans at home when they were without Davis. Now we have to beat them in New Orleans when they have Davis. Their team is just about as good as ours (20-20 compared to 22-19).

The Timberwolves are better than us so how the hell is that going to be easy? They're 4 games ahead of us and 16-6 at home. We're 12-9 on the road yet you consider us "elite"... well they're more of an elite home team than we're an elite road team.

BTW, Holiday and Davis have reached the playoffs. Rondo has won a championship. E'Twaun Moore got his NOP contract because of one stellar playoff stretch.
MIN has Butler and Gibson (multiple playoff series in CHI), Teague (multiple playoff series' in ATL & IND), and Crawford (multiple playoff series in LAC, ATL, etc.). In fact, 4 of MIN's top 6 playoffs have reached the 2nd round.

But what does "playoff history" have to do with winning regular-season games? Have this current iteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves missed the playoffs? No, and they'll make it. Cousins and Davis have been playing together for less than a year... Organizational playoff history is irrelevant...

So basically, your prediction isn't logical, for the reasons I stated.

 

[Strenuus]

How??? We already lost to the Pelicans at home when they were without Davis. Now we have to beat them in New Orleans when they have Davis. Their team is just about as good as ours (20-20 compared to 22-19).

The Timberwolves are better than us so how the hell is that going to be easy? They're 4 games ahead of us and 16-6 at home. We're 12-9 on the road yet you consider us "elite"... well they're more of an elite home team than we're an elite road team.

BTW, Holiday and Davis have reached the playoffs. Rondo has won a championship. E'Twaun Moore got his NOP contract because of one stellar playoff stretch.
MIN has Butler and Gibson (multiple playoff series in CHI), Teague (multiple playoff series' in ATL & IND), and Crawford (multiple playoff series in LAC, ATL, etc.). In fact, 4 of MIN's top 6 playoffs have reached the 2nd round.

But what does "playoff history" have to do with winning regular-season games? Have this current iteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves missed the playoffs? No, and they'll make it. Cousins and Davis have been playing together for less than a year... Organizational playoff history is irrelevant...

So basically, your prediction isn't logical, for the reasons I stated.

 

[KingSpeed]

Butler has played 35 games in the playoffs. (Considered a star - which he is)

Tony Allen has been in 50 games (not a star, but we're looking overall now)

And although not a star anymore - There's Rondo.

I know you're going to come back and say I said "stars" but anyone with that much playoff experience is good as a starter or on the bench, so indirectly or directly they can affect the game.

Yes but Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins are the ones I'm obviously referring to.

 

[KingSpeed]

How??? We already lost to the Pelicans at home when they were without Davis. Now we have to beat them in New Orleans when they have Davis. Their team is just about as good as ours (20-20 compared to 22-19).

The Timberwolves are better than us so how the hell is that going to be easy? They're 4 games ahead of us and 16-6 at home. We're 12-9 on the road yet you consider us "elite"... well they're more of an elite home team than we're an elite road team.

BTW, Holiday and Davis have reached the playoffs. Rondo has won a championship. E'Twaun Moore got his NOP contract because of one stellar playoff stretch.
MIN has Butler and Gibson (multiple playoff series in CHI), Teague (multiple playoff series' in ATL & IND), and Crawford (multiple playoff series in LAC, ATL, etc.). In fact, 4 of MIN's top 6 playoffs have reached the 2nd round.

But what does "playoff history" have to do with winning regular-season games? Have this current iteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves missed the playoffs? No, and they'll make it. Cousins and Davis have been playing together for less than a year... Organizational playoff history is irrelevant...

So basically, your prediction isn't logical, for the reasons I stated.

We beat Pelicans at the home opener. You can't compare teams by record when they have played different schedules. Minnesota isn't "better than us." We are an elite road team. 3rd best road record in the West. Never said Rondo or Butler or Moore hadn't been to playoffs. Just saying those teams have "stars" who haven't been to playoffs such as Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins. It's true. They're learning how to win. We've already proven ourselves making playoffs last 4 years and winning two rounds. Minnesota hasn't been in playoffs since 2004. Not worried about our matchup with them at all. If we met them in playoffs, we would win the series in 4 or 5 games.

 

[stampedehero]

conceivably

That is the key word. It also represents optimism. Paper wins are great for a fantasy league but we can consider the referring and sporadic defense we had seen in the first 40 games as the counter element to your optimism. I really hope we do we 9. Just sayin...

