Game Thread GAME# 42: KINGS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 19, 2015 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), CSNNW (2 Viewers)

[Darkwebs]

PROBABLE STARTERS

PG

DARREN COLLISON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

BEN McLEMORE VS WESLEY MATTHEWS

SF

RUDY GAY VS NICOLAS BATUM

PF

JASON THOMPSON VS LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE

C

DeMARCUS COUSINS VS CHRIS KAMAN







WHEN: 7:00 PM, MONDAY, 1/19/2014​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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BENCH

SACRAMENTO KINGS

SESSIONS , McCALLUM , STAUSKAS , CASSPI ,

WILLIAMS , MILLER , EVANS , HOLLINS


PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , McCOLLUM , BARTON , CRABBE

WRIGHT , CLAVER , ROBINSON , LEONARD


INJURIES
KINGS
▪ DeMarcus Cousins (right ankle sprain): PROBABLE
▪ Rudy Gay (left shoulder strain & left knee capsule sprain): PROBABLE
▪ Omri Casspi (left knee bone contusion): PROBABLE
▪ Ramon Sessions (low back strain): PROBABLE
▪ Carl Landry (right wrist sprain): OUT
▪ Eric Moreland (left shoulder labral tear): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
▪ Joel Freeland (right shoulder strain): OUT
▪ Robin Lopez (fractured right index finger): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TYRONE CORBIN --- TERRY STOTTS




OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Monday marks the second of three matchups between the Trail Blazers and Kings in 2014-15.

• The Trail Blazers rank sixth in the NBA in 3-point shooting (37.2%), while Sacramento is the fourth best team in the league at defending the 3-point shot. The Kings have allowed their opponents to shoot 33.0% from downtown.

• Portland allows the third fewest points per game in the NBA this season (97.0), while the Kings are 26th in the NBA with 103.9 points given up per game.

• Sacramento won the first game of this season series, 103-94, in Sacramento on Oct. 31. In that game, Rudy Gay scored a gamehigh 40 points on 13-of-19 shooting (11-13 FT).

• The Kings outscored Portland by nine in the fourth quarter of that Oct. 31st game, marking the first time Sacramento defeated the Trail Blazers in the first game of the season series since 2006-07.

• The Trail Blazers have won nine of their past 11 games played against the Kings in Portland dating back to 2008-09.

• Damian Lillard’s 14 3-pointers made against the Kings in 2013-14 tied his total against Minnesota for most three-point field goals made against any team during the season. Lillard has connected on at least three 3-pointers in seven of his nine career games against Sacramento.

• LaMarcus Aldridge has scored at least 20 points in each of the last seven games against the Kings.

• Damian Lillard’s 41-point performance against Sacramento on Jan. 7, 2014 represented his career-high through his first two NBA seasons. Lillard is averaging 26.6 points per game over his previous three contests against the Kings.

• In his past three games against the Trail Blazers, Rudy Gay is averaging 34.0 points on 35-of-62 (56.4%) shooting. Gay has scored 30+ points and made 10+ field goals in each of those three games.

• DeMarcus Cousins has recorded four double-doubles in his past six games against the Trail Blazers. Cousins has also scored 30+ points in four of his past five matchups with Portland.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 121-76
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 80-18
AT THE KINGS: Kings lead, 58-41

OFFICIAL KINGS' GAME NOTES




GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[Darkwebs]

Game 42: POR v. SAC (16-24, 6-10 road), 1/19/2015

Our last game: L @ MEM, 102-98, 1/17/15

Memphis led by as many as 20 in the second half, but saw that dwindle to 95-93 when Portland's Damian Lillard connected on a 3-pointer with 1:06 left. Udrih's 20-footer as the shot clock expired on the next possession helped Memphis maintain the lead.
Lillard connected on another 3-pointer with 27 seconds left, but then Udrih made his 22-footer.
"I was pleased with our effort in the second half," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "Beno made two jumpers that obviously made a difference. We put ourselves in a position to win a game on the road against a good team and just fell a little short in the second half."
LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 32 points, 18 in the second half, while Wesley Matthews finished with 25 points. Lillard, who struggled through three quarters, scored 23, including 10 in the fourth as Portland made its comeback.
The loss gave Portland its first three-game losing streak this season.
"If I knew the answer, I would fix it," Aldridge said when asked about execution. "So, I don't know. I think we've got to look in the mirror and see what we're doing."
Portland only converted a third of its shots through much of the first three quarters. That allowed Memphis to extend its advantage to 20. The Trail Blazers were able to trim the Memphis lead to 78-70 after three.
Matthews and Aldridge keyed a 12-2 rally in the middle of the fourth. Aldridge backed down whatever defender the Grizzlies rotated to him.
Portland got no closer than three points in the final minute thanks to Udrih's baskets -- both coming late in the shot clock.
"I thought the fourth quarter was as close to playoff intensity as you can get in game 40," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said.
TIP-INS:
Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum scored three points, and has reached double figures only once in the last seven games. ...Portland has lost seven of the last eight games against Memphis. ...After Portland's leading three scorers, no other player had more than five points.

