Game Thread Game #42 - BLAZERS @ WIZARDS - JANUARY 15, 2022 - SATURDAY - 4:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Anfernee Simons Ben McLemore

Nassir Little Robert Covington

Jusuf Nurkic



Corey Kispert Spencer Dinwiddie

K.C. Pope Kyle Kuzma

Daniel Gafford

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WHEN: JANUARY 15, 2022 - SATURDAY - 4:00 PM (PTD)
WHERE: CAPITOL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON D.C.



TV BROADCAST



RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Cody Zeller Tony Snell

Dennis Smith Jr CJ Elleby

Greg Brown Trendon Watford

Keljin Blevins


Damian Lillard CJ McCollum

Norman Powell Larry Nance Jr


WIZARDS


Davis Bertans Deni Avdija

Montrezl Harrell Raul Neto

Rui Hachimura Thomas Bryant

Anthony Gill Aaron Holiday

Greg Monroe Isaiah Todd

Cassius Winston Joel Ayayi

Bradley Beal

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INJURIES

WIZARDS

Bradley Beal (Protocols) OUT


BLAZERS

Damian Lillard (Abs) Out
CJ McCollum (Baby) DOUBTFUL
Larry Nance Jr (Knee) OUT
Norman Powell (Protocols) OUT

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COACHES


Chauncey Billups


Wes Unseld Jr

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NOTES

• This is the Blazers 1st of two matchups against the Wizards this season.
• The two teams will meet again on 3/12 in Portland
• The Blazers and Wizards split the 2020-21 series 1-1
• Both Chauncey Billups and Wes Unseld Jr are in the first year as head coaches in the league.
• CJ McCollum could possibly return after the birth of his son. He will join the Blazers on their road trip...likely later.

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TRIVIA

The Blazers last played the Wizards back on February 20, 2021 losing 118 -111. Three Blazers starters had double doubles...name them!

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​

 

[blazerkor]

For the poll question I said that there's no reason to. I want big trades made and I want those trades aimed at making us a contender as soon as possible. If those trades make it so we make the playoffs, lose this year's pick and free up all of our future firsts, I'm cool with that. If we lose a bunch of games and improve our odds at getting an impact player with the pick, I'm OK with that to. I just want players that fit with Dame and I want one of those players that fit with Dame to be an all star or have potential to be an all star immediately. Also it wouldn't hurt if the players we end up with this season fitting in with Chauncey's philosophies on both ends of the court.

Right now the roster makes absolutely no sense. CJ and Ant make no sense with Dame. Nurk makes very little sense in Chauncey's system. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have both RoCo and Nance. This team also doesn't seem to work together as a unit with a winning attitude so I wouldn't mind seeing every player besides Dame and Nas traded. So again I don't think where we end up in terms of our pick matters this season because we're not out tanking Detroit or Orlando and will have a really hard time getting lower than OKC and Houston. So I don't see us getting one of those spots that gets us equal odds to land the top pick. We should definitely control the controllable and that is who we have on this roster at the end of the season that can contribute to a title in the future.

 

[blazerkor]

As far as this game goes, I think the Wizards have the edge but if both Ant and CJ are playing we could definitely beat them.

 

[Labinot41]

We got our tanking lineup

 

[Fairly-Hard]

It's a weird time. You always want to play to win but losses are the better option right now.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Blazers are currently 9 games under .500 but a half game up for the 10th spot. I doubt that 10th spot becomes very hard to get this year. It is certainly possible the Blazers have a chance to get in the top 10 of the west at the end of the year, and then maybe Dame can get healthy by mid April playoff start?

Plus who knows what improvements we could have at the trade deadline. Even a "give up on this season", "aim for the future" trade could improve the Blazers. Remember when the team traded away Plumlee for Nurk it was a sign they were giving up on the playoffs and tanking the season. Instead they went on a run to make the playoffs.

No the Blazers shouldn't put 100% effort into winning at all costs right now... however I think its to early to 100% write off the chance to fight for the playin and playoffs towards the end of the season with the value that could bring.

For now the team should just try to put their best players on the floor and play winning basketball. Nas and Ant are getting huge starters minutes anyways and are the only youth that matter. Trying to win is better for their development than tanking with scrubs. The team might lose a ton and help their draft positions even while trying to win. If the team ends up having a bunch of wins then that means all these guys without Dame are playing well which is very good, and there is a chance of playing games that really matter, which is at the least great experience.

Go Blazers!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

You can't sit healthy productive players; the league wouldn't allow it. Also, players and their agents would not be happy.

 

[wizenheimer]

You can't sit healthy productive players; the league wouldn't allow it. Also, players and their agents would not be happy.

DNP-CD...the league couldn't do anything about it

 

[Labinot41]

There are always ways. Fake some injurys or whatever

 

[BBert]

Don't sit them when they are perfectly healthy. Sit them to recover every time they get the usual dings. And for God sake don't let Dame come back until a month after he claims he's ready.

 

[Strenuus]

Don't sit them when they are perfectly healthy. Sit them to recover every time they get the usual dings. And for God sake don't let Dame come back until a month after he claims he's ready.

Dame should only come back next year.

CJ should sit unless he feels like he can shoot us out of a game. He needs to be the tank commander if he's gonna play.

 

[BBert]

I wish

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Big trade coming soon!

 

[Scalma]

I don’t like the idea of actively trying to lose games, especially with a bunch of young players in development mode. Doesn’t build good habits. You try and win every game and if you lose so be it.

As for injured players coming back, you basically treat it like the offseason. No rushing back, but if they get fully healthy, they should play. That goes for Dame as well.

 

[stampedehero]

Damn, That dude is wearing his sister's wig again.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

CJ should sit unless he feels like he can shoot us out of a game. He needs to be the tank commander if he's gonna play.

CJ needs to put in at least a half dozen good games so he can boost his trade value. I'm sure we can keep losing even when he is scoring a lot.

 

[Mr. Robot]

cj mccollum, nurk & simons will win some games unfortunately, which could end up costing us a good pick

cj mccollum cause hes a selfish prick and nurk & simons cause theyre in a contract season

 

[Scalma]

Did Zeller have a setback, why is he out again?

 

[Cugel]

I am just afraid cj will go back to putting up endless shots with no passing

 

[Mr. Robot]

early game, lets go

 

[Chris Craig]

Did Zeller have a setback, why is he out again?

Apparently his knee is hurt again

 

[VenomXL]

The game isn’t on TV down here in Southern Oregon. That’s unusual.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The poll question would be better asked post-deadline - perhaps ask it again, then.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

In comes Tony "The Tank" Snell.

 

[twobullz]

The game isn’t on TV down here in Southern Oregon. That’s unusual.

Doesn’t show as being on here either, but it is. I would click on roots 2

 

[riverman]

In comes Tony "The Tank" Snell.

The Tank that shoots the Blanks!

 

[TBpup]

Ant and Nas off to a good start. That is all I'm looking for.

 

[riverman]

Snell with a turnover....breaking his zero stats streak

 

[Cugel]

I would like Snell to get 40 plus mins a game.

 

[riverman]

So we're gluing Cody Zeller's patella back together? This dude has not been able to stay on a court