Game Thread GAME# 62: BLAZERS @ RAPTORS - MARCH 1, 2019 - FRIDAY, 5:00 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
38 - 23
(14-15 Road)
TORONTO RAPTORS
45 - 17
(25-5 Home)


_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS KYLE LOWRY

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DANNY GREEN

SF

MOE HARKLESS VS KAWHI LEONARD

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS PASCAL SIAKAM

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS MARC GASOL

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------- JERSEYS -------

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WHEN: 5:00 PM (PST), FRIDAY, 3/1/2019

WHERE: AIR CANADA CENTRE, TORONTO, ON

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , KANTER

COLLINS , LEONARD

- TORONTO RAPTORS-

LIN , LOYD , MEEKS

POWELL , McCAW , MILLER

ANUNOBY , BOUCHER , IBAKA



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Enes Kanter (immigration issues): OUT
Evan Turner (left knee soreness): DOUBTFUL
RAPTORS
Fred VanVleet (left thumb ligament): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- NICK NURSE

OFFICIAL RAPTORS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday’s game marks the second and final meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Raptors during the 2018-19 season. The Trail Blazers lead the season series, 1-0.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers bench combined for 58 points as eight Portland players scored in double figures during a 128-122 victory over the Raptors at Moda Center on Dec. 14. Damian Lillard had 24 points (8-10 FG, 3-3 3-PT, 5-5 FT), two rebounds and four assists for Portland while Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors with 28 points (8-17 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 8-10 FT), six rebounds and four assists.

• Jusuf Nurkic recorded 11 points (4-15 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block against Toronto on Dec. 14.

• Zach Collins scored 16 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3-PT, 3-4 FT) to go with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 21 minutes off the bench against Toronto on Dec. 14.

• Fred VanVleet had 21 points (7-11 FG, 3-5 3-PT, 4-5 FT), four rebounds and eight assists against the Trail Blazers on Dec. 14.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 28-16
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead 15-7
AT THE RAPTORS: Trail Blazers lead, 13-9

 

[Darkwebs]

This is the second straight Blazers game that ESPN will carry. Are the Blazers the cool kids now?

Maybe, maybe not. But what is absolutely certain is that this game will the ultimate test for the road trip.
Toronto is, far and away, the second best team in the East. They have played inspired ball as of late, going 8-2 in their last 10 games, and will have 2 full days of rest before playing Portland, not to mention the fact that they have the second most home wins in the league right now.

But the Blazers are no slouch either. Portland has their longest win-streak of the season with 5! They are in mid-season form literally, starting out this road trip 4-0!

Can Portland keep their win streak alive against such a formiddable opponent? Tune in to find out.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm concerned about Gasol's rim protection, so I'd rather have Leonard playing against him and drawing him out of the paint.

However, I imagine that Collins will be the choice.

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm concerned about Gasol's rim protection, so I'd rather have Leonard playing against him and drawing him out of the paint.

However, I imagine that Collins will be the choice.

I like Meyers' defense on Gasol. I don't think Zach is strong enough to handle Gasol in the post.

 

[illmatic99]

what happens when we play them in the finals?

no Enes?

 

[Boise Blazer]

#getgreedy

 

[THE HCP]

what happens when we play them in the finals?

no Enes?

Great question.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You would think he would want to re-sign with a western conference team if that is the case.

 

[Chris Craig]

what happens when we play them in the finals?

no Enes?

Hope for HCA? He can still play the home games

 

[Chris Craig]

Meyers will play behind Nurkic in Toronto...mark my words

 

[Chris Craig]

This is the second straight Blazers game that ESPN will carry. Are the Blazers the cool kids now?

 

[BonesJones]

I say Meyers. Good player to hang against Gasol and get him out of the paint defensively.

 

[THE HCP]

Staying over here in Boston, heading to Toronto tomorrow.

 

[BBert]

Hope Toronto isn't our matchup in the Finals

 

[B-Roy]

I'm concerned about Gasol's rim protection, so I'd rather have Leonard playing against him and drawing him out of the paint.

However, I imagine that Collins will be the choice.

Meyers has always played well against Gasol. In fact, it's been one of the only times he gets run in the past few years.

 

[LayneStaley]

I predicted a 6-1 road trip, this was my loss. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[JDC]

Nurse likes to play the matchups, so I expect him to start Gasol.

In that scenario, I think you line up Nurks minutes with Gasol and give Zach the back-up 5 minutes vs Ibaka. But if they do go Ibaka, you probably give Meyers the 1st half minutes and let his performance decide who plays in the 2nd between he and Zach, like it has been lately.

Should be a good game. Both teams are playing really well.

 

[stampedehero]

You would think Canada is much more liberal on immigration policy than this fortress country.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You would think Canada is much more liberal on immigration policy than this fortress country.

Sure, but if he doesn't have a valid passport...

 

[Eastoff]

You would think Canada is much more liberal on immigration policy than this fortress country.

It's an issue based around the pseudo dictator of Turkey.

 

[Veletin123]

It's an issue based around the pseudo dictator of Turkey.

You think Kanter is a dictator

 

[H.C.]

If you can match Gasol on Nards, I think you take that matchup 10 times out of 10.
If Tor goes small with Ibaka at the 5 I don't think Nards has a place in the game therefore Collins should get the minutes.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

To answer the poll question, you play both Zach and Meyers 5 minutes of Kanter's rotation minutes and stick with the hotter of the two. Let them battle it out for who finishes.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I predicted a 6-1 road trip, this was my loss. Hope I’m wrong.

I hope you are right! I would love going 2-1 in the next three.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

You would think he would want to re-sign with a western conference team if that is the case.

At least we know he won't sign with Toronto. As for conference, it's the difference between one game in TOR and 2-3 games in TOR... so not a huge deal per se, unless you face TOR in the playoffs.

 

[andalusian]

To answer the poll question, you play both Zach and Meyers 5 minutes of Kanter's rotation minutes and stick with the hotter of the two. Let them battle it out for who finishes.

Remember to leave Meyer's wife and Zach's girlfriend out of the voting process for who is hotter.

(Do we need KingSpeed to give us a professional verdict here?)

Heck, I will go a step further, Add KS to the coaching staff and make him room with HCP.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Poor guy is defensless.

 

[Eastoff]

You think Kanter is a dictator

No, this monster https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recep_Tayyip_Erdoğan