Game Thread GAME# 42: BULLS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 9, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
CHICAGO BULLS
10 - 30
(5-14 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
24 - 17
(16-7 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

KRISS DUNN VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

ZACH LaVINE VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

CHANDLER HUTCHINSON VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

LAURI MARKKANEN VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

WENDALL CARTER Jr. VS JUSUF NURKIC

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 1/9/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

-------- CHICAGO BULLS --------

ARCIDIANCONO , HARRISON , BLAKENEY

ALKINS , SAMPSON , SELDEN

PARKER , FELICIO

PORTIS , LOPEZ

--- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ---

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
BULLS
Bobby Portis (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
Denzel Valentine (left ankle surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

JIM BOYLEN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL BULLS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game marks the first of two meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Bulls during the 2018-19 season. Portland swept the season series in 2017-18, 2-0.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers jumped out to a 43-19 first quarter lead and went on to win, 124-108, at Moda Center on Jan. 31. CJ McCollum scored a career-high 50 points (18-25 FG, 6-9 3-PT, 8-8 FT), including a franchise-record 28 points in the first quarter. Zach LaVine paced the Bulls with 23 points (8-13 FG, 3-4 3-PT, 4-7 FT).

• In two games against the Bulls last season, CJ McCollum averaged 41.0 points (52.7% FG, 55.0% 3-PT, 92.9% FT), 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

• Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 16.0 points (52.2% FG, 77.8% 3-PT, 100% FT), 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist in two games against Chicago in 2017-18.

• In his one appearance against Portland last season, Lauri Markkanen recorded 19 points (7-12 FG, 4-6 3-PT, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, one assist and one block.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Series tied, 61-61
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 36-25
AT THE BULLS: Bulls lead, 36-25

 

[Darkwebs]

HALF WAY HOME
We have officially reached the half-way mark of the season, and Blazers have done quite well, arguably. Their 24-17 start is the best since the 2014-15 season. And yet, go figure, we are sitting in 7th place in the Wild, Wild West.

Parity abound, as a total of 4 games separate the #3 to the #8 team in this competitive conference, but it has been this way for years and years. So the Blazers must take advantage of these home games against the (L)Eastern Conference teams if they want to remain in the playoff hunt. Teams currentlybelow us like the Jazz and Wolves will surely make a run in the second half of the season.

DA COMPETITION
The Bulls, similar to the Knicks whom we just beat, are obviously tanking. Chicago has lost four in a row and have 3 wins in their last 10 games. In fact, they currently have the same exact record as New York, with both teams being in the bottom 3 of the East. Still, you cannot sleep on any team in this league, as almost any player (even a scrub) can go off on you, a lesson the Blazers should know intimately (see Ferrell, Yogi; Brooks, MarShon; every end-of-the-bench player on the Warriors).

ROCK STEADY
41 games in, can you believe how solid-as-a-rock the Blazers have been after 3 quarters? 24 times they have lead after the 3rd quarter and those same 24 times they have gone on to win the game. Of course, yin & yang, the inverse is unfortuantely true, too: 17 times they've had a deficit after the 3rd, and 17 times they've failed to comeback. 41 games of being Steady Freddy. This pattern will come to an end eventually, right?

INJURED MO' or (hark)LESS
One thing that's not steady this season has been the availibiity of Harkless. Plagued by left knee issues, it's seemingly a coin flip whether he can play that night or not. Last outing, he started the game, only to be absent for the second half due to left knee soreness. In the last 5 games, he's played 2 and a half games (the very definition of "flip of a coin"). Speaking of coins, this Harkless injury saga must be coined: "Finding Knee-Moe."

FEELING WHITE AT HOME
And look, we are finally wearing white at home. What a novel idea! It feels like forever since this happened (in actuality it was the Dec. 21 game against Utah).

JERRY SPRINGER'S FINAL THOUGHT
Portland needs to go out, play hard, have some fun, and notch a win against the BEAT-A-BULLS!
Till next time, take care of yourselves and each other.