Their last game: L v. LAC, 117-108, 1/17/15

Jason Thompson had 23 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for the Kings, who have dropped three straight. Sacramento played without leading scorer and rebounder DeMarcus Cousins.
Both teams were playing the tail end of back-to-backs and it showed, especially early on.
Griffin got the Clippers going in the third quarter when he repeatedly got inside and to the free throw line. With Cousins out and backup Ryan Hollins in foul trouble, the Kings couldn't keep up.
Los Angeles went on an 11-0 run to go up 75-64 midway through the third. Paul, limited to two points in the first half, scored four and lobbed a pass to Griffin for a dunk.
Sacramento cut the gap to 86-79 early in the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer.
"I can't be any more happy about our effort," said Kings guard Darren Collison, who had 17 points and four assists. "We had a lot of guys that couldn't play this game due to injuries, but we had a lot of guys that stepped up. If we play with that same effort, we're going to be all right."
Rudy Gay, who sat out Friday's loss to Miami after injuring his left knee capsule on Tuesday, had 22 points off the bench for the Kings. He was listed as questionable before the game and did not start, checking in with just more than 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Barnes had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half, but Gay made a pair of 3-pointers over the final 70 seconds of the second quarter to tie the game at 52.
---
COUNTER MOVE
With about six minutes left in the fourth, the Kings resorted to fouling Clippers center DeAndre Jordan away from the basket, much like Cleveland did in the third quarter. And as he did against the Cavs, Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers pulled Jordan and finished the game with Spencer Hawes.

Previous season meetings:

The Kings opened the season series with a 103-94 win over the Trail Blazers on Oct. 31 behind 40 points from Rudy Gay. Cousins played in that win, but could miss Monday's rematch as he continues to deal with an ankle injury. Sacramento is 2-10 without Cousins this season.
Portland has won nine of 11 at home against the Kings.

Injuries: POR- Lopez (out), Freeland (out), Crabbe (day-to-day)
SAC- Session (out), Landry (out)

Matchups:
Lillard v. Collison (16.5ppg, 5.9apg, 3.1rpg)
Matthews v. McLemore (11.9ppg, 3.1rpg)
Batum v. Gay (20.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.1apg)
Aldridge v. Thompson (5.8ppg, 6.7rpg)
Kaman v. Cousins (24.0ppg, 12.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6blk/g, 1.3 stl/g)

Power Rankings:
ESPN: (22) All-Star starters will be announced Thursday. The campaign to get DeMarcus Cousins enough votes from West coaches is surely underway already. He's such a force individually -- up to No. 6 overall in PER at 26.1 -- that he just might barge his way in. But who can say for sure with Boogie in the stacked West?

NBA.com (24) Pace: 96.8 (11) OffRtg: 103.5 (14) DefRtg: 105.7 (24) NetRtg: -2.2 (19)
The Kings went 2-4 on their homestand, dealing with injuries, shooting poorly from the perimeter, blowing leads, and continuing to struggle when they go to their bench. No team has more road games remaining, and the schedule turns now, with visits to Portland and Golden State this week. One bit of optimism: Their starting guards have shot well on the road.

Covers.com (19) December killed this team dead, but a blowout of Cleveland (no Lebron) and an OT loss to Dallas (covered) at least have things pointed back in the right direction.

Washington Post (14) The Kings are 3-7 since they fired their coach but get to the free throw line more than any other team (30.2 percent of all shots are from free throw line).

Link to Grandpa Blaze's Prediction Game
Link to MediocreMan's Over/Under Game

Final Thoughts: With Boogie back and our centers still out, this could be a rough day down low. However, even when Wes and Dame have bad days, they still can combine for 40 without thinking about it. On the Blazers' end down low, Cousins has over a block and steal per game and can play Kaman straight-up. Thompson is a pesterer for LMA (and had 22 rebounds last game) and this could be interestingly close. Still, Blazers by 10, and with a good game from the guards can end up winning by 30.

Us 108
Them 98

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

***Reserved for my victory comments.***

Go Blazers.

That is all.

FAMS.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

<KingSpeed>Must win or season over!</KingSpeed>

 

[Strenuus]

Cousins may go for 50+

 

[PDXFonz]

Cousins may go for 50+

Not in the RG. When was the last time a non blazer put up 50 in rip city?

 

[Strenuus]

Not in the RG. When was the last time a non blazer put up 50 in rip city?

No Rolo, No Freeland? If Cousins gets going early on... watch out.

Have Beibs start and give him a hard foul to get Cousins off kilter... best defense against him is to get him emotional. It's the Russell Westbrook defense.

 

[PDXFonz]

No Rolo, No Freeland? If Cousins gets going early on... watch out.

Have Beibs start and give him a hard foul to get Cousins off kilter... best defense against him is to get him emotional. It's the Russell Westbrook defense.

Cousins would rip Leonard's head off and shit down his neck, lol.

 

[Strenuus]

Cousins would rip Leonard's head off and shit down his neck, lol.

Cousins is Duke Nukem?

