Game Thread GAME# 6: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 5, 2015 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
3-2 (2-1 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
3-2 (1-1 Home)



WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 11/5/2015​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

UDRIH , SMITH , ADAMS , CARTER

BARNES , GREEN , GREEN , WRIGHT
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

FRAZIER , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON , MONTERO

HARKLESS , VONLEH , DAVIS , KAMAN


INJURIES
GRIZZLIES
Jarell Martin (left foot surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Cliff Alexander (left knee): OUT
Gerald Henderson (left hip): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

DAVID JOERGER --- TERRY STOTTS




OFFICIAL BLAZERS GAME NOTES ​

• Thursday marks the first of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies in 2015-16.

• Memphis won all four regular season games against Portland last season, marking the first time ever (20 years) that the Grizzlies swept the Trail Blazers in the season series.

• The Grizzlies have won three consecutive season series against the Trail Blazers dating back to the start of the 2012-13 season. Memphis is 9-2 against Portland during that span.

• Memphis has won five of the past six games against the Trail Blazers in Portland.

• CJ McCollum scored 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting (7-11 3-PT) in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at Memphis (4/29), making him the only player ever to record 33-plus points and seven-plus three-pointers as a reserve in a postseason game.

• Meyers Leonard shot 10-of-13 from three in Portland’s postseason series againse Memphis last year. Leonard set franchise postseason records for best three-point percentage in the postseason and a single series (min. five attempts).

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 42-32
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 22-15
AT THE GRIZZLIES: Trail Blazers lead, 20-17

OFFICIAL GRIZZLIES GAME NOTES




GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[Darkwebs]

I know the game is in Portland, but can we please tell our players that it's the home opener for the Grizzlies?

 

[Strenuus]

I think Memphis is going to come out and send a message... I hope we win, but I have my doubts.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was totally wrong about last night but I feel the same tonight. I don't like that they have been here for a day while we traveled. I will be surprised if we win this. It seems like every year we play the Grizz right after a road trip and they are waiting for us in Portland.
And we lose. I see us losing in the 4th.

 

[theprunetang]

Anyone else notice that Vonleh has a case of the "Chris Bosh Neck"?

 

[illmatic99]

Think we're fucked tonight. No way Dame and CJ are that hot again.

 

[Draco]

Game changer if Gasol sits out

 

[Strenuus]

Game changer if Gasol sits out

Oh snap.

 

[Draco]

Watching the interview with Meyers last night it certainly sounds like he's out.

It wasn't just a normal ankle roll; he heard something pop said his foot tweaked forward instead of to the side. Looked like it was still painful in the postgame locker room.

 

[Draco]

I think I might start Kaman. Gives us the beef to match grit and grind. Plumlee can slide over and guard Zach. Kaman can hit an outside shot to space the floor; a big problem of the Plumlee/Davis duo. As a vet he won't have trouble adjusting roles game to game from a starting, DNP, backup role. Ed Davis and Harkless are playing great off the bench maybe we should just keep them there. Don't want Vonleh to fail even more than he has. Kaman can sit after the first 6 minutes of each half or come back for a few minutes if we need it. Could even help Kaman's trade value if he starts x games for us.

The more I think about it the more I like the idea.

 

[stampedehero]

Please No repeat of last years' playoffs. I read Draco's idea. Sounds good.

 

[B-Roy]

I think I might start Kaman. Gives us the beef to match grit and grind. Plumlee can slide over and guard Zach. Kaman can hit an outside shot to space the floor; a big problem of the Plumlee/Davis duo. As a vet he won't have trouble adjusting roles game to game from a starting, DNP, backup role. Ed Davis and Harkless are playing great off the bench maybe we should just keep them there. Don't want Vonleh to fail even more than he has. Kaman can sit after the first 6 minutes of each half or come back for a few minutes if we need it. Could even help Kaman's trade value if he starts x games for us.

The more I think about it the more I like the idea.

God no please. Kaman is washed up and useless at this point. A black hole on offense and a complete hack on defense. In no way should he be taking minutes away from any of the other bigs.

At some point I would expect us to go small again with Aminu at the 4. Stretching the Grizz out seems like the best way to beat them.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was thinking that Kaman might play, but I would not start him. We don't need him shooting when both Dame and CJ are on the floor together. Let him play a few minutes off the bench. He is fine for 5 minutes per half while/if Leonard is out.

 

[TBpup]

If Gasol is out, that REALLY helps the Blazers.

 

[Strenuus]

If Gasol is out, that REALLY helps the Blazers.

This is what will happen:

The first game of the TNT doubleheader will go into triple overtime, pushing the Blazers game back to 8... Then, Gasol will magically feel better at 7:45 and they'll say he can play... whereas at 7:15, he was ruled out.

#thatblazerluck

 

[-Ace-]

That doesn't help my S2 fantasy team....he's the only one with a game tonight.

 

[PDXFonz]

That doesn't help my S2 fantasy team....he's the only one with a game tonight.

Good, my no talent clowns need all the help they can get.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Is it me or do we always get the Grizzlies on a back to back?! why is the league so broken?

It will be very interesting to see how we can handle Memphis' aggressiveness and grit.
The games against Memphis can show us if this rebuilding process is going in the right direction, if we might end up better than our useless soft and predictable basketball of years past.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I like our position.
If we lose, we're .500, which is good.
If we win, we're 4-2, and have a big win over a legit team. Together these would be amazing.

