Game Thread Game #47 - BLAZERS VS TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 25, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Anfernee Simons CJ McCollum

Nassir Little Robert Covington

Jusuf Nurkic



D'Angelo Russell Patrick Beverly

Anthony Edwards Jared Vanderbilt

Karl Anthony Towns

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WHEN: JANUARY 25, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT)

WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND OR



TV BROADCAST



RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Norman Powell Tony Snell

Ben McLemore Dennis Smith Jr

CJ Elleby Greg Brown III

Trendon Watford Keljin Blevins

Damian Lillard

Cody Zeller Larry Nance Jr


TIMBERWOLVES


Malik Beasley Naz Reid

Taurean Prince Jaden McDaniels

Josh Okogie Jaylen Nowell

Leandro Bolmaro Jake Layman

Nathan Knight Jordan McLaughlin

McKinley Wright IV

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INJURIES

TIMBERWOLVES

Patrick Beverley (Ankle) QUESTIONABLE

Jordan McLaughlin (Cond.) QUESTIONABLE


BLAZERS

Damian Lillard (Abdominal) OUT
Larry Nance (Knee) OUT
Cody Zeller (Knee) OUT
Norman Powell QUESTIONABLE


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COACHES


Chauncey Billups


Chris Finch

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NOTES
​

• This is the 2nd if four games between the Blazers and Timberwolves this season
• The Timberwolves beat the Blazers 116 -111 back on 12/12
• The two teams will face each other again March 5th and 7th
• The Blazers won the 2020-21 season series 2-1
• The Blazers bought the 47th pick in 2nd rnd of the 2016 draft and took Jake Layman. He played for Portland from 2016-19

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TRIVIA

The Blazers last played the Timberwolves on December 12th, losing 116 - 111. He led the Blazers in scoring with 26 points off the bench.

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​

 

[Wizard Mentor]

• The Blazers bought the 4th pick in the 2016 draft and took Jake Layman. He played for Portland from 2016-19

of the 2nd round.

 

[Chris Craig]

of the 2nd round.

Meant to say #47th

Fixed

 

[blazerkor]

For the poll question, I just think it's part of playing out the schedule. As far as this game, the way that both teams have been playing this is a pretty evenly matched game, especially with us at home.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Looks like Anthony Edwards won't be joining us:



Edit: Reports that it may not be serious, more of a knee on knee collision and bruising.

 

[TBpup]

One of the better road trips in...years? With no Dame, Nance, Powell, Zeller? Maybe they aren't who we thought they were.....

 

[Sheldon Shape]

One of the better road trips in...years? With no Dame, Nance, Powell, Zeller? Maybe they aren't who we thought they were.....

More than likely we're seeing the results of Chauncey Billups getting out of this team what he's been aiming for.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

One of the better road trips in...years? With no Dame, Nance, Powell, Zeller? Maybe they aren't who we thought they were.....

Not sure where people are getting this "Best Road Trip in Years" thing?
Just last year they had multiple road trips that were better. 4-0 against Heat, Magic, Raptors and Pistons. Then 5-1 Pacers, Grizzlies, Nets, Celtics, Hawks (loss), Cavs.
Not taking anything away from the way the team is playing but 4-2 isn't all that special.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

More than likely we're seeing the results of Chauncey Billups getting out of this team what he's been aiming for.

They literally won two of those games in spite of the mistakes Billups made? Lets not lose all perspective please. They lost a 26 points of a 30 point lead in the last game? Got to give credit they had a 30 point lead to begin with but not sure that is what he is aiming for?

 

[TBpup]

Not sure where people are getting this "Best Road Trip in Years" thing?
Just last year they had multiple road trips that were better. 4-0 against Heat, Magic, Raptors and Pistons. Then 5-1 Pacers, Grizzlies, Nets, Celtics, Hawks (loss), Cavs.
Not taking anything away from the way the team is playing but 4-2 isn't all that special.

Without the players they are missing.....when is the last time they did anything like that? #BiggerPicture

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Without the players they are missing.....when is the last time they did anything like that? #BiggerPicture

The first 4-0 road trip was without Nurk and CJ and playing Melo and Kanter. Are we really going to bring up injuries? Really?
"Sure seems like we play teams missing their best players" Nah. Lets not go there.

"Most Illogical" is right.

 

[TBpup]

The first 4-0 road trip was without Nurk and CJ and playing Melo and Kanter. Are we really going to bring up injuries? Really?
"Sure seems like we play teams missing their best players" Nah. Lets not go there.

"Most Illogical" is right.

So minus Nurk/CJ is the same as minus Dame/Powell/Nance....okay. I'll just agree to disagree.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Kanter and Melo with an MVP Dame is a great offensive lineup. The problem with Kanter and Melo wasn't their ability to win a few road games in the middle of the season, they were actually great at that.

The problem was playoff teams that had time to prepare, game plan, and exploit their defensive shortcomings. They became worthless in competitive playoff series.

What this team has done last road trip without Dame, without other starters, and huge roles from Simons/NAS is very impressive.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

So minus Nurk/CJ is the same as minus Dame/Powell/Nance....okay. I'll just agree to disagree.

Yeah i do see your point and this is mostly opinion based as i have no actual numbers to back any of it up. Just feels like people didn't expect it at all and were pretty much on the tank train. Makes that 4-2 seem like it's something more special. Raptors were at full strength but they are really only a 500 team(with no fans). The Wiz are also pretty much a 500 team. The Heat lost Butler early and they lost that one. Now the Boston win was notable to me. Obviously the Magic are not good.
I'm still skeptical. Billups needs more experience. The team seems to be playing better but they are not beating good teams.
All in all i'm happy to see improvement.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

but they are not beating good teams.