 

[PDXFonz]

Cousins is Duke Nukem?

When it comes to going toe to toe with Leonard he sure is.

 

[PDXFonz]

You are 100% correct though, he would probably get pissed and do something stupid.

 

[illmatic99]

Halfway point through the season. We still don't have a signature win (maybe @ NO after a triple OT game the night before in SA??? ).

Either way, it's time to get off this little slide we have and blow these guys out.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Halfway point through the season. We still don't have a signature win (maybe @ NO after a triple OT game the night before in SA??? ).

Either way, it's time to get off this little slide we have and blow these guys out.

So, the 21-point win over DAL doesn' t count? Or, the 3OT win in SAS (both teams were missing two starters), or maybe coming back from 10 down with 1:35 left to win at OKC? What about the OT win over TOR. Heck, even the 19-point win over CLE and the 18-point win over CHI felt pretty big at the time.

So, if none of these qualify, what exactly is a "signature" win?

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

Chillax, BNN, do you always gotta be so combative?

Just wondering out loud myself. I still can't remember a game when both our offense and defense were both ON for 4 full quarters. Most of these times, we use a late run to put away teams. Maybe that's our signature... i dunno. What I want is a thumping early, and the scrubs to play the second half because the game is so outta reach.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Chillax, BNN, do you always gotta be so combative?

Just wondering out loud myself. I still can't remember a game when both our offense and defense were both ON for 4 full quarters. Most of these times, we use a late run to put away teams. Maybe that's our signature... i dunno. What I want is a thumping early, and the scrubs to play the second half because the game is so outta reach.

It wasn't combative. It was a legitimate question. Seems like we've had several big wins this season, including some on the road against some pretty good teams.

BNM

 

[BrianFromWA]

it's shocking that, down (effectively) two starters and our best defender for a month or more, we're losing to really good teams.

 

[Strenuus]

it's shocking that, down (effectively) two starters and our best defender for a month or more, we're losing to really good teams.

The audacity!

 

[Boob-No-More]

it's shocking that, down (effectively) two starters and our best defender for a month or more, we're losing to really good teams.

With 8 of our next 12 games against >.500 teams, it will be interesting to see how the team does with Rolo and Freeland out. 6 of those 8 are on the road.

Anyone know the time tables for the return of Lopez and Freeland? Things aren't going to get any easier until we get one, or both, back.

I agree with your post in another thread - Leonard should start and Kaman should go back to coming off the bench. Kaman can create his own shot, and we need that more with the second unit than with the starters. Kaman's offense is kind of wasted when playing with both Lillard and Aldridge. He's a better fit next to Blake, who is a good facilitator, but not much of a scoring threat.

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

Anyone know the time tables for the return of Lopez and Freeland? Things aren't going to get any easier until we get one, or both, back.

The scheduled 6 weeks rehab for Rolo should put his return around Jan 30 in the middle of our 4 game eastern trip.

Joel should have come back from his 2 week absence around the 17th, so he can't be too far away. But his injury and recovery might be harder to predict than Rolo's.

 

[BrianFromWA]

RoLo's is pretty standard...broken bone, time to heal, not really affecting basketball drills and stuff, should be a regular timeline.

Joel's wasn't. Even the day after the injury, it was "in 2 weeks we'll re-evaluate". No one said "Strained XXX or whatever, 2 weeks of rest". I'm not counting on him to be back until he is back, and I think it's well worse than the "2-week rest" variety.

The Blazers announced on Saturday night that a results of magnetic resonance imaging revealed a "strain" in Freeland's right shoulder. Freeland will be reevaluated after sitting out for two weeks.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_joel_freeland_out_2_weeks_with_right.html

Hope I'm wrong on that, but nothing the team has said or done make me think it's a short-term tweak or anything. And the shoulder's a messy area to deal with.

 

[riverman]

Almost two weeks into rehab Joel mentioned he still had pain and shoulder soreness, so my guess is Rolo and Joel come back after the allstar break. It's going to cost us some wins for sure. I wonder if we'll see more small ball against the Kings

 

[riverman]

I almost expect to see Lamarcus guard Boogie most of the time

 

[BrianFromWA]

Preview updated in Post 2.

 

[Boise Blazer]

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Demarcus Cousins would have to be dead to miss an opportunity to score 100 in an NBA game.

 

[KingSpeed]

Who voted for Batum to score 21 plus? It ain't happening.

 

[KingSpeed]

So, the 21-point win over DAL doesn' t count? Or, the 3OT win in SAS (both teams were missing two starters), or maybe coming back from 10 down with 1:35 left to win at OKC? What about the OT win over TOR. Heck, even the 19-point win over CLE and the 18-point win over CHI felt pretty big at the time.

So, if none of these qualify, what exactly is a "signature" win?

BNM

My favorite games this year were the Spurs 3OT game and OKC OT game.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Mus Twin.

 

[PDXFonz]

I just realized we are past the half way point for the season! Damn its going by too quick this year...

 

[riverman]

Go Blazers! Hope Nic gets a triple double tonight!