 

[kjironman1]

TNT game on the second of a B2B against the Griz possibly without Meyers Leonard? Sounds like the Blazers will have their work cut out for them. You can bet Meyers had this game circled on his calendar. Champing at the bit to get a chance to spread the floor against a couple of slower big men. The thing i watched however is that Plumlee and Davis are also the kind of hard working duo that could give Gasol and Randolph a run. Vonleh will be no match for Randolph but he might need to get some schooling in tonight against Zach.

All that really means very little when you look at the game from the "Positions" stand point. The real game here is going to be played with the ball in the guards hands. Conley vs Lillard and Lee vs CJ is the big story here. CJ pretty much put his name in lights last year in the playoffs against the Grizzlies. The series was over but the future was there on the court. The Blazers back court is exactly the kind of one two punch that Memphis has problems with. But don't be surprised if you start to see some Hack-A-Plum or Hack-ED type strategy eventually if the Blazers start to compete with experienced playoff contenders that don't want to chance a loss. Those two have got to make some shots at the foul line. I personally just don't see any future in players that cannot hit a FT. Both of these guys will have very short careers here in Portland if they don't clean this problem up fast.

Loved seeing what Harkless brought last night. This guy is slowly putting together some very solid stretches of play. From what i am seeing is he is being coached well on the sidelines and he is translating that into some good opportunities on the court. The same can be said for Aminu. I personally give the advantage here to Aminu over Allen though Tony Allen does have the experience to Make an impact on this game.

First game tonight on TNT is in Chicago where the Bulls are playing the Thunder. Lets hope that game gets over before 8 pm pacific time. It's Just things you deal with when on National TV. Don't worry Blazer fans right now this is the only TNT game the Blazers are scheduled for. Of course that can change by the end of the season if for some odd reason the Blazers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, or they are playing a team that really needs a big win. Funny how that works.

I have not been inclined to give Picks for the game because i just can't say i knew enough about what i was looking at. But tonight i will pick CJ. He is the way and the light to keep this team in it tonight. I just don't see Meyers playing in this game but who knows?What i do hope is that his ankle injury is not bad and that at some point he starts getting enough respect that the refs start calling the foul when his defender steps under him when he shoots that outside shot. This has happened a number of times to him this year. Twice by Cousins in the same game. The fact is he is a Big that shoots from the outside so the refs need to learn his game. Lets hope they do just that because if that had been Dirk or even Aldridge for that matter a foul would have been called.

Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[kjironman1]

I was thinking that Kaman might play, but I would not start him. We don't need him shooting when both Dame and CJ are on the floor together. Let him play a few minutes off the bench. He is fine for 5 minutes per half while/if Leonard is out.

You might see him in limited minutes. Why not?

 

[PDXFonz]

Random Dame stat - Counting Pre/*Postseason dame has failed to reach double digit scoring only 12 times in his career. 5 his first season, 4 his second, 3 his third. He has yet to do so this season.

That number drops to 11 if you don't include preseason...but then you don't have the 5-4-3!

*He has scored in double digits in every post season game.

 

[Darkwebs]

Anyone else notice that Vonleh has a case of the "Chris Bosh Neck"?

Yes, I've noticed. In fact, I've come up with a nickname for him because of it: V-Neck

Having a long neck means that he's basically shorter than the 6'10" he is listed at. Luckily he has a huge 7'4" wingspan to make up for being deceptively short.

 

[Strenuus]

Yes, I've noticed. In fact, I've come up with a nickname for him because of it: V-Neck

Having a long neck means that he's basically shorter than the 6'10" he is listed at. Luckily he has a huge 7'4" wingspan to make up for being deceptively short.

WIN!!!!

 

[B-Roy]

Meyers is playing tonight according to Quick.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Game on!

 

[KingSpeed]

I think Memphis is going to come out and send a message... I hope we win, but I have my doubts.

Send what message? That they won't get blown out by 50 again? This is an easy win for Blazers.

 

[KingSpeed]

TNT game on the second of a B2B against the Griz possibly without Meyers Leonard? Sounds like the Blazers will have their work cut out for them. You can bet Meyers had this game circled on his calendar. Champing at the bit to get a chance to spread the floor against a couple of slower big men. The thing i watched however is that Plumlee and Davis are also the kind of hard working duo that could give Gasol and Randolph a run. Vonleh will be no match for Randolph but he might need to get some schooling in tonight against Zach.

All that really means very little when you look at the game from the "Positions" stand point. The real game here is going to be played with the ball in the guards hands. Conley vs Lillard and Lee vs CJ is the big story here. CJ pretty much put his name in lights last year in the playoffs against the Grizzlies. The series was over but the future was there on the court. The Blazers back court is exactly the kind of one two punch that Memphis has problems with. But don't be surprised if you start to see some Hack-A-Plum or Hack-ED type strategy eventually if the Blazers start to compete with experienced playoff contenders that don't want to chance a loss. Those two have got to make some shots at the foul line. I personally just don't see any future in players that cannot hit a FT. Both of these guys will have very short careers here in Portland if they don't clean this problem up fast.

Iggy is awful at free throws and he won Finals MVP. It's not the end all be all if you contribute in other ways.

 

[PDXFonz]

Send what message? That they won't get blown out by 50 again? This is an easy win for Blazers.

Last night wasn't an easy win, they worked their asses off to earn that, and they are going to have to do it again tonight.

 

[Chris Craig]

Send what message? That they won't get blown out by 50 again? This is an easy win for Blazers.

While this will not be an easy win, the Grizzlies won't be "sending a message" The Blazers are are a different team then when the Grizz last saw them....Randolph is an egocentric player...he and his team will underestimate us....let them!