Game Thread GAME# 49: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - JANUARY 22, 2019 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
29 - 19
(9-12 Road)
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
28 - 18
(14-7 Home)


_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS RUSSELL WESTBROOK

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS TERRANCE FERGUSON

SF

MAURICE HARKLESS VS PAUL GEORGE

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS JERAMI GRANT

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS STEVEN ADAMS

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WHEN: 5:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 1/22/2019

WHERE: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD


- OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-

FELTON , SCHRODER , DIALLO

ABRINES , BURTON , LUWAWU-CABARROT

NADER , GRANTHAM

PATTERSON , NOEL



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee): QUESTIONABLE
THUNDER
Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon): OUT
Alex Abrines (personal): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- BILLY DONOVAN

OFFICIAL THUNDER'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Tuesday’s game marks the second of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Thunder during the 2018-19 season. The Thunder lead the season-series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: A Damian Lillard three-point attempt with 1.5 seconds remaining in the game was off and the Trail Blazers fell to the Thunder, 111-109, at Moda Center on Jan. 4. Lillard led Portland with 23 points (7-19 FG, 1-8 3-PT, 8-9 FT) to go with eight assists and two steals while Paul George scored a game-high 37 points (10-23 FG, 5-9 3-PT, 12-14 FT) while adding eight rebounds, two assists and one steal for the Thunder.

• Jusuf Nurkic recorded 22 points (9-14 FG, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds, one assist, three steals and one block against Oklahoma City on Jan. 4.

• Al-Farouq Aminu finished with 16 points (6-11 FG, 2-5 3-PT, 2-2 FT), 15 rebounds and two assists against the Thunder on Jan. 4.

• Russell Westbrook recorded 31 points (13-28 FG, 0-2 3-PT, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal against the Trail Blazers on Jan. 4.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Thunder lead, 117-116
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 76-41
AT THE THUNDER: Thunder lead, 76-40

​

 

[Darkwebs]

This is it! These two teams' current season records are virtually identical, so tonight's game will determine the sole #3 team in the West (for a day at least). The Blazers will look to avenge their lost from earlier this month against the Thunder.

This will be an absolute battle, as there's no love lost between these two teams, and we know Nurkic irritates opponents without even trying, not to mention it will be nationally televised by NBATV. It won't be an easy one for Portland, as they will have less than 24 hours between games. And although OKC also played on MLK Day, their game was in the morning.

In other news the Blazers continue to make the fourth quarter irrelevant, as their streak of games decided at the end of the 3rd continues!

Speaking of continuing streaks , Layman has scored in double-digits for 5 straight games. And he isn't just volume-shooting; his percentages are redonkulous, as shown below (Jake's last 5 game logs):

It seems nobody can stop Jake (outside of Stotts).

So let's get pumped for another duel against a Western Conference Playoff team! Rip City, baby!

 

[Scalma]

Big game on paper but I think the pressure is relatively low on the blazers considering the road b2b and the win tonight. Let’s steal one though.

 

[THE HCP]

Man oh man..... this is gonna be a late one. Finally started de-icing BlazerOne and it’s already 11:15.

 

[tykendo]

Awesome pic H. Atleast it's a relatively short flight. Blessings for a smooth ride over the Rockies. Glad I don't deliver in those mountains anymore. Finally moved back to The Land of Blazer.

 

[THE HCP]

Ya they said 2:15 flight time. Been smooth so far.

 

[ripcityboy]

Ya they said 2:15 flight time. Been smooth so far.

Here HCP, one of the best traveling songs in the rock era.

 

[blazerkor]

This is a big game for the standings. We're virtually tied with OKC and both teams are on the second night of a back to back. Both teams had to travel and OKC had to travel a lot further than we did. It being the second night of a back to back I'm betting Moe will sit and Jake will start. Jake will bring that energy. Dame and Nurk will have big games and in one night we'll be able to go ahead of OKC by a full game.

 

[THE HCP]

Here HCP, one of the best traveling songs in the rock era.

I know this song well.

