Game Thread GAME# 56: SPURS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 25, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), ESPN & KGW

[Darkwebs]

---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

TONY PARKER VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DANNY GREEN VS WESLEY MATTHEWS

SF

KAWHI LEONARD VS NICOLAS BATUM

PF

TIM DUNCAN VS LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE

C

ARON BAYNES VS ROBIN LOPEZ






WHEN: 7:30 PM (Pacific), WEDNESDAY, 2/25/2015​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

MILLS , JOSEPH , GINOBILI , BELINELLI

WILLIAMS , DIAW , BONNER , SPLITTER

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , MCCOLLUM , AFFLALO , CRABBE

GEE , WRIGHT , LEONARD , KAMAN


INJURIES
SPURS
NONE
TRAIL BLAZERS
▪ Joel Freeland (right shoulder strain): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

GREG POPOVICH--- TERRY STOTTS




OFFICIAL BLAZERS GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday marks the fourth and final regular season game between the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs.

• Portland won the first two matchups against the Spurs this season (108-95, 12/15/14 and 129-119 *3OT, 12/19/14) before San Antonio won the third game of the series, 110-96, on Jan. 16.

• With a win, the Trail Blazers will claim their second season series over the Spurs in the past three seasons (Series tie in 2013-14).

• Both defenses rank in the top-10 for points allowed. The Trail Blazers are seventh in the NBA at 97.2 points allowed/game, while San Antonio is allowing 97.3 points per game (8th in NBA).

• The Trail Blazers rank third in the NBA at 45.8 rebounds per game, while San Antonio is 14th in the league at 43.7 rebounds per game.

• In that loss to San Antonio on Jan. 16, CJ McCollum tied his season-high in scoring with 17 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting (2-2 3-PT).

• Damian Lillard has scored 20+ points against San Antonio in all 10 games he’s played against them in his career. In those 10 games, Lillard is averaging 27.3 points per game on 50.2% shooting.

• Damian Lillard scored a career-high 43 points on 16-of-29 shooting at San Antonio earlier this season on Dec. 19 (W, 129-119).

• In his past 11 games against the Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 24.5 points on 54.5% shooting from the field. Aldridge has scored at least 20 points in 10 of those 11 contests.

• LaMarcus Aldridge has notched six double-doubles in his past eight games against San Antonio, including a double-double in each of the first two matchups this season.

• In two games against the Spurs this season as a member of the Denver Nuggets, Arron Afflalo is averaging 26.0 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 18-of-31 (58.0%) from the field. Afflalo has also connected on seven of his 12 three-point attempts (58.3%).

• Last season, Portland and San Antonio split the season series 2-2. Portland won the first two games, while the Spurs won the final two.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 78-77
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 49-28
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 49-29

OFFICIAL SPURS GAME NOTES




GO BLAZERS!!!​

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Reserved

 

[MickZagger]

We need this one for cripes sakes.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Is Pops sitting anyone?

 

[riverman]

We're winning this puppy!

 

[kjironman1]

Is Pops sitting anyone?

Doesn't look like it. They have had a day off and have another day off before they play Sac Kings on Friday.

 

[kjironman1]

At this point i want to take a look at this portion of the season for exactly what it is. This stretch of games for the Blazers were going to be tough. So far after the break they laid an egg in Utah and then came out and played a pretty good game against the Griz but could not close it out. The next 6 games however will be a better indicator to where they are after making some roster moves looking for a little more scoring punch off the bench. It is not time to start panicking. Some people say it takes 10-15 games to get comfortable with your new team. Lets hope we see things start to gel a little quicker than that. Freeland is shooting and getting some work in so lets hope he is doing better. The word i read was he will experience pain for the rest of the season but it is just simply how much he can handle. That seems like more than a simple shoulder strain that is was originally reported as. So be it.

I am not buying the panic in San Antonio either. They have lost 3 games after the break. They are in the middle of their annual "Rodeo Trip". They go on this trip every year for an extended 3 week road trip because the AT&T center gets filled with cattle for the Stock and Rodeo show. The funny thing is even after the show is over the AT&T center smells like ...SHIT! Yeah you know what i'm talking about. Lasts for about 2 more weeks. Happens here when the circus comes to town also. The Spurs usually come together as a team during this stretch of games on the road. Nothing is telling me this will be any different this year. They might have lost a couple put they are the best overall group of players anywhere and they have the very best coach in the game. I am sure they will be ready to compete tonight and this game would go a long ways to curing their recent road woes.

The same thing can be said for the Blazers. This game against a healthy Spurs team with all their players would go a long way to helping the Blazers get back on their feet so to speak. The thing is we all know what to look for here. the Spurs are not going to do anything different than what they always do. The play solid defense inside of the arc and run shooters off the line. They don't make stupid mistakes and if you give them a chance they burn you every time. The Blazers need to clean up their act tonight. If they turn the ball over and take silly shots they will lose this game. If the Blazers play a solid game for 48 mins they will be in it and that is what this is all about right?

I am interested in seeing Dame, Wes, and Affalo on the court at the same time. I am also interested to see how Aldridge works with Affalo. It seemed that during the Memphis game there were signs of real solid play when Blake, AAA and Kaman were on the court at the same time. This is of course what we all are hoping for. This is where the Blazers have not been scouted. There is a new wrinkle here and they need to take advantage of it.

Pick tonight is Aldridge. He should be very well rested and he should benefit from some more scoring from the wings. It all works together. Batum started to score again and that is also a bonus.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I don't like to say 'must win', but this is as close to it as we can get.

A must win vs the Spurs is a tough situation to be in.

 

[illmatic99]

Pop will not want to lose this one. I think he goes all out to try to win this, and I believe they're fully healthy.