Not beating good teams? List of teams we’ve blown out:

Suns (by 29)
Grizzlies (healthy)
Clippers (with George)
Nuggets
Lakers (healthy)

We’ve also beaten the Grizzlies, Bulls and Nets in close games.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Sure, we're not beating good teams in this current stretch (though the Nets and kind of Boston are certainly not bad) - but previously we weren't beating ANY teams, so it's improvement.

 

[TBpup]

Sure, we're not beating good teams in this current stretch (though the Nets and kind of Boston are certainly not bad) - but previously we weren't beating ANY teams, so it's improvement.

Exactly. Going into this road trip, the team had 2 road wins so far. Much of that crap was before players were dealing with injuries that were keeping them out. Now, even a still decimated roster managed to double the win total in one road trip. That seems to be a good sign of growth and certainly better than the poor effort that was going on before. Sadly, some of those Dame/CJ/Powell/Cov/Nurk games were some of the most lackluster efforts I've seen in years.

This group has less talent, but is playing with more heart. #winning

 

[BlazerBeav]

Norm is back.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Norm is back.

So, no minutes for CJ2 (fingers crossed).

 

[Labinot41]

Nas is like always on a injury report, that's not good long term

 

[Scalma]

Powell is back, time to up that trade value. Gonna be so pissed if/when Nas gets benched.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Sure, we're not beating good teams in this current stretch (though the Nets and kind of Boston are certainly not bad) - but previously we weren't beating ANY teams, so it's improvement.

Nets are more than “not bad.” They had Durant and Kyrie when we, I mean Nassir Little, beat them.

 

[Bruno]

Norman should come off the bench, we need Nassir and Roço, we have been playing our best with this unit.

a Lakers lost and a Win, we get close to them. Dame can Comeback after the all star break. Still time for the Blazers to make a push

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Not beating good teams? List of teams we’ve blown out:

Suns (by 29)
Grizzlies (healthy)
Clippers (with George)
Nuggets
Lakers (healthy)

We’ve also beaten the Grizzlies, Bulls and Nets in close games.

Jezus dude.
Suns was the second game of the season and they played the night before in LA. Blazers had 2 full days rest and were at home.
The Grizzlies was a 20 point win and they were on their third game of a road trip and played the Clippers two nights before.
They have also lost twice to the Clippers with George.
They have also lost twice to the Nuggets and the last one was by 32
You yourself say the Lakers suck so why would you go there.
Your idea of a blow out is comical as well.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Jezus dude.
Suns was the second game of the season and they played the night before in LA. Blazers had 2 full days rest and were at home.
The Grizzlies was a 20 point win and they were on their third game of a road trip and played the Clippers two nights before.
They have also lost twice to the Clippers with George.
They have also lost twice to the Nuggets and the last one was by 32
You yourself say the Lakers suck so why would you go there.
Your idea of a blow out is comical as well.

Exactly. Start of the season. Healthy and rested. How can they be tired on the second of back to back when the season just started? Have they been losing by 29 on second games of back to back all season?

So now the Grizzlies excuse is that they played TWO nights before? LOL.

How is my idea of a blowout comical? They were all by at least 15 points. Beat Suns by 29 points. Beav said we don't beat good teams but we have.

Your entire post here is comical. If you want a real excuse, the Blazers lost to Denver by 32 when they were without Dame, CJ, Powell, AND Simons.

Grizzlies and Suns have zero excuse for getting destroyed by us. Especially since our star player had debilitating injury.

 

[Strenuus]

Exactly. Start of the season. Healthy and rested. How can they be tired on the second of back to back when the season just started? Have they been losing by 29 on second games of back to back all season?

So now the Grizzlies excuse is that they played TWO nights before? LOL.

How is my idea of a blowout comical? They were all by at least 15 points. Beat Suns by 29 points. Beav said we don't beat good teams but we have.

Your entire post here is comical. If you want a real excuse, the Blazers lost to Denver by 32 when they were without Dame, CJ, Powell, AND Simons.

Grizzlies and Suns have zero excuse for getting destroyed by us. Especially since our star player had debilitating injury.

Our star played on that "debilitating" injury for years so....

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Our star played on that "debilitating" injury for years so....

Yes but he clearly said it's much worse now than it was. It hasn't been this bad "for years."

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Exactly. Start of the season. Healthy and rested. How can they be tired on the second of back to back when the season just started? Have they been losing by 29 on second games of back to back all season?

So now the Grizzlies excuse is that they played TWO nights before? LOL.

How is my idea of a blowout comical? They were all by at least 15 points. Beat Suns by 29 points. Beav said we don't beat good teams but we have.

Your entire post here is comical. If you want a real excuse, the Blazers lost to Denver by 32 when they were without Dame, CJ, Powell, AND Simons.

Grizzlies and Suns have zero excuse for getting destroyed by us. Especially since our star player had debilitating injury.

This dude saying someone else's post is "Comical".

 

[Cugel]

I was at the Suns game, right behind Dame (!) and Paul was awful that night. The whole game he did nothing but jaw with Chauncey and bitch and moan. Ayton too, was basically MIA, Booger was Booger. On the other hand Portland made everything.

Big deal they beat the Suns. Means nothing to me TBH. Suns are far and away vastly superior to Portland in every way.

 

[James lamphear]

I don't why some people in here don't give credit when deserve with this team. Winning 4 games last road trip was actually pretty good in my eyes. You going make excuses why we won that's rediculus. As said before Billups wasn't my choice for being the coach of this team and yes he makes rookie coaches mistakes but give him credit he got these guys playing team basketball and gave these young kids on this team a lot confidence that going out there competing. When CJ and Dame went down they could have thrown in the towel but they didn't and there playing that's on schedule like all of other teams do. So don't be so critical how there winning just look at it there plain doing things on the court to have give the chance to win every night.