Game Thread GAME# 56: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 21, 2016 - SUNDAY, 6:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
UTAH JAZZ
27 - 27
(9-17 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
28 - 27
(17-11 Home)



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

PG

RAUL NETO VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

RODNEY HOOD VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

GORDON HAYWARD VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

PF

DERRICK FAVORS VS NOAH VONLEH

C

RUDY GOBERT VS MASON PLUMLEE


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WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), SUNDAY, 2/21/2016​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

UTAH JAZZ

BURKE , JOHNSON , INGLES

BOOKER , LYLES , PLEISS , WITHEY

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , LEONARD, DAVIS , KAMAN



INJURIES
JAZZ
Alec Burks (fractured left fibula): OUT
Danté Exum (left ACL rehabilitation)): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
NONE


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

QUIN SNYDER--- TERRY STOTTS



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

• Sunday marks the fourth and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Jazz in 2015-16.

• Portland has won two of the three games in the series, and is 1-0 at home against Utah this season.

• The Trail Blazers have won four of their past five home games against the Jazz.

• Portland is 8-3 in its past 11 games against Utah dating back to the start of the 2013-14 season.

• With a win, Portland will improve to 2-0-1 in its past three season series against the Jazz (4-0 series sweep in 2013-14).

• In the most recent game between these two teams on Jan. 13 in Portland, The Trail Blazers defeated the Jazz, 99-85, behind a 21-point, 10-assist performance by Damian Lillard.

• Damian Lillard has scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games against the Jazz. Lillard is averaging 26.8 points on 50.6% shooting during that four-game stretch (13-32 3-PT).

• Portland’s bench outscored Utah’s reserves 43-24 on Jan. 13.

• Portland is 8-3 against Northwest Division opponents this season (4-0 at home), while Utah is 5-6 within its division this season (1-3 on the road).

• CJ McCollum has averaged 24.7 points on 49.2% shooting (10-21 3-PT) in three games against the Jazz this season. McCollum has scored in double figures in each of his past four games against the Jazz (25.0 ppg) after failing to do so in any of his fi rst fi ve career contests against Utah (5.4 ppg).

• The Jazz are ranked 26th in the NBA in scoring (97.9 ppg), but are holding opponents to 96.5 points per game (2nd lowest in NBA).

• Utah center Jeff Withey was originally selected 39th overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2013 NBA Draft. Withey was included in the three-team deal that brought Robin Lopez to Portland.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Jazz lead, 96-80
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 59-29
AT THE JAZZ: Jazz lead, 67-21

​

 

[GoBlazersGo]

Meyers Goes OFF!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Major test tonight. Coming off the best performance any team has had all year, there is a very real possibility of a letdown due to self-satisfaction, or of buying into their own hype. Will we come out with the same intensity that we did on Friday?

Conversely, having done what we just did, Utah could very easily see this game as an opportunity for them to make a statement of their own. Is it possible that we have now put a proverbial target on our backs? If so, will the also-playoff-positioned Jazz come out extra motivated tonight, and if they do, will we be ready?

Friday was awesome, but tonight's game is arguably bigger/more meaningful to both teams. I hope we come out swinging.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Major test tonight. Coming off the best performance any team has had all year, there is a very real possibility of a letdown due to self-satisfaction, or of buying into their own hype. Will we come out with the same intensity that we did on Friday?

Conversely, having done what we just did, Utah could very easily see this game as an opportunity for them to make a statement of their own. Is it possible that we have now put a proverbial target on our backs? If so, will the also-playoff-positioned Jazz come out extra motivated tonight, and if they do, will we be ready?

Friday was awesome, but tonight's game is arguably bigger/more meaningful to both teams. I hope we come out swinging.

True. Also, the Jazz are playing very well right now, the game is on their court and is extremely important in the race for the playoffs.
I hope we win this one but it wouldn't be easy. The Jazz are playing well, they have a very strong front-line and their best lineup with Burke and Hood is working well. Our strength against Golden State was them being favorites while we played a better all-around team basketball, against the Jazz there's a real chance for a letdown and for the opposite to happen. I hope we win this one, I think if we do it'd be a bigger win than the Warriors game, the warriors wouldn't lose to us by 30 next time, we need to keep going

 

[BlazerBeav]

Someone named Neto is going to be guarding Lillard?