 

[THE HCP]

This is a big game for the standings. We're virtually tied with OKC and both teams are on the second night of a back to back. Both teams had to travel and OKC had to travel a lot further than we did. It being the second night of a back to back I'm betting Moe will sit and Jake will start. Jake will bring that energy. Dame and Nurk will have big games and in one night we'll be able to go ahead of OKC by a full game.

OKC landed here in town about 8 hours before us sir.

 

[THE HCP]

3:20am
Just got to our rooms......
Buenos Noches FAMILIAS.

 

[blazerkor]

OKC landed here in town about 8 hours before us sir.

Well I still have this as an important W.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Man oh man..... this is gonna be a late one. Finally started de-icing BlazerOne and it’s already 11:15.

View attachment 24427

Damn dude - how much cocaine do they need after a game?

 

[THE HCP]

Well I still have this as an important W.

Most definitely it is. You went out of your way to compare the travel and it’s completely different this evening.

 

[kjironman1]

Most definitely it is. You went out of your way to compare the travel and it’s completely different this evening.

Does Blazer One have any extra leg room so they can actually sleep while waiting for de-icing?

 

[illmatic99]

Ready for more Laymania.

Can we make this a thing?

 

[kjironman1]

Ready for more Laymania.

Can we make this a thing?

That might not be a good thing to call it " LayMANia"

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Ready for more Laymania.

Can we make this a thing?

I try my wife gets final say though.

 

[illmatic99]

Last five games:

CJ-- 15.4 pts, 4.4 rebs, 2.4 asts on 40% FG, 41% from 3 in 33 mpg
Jake-- 15.2 pts, 2.4 rebs, 0.6 asts on 65% FG, 50% from 3 in 22 mpg

I'd like to see Jake crash the boards more, but he's on some kind of roll right now.

 

[TBpup]

Last five games:

CJ-- 15.4 pts, 4.4 rebs, 2.4 asts on 40% FG, 41% from 3 in 33 mpg
Jake-- 15.2 pts, 2.4 rebs, 0.6 asts on 65% FG, 50% from 3 in 22 mpg

I'd like to see Jake crash the boards more, but he's on some kind of roll right now.

...and a couple more assists as well. As teams focus on him more, there will be opportunities for teammates. If he could get to 3.5-4 rpg and 2 assists, that would make him that much more of a contributor.

 

[illmatic99]

...and a couple more assists as well. As teams focus on him more, there will be opportunities for teammates. If he could get to 3.5-4 rpg and 2 assists, that would make him that much more of a contributor.

He's gonna get scouted that's for sure. Teams are already taking away his cut to the basket on that wheel route that Lamar talks about. It's gonna help out Dame/CJ so much and allow them to go one on one if defenses stick to Jake. But he also needs to be able to take a few dribbles in and kick out as well. Hope the coaches are on this. He seems like a guy with high confidence though-- not mentally fragile like others we have seen. I love how happy he gets after a dunk or three, as if even he can't believe what he's doing.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Another Big Game. Nurk's gonna have to Beast Adams.

 

[Jade Falcon]

That coffee man is gonna be earning his paycheck today.

 

[CupWizier]

Another Big Game. Nurk's gonna have to Beast Adams.

Nice thing, after last nights win we are now playing with house money. A win tonight would be huge but we will still be in good position regardless of the outcome. Nice position to be in as it would have been more desperate for a win if we hadn't won last night.

 

[stampedehero]

Ready for more Laymania.

Can we make this a thing?

That should his official nick name.

 

[blue9]

3:20am
Just got to our rooms......
Buenos Noches FAMILIAS.
View attachment 24429

Wow - they stuck you in a utility closet, huh?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Wow - they stuck you in a utility closet, huh?

Somebody has to sleep with the dead hookers. Most teams have to draw lots or something. With the Blazer AV club, it is seen as a reward!

 

[42N8Bounce]

Baby steps...



I love the emergence of Layman as much as anyone, but I sure am looking forward to getting a healthy Moe back. He was a huge part of our late season run last year.

 

[THE HCP]

Wow - they stuck you in a utility closet, huh?

Actually a cool new hotel. Used to be an old Ford Motors plant. Used to make Model Ts.....turned it into a hotel.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Fun fact:
The Blazers, at 29-19, have a 60.4 win %. This projects to 49.53 wins. Basically, we're on track to win 50.