Guessing POR will have the same mindset. Should be a great game, but I hate the 1030 start, and to complicate matters: on ESPN so I'm blacked out on LP. ugh

 

[riverman]

I think the Spurs have finally hit the age wall, at least that's what I'm hoping for. Parker isn't such a threat these days, nor Ginobli..Duncan, that's a different story.

 

[Strenuus]

I think the Spurs have finally hit the age wall, at least that's what I'm hoping for. Parker isn't such a threat these days, nor Ginobli..Duncan, that's a different story.

lol. Why do people insist on saying this? I won't say they've hit the age wall until Duncan retires, period. Until then, they are formidable and ageless.

 

[blue9]

A must win vs the Spurs is a tough situation to be in.

A "must win" against a Spurs team that has lost 3 in a row is an even tougher situation. If it weren't for that fact I would expect us to come out and win after two stinkers. But facing the Spurs when they're lost a few in a row makes me nervous - they are certainly a more mentally tough team than we are. We'll need to hit a lot of low-percentage shots to win tonight.

 

[Draco]

We've seen before when dominant teams era ends it happens much faster than we realize. The recent Lakers were back to back champs then swept in the playoffs.

This Spurs team is just not the same as the last few years. Duncan teams have won 50 games every year but that could end this season. When the Spurs have reached the finals they've won 58 or more games every time. That's not happening this year. They've had a hell of a run and I have a lot of respect for them but this is not their year.

 

[riverman]

lol. Why do people insist on saying this? I won't say they've hit the age wall until Duncan retires, period. Until then, they are formidable and ageless.

I've watched several of their games, that's why I can say, Parker and Ginobli are way slower than usual, Leonard can't make a shot and Duncan looks ageless but they don't look unbeatable this season at all. Doesn't matter what people have said before. This season I see a difference on the court

 

[Strenuus]

I've watched several of their games, that's why I can say, Parker and Ginobli are way slower than usual, Leonard can't make a shot and Duncan looks ageless but they don't look unbeatable this season at all. Doesn't matter what people have said before. This season I see a difference on the court

They were beatable during the regular season last year too...

Until they can prove they are beatable in this years playoffs, then I'll think about it. But it's been an unwise bet to bet against the spurs in the last 15 years.

 

[KingSpeed]

They looked really good in our last game against them.

 

[Shaboid]

Any word if Parker, Manu, or Duncan are gonna sit this one out since it's two games in three night towards the end of their roadtrip?

 

[Draco]

They were beatable during the regular season last year too...

Well I suppose you are correct in that they didn't go 82-0. They did however have 62 wins the most in the league. This year is projecting to be the lowest wins of the Duncan era.

 

[Draco]

Any word if Parker, Manu, or Duncan are gonna sit this one out since it's two games in three night towards the end of their roadtrip?

Since its actually one game in 3 days they will most likely all play.

 

[Strenuus]

Well I suppose you are correct in that they didn't go 82-0. They did however have 62 wins the most in the league. This year is projecting to be the lowest wins of the Duncan era.

You're 0-0 in the playoffs. That's when they win. Regular season is just for seeding. Important seeding for most teams, but with the Spurs, it doesn't matter. They'd most likely be favored in a 1-8 matchup regardless of who the 1 seed is. Playoffs is the real season in terms of basketball.

 

[H.C.]

We've seen before when dominant teams era ends it happens much faster than we realize. The recent Lakers were back to back champs then swept in the playoffs.

This Spurs team is just not the same as the last few years. Duncan teams have won 50 games every year but that could end this season. When the Spurs have reached the finals they've won 58 or more games every time. That's not happening this year. They've had a hell of a run and I have a lot of respect for them but this is not their year.

That Laker team was one of the weakest teams mentally to ever win a championship. They had Gasol/Kobe. After that.... Bynum/Artest was a complete headache. Phil Jackson can only do so much.

 

[Draco]

You're 0-0 in the playoffs. That's when they win. Regular season is just for seeding. Important seeding for most teams, but with the Spurs, it doesn't matter. They'd most likely be favored in a 1-8 matchup regardless of who the 1 seed is. Playoffs is the real season in terms of basketball.

It does matter for the Spurs they've had far more regular season success every year they've made it deep in the playoffs. How about another record; Spurs are 0-4 the year after winning a title, making it past the 2nd round once when they lost in the conference finals.

 

[Strenuus]

It does matter for the Spurs they've had far more regular season success every year they've made it deep in the playoffs. How about another record; Spurs are 0-4 the year after winning a title, making it past the 2nd round once when they lost in the conference finals.

Damn. Good stat.

Would you still fear them, though, in the playoffs? I sure as hell would.

 

[Draco]

Damn. Good stat.

Would you still fear them, though, in the playoffs? I sure as hell would.

I'd fear every team in the west. But I think GS, Memphis and OKC are far more intimidating than the Spurs. Last year the Spurs were playing unreal team ball, one of the greatest performances in playoff history. But NBA seasons stand on their own; there isn't a switch you can just throw to get that dominance back.

 

[Strenuus]

I'd fear every team in the west. But I think GS, Memphis and OKC are far more intimidating than the Spurs. Last year the Spurs were playing unreal team ball, one of the greatest performances in playoff history. But NBA seasons stand on their own; there isn't a switch you can just throw to get that dominance back.

Good points. The team I least want to face is Memphis, and there isn't even a close 2nd.

 

[magnifier661]

Fuck man!!! Barry is one of the color commentators?!?!

 

[MickZagger]

Shit, farking Jon Barry???

FML.

 

[MickZagger]

Fuck man!!! Barry is one of the color commentators?!?!

jinx 1,2,3,4 Get you woman on the flo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Awesome move by Wes!

 

[riverman]

Wes with his first bucket in 2 games, good to see!