 

[TBpup]

As great as the blowout win against the Warriors was, this is probably the bigger game. Lucky for Portland Neto is their starting PG as when they are healthy, they have been playing very well and shutting people down on Defense.

 

[Draco]

Yeah in terms of playoff positioning this is the bigger game. But in terms of a win we all look back at that Golden State game is way bigger. It might be worth 5 wins. Hope they set the record for all time wins that'll make it even more impressive. Maybe we give them their only home loss too.

I still remember the Blazers winning on the road in Chicago against the champion Jordan Bulls. We only won 46 games that season so it probably ended up being the biggest highlight of the year.

 

[kjironman1]

Not only Western Conference team but Division rival. Don't think for a second that this game will not mean something in April.
Blazer4ever mentioned this game was on their court??? This game is in Portland on Our court. Take care of business tonight.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Even more importantly - a win tonight would clinch the season series with Utah at 3-1 - and give us the tie breaker.

 

[dead247]

FYI last day of free league pass for the weekend (and for the season) if you're not in the blazers comcast region.

 

[jlprk]

FYI last day of free league pass for the weekend (and for the season) if you're not in the blazers comcast region.

I just discovered that during our Warrior game. When does that usually happen, so I can catch it earlier next time? Like, the beginning of the season and the middle? I need to find the site which tells me the dates before it starts each time.

 

[handiman]

I still remember the Blazers winning on the road in Chicago against the champion Jordan Bulls. We only won 46 games that season so it probably ended up being the biggest highlight of the year.

Didn't we also give Boston their only home loss the year they won the championship with Walton as 6th man?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Didn't we also give Boston their only home loss the year they won the championship with Walton as 6th man?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198512060BOS.html
(That would be a yes)

 

[stampedehero]

Vonleh and CJ to be productive> Go Blazers

 

[riverman]

Go Blazers! This is a really big game for the playoff picture. I'm trusting the bench mob to mop up tonight in a win!

 

[BonesJones]

I feel like we'll see a Meyers small ball lineup, with Meyers dragging Gobert out of the middle and us taking advantage of it with our athleticism and quickness.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I'll finaly watch a game live. Kinda hard to catch them in Europe

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

We need some production out of Vonleh and Leonard tonight. Davis and Plumlee need to really crash the boards and play good D.

 

[kjironman1]

Anyone else see that Anthony Davis just dropped 59 and 20 on the Pistons?

 

[Chris Craig]

I wonder if Meyers will play tonight...

 

[riverman]

I wonder if Meyers will play tonight...

I think he will if Gobert is playing

 

[dead247]

I just discovered that during our Warrior game. When does that usually happen, so I can catch it earlier next time? Like, the beginning of the season and the middle? I need to find the site which tells me the dates before it starts each time.

I had to use google just to find the page with the schedule on nba.com; I swear the nba deliberately makes it impossible to find from their main page. Here's the link:

http://leaguepasssupport.nba.com/li...r-NBA-LEAGUE-PASS-during-the-2015-2016-season

They seem to offer the free preview at roughly the same times every season, so I'm assuming it'll be similar for next season.

 

[Draco]

Even more importantly - a win tonight would clinch the season series with Utah at 3-1 - and give us the tie breaker.

A loss would give us an 8-4 tiebreaker lead over their 6-6 division record. So we might have the tie breaker regardless of tonights game. A win gets us closer to the 5th seed.

 

[DaLong]

Excited for this one...6:10 can't get here soon enough.

 

[Sinobas]

I never understood the "matchup" philosophy. Why not play your best guys? If our small ball was able to go toe to toe with the Warriors, and they are one of the best teams in the league, why don't we do the same thing vs every time? Why do we need to "match their bigs"?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SIeepwalker]

I wonder if Meyers will play tonight...

I hope not, It was so enjoyable to sit through a match without seeing his sloppy plays

 

[dead247]

I never understood the "matchup" philosophy. Why not play your best guys? If our small ball was able to go toe to toe with the Warriors, and they are one of the best teams in the league, why don't we do the same thing vs every time? Why do we need to "match their bigs"?

Assuming you mean we went small ball to beat GS (ie, to "match" GS), then wouldn't that logic mean we should go bigger to "match" Utah?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Timeout!!! Lol

 

[Strenuus]

omg... vonleh back to back games with a 3!