Game Thread GAME# 68: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - MARCH 14, 2016 - MONDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
35 - 32
(14-20 Road)
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
44 - 22
(26-9 Home)




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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS RUSSELL WESTBROOK

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS ANDRE ROBERSON

SF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS KEVIN DURANT

PF

NOAH VONLEH VS SERGE IBAKA

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS STEVEN ADAMS


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WHEN: 5:00 PM, MONDAY, 3/14/2016

WHERE: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , LEONARD, DAVIS , KAMAN

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

PAYNE , FOYE , MORROW , HUESTIS

SINGLER , COLLISON , MOHAMMED , KANTER




INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
NONE
THUNDER
Dion Waiters (bereavement): DOUBTFUL



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- BILLY DONOVAN



THUNDER'S OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Monday marks the third of four regular season matchups between the Trail
Blazers and Thunder in 2015-16.

• Portland and Oklahoma City have split the season series, 1-1, this season, with each team winning at home.

• In the most recent game, Portland defeated Oklahoma City, 115-110, at the Moda Center on Jan. 10. In that game, Damian Lillard scored 17 of his game high 31 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-8 shooting (all three-point attempts).

• Oklahoma City is 8-3 in its past 11 home games against Portland (won two straight).

• A win for Portland would mark the third consecutive season in which the Trail Blazers have won at least two games in a single season against the Thunder.

• In two games against the Thunder this season, Damian Lillard is averaging 25.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Lillard is 12-of-22 from three (54.5%).

• Damian Lillard has scored at least 20 points in four of his past five games against the Thunder (26.0 ppg), after managing just two games of 20+ points in his first nine career games against Oklahoma City (14.8 ppg).

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Thunder lead, 114-108
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 71-40
AT THE THUNDER: Thunder lead, 74-37

 

[Draco]

I really like our backcourt on offense against their defense. Westbrook is very overrated as a defender and Robertson while great in general isn't as good against small quick guards.

I hope our second unit can expose Kanters defense.

Aminu has his hands full on Durant and our team needs to prevent Westbrook from getting in transition where he's deadly.

I like our chances. Would we rather them have the lead early in the 4th? That team collapses down the stretch. They've had some bad games the last month. Still have enough talent to get going and really slaughter any team on any night.

Go Blazers!

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know what to expect from this game.

 

[kjironman1]

Went with 2 wins. But i am hoping for more.
The Thunder have not played the Blazers since Jan 10th here in Portland.
Most of us know all too well what happened that night. Anyone care to post some pics?
I'll try to dig some up after work and get them on here.

 

[illmatic99]

We have two winnable games on this trip. @NO and @DAL . The NO game comes on the 2nd night of a back to back.

Really unfortunate trip at the worst time, but the schedule should clear up a bit after this trip.

 

[TBpup]

Thunder have not been playing well and have lost a number of close games down the stretch. That said, Portland has NO answer for offensive minded guards and that doubly so against someone like Westbrook. Hopefully Aminu can slow down Durant a bit.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Thunder have not been playing well and have lost a number of close games down the stretch. That said, Portland has NO answer for offensive minded guards and that doubly so against someone like Westbrook. Hopefully Aminu can slow down Durant a bit.

I'm sure Aminu will do fine against Durant, but I'm counting on Russ to really slow him down (like he has in the past).

 

[Tunchi]

Westbrook is going to kill us with that weak ass drop back help defense on the pick n roll we run..

 

[Strenuus]

Westbrook is going to kill us with that weak ass drop back help defense on the pick n roll we run..

Kaman, why you posting on here?

 

[Draco]

Thunder have not been playing well and have lost a number of close games down the stretch. That said, Portland has NO answer for offensive minded guards and that doubly so against someone like Westbrook. Hopefully Aminu can slow down Durant a bit.

With the way our bigs sag back seems like we have more trouble with PG's such as CP3 who are deadly from the midrange.

 

[riverman]

Westbrook is going to kill us with that weak ass drop back help defense on the pick n roll we run..

You really might want to start following another team and stop with the doom and gloom predictions. I've yet to see a reason for you to cheer for the Blazers so in a nut shell Tunchi....what's the point? Some of us actually enjoy Blazer basketball around here

 

[Eastoff]

You really might want to start following another team and stop with the doom and gloom predictions. I've yet to see a reason for you to cheer for the Blazers so in a nut shell Tunchi....what's the point? Some of us actually enjoy Blazer basketball around here

Sometimes there's just a troll...

 

[Tunchi]

You really might want to start following another team and stop with the doom and gloom predictions. I've yet to see a reason for you to cheer for the Blazers so in a nut shell Tunchi....what's the point? Some of us actually enjoy Blazer basketball around here

My fault

 

[kjironman1]

Westbrook is going to kill us with that weak ass drop back help defense on the pick n roll we run..

All ya gotta do is make more buckets than they do.....

 

[Chris Craig]

You really might want to start following another team and stop with the doom and gloom predictions. I've yet to see a reason for you to cheer for the Blazers so in a nut shell Tunchi....what's the point? Some of us actually enjoy Blazer basketball around here

Kaman has been sent to get the emotions flowing on the boards...he brings his negative spin and gets a rise out of us...gets the blood going...well that's the point anyway...he did get Riverman to basically tell him go screw off

 

[Chris Craig]

The Thunder bring back memories of a sweet last three minutes of Dame Time...and an awesome atmospheric game...and...something about a suite, and a bunch of guys with name tags on...beer...it's all hazy

 

[Boob-No-More]

OKC is an enigma. They have the talent to beat any team in the league, but then they commit 24 TOVs and lose at home to MIN. This is a team with a history of being their own worst enemies. Westbrook is playing less hero ball under Donovan than he did under Brooks, but he still commits some absolutely horrible TOVs and takes I'll advised shots. He had 9 TOVs against MIN, including 6 possessions where nobody else on his team even got to touch the ball.

OKC is 4 - 8 since the All-Star break, including 1 - 4 at home. Let's steal this one while they are down. Don't let them turn things around against us. We may face them in the playoffs and I want them entering the post season in turmoil. This is a team that is physically gifted, but mentally week. We need to use that honour advantage. I want them going into the playoffs in disarray with the added distraction/pressure that Durant will leave if they lose in the first round. Really, who could blame him?

BNM

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[SIeepwalker]

I hope this new Collom guy plays well tonight.

 

[Boob-No-More]

That's OK, they also misspelled Westbrick.

BNM

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Jade Falcon]

Did we win last time without Westbrook?

 

[Strenuus]

3J!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Strenuus]

ooooh that was nice cj.

 

[Strenuus]

CHEIF!

 

[Strenuus]

I've never seen someone hit so many off balance 3.

 

[SIeepwalker]

O is clicking but we don't get stops

 

[Strenuus]

LOL adams didn't even listen to Durant on the way back. #nochemistry

 

[BBert]

Aminu has been smoking hot from three lately. Ever since I posted about him having so many games of only two or four points. You're welcome.