Game Thread GAME# 53: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - FEBRUARY 7, 2020 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
24 - 28
(10-17 Road)
UTAH JAZZ
32 - 18
(18-5 Home)


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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS MIKE CONLEY

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DONOVAN MITCHELL

SF

TREVOR ARIZA VS JOE INGLES

PF

CARMELO ANTHONY VS BOJAN BOGDANOVIC

C

HASSAN WHITESIDE VS RUDY GOBERT




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

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), FRIDAY, 2/7/2020

WHERE: VIVINT SMART HOME ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

GABRIEL , SWANIGAN , BROWN


------ UTAH JAZZ------

WRIGHT-FOREMAN , WILLIAMS-GOSS , MUDIAY

CLARKSON , TUCKER , O'NEALE

ONI , NIANG , MORGAN

BRANTLEY , DAVIS , BRADLEY



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Nassir Little (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT
JAZZ
Tony Bradley (right knee sprain): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- QUIN SNYDER

OFFICIAL JAZZ'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday’s game will be the third of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Jazz during the 2019-20 season. The season series is tied, 1-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers defeated the Jazz 124-107, three games prior on Feb. 1. Damian Lillard paced Portland with 51 points (17-29 FG, 9-15 3-PT, 8-8 FT), two rebounds and 12 assists, while Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 25 points (11-21 FG, 3-6 3-PT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal.

• Damian Lillard is averaging 42.5 points (54.0% FG, 57.1% 3-PT, 93.8% FT), 3.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists in two games against Utah this season.

• CJ McCollum is averaging 19.5 points (43.2% FG, 41.7% 3-PT, 100% FT), 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two games against Utah this season.

• Donovan Mitchell is averaging 30 points (57.5% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 72.7% FT), 2.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists against Portland this season.

• Joe Ingles put up 26 points (10-15 FG, 6-10 3-PT), five rebounds and four assists in the two teams first meeting on Dec. 26, part of the best two-game scoring stretch of his career.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Jazz lead, 103-88
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 65-31
AT THE JAZZ: Jazz lead, 72-23

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Approximately a week ago, the Blazers on the 2nd night of a back-to-back had to play the Jazz. They will have to do it again this game. Not sure why Utah keeps getting the rest advantage, but thems the breaks.

Last meeting, Portland had no problems dealing with the Jazz, as the Blazers had home court advantage and Super Saiyan Damian.

Now they have to play in Utah with just a mere mortal Dame.

The Blazers' playoff hopes are still alive, but they are still 2.5 games behind the Grizzlies. If they really want to make the post-season, winning this game (an expected loss) would certainly help that cause.

 

[Strenuus]

Easiest vote ever

 

[Darkwebs]

Easiest vote ever

You may choose more than one.

 

[Strenuus]

You may choose more than one.

But there is only one.

 

[tester551]

You may choose more than one.

Only need 1 vote

 

[Darkwebs]

But there is only one.

Only need 1 vote

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Approximately a week ago, the Blazers on the 2nd night of a back-to-back had to play the Jazz. They will have to do it again this game. Not sure why Utah keeps getting the rest advantage, but thems the breaks.

Last meeting, Portland had no problems dealing with the Jazz, as the Blazers had home court advantage and Super Saiyan Damian.

Now they have to play in Utah with just a mere mortal Dame.

The Blazers' playoff hopes are still alive, but they are still 1.5 games behind the Grizzlies. If they really want to make the post-season, winning this game (an expected loss) would certainly help that cause.

We are 2.5 games behind the Grizzlies.

 

[Darkwebs]

We are 2.5 games behind the Grizzlies.

Thanks. Fixed

 

[Tince]

This one feels like a long shot to me, but what a great win if we can pull it off!

 

[BonesJones]

Facepalming at everyone saying C.J.

 

[PDXFonz]

Facepalming at everyone saying C.J.

Wonder who they think should start over him.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Hey, our injury report actually shortened - but that's only because we got rid of Skal.