 

[BonesJones]

We beat Pelicans at the home opener. You can't compare teams by record when they have played different schedules. Minnesota isn't "better than us." We are an elite road team. 3rd best road record in the West. Never said Rondo or Butler or Moore hadn't been to playoffs. Just saying those teams have "stars" who haven't been to playoffs such as Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins. It's true. They're learning how to win. We've already proven ourselves making playoffs last 4 years and winning two rounds. Minnesota hasn't been in playoffs since 2004. Not worried about our matchup with them at all. If we met them in playoffs, we would win the series in 4 or 5 games.

You said "full of stars that have never been to the playoffs", but they have multiple stats that have as well. Basically, but teams have multiple stars, which is why they're good. By that logic though, we better bench Collins in the playoffs.

Minnesota is 4 games ahead of us with a harder schedule. How are they not better? They have a better record at home than we do on the road too. You sound like a Laker fan.. "They haven't been to the playoffs since 2004"... So what? Are the Lakers better than us because they have 15 rings to our 1? Why are you basing how good a team is based off the past? You realize Butler, Cousins, Teague, Rondo, and Gibson were added on the past year? Do you realize the Wolves are improving because they're young as well?

Are the Timberwolves not an elite home team?

 

[BonesJones]

Yes but Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins are the ones I'm obviously referring to.

So how are the Pelicans full of stars that haven't made the playoffs if they have one star player that hasn't made the playoffs? *facepalm*

 

[Mr. Robot]

I think we could conceivably win our next 9 games. That would make us 31-19 and likely 4th in West with time to chase Spurs.

 

[BrunoSOC]

This is a winnable game. I hope Dame gets angry and lead us to a big run. We have been playing good basketball last few games. Time to win this and get ready for a war against the Wolves on sunday.

 

[Strenuus]

Yes but Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins are the ones I'm obviously referring to.

Butler is a star.

 

[THE HCP]

We beat Pelicans at the home opener. You can't compare teams by record when they have played different schedules. Minnesota isn't "better than us." We are an elite road team. 3rd best road record in the West. Never said Rondo or Butler or Moore hadn't been to playoffs. Just saying those teams have "stars" who haven't been to playoffs such as Cousins, Towns, and Wiggins. It's true. They're learning how to win. We've already proven ourselves making playoffs last 4 years and winning two rounds. Minnesota hasn't been in playoffs since 2004. Not worried about our matchup with them at all. If we met them in playoffs, we would win the series in 4 or 5 games.

SIGH

 

[THE HCP]

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If Turner sits, who is likeliest to start in his place? Pat for his shooting? Moe on the strength of his two recent good games? Aminu slide down to the 3 with Collins at the 4? Nah--that last one's insanity; what was I thinking?

 

[Mr. Robot]

bad matchup for us, I have this as a L, but if we W, Ill be happy and surprised

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think we could conceivably win our next 9 games. That would make us 31-19 and likely 4th in West with time to chase Spurs.

You've been playing to much NBA2K18 lately.

 

[illmatic99]

If Turner sits, who is likeliest to start in his place? Pat for his shooting? Moe on the strength of his two recent good games? Aminu slide down to the 3 with Collins at the 4? Nah--that last one's insanity; what was I thinking?

Moe. Stotts usually keeps his backup lineups intact and inserts a third stringer in with the starters.

 

[BigGameDamian]

View attachment 17900

 

[dviss1]

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SIeepwalker]

If Turner sits, who is likeliest to start in his place? Pat for his shooting? Moe on the strength of his two recent good games? Aminu slide down to the 3 with Collins at the 4? Nah--that last one's insanity; what was I thinking?

Watch Layman start

 

[BonesJones]

If Turner sits, who is likeliest to start in his place? Pat for his shooting? Moe on the strength of his two recent good games? Aminu slide down to the 3 with Collins at the 4? Nah--that last one's insanity; what was I thinking?

They one makes so much sense. Collins is actually a good defend to put on Davis because he's mobile and can contest shots well. Aminu could be put on Holiday if he started at the 3, as Moore is 6'5 and not a problem for CJ to guard. Holiday is usually bothered by big defenders like Aminu.

Makes too much sense for Stotts to do it.

 

[tester551]

Watch Layman start

 

[Pinwheel1]

They one makes so much sense. Collins is actually a good defend to put on Davis because he's mobile and can contest shots well. Aminu could be put on Holiday if he started at the 3, as Moore is 6'5 and not a problem for CJ to guard. Holiday is usually bothered by big defenders like Aminu.

Makes too much sense for Stotts to do it.

I can see foul trouble issues tonight with our bigs. Not sure who should start but they will all get their chance to guard Davis and Cousins.