Game Thread Game #60 - BLAZERS VS WARRIORS - FEBRUARY 24, 2022 - THURSDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) TNT

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Anfernee Simons Josh Hart

CJ Elleby Justice Winslow

Drew Eubanks




Stephen Curry Klay Thompson

Jonathan Kuminga Andrew Wiggins

Kevon Looney

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WHEN: FEBRUARY 24, 2022 - THURSDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT)

WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND OR



TV BROADCAST



RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Ben McLemore

Trendon Watford Greg Brown III

Elijah Hughes Keljin Blevins

Keon Johnson Eric Bledsoe

Damian Lillard Nassir Little

Joe Ingles Brandon Williams

Jusuf Nurkic




WARRIORS


Jordan Poole Damion Lee

Otto Porter Jr Moses Moody

Andre Iguodala Draymond Green

Nemanja Bjelica Juan Toscsano A

Gary Payton II James Wiseman

Chris Quinndary
Chiozza Weatherspoon

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INJURIES

WARRIORS

Draymond Green (Back) OUT
Andre Iguodala (Back) OUT
James Wiseman (Knee) OUT


BLAZERS

Damian Lillard (Abs) OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (Foot) OUT
Eric Bledsoe ("Achilles") QUEST.
Nassir Little (Shoulder) OUT
Joe Ingles (ACL) OUT
Didi Louzada (Knee) OUT

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COACHES


Chauncey Billups


Steve Kerr

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NOTES
​

• This is the third of three games this season between the Blazers and Warriors
• The Warriors lead the 2021-22 season series 2-0
• The Blazers lost 118 -113 in SF on 11/26 and 104 -94 in SF on 12/8
• The Blazers won the 2020-21 season series 2-1
• Warriors head coach Steve Kerr played for the Blazers during the 2001-02 season

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TRIVIA

The Blazers last played the Warriors back on 12/8, losing 104 -94. He led all players in scoring with 26 points

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​

 

[Chris Craig]

Warriors come out and play!

 

[blazerkor]

This game will be an interesting gauge of just how good these new look Blazers are. If we can keep it competitive with the Warriors or somehow pull out a victory, then this team continues to look like a team poised to make a run at a playoff birth. If we get blown out, it doesn't necessarily negate what we saw in the four games leading up to the all star break but it will put a damper on the excitement the current win streak has caused.

 

[HailBlazers]

 

[Chris Craig]

Yep

They are in the lineup

 

[HailBlazers]

Yep

They are in the lineup

Think Jay purposely tweeted at 2:20?

 

[Chris Craig]

Think Jay purposely tweeted at 2:20?

Why not wait till 2:22?

 

[blazerfan11]

The Warriors have lost 4 of their last 5 games. 2 of the losses were at home, to Denver (last Wednesday on a buzzer-beater by Monte Morris from Jokic) and to the New York Knicks (by 2 points).
With 2:50 left in the game against Denver, the Nuggets were down 8 points, and intentionally fouled Kevon Looney. Looney missed both free throws. He was fouled intentionally again, and made both. With 1:18 left in the game, Jokic pushed into Looney intentionally, but it wasn't considered intentional since Looney was screening Jokic from the ball handler (smart play by Jokic). Looney missed both free throws.
Denver went on a 8-0 run until Steph Curry hit the 2nd-to-last shot of the game, a mid-range 2-pointer, with 5.9 seconds left in regulation. Curry was fouled on the shot, made the free throw, and put the Warriors ahead by 2, 116-114.
Denver then inbounded the ball to Jokic, who backed into the paint, then found Morris open for the 3-point shot, which he drained at the buzzer. Morris wasn't initially at the 3-point line, but was standing just to the right of the painted area, until there were 2.4 seconds on the clock. Nobody followed him to the 3-point line. While Otto Porter tried to guard two players, Morris and Aaron Gordon (who ran down right baseline and stopped under the hoop), Steph Curry was standing in the restricted area guarding nobody. At the exact moment Curry moved forward to get in front of Jokic, Jokic turned to face the hoop and flipped the ball straight to his right to a wide open Monte Morris. Steph at that point finally ran towards Morris, but it was too late. This was a horrible blunder by the Warriors defense. They were ahead by 2 points.
I hope Billups noticed the hack-a-Looney tactic employed by Denver. It was successful.
Something that really hurt Denver was the number of points off of turnovers Golden State had. I think it was 23 off of 18. It would be good to keep the turnovers down. The Blazers had 12 in Memphis.

