Game Thread GAME# 48: ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 29, 2020 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
HOUSTON ROCKETS
28 - 17
(13-10 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
20 - 27
(11-11 Home)

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

PG

RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

JAMES HARDEN VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

BEN McLEMORE VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

P.J. TUCKER VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

CLINT CAPELA VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

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------- JERSEYS -------

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 1/29/2020

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

-- HOUSTON ROCKETS --

CLEMONS , FRAZIER , RIVERS

GORDON , HOWARD , SEFOLOSHA

HOUSE Jr. , CHANDLER , HARTENSTEIN


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

GABRIEL , SWANIGAN , BROWN



INJURIES
ROCKETS
James Harden (left thigh contusion): QUESTIONABLE
Gerald Green (Left Cuneiform Fracture): OUT
Nenê (Left Adductor Strain): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Skal Labissiere (left knee): OUT
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE D'ANTONI --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL ROCKETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game will be the third of four matchups between the Trail Blazers and Rockets during the 2019-20 season.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers defeated the Rockets 117-107, January 15 in Houston.
Damian Lillard led Portland with 25 points (8-20 FG, 1-8 3-PT, 8-8 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while Russell Westbrook paced Houston with 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting (2-5 30PT, 7-12 FT), to go with 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

• CJ McCollum recorded 24 points (9-18 FG, 3-6 3-PT, 3-4 FT), six assists and two steals against the Rockets on Jan. 15.

• Hassan Whiteside had 18 points (7-16 FG, 4-8 FT), 18 rebounds and two blocks at Houston on Jan. 15.

• Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3-PT, 3-3 FT) and pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds at Houston on Jan. 15.

• Eric Gordon scored 20 points (7-18 FG, 6-13 3-PT) and had two rebounds on Jan. 15.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Rockets lead, 111-87
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 52-46
AT THE ROCKETS: Rockets lead, 65-35

 

[Darkwebs]

Damian Lillard has been straight fire this past week. He's the first Blazer ever with 3 straight games with 40+ points, and the first Blazers to score 50+ points 3 times in a single season.

Moreover, he's the second player in the NBA ever with 3 straight games with 8+ three-pointers (the other being Steph Curry, of course).

This is the 4th game of a 4-game road trip for Houston, and in contrast, this is the 4th game of a 4-game homestand for Portland.

If Dame continues shooting the way he has in the last few games, we have a legitimate shot to win this game (and every game from now until the rest of the season).

Oh and this is the 3rd straight game where we've had 2 days of rest between games. Perfect time to acclimate our new players.

 

[Scalma]

these fucks again

 

[TBpup]

Another 2 days off in between games. Hopefully they can get in a good practice, maybe throw in a wrinkle here or there and fine tune some execution.

....and get Dame's shoulders some rest.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Maybe Harden will still be out, though we do play well against him.

 

[kjironman1]

Alright. Beat these guys again. With or without Hardon the recipe is still the same. Let Westbrook shoot the ball from anywhere outside of 10 feet.

 

[stampedehero]

I dislike the Houston rockets.

 

[Eastoff]

I'm waiting for the music to say, Return of the Nurk, return of the Nurk.

 

[James lamphear]

Just read that Harden will play against us.

 

[Shaboid]

Alright, I'm calling it. Dame is getting a triple double this game.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

We need to keep winning until ALL STAR BREAK. Gotta be better than .500 at home. Good chance on this one! Lets go.

 

[BBert]

I chose Lillard's shooting in the poll.

However: My real answer is the passing and ball movement that has been missing for years.

Last game, we looked like our opponents look against us.

More of that passing the ball around until we find a cutter or an open shooter in rhythm thing, please.

 

[BBert]

Alright, I'm calling it. Dame is getting a triple double this game.

I was hoping for that last game (of course), but I noticed he just wasn't close enough to the basket on defense to contest for enough rebounds.

 

[BBert]

Alright. Beat these guys again. With or without Hardon the recipe is still the same. Let Westbrook shoot the ball from anywhere outside of 10 feet.

Hmmm...wondering how Ariza does guarding those two?

 

[illmatic99]

You know Harden will be out for revenge after that last performance. Hopefully Ariza and Melo give some insight into that system to keep our gameplan ready again.

 

[stampedehero]

,

Just read that Harden will play against us.

 

[James lamphear]

Now Harden an capela list questionable for tomorrow game.

 

[BBert]

Now Harden an capela list questionable for tomorrow game.

He scared

 

[BonesJones]

I chose Lillard's shooting in the poll.

However: My real answer is the passing and ball movement that has been missing for years.

Last game, we looked like our opponents look against us.

More of that passing the ball around until we find a cutter or an open shooter in rhythm thing, please.

The ball movement was beautiful last game.

 

[kjironman1]

Kind of crazy the last few days. Time to get back to some basketball. Also kind of seems like everyone is looking past this game and toward the Lakers game. That could be both good and bad.

 

[kjironman1]

Here is an even crazier fun fact. Both the Dallas and GS games were on National TV. Lillard scoring 61 and 47 points in those games respectively. This game and then again on Friday the Blazers are on National TV. If Lillard somehow puts up 40+ in the next two games he will be behind only Wilt Chamberlin for scoring over a 5 game stretch.
Something tells me if this happens on National TV he will get some credit. Or at least he should.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Here is an even crazier fun fact. Both the Dallas and GS games were on National TV. Lillard scoring 61 and 47 points in those games respectively. This game and then again on Friday the Blazers are on National TV. If Lillard somehow puts up 40+ in the next two games he will be behind only Wilt Chamberlin for scoring over a 5 game stretch.
Something tells me if this happens on National TV he will get some credit. Or at least he should.

watch.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Here is an even crazier fun fact. Both the Dallas and GS games were on National TV. Lillard scoring 61 and 47 points in those games respectively. This game and then again on Friday the Blazers are on National TV. If Lillard somehow puts up 40+ in the next two games he will be behind only Wilt Chamberlin for scoring over a 5 game stretch.
Something tells me if this happens on National TV he will get some credit. Or at least he should.

I hope he gets credit for helping us win a couple games.

 

[TBpup]

Houston beating Utah while sitting Cap, the Beard and the Brick is pretty imipressive. Doesn't hurt that Commissioner Gordon went off for a 50-burger on 22 FGAs.

 

[Boise Blazer]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...e-last-person-you-want-to-see-in-the-playoffs

The Portland Trail Blazers have struggled this season, but Damian Lillard is still warning opponents not to count him out.

That's what he indicated to Russell Westbrook during their trash-talking in a game two weeks ago.

The 29-year-old revealed to Jason Quick of The Athletic that after arguing about Westbrook's free-throw shooting, the Houston Rockets guard came back by asking, "What playoff seed are you all?"

Lillard responded: "You know I'm the last person you want to see in the playoffs.'"

 

[illmatic99]

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php...having-the-worst-attitude-on-the-team.303471/

 

[SIeepwalker]

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php...having-the-worst-attitude-on-the-team.303471/

Recently RW called out JH. It was not malicious, but it shows just how close they are and how RW can call him out on his ****. Very impressed!

Seems like this is a real group!

Clutchfans are unintentional comedic geniuses

 

[TBpup]

Lillard responded: "You know I'm the last person you want to see in the playoffs."

End of discussion between Lillard and Westbrick. Classic!

 

[DDolla]

Another Dame vs Russ game. My beer and popcorn are ready. Let’s Go Blazers!

 

[kjironman1]