 

[Darkwebs]

Lopez must be going for that Saturday morning cartoon villain look. Is he gonna twirl his mustache while cackling during the game? Tune in to find out.

 

[blazerkor]

This should be another home game that we have control over and win. It may not be super easy but I doubt it's in question at any point. We're just a better team. GO BLAZERS!

 

[Labinot41]

Big Time loss incoming fams

 

[BonesJones]

Big Time loss incoming fams

What

 

[TBpup]

You just can't lose these games at home against such a crappy East team. Pad the record!

 

[Blazer4ever]

Zach Levine is a good player, Markannen I think is gonna be great in the future, he has amazing talent, Bobby Portis is good and RoLo is RoLo, one of my favorite players of all time.
We need to win it but they're not as bad as the Knicks minus-Porzingis and our matchups with them aren't great (for example Harkless being matched on their weakest player, Lavine is gonna give any of our guards trouble).
We need to focus on every possesion defensively, get one stop after the other, then we can close this game early

 

[SIeepwalker]

What

It's reverse jinx

 

[BonesJones]

Zach Levine is a good player, Markannen I think is gonna be great in the future, he has amazing talent, Bobby Portis is good and RoLo is RoLo, one of my favorite players of all time.
We need to win it but they're not as bad as the Knicks minus-Porzingis and our matchups with them aren't great (for example Harkless being matched on their weakest player, Lavine is gonna give any of our guards trouble).
We need to focus on every possesion defensively, get one stop after the other, then we can close this game early

Why couldn't we just put CJ on Hutchison and Harkless on Lavine?

Harkless probably won't play.

 

[James lamphear]

You will see who ever start at small forward properly will be on Levin.

 

[Chris Craig]

Lopez must be going for that Saturday morning cartoon villain look. Is he gonna twirl his mustache while cackling during the game? Tune in to find out.

Watch for him to bodyslam Blaze the Cat

 

[Chris Craig]

Why couldn't we just put CJ on Hutchison and Harkless on Lavine?

Harkless probably won't play.

Probably not. The Blazers will look to rest him this game and probably the next. Hopefully, Layman starts over Turner.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Probably not. The Blazers will look to rest him this game and probably the next. Hopefully, Layman starts over Turner.

Turner in the starting lineup has actually worked out pretty well. I'd rather Layman come off the bench firing rather than be marginalized as the 5th option in the starting lineup.

 

[James lamphear]

We have to come more focused then we did the Knicks.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Need to play better than we play nyk. Good game for us, no travel, stay in pdx and prepare for the game. Its time to make a streak.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Need to play better than we play nyk. Good game for us, no travel, stay in pdx and prepare for the game. Its time to make a streak.

 

[BBert]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
CHICAGO BULLS
10 - 30
(5-14 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
24 - 17
(16-7 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

KRISS DUNN VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

ZACH LaVINE VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

CHANDLER HUTCHINSON VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

LAURI MARKKANEN VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

WENDALL CARTER Jr. VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 1/9/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



--------------BENCH--------------

-------- CHICAGO BULLS --------

ARCIDIANCONO , HARRISON , BLAKENEY

ALKINS , SAMPSON , SELDEN

PARKER , FELICIO

PORTIS , LOPEZ

--- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ---

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
BULLS
Bobby Portis (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
Denzel Valentine (left ankle surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

JIM BOYLEN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL BULLS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

Hahaha Love the "Bull" pic

 

[BBert]

Turner in the starting lineup has actually worked out pretty well. I'd rather Layman come off the bench firing rather than be marginalized as the 5th option in the starting lineup.

And starting Turner with better players limits his bang my head against the wall mistakes and three point shooting, plus allows him to cover for some of the defensive inefficiencies of our starting guards. Maybe?

 

[illmatic99]

Dame looks awful by his standards. Clyde kept repeatedly saying last night on the Knicks telecast how Dame doesn't look like himself and is "lethargic" or "lackadaisical." This has been like this since the pretty much the XMas day game in Utah.

I think he's burned out. Prolly a buncha nagging injuries followed by a cold.