 

[Scalma]

Eubanks will play and backup Nurk according to Eubanks and Billups. Guessing that means Watford will play more four

 

[blazerfan11]

Eubanks will play and backup Nurk according to Eubanks and Billups. Guessing that means Watford will play more four

Definitely can use more size against Denver on Sunday.
Their backup C is Boogie Cousins.

 

[blazerfan11]

This game will be an interesting gauge of just how good these new look Blazers are. If we can keep it competitive with the Warriors or somehow pull out a victory, then this team continues to look like a team poised to make a run at a playoff birth. If we get blown out, it doesn't necessarily negate what we saw in the four games leading up to the all star break but it will put a damper on the excitement the current win streak has caused.

In their last two road games, the Warriors lost by 26 in Utah and 15 in LA to the Clippers. I think the Blazers winning by more than 10 is just as likely as the opposite. At least I think so.

 

[Scalma]

Billups was also asked about Bledsoe getting backup point minutes and he said “hopefully, he’s still out” but then mentioned Williams right after that so I’m wondering if maybe he’ll get a chance to run with the second unit Thursday.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

@Chris Craig nice job on Steve Kerr's picture.

I'm wondering if the Blazers got the memo yet about needing a draft pic? Or is it they got the memo and simply don't want to follow the directions of the fans on S2?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Need someone else to start in Elleby spot.

 

[wizenheimer]

hopefully, Curry won't go 16-27 on three's

 

[Fairly-Hard]

hopefully, Curry won't go 16-27 on three's

Great shooter but that number just doesn't seem great with the way he was guarded?

Well it would be really good for me at 24 hour fitness.

 

[DDolla]

Tank Mode is back. Since we can’t lose, only way to tank is to rest the players.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Tank Mode is back. Since we can’t lose, only way to tank is to rest the players.

So rest them after the All-Star break?

 

[Scalma]

Sounds like Keon is gonna play as long as he recovers from practice. Seems like the staff is pretty high on Brandon Williams too, not sure he’s gonna play though. Doesn’t sound like they’re about to be trying to lose games either.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Sounds like Keon is gonna play as long as he recovers from practice. Seems like the staff is pretty high on Brandon Williams too, not sure he’s gonna play though. Doesn’t sound like they’re about to be trying to lose games either.

I like it. A "tank" with dignity. I can get on board with that.
Chauncey will keep pushing and the team will continue to gel and get better.
They are also establishing an identity. Hustle and Heart. Ball movement.
But, they will lose without Lillard, Nurk, and Nas.
Tanking, with dignity.
(because, after all, losing on purpose is insulting to all.)

 

[Scalma]

So who do you start Eubanks or Watford? Seems Billups was still debating it yesterday

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

So who do you start Eubanks or Watford? Seems Billups was still debating it yesterday

I'd probably start Watford just cuz he knows what we're doing. Then see who looks better in games and practice and maybe change.....

 

[TBpup]

Get as much run for Watford, Brown, Hughes, KJ, Hart, Winslow, 'Banks and Ant as you can. Want to see effort, pieces of growth, and getting out in the open court. It's not about winning the game. Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war.

 

[Scalma]

Get as much run for Watford, Brown, Hughes, KJ, Hart, Winslow, 'Banks and Ant as you can. Want to see effort, pieces of growth, and getting out in the open court. It's not about winning the game. Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war.

thanks sun tzu

 

[illmatic99]

excited for Ant v Steph.

Sucks that Ant's best screener is out.

 

[Scalma]

Eubanks starting but wouldn’t be surprised if Watford got more minutes anyway

 

[Strenuus]

Lol hard not to think Chauncey really soured on CJ.

(Paraphrased a touch) "man, you gotta defend. Can't just go out there and score 25 points and be like 'well, I'm done'"

Lol. I know my tin foil hat is on but that was interesting (a bit paraphrased like I said, but that was the gist).

 

[Scalma]

Lol hard not to think Chauncey really soured on CJ.

(Paraphrased a touch) "man, you gotta defend. Can't just go out there and score 25 points and be like 'well, I'm done'"

Lol. I know my tin foil hat is on but that was interesting (a bit paraphrased like I said, but that was the gist).

what’s the context here? Some kind of interview?

 

[illmatic99]

key foul call there. can't be THAT physical on Ant.

 

[illmatic99]

why is eubanks starting over trendon