Game Thread GAME# 55: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 22, 2015 - SUNDAY, 6:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

VS

WHEN: 6:00 PM (Pacific), SUNDAY, 2/22/2015​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

[
UDRIH , SMITH , CALATHES , ADAMS

ALLEN , GREEN , LEUER , KOUFOS

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , MCCOLLUM , AFFLALO , CRABBE

GEE , WRIGHT , LEONARD , KAMAN


INJURIES
GRIZZLIES
▪ Vince Carter (left foot tendon injury): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
▪ LaMarcus Aldridge (right thumb sprain): OUT
▪ Joel Freeland (right shoulder strain): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

DAVID JOERGER--- TERRY STOTTS




OFFICIAL BLAZERS GAME NOTES ​

• Sunday marks the third of four matchups between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies this season.

• Memphis has won both contests in 2014-15, defeating Portland 112-99 on Nov. 28 in Portland, and 102-98 on Jan. 17 in Memphis.

• With a 36-18 record, Portland is three and a half games back of Memphis (39-14) for second place in the Western Conference standings.

• Both teams are ranked in the top-10 in terms of points allowed. Memphis is ranked first in the NBA at 95.7 points allowed per game, while Portland allows 97.2 points (7th in NBA).

• The Trail Blazers are the second best rebounding team in the NBA (45.8/game), while the Grizzlies are 16th in the league with 43.1 rebounds per game.

• Dating back to the 2012-13 season, Portland is 2-7 against the Grizzlies. Memphis has won four of the past five games played between these two teams at the Moda Center.

• Wesley Matthews has averaged 25.5 points against the Grizzlies this season while shooting 14-of-26 from beyond the arc (53.8%).

• LaMarcus Aldridge has averaged 25.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games against Memphis this season. Aldridge has notched six double-doubles in his previous eight games against the Grizzlies.

• Arron Afflalo scored 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting (2-3 3-PT, 5-5 FT) earlier this season on Jan. 3 against Memphis as a memberof the Nuggets (W, 114-85). Afflalo has scored 10+ points in six of his last seven games against the Grizzlies.

• In two games against Portland this season, Zach Randolph has averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds on his way to two doubledoubles. Randolph has four double-doubles in his past fi ve games against the Trail Blazers.

• Portland outscored the Grizzlies by 14 points in the second half of the Jan. 17 game played in Memphis (L, 98-102).

• Memphis won two of its three games played against the Trail Blazers in 2013-14, marking the second consecutuve year that the Grizzlies have won the season-series against Portland.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 42-30
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 22-14
AT THE GRIZZLIES: Trail Blazers lead, 20-16

OFFICIAL GRIZZLIES GAME NOTES




GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[Darkwebs]

Reserved

 

[Strenuus]

It's gonna be a special feeling in the Rose Garden tomorrow.

Plus the two new guys are here. So much excitement! Lets go Blazers!

 

[kjironman1]

Great job on the Graphics. Here is my take......
Games like Fridays game against the Jazz really leave me perplexed. I just don't buy the "After All-Star break fog" excuse at all. The Jazz were a team the Blazers should have beat and they simply did not show up. Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I know at the end of the season games like that can come back to haunt you. Lets hope it doesn't come down to that.

This is the first game for the Griz in 11 days. I'm betting they will come out focused. The Blazers better take this one seriously or it will be over quick just like both the other games they played against them. Need to see some crisp passes and much better ball movement. Need to see somebody play some defense and most of all some of that "Great offensive" production would be nice.

I like most everything i have heard from AAA and i sure hope he can come in and hit a shot or two for the second unit. Take some pressure off the starters and get the floor open when they need it. He also might be the only player on the team that actually knows how to run a fast break. This is a glaring weakness of the Blazers. For some reason they always hold the ball way too long on the break and the defender gets a chance to guard both players on a 2 on 1. Wes is the main offender here. Pass the ball before you are in the key please. Simple.

Last night OKC won. The Clippers won, Houston won. This is not going to be easy. The Blazers better figure it out quick because there is no doubt in my mind that the Thunder are going to make a run at the division. Yes the Blazers have a comfy lead but another slump and they will be in a race. The schedule right now is set for the Thunder to go on a winning streak. The good thing here is that the Blazers will be battle tested by the beginning of March and that is when it will matter most.

When is Freeland going to come back? Huge question?

To be honest i don't know what to look for tonight because the offense is not working. Lillard doesn't seem to be able to hit a shot and of course Nic is still cold. The defense seemed uninterested last game and that is a problem. As far as i am concerned somebody better light a fire under this team. Energy and inspired play is what will will this game. JK25 would have it no other way!

Pick tonight is AAA. If he can come in a drop 10-14 points this is a win.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

This is a big game. It's going to be a tough one to win.
Memphis is a good team, always plays well against us, and we'll be acclimating players.
Gonna have to bring the nasty energy tonight.