Give the man a day of rest. He'll fight it, but it will be better in the long run. No better team to do it against than the tanking Bulls.

I'd do the same for Nurk one of these games.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame looks awful by his standards. Clyde kept repeatedly saying last night on the Knicks telecast how Dame doesn't look like himself and is "lethargic" or "lackadaisical." This has been like this since the pretty much the XMas day game in Utah.

I think he's burned out. Prolly a buncha nagging injuries followed by a cold.

Give the man a day of rest. He'll fight it, but it will be better in the long run. No better team to do it against than the tanking Bulls.

I'd do the same for Nurk one of these games.

I try not to make excuses for players, but Dame is just getting over being really sick. No way to really tell if that is still lingering, but I would never question his will or hunger while out there. I would bet Clyde The Glyde had no clue Dame was just sick as shit.

 

[James lamphear]

If he had the flu that can stay with you weeks after the initial part of it is done. But actually playing smart he getting other players involved and saving energy and pick his spots when he has to excerpt himself.

 

[hoopsjock]

Harkless is out. I wonder if the Blazers are ever going to say what is really going on here.

 

[Scalma]

Harkless is out. I wonder if the Blazers are ever going to say what is really going on here.

It’s just a matter of time before he has another procedure imo. This isn’t normal and should’ve been taken care of in training camp. We might’ve had him healthy for the stretch run. Now we’re down a guy at a position we already needed help.

But I’m sure Neil is on it.

Lol, can’t wait to see Turner get 35 minutes a night.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It’s just a matter of time before he has another procedure imo. This isn’t normal and should’ve been taken care of in training camp. We might’ve had him healthy for the stretch run. Now we’re down a guy at a position we already needed help.

But I’m sure Neil is on it.

Lol, can’t wait to see Turner get 35 minutes a night.

The silver lining is he played Jake 22 minutes each of the last two games.

 

[Scalma]

The silver lining is he played Jake 22 minutes each of the last two games.

I guess the question becomes who takes Harkless’ minutes?

One of Stauskas/Trent/Simons could play, but my guess is Stotts does the predictable and shortens the rotation.

 

[CupWizier]

Dame looks awful by his standards. Clyde kept repeatedly saying last night on the Knicks telecast how Dame doesn't look like himself and is "lethargic" or "lackadaisical." This has been like this since the pretty much the XMas day game in Utah.

I think he's burned out. Prolly a buncha nagging injuries followed by a cold.

Give the man a day of rest. He'll fight it, but it will be better in the long run. No better team to do it against than the tanking Bulls.

I'd do the same for Nurk one of these games.

He did look tired and played as such, but you have to factor in that it was the 3rd game in 4 nights and Lillard logs a lot of minutes and expends a lot of energy during games as the primary facilitator. Watch this forum turn on him and then dog him if he continues a mini slump.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I guess the question becomes who takes Harkless’ minutes?

One of Stauskas/Trent/Simons could play, but my guess is Stotts does the predictable and shortens the rotation.

I would guess that ET and Jake would split the SF minutes.
Stauskas backs up CJ and Curry backs up Dame

 

[Labinot41]

I don't want too see Evan turnover more minutes and i Don't want too see Stauskas back in the rotation. Give Trent jr a shot and increase jakes minutes

 

[stampedehero]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
CHICAGO BULLS
10 - 30
(5-14 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
24 - 17
(16-7 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

KRISS DUNN VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

ZACH LaVINE VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

CHANDLER HUTCHINSON VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

LAURI MARKKANEN VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

WENDALL CARTER Jr. VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 1/9/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



--------------BENCH--------------

-------- CHICAGO BULLS --------

ARCIDIANCONO , HARRISON , BLAKENEY

ALKINS , SAMPSON , SELDEN

PARKER , FELICIO

PORTIS , LOPEZ

--- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ---

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
BULLS
Bobby Portis (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
Denzel Valentine (left ankle surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

JIM BOYLEN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL BULLS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

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Haha>>>>>>>>>> @Darkwebs made that female cow look utterly ridiculous. .. Sorry had to use it.​

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