 

[BonesJones]

Hey, our injury report actually shortened - but that's only because we got rid of Skal.

"We got rid of Skal so that we could have a higher percentage of players healthy."
- Neil

 

[Strenuus]

Facepalming at everyone saying C.J.

I mean, were right. I already know that.

Id vote for him 10000 more times if i could.

 

[BonesJones]

I mean, were right. I already know that.

Id vote for him 10000 more times if i could.

You're not, but thats okay.

 

[kjironman1]

Tough to win in Utah at any time. Second time in a week in a second on a B2B on their court after just beating them is gonna be tough no matter how you cut this.

The Jazz are in their own pocket of a playoff race. 1/2 game behind the Rockets for 4th seed and 1 1/2 game above the Thunder for 6th. They have lost 5 in a row so they are looking to right the ship.

Along come the Blazers.
The Lillard/CJ vs Conley/Mitchell matchup is always fun to watch. We all know Lillard likes playing in Utah
The big matchup to watch though will be Whiteside vs Gobert. I think this is a great matchup for Whiteside. Gobert doesn't shoot well and he can't draw the center out like Denver can with Jokic. It makes for a battle inside and right now Whiteside seems to be getting the boards. Last game Gobert hit all his free throws but Whiteside is a bit better normally.
Last game for the Jazz was a loss to the Nuggets- Close game 98-95. Murray and Jokic torched them for 30 and 31 respectively.
Conley was shooting well but Mitchell was 2-9 from 3 and Bogdanovic was 6-18 and 3-10 from 3 point. Pretty bad shooting night to only lose by 3.

 

[illmatic99]

This schedule of 5 in 7 before the AS break with travel is brutal. Really hope we can sustain effort and stay healthy.

 

[kjironman1]

This schedule of 5 in 7 before the AS break with travel is brutal. Really hope we can sustain effort and stay healthy.

With any hope of getting into the Playoffs they need to at least split these last 4.
Figures the Memphis game is also a B2B on the road. Miami at home on a quick turnaround is gonna be tough as well.

 

[illmatic99]

With any hope of getting into the Playoffs they need to at least split these last 4.
Figures the Memphis game is also a B2B on the road. Miami at home on a quick turnaround is gonna be tough as well.

Our intensity and veteran presence has to increase the level of play for that Memphis game.

Just looked, MEM will have three days rest before that game while we will be on a B2b .Seriously, these schedule makers have done us no favors so far this season. Hope it comes back to close it.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Wonder who they think should start over him.

Seth Curry, cuz if I was in charge CJ would have been traded last year.

 

[DDolla]

Another back to back games... ugh!

 

[Scalma]

If contracts and seniority weren’t a thing CJ would be Lou Williams.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

If we can sweep these next 4 games, we will finally be .500 and probably 8th seed going into the break.

 

[illmatic99]

If we can sweep these next 4 games, we will finally be .500 and probably 8th seed going into the break.

We're in the middle of a 5 in seven, and 4 in six situation, with two sets of back to back games, and 3 of four on the road.

If we actually win all four, that would be the best stretch of the season. I think splitting it is an achievement in itself.

 

[B-Roy]

We must have one of the easiest post ASB schedules...

 

[illmatic99]

It would be great if CJ could get hot and help Dame in even half of these games.

 

[TBpup]

To put a player on the bench (where they need scoring) who isolates out the rest of his team except sometimes passing back to Dame, who is #9 in eFG% just ahead of Anthony Tolliver for the season, seems not that unreasonable.

 

[AldoTrapani]

If contracts and seniority weren’t a thing CJ would be Lou Williams.

CJ is just Mo Williams during his prime

 

[Strenuus]

If we can sweep these next 4 games, we will finally be .500 and probably 8th seed going into the break.

Literally the only way that happens is if Dame goes En Fuego again.

Otherwise, 2-2 would be our "sweep in 4"