 

[riverman]

I think allstar break for a team like the Jazz with no allstars is a bit different from us having 3 guys in NY for the event. Fact is, we couldn't shoot in the 4thro qtr and Gobert again gave LA trouble in the post. Gobert is getting better game to game. The guy is Doc Oc with the wingspan of a giant. Need to figure him out. The Jazz are better than their record. We should beat them and I think we will again. Memphis, this is going to be a dogfight but I expect the addition of Afflalo and Gee to spark the bench. We do need Freeland back, he's the best defender on the team and we've struggled without him coming off the bench. I know having Afflalo providing a much needed scoring punch will be an X factor. Go Blazers!

 

[riverman]

This is a big game. It's going to be a tough one to win.
Memphis is a good team, always plays well against us, and we'll be acclimating players.
Gonna have to bring the nasty energy tonight.

This Grizz squad is the one team I DON'T want in the first round of the playoffs!

 

[kjironman1]

The question of Freeland is a bit more clear to me this week. Tuesday i injured my shoulder. Rotator Cuff injury. Probably from over use. I finally went to the doctor Friday. At this point my doctor is saying 6-8 weeks before i am 100% at best. Right now running my computer is painful let alone playing basketball. Joel might be dealing with pain and if it is at all like this he cannot play until he is completely back. a re-injury would take him out for the rest of the season. I pretty much think he will be out the rest of this month.

 

[Strenuus]

The question of Freeland is a bit more clear to me this week. Tuesday i injured my shoulder. Rotator Cuff injury. Probably from over use. I finally went to the doctor Friday. At this point my doctor is saying 6-8 weeks before i am 100% at best. Right now running my computer is painful let alone playing basketball. Joel might be dealing with pain and if it is at all like this he cannot play until he is completely back. a re-injury would take him out for the rest of the season. I pretty much think he will be out the rest of this month.

so... a week.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

The question of Freeland is a bit more clear to me this week. Tuesday i injured my shoulder. Rotator Cuff injury. Probably from over use. I finally went to the doctor Friday. At this point my doctor is saying 6-8 weeks before i am 100% at best. Right now running my computer is painful let alone playing basketball. Joel might be dealing with pain and if it is at all like this he cannot play until he is completely back. a re-injury would take him out for the rest of the season. I pretty much think he will be out the rest of this month.

I hear ya brother. I used to leave in central Canada or 'land of the frozen dong' as we called it.
I had an old mustang (very bad car choice for there btw) that had hand crank windows. One morning at about -30C, I tried to roll the window down and for some reason, at that angle, I just fried my RC.
Fucking thing bothered me for 2 years and it came out of nowhere really.

 

[Sinobas]

Blazers need to prove themselves, and stop falling to the top western team.

 

[Strenuus]

Blazers need to prove themselves, and stop falling to the top western team.

They've only played the Warriors once.

 

[-Ace-]

It's going to be tough not to tear up at what I can only assume will be a big Jerome tribute tonight. I can't say I expect any different from anyone else there. Tonight's a big emotional game.

 

[Strenuus]

It's going to be tough not to tear up at what I can only assume will be a big Jerome tribute tonight. I can't say I expect any different from anyone else there. Tonight's a big emotional game.

If I had money, I'd be there. It's going to be a special night there tonight for multiple reasons.

 

[Strenuus]

This game can't get here fast enough...

 

[riverman]

Hey Sly and Brian..are you guys still going to the games like you used to..press passes and all?

 

[Strenuus]

This is cool

 

[-Ace-]

That is awesome.

 

[maxiep]

This is cool

Yep, there's no way I would be able to keep from tearing up if I were at the RG tonight.

 

[Draco]

Will be interested to hear what they do to honor Kersey. Since I watch it on league pass they might not show all of it.

 

[maxiep]

Will be interested to hear what they do to honor Kersey. Since I watch it on league pass they might not show all of it.

I checked the NBALP schedule and it looks like the only available broadcast will be the Memphis one. The only bright spot is that Pete Pranica is their TV PBP guy, and he certainly understands Mercy's importance to our city.

 

[Strenuus]

 

[Strenuus]

Son of a bitch!

 

[illmatic99]

WTF. Though, the right thumb is not the one with the ligament tear

 

[Driew]

Uh...........help?!

 

[Duvalier]

That's not good. Anyone know how it happened?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So... Would've been nice to have, oh, I don't know, T-Rob and maybe Claver for these occasions? 48 minutes of Leonard? Or just small-ball it against Memphis's giants?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Christ, we can't catch a break this season.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Will's having fun with the Nuggets. So is Westbrook, whom Will is charitably leaving wide open.

When did the Nuggets sign Joffrey Lauvergne, though?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Christ, we can't catch a break this season.

Poor choice of words there.