Game Thread GAME# 69: BLAZERS @ SPURS - MARCH 17, 2016 - THURSDAY, 5:30 PM (PST), KGW & NBATV

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
35 - 32
(14-20 Road)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
57 - 10
(33-0 Home)




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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS TONY PARKER

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DANNY GREEN

SF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS KAWHI LEONARD

PF

NOAH VONLEH VS LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS TIM DUNCAN


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WHEN: 5:30 PM, THURSDAY, 3/17/2016

WHERE: AT&T CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , DAVIS , KAMAN

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

MILLS , MILLER , GINOBILI, MARTIN

ANDERSON , WEST , DIAW , MARJANOVIC



INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Meyers Leonard (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
SPURS
NONE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- GREG POPOVICH



SPURS'S OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Thursday marks the third and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Spurs in 2015-16.

• San Antonio has won both of its games against Portland this season to claim its first season series since going 2-1 against the Trail Blazers in 2011-12.

• With a win, San Antonio would earn its first season sweep over Portland since the 2007-08 season (3-0).

• Portland has won three of its past six road games against the Spurs (0-1 this season).

• In two games against the Spurs this season, Damian Lillard has averaged 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. Lillard is shooting 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in those two contests.

• Damian Lillard has scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 13 career games against the Spurs.

• CJ McCollum has averaged 23.0 points on 42.9% shooting in two games against San Antonio this season. McCollum has scored in double figures in three of his past four games against the Spurs.

• Al-Farouq Aminu’s 17-point performance at San Antonio on Nov. 16 matches his highest scoring total in 20 career games against the Spurs (17 pts, 10/31/12). Aminu has scored in double figures in both games against San Antonio this season (14.0 ppg).

• Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge played his first nine NBA seasons with Portland (2006-2015), averaging 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 648 games.

• LaMarcus Aldridge ranks first in Trail Blazers franchise history in rebounds (5,434) and defensive rebounds (3,698), and ranks second in points scored (12,562) and field goals made (5,121).

• San Antonio guard Patty Mills averaged 5.1 points in two seasons with Portland (2009-11) after being taken 55th overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2009 NBA Draft.

• Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka played one season with Portland in 2006-07. Udoka is a Portland native who attended Jefferson High School and Portland State University.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Series tied, 79-79
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 50-29
AT THE SPURS: Spurs lead, 50-29

​

 

[Fun in the Sun]

Waiters?

 

[DUB]

LA has always played badly on strong undersized PFs ie Maggette. Their strength stops him from going inside on one end (he always just settled for the outside shot), and their quickness gives him trouble on the other. I'd strongly consider starting Harkless or Aminu at the 4.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

LA hasn't made a 3 all year and has only attempted 15 on the season. I bet you he jacks up at least one against us.

 

[dviss1]

Waiters?

That's exactly what I was thinking.

The spurs have a COLD 2nd unit.

 

[Eastoff]

Waiters?

Death of his younger brother in a car accident I believe. I'm dumb... I trusted dark webs to be accurate on a roster.

 

[Spud147]

That poll is a tough one for me to answer because I will never forgive him for quitting on the team during the play offs but, after seeing Dame thrive when he doesn't have to worry about LMA's little feelers, I'm glad he left.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

i use to like the spurs and warriors and now i hate both teams with a passion. i hope we punch these guys in the mouth like we did to golden state.

 

[Elton]

On the poll:

I was upset when he left, but I had a feeling the moment I heard he was going to go through free agency that he really wanted to move on--in spite of feigning "Greatest Blazer of All Time" pretensions etc.

He was a bit of of a brooder, (which was fairly invisible to the average fan) but he did have some spectacular years of growth that were unfortunately hindered by key player injuries or mediocre rosters.

I saw the writing on the wall when Wes went down. And TBH, I didn't really want a brooding LMA, on the wrong side of the big 3-0, holding Dame back any further.

 

[Blazer4ever]

We got this, it could even be an easy win for us

 

[Tunchi]

That poll is a tough one for me to answer because I will never forgive him for quitting on the team during the play offs but, after seeing Dame thrive when he doesn't have to worry about LMA's little feelers, I'm glad he left.

Well you should be pissed we didnt get nothing for him

 

[andalusian]

I was disappointed Aldridge did not stay - but I was never angry. I had fun watching him do his thing in Portland uniform and we had some great teams to cheer for he was a (big) part of. In the only instance I got to meet him in person he was very nice to myself and my daughter. Honestly, this is all I really want from a player - play hard, keep working at it and not be a total ass.

I wish Aldridge nothing but success except when he plays the Blazers. The Spurs are not the most fun team to watch nowadays - they do not pass the ball as swiftly as they did in their last championship year - and the offense has too much iso for both Leonard and Aldridge - but over-all, I really do not have any bad feeling about them.

