Game Thread Game #44 - BLAZERS @ MIAMI HEAT - JANUARY 19, 2022 - WEDNESDAY - 4:30 (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Anfernee Simons CJ McCollum

Norman Powell Nassir Little

Jusuf Nurkic



Max Strus Tyler Herro

Jimmy Butler Bam Adebayo

Omer Yurtseven

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WHEN: JANAUARY 19, 2022 - WEDNESDAY - 4:30 PM (PDT)

WHERE: FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FLORIDA



TV BROADCAST



RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Robert Covington Tony Snell

Ben McLemore Dennis Smith Jr

CJ Elleby Greg Brown III

Trendon Watford Keljin Blevins


Damian Lillard Larry Nance Jr

Cody Zeller


MIAMI


Duncan Robinson PJ Tucker

Dewayne Dedmon Caleb Martin

Udonis Haslem

Kyle Guy Chris Silva

Gabe Vincent


Kyle Lowry Victor Oladipo

KZ Okpala Markieff Morris


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INJURIES

MIAMI

Kyle Lowry (Personal) OUT
Markieff Morris (Cond.) OUT
KZ Okpala (Wrist) OUT
Victor Oladipo (Quad) OUT


BLAZERS

Damian Lillard (Abdominal) OUT
Larry Nance Jr (Knee) OUT
Cody Zeller (Knee) OUT

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COACHES


Chauncey Billups


Erik Spoelstra

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NOTES
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• This is the second of two matchups this season between the Trail Blazers and Heat
• The Heat defeated the Blazers back on January 5th, 115 -109 in Portland.
• The Heat and Trail Blazers split the 2020-21 season series 1-1
• Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra's father Jon was the GM of the Blazers from 1986 -1989

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TRIVIA

The Blazers last played the Heat in Miami on 3/25/21, winning 125 - 122. He recorded 20 points for the Blazers off the bench.

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​

 

[blazerkor]

For the poll question, I guess it's Nas that comes off the bench out of the choices you give because RoCo is bigger and despite what everyone in here keeps trying to tell themselves size does matter. Maybe a temporary solution is convincing Norm that he needs to play himself back into shape and come off the bench. What really needs to happen is a big trade or two. CJ needs to be traded pronto.

 

[blazerkor]

This game isn't going to be as easy as the one we just had against Orlando but we have been beating teams we're not supposed to be lately so who knows. Go Blazer!

 

[illmatic99]

when olshey traded trent for powell last year, i imagined derrick jones would still remain the starter and norm would be our super 6th man. i never figured they'd try to make him an SF.

i hate that this is our roster construction.

come on, joe. save us.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Does the winning streak continue?

 

[Mr. Robot]

id say powell should be a backup, team is more balanced with little in the starting unit and we can use powell scoring off the bench (id keep simons in the starting unit due to his playmaking)

say no to a three guard line-up

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

CJ as sixth man!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Adebayo will be playing, right?

 

[riverman]

Dislike any team with a Morris twin on it....beat the Heat!

 

[Chris Craig]

Adebayo will be playing, right?

Yes

Lineups have been adjusted

 

[Bruno]

id say powell should be a backup, team is more balanced with little in the starting unit and we can use powell scoring off the bench (id keep simons in the starting unit due to his playmaking)

say no to a three guard line-up

Perfect quote

 

[Bruno]

Norman should absoluley coming off the bench; with Nassir and 2022 RoCo we have size, Nassir is young and IMO he’s a starter in this roster;

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Dislike any team with a Morris twin on it....beat the Heat!

Don't know or even care which one it is.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Norman should absoluley coming off the bench; with Nassir and 2022 RoCo we have size, Nassir is young and IMO he’s a starter in this roster;

Yeah i agree.
I could see Billups going with this for the start but i just cannot see him rolling with three guards much longer. He's even said multiple times they come out undersized and it kills them.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

The poll left off Tony Snell.
Tony Snell should be left on the bench.

Though Elleby started to get watchable with a little run.

 

[Scalma]

Yeah i agree.
I could see Billups going with this for the start but i just cannot see him rolling with three guards much longer. He's even said multiple times they come out undersized and it kills them.

The three guard lineup is dumb especially when they don’t defend, but there’s also no chance they’re gonna put $90m on the bench. We just need to live with it until a trade is made, which is more of a when not if at this point.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'll say it again; let CJ come off the bench, or Simons. Whatever works so that Simons can play as much as possible without CJ. I think he is more effective running things without having to set up CJ.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree that Little needs to start at SF. But for now, NP needs to play SF as well. We have no choice at the moment than to play a 3 guard lineup....at least when the 2nd team is in. Our guards off the bench are playing well (Ben and Dennis) but we lack the depth at SF until Nance comes back and RoCo can play both forward spots. For tonight anyway, NP is a better overall option at the 3 than Snell or Brown.

 

[Cugel]

Well, a 3 guard lineup is perfect for tanking. But it's so stupid and fails over and over and...
Too many egos will get hurt if Cj or Norm come off the bench. Thanks Neil.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Tyler Herro just had to go into healthy and safety protocols - so one less shooter for them.

 

[Scalma]

I agree that Little needs to start at SF. But for now, NP needs to play SF as well. We have no choice at the moment than to play a 3 guard lineup....at least when the 2nd team is in. Our guards off the bench are playing well (Ben and Dennis) but we lack the depth at SF until Nance comes back and RoCo can play both forward spots. For tonight anyway, NP is a better overall option at the 3 than Snell or Brown.

won't have an issue tonight as Powell is out lol. But I agree

Tyler Herro just had to go into healthy and safety protocols - so one less shooter for them.

Scared of Nurk I get it

 

[illmatic99]

Should be a fun matchup tonight.

Ant could go off with no Lowry.
Nas v Jimmy is gonna be fun.
Jusuf v Bam is gonna be a slugfest.

 

[Scalma]

scenes when Strus and Robinson combine for 60 points

 

[Cugel]

Having CJ back will likely stifle Ant's progress. I don't like it at all. Either one, fine but both on the floor is dumb.

 

[BonesJones]

Having CJ back will likely stifle Ant's progress. I don't like it at all. Either one, fine but both on the floor is dumb.

Ant needs to figure out how to perform at a high level while sharing the backcourt with a ball-dominant guard. Playing next to CJ will prepare him to play next to Dame. If anything it'll help his development.

 

[Strenuus]

Ant needs to figure out how to perform at a high level while sharing the backcourt with a ball-dominant guard. Playing next to CJ will prepare him to play next to Dame. If anything it'll help his development.

Trade value. That's all that matters. Just need to trade CJ.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Ant needs to figure out how to perform at a high level while sharing the backcourt with a ball-dominant guard. Playing next to CJ will prepare him to play next to Dame. If anything it'll help his development.

That's a good point. I even hold out hope that CJ could move around and get open for Anf's passes. And Anf could then develop his PG skills further.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Norman Powell and CJ back? Back to getting blown out

 

[Cugel]

Start Snell. Give him 40+ minutes.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Start Snell. Give him 40+ minutes.

When playing against Butler and Bam and the Miami system; I don't think we need to try to tank.