It helps that this team is so much fun to watch and you can see the rapid growth before your eyes.

 

[PDXFonz]

I was pissed until I saw how much better off we are building a team around Dame than we are building one around LMA.

 

[Strenuus]

We got this, it could even be an easy win for us

Why?

 

[Chris Craig]

I wasn't pissed that he left...just how he left after promising to stay...after telling the Blazers fans that he was staying...I understand his family is in Texas, that it puts him closer to his kids...but be a man about it...be honest...tell us your leaving to be closer to home, that you feel like you have a better chance of winning a ring in Alamo city...

But, he couldn't be upfront with the fans...be a man about it...be truthful...he lied to our faces and then kicked us in the balls...that's where the resentment and anger resides...

 

[Blazer4ever]

Why?

We have a better backcourt, as good of a front-court. Kawhi is a good player but I don't know how effective he can be against us, he's effective against teams who have a strong offensive forward. Lamarcus I never thought was that good of a player, we know he can score mid-range jumpers but also that he's a poor defensive player and rebounder for his position. Timmi is of course great, a hall of famer, and still one of their best players, Parker is a great player but our backcourt is stronger and I think would be a tough match-up for him. I think we have good match-ups with them and I think if we play a good game with good energy we're favorites even in their home-court. Saying it's an easy game may have been a reach but it's a winnable game for us

 

[SIeepwalker]

you really think we have "as good of a front-court" as the spurs ?

 

[kjironman1]

Well you should be pissed we didnt get nothing for him

Well we did "...get NOTHING for him"

 

[kjironman1]

Crazy Matchup for this game. Truly i don't really have any fear the head to head games. It's the overall Spurs machine like precision that can kill the Blazers.
Many of the Blazers have seen what Aldridge can do and they will have to keep him under wraps. There is no Blazer fan anywhere that doesn't know he can go for 30 on any given night so yes they will have to keep pressure on him on the defensive end. I also don't see Parker as the same guy that kills the Blazers. Duncan vs Plumlee will be an interesting match also because Plums will bring energy. The real problems come when you get to Green and Leonard. Then you have to look at Diaw, Ginobili, West Mills and Miller. The Spurs are very very deep. They are playing at home and they will want this win just like GS and the Thunder because this is a possible playoff opponent.
Hard for me to see this game coming out well unless the Blazers play playoff type defense and don't get killed by the refs. They will also have to have contributions on the offensive side from Aminu, Meyers, Henderson and Crabbe. Lillard and CJ cannot beat this team themselves.
Pick tonight is Terry Stotts. He is going up against the very best in the league tonight. Just like Curry on the court Pop is a willy adversary.


Update...Did not know Leonard was out when i wrote this. Will it make a difference?

 

[dviss1]

Well you should be pissed we didnt get nothing for him

You can't see the forest because there are too many trees in the way....

 

[illmatic99]

Tired of these blowout losses. At least try to stay competitive.

 

[dviss1]

I was pissed when the Texas Turncoat lied and left. Now I'm glad he's gone.

 

[HailBlazers]

Tired of these blowout losses. At least try to stay competitive.

The poll question should have been, how much will we lose by?

10
15
20
25
30
35
40

 

[Tunchi]

The poll question should have been, how much will we lose by?

10
15
20
25
30
35
40

I say 15

 

[Reep]

I'm not so sure about the loss. We have been killed by several good teams on the road. It feels like it's about time for Dame and CJ to catch fire and torch somebody. Why not SA with their old men?

 

[Tunchi]

I'm not so sure about the loss. We have been killed by several good teams on the road. It feels like it's about time for Dame and CJ to catch fire and torch somebody. Why not SA with their old men?

not today lol maybe the next below .500 team

 

[Strenuus]

not today lol maybe the next below .500 team

You're such a hopeful pessimist. How odd.

 

[HailBlazers]

I'm not so sure about the loss. We have been killed by several good teams on the road. It feels like it's about time for Dame and CJ to catch fire and torch somebody. Why not SA with their old men?

Why? Because they've yet to lose at home. Oh and of course we don't have legend in the lineup.

 

[Reep]

Why? Because they've yet to lose at home. Oh and of course we don't have legend in the lineup.

Why?

It feels like it's about time for Dame and CJ to catch fire and torch somebody. Why not SA with their old men?

I'm not sure I understand the question. We could present unique problems for SA, IF (big IF) we move the ball, run the floor, Dame and CJ have better than average games and the bench scores reasonably. San Antonio is a machine, but they are not a completely fast machine.

 

[riverman]

Be the first to beat the Spurs on their homecourt and do it in convincing fashion! Go Blazers! No Mercy!