Game Thread Game # 70 - BLAZERS @ PACERS - MARCH 20, 2022 - SUNDAY - 12:30 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Chris Craig]

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STARTERS


Brandon Williamson Josh Hart

CJ Elleby Trendon Watford

Drew Eubanks



Tyrese Haliburton Buddy Hield

Justin Anderson Oshae Brissett

Goga Bitadze



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WHEN: MARCH 20, 2022 - SUNDAY - 12:30 PM (PDT)

WHERE: GAINBRIDGE, FIELDHOUSE - INDIANAPOLIS - INDIANA


TV BROADCAST


RADIO BROADCAST



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BENCH

BLAZERS


Ben McLemore Justice Winslow

Keon Johnson Elijah Hughes

Kris Dunn Greg Brown III

Keljin Blevins

Damian Lillard Jusuf Nurkic

Anfernee Simons Nassir Little

Eric Bledsoe Joe Ingles

Didi Louzada


PACERS


Terry Taylor Malcolm Brogdon

Chris Duarte Duane Washington

Lance Stephenson Keifer Sykes

Isaiah Jackson Goga Bitadze

TJ McConnell Ricky Rubio

TJ Warren Myles Turner

Jalen Smith

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INJURIES

PACERS

Myles Turner (Foot)OUT
TJ Warren (Foot) OUT
TJ McConnell (Wrist) OUT
Ricky Rubio (Knee) OUT
Isaiah Jackson (Knee)OUT
Goga Bitadze (Foot) QUEST.
Chris Duarte (Toe) QUEST.


BLAZERS

Damian Lillard (Abs) OUT
Nassir Little (Shoulder) OUT
Joe Ingles (Knee) OUT
Didi Louzada (Knee) OUT
Anfernee Simons (Knee) OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (Foot) OUT
Eric Bledsoe (Foot) OUT

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COACHES

Chauncey Billups


Rick Carlisle

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NOTES
​

• This is the second of two games between the Blazers and Pacers this season
• The Blazers lead the season series 1-0
• The Blazers and Pacers split the 2020 - 21 season series 1-1

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TRIVIA

The Blazers last played the Pacers on 11/5, winning 110 - 106. CJ McCollum and this other Blazer made 5 three pointers a piece.

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​

 

[Labinot41]

Next 6 games:
@pacers
@Pistons
vs Spurs
vs Rockets
vs Rockets
vs Thunder

We need a tank for the ages

 

[TBpup]

Pacers just came back to beat Houston. A key loss here from Portland, and they will be only 1 win in front of Portland. That would make #5 possible.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Huge game against Indy

 

[Chris Craig]

 

[blazerkor]

If we don't find a reason to sit Josh Hart from this game through the end of the season then what the fuck have we been doing?!? If we play Hart in the next eleven games we could win all of them and really hurt our draft position. I'm trusting this organization will do the smart thing here. It seems they've been completely dedicated to the tank and this is no time to abandon that. Last night we didn't play Keon, Elijah, Greg or Keljin so there are obviously enough live bodies to play the games.

I honestly think if we see Hart in this game it will be a disastrous sign. The only reason I've been OK with Ant, Nurk and Dame sitting when they could be playing is because we're as Dame put it "playing for a pick". I think we can stay below the Spurs, get below the Kings for sure who have just one less win than us and even get under the Pacers who only have two less wins than we do but if we win more than two games then we probably won't get to that fifth spot. If we win all of the games we're capable of winning then we'll likely end up in the play ins... our schedule has so many easy wins left while the Spurs, Pelicans and Wizards can't say the same thing. We could be in the fifth spot for draft position or we could fuck it up and end up in the ninth spot or even in the playoffs without a pick of our own, just to be non competitively put out again by a superior team.

 

[TBpup]

They need to sit Hart as soon as Ant comes back.

Any, Hart, Winslow, Watford and Eubanks would beat some of these trash teams.

 

[DDolla]

Next 6 games:
@pacers
@Pistons
vs Spurs
vs Rockets
vs Rockets
vs Thunder

We need a tank for the ages

Damn, now I’m Nervous. Need to sit Hart and Winslow

 

[blazerkor]

They need to sit Hart as soon as Ant comes back.

Any, Hart, Winslow, Watford and Eubanks would beat some of these trash teams.

I think both of them need to sit the rest of the season. The team that's been playing lately can will beat these trash teams.

 

[Labinot41]

The Blazers absolutely need to sit Josh Hart for the rest of the season. Also don't bring Ant back

 

[KSF-ERIC]

If we do make the play-in, do you think Dame and Nurk play? Or do we roll with the guys who got us there?

 

[blazerkor]

If we do make the play-in, do you think Dame and Nurk play? Or do we roll with the guys who got us there?

If we make the play in then it will be a huge failure on the team's part, specifically the front office who is obviously trying to tank. That being said, Dame only said that he wouldn't play for a pick... I'm pretty sure if the front office fails that Dame will want to play for a spot in the playoffs. Nurk would probably feel the same way. I think Ant would be in at that point too. So we would get to see what Dame and Ant look like together as starters in a competitive situation. The guys that got us there would still be rolling with us. I would think the rotation would look something like Dame, Ant, Hart, Justise, Nurk, Trendon, Williams, Eubanks if we find a way to keep him and someone else who will have to step up between now and then. So the guys that contribute to it would still play but for sure we'll play our best guys the most.

 

[Chris Craig]

If we make the play in then it will be a huge failure on the team's part, specifically the front office who is obviously trying to tank. That being said, Dame only said that he wouldn't play for a pick... I'm pretty sure if the front office fails that Dame will want to play for a spot in the playoffs. Nurk would probably feel the same way. I think Ant would be in at that point too. So we would get to see what Dame and Ant look like together as starters in a competitive situation. The guys that got us there would still be rolling with us. I would think the rotation would look something like Dame, Ant, Hart, Justise, Nurk, Trendon, Williams, Eubanks if we find a way to keep him and someone else who will have to step up between now and then. So the guys that contribute to it would still play but for sure we'll play our best guys the most.

10 day contract players are eligible for the playoffs, but I believe we would have to sign Eubanks or Dunn for the remainder of the season to have them in the playoffs, meaning we would need to waive players (Bledsoe, Louzada?).

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Pretty much looks like the Pacers need to tank as well. Thinking about that they are the perfect place for Chet to land. Exact coach he needs and the team is built for him with the 2-3 years he will need to bulk up and improve. Perfect situation for him.

 

[Chris Craig]

Pretty much looks like the Pacers need to tank as well. Thinking about that they are the perfect place for Chet to land. Exact coach he needs and the team is built for him with the 2-3 years he will need to bulk up and improve. Perfect situation for him.

Doesn't look like the Pacers are trying to tank to me.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Doesn't look like the Pacers are trying to tank to me.

Behind the Blazers in the standings.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Behind the Blazers in the standings.

Only 2 wins. We can reduce that gap today

 

[DDolla]

Looking good so far

 

[Chris Craig]

Behind the Blazers in the standings.

And if they are tanking, shouldn't they be trying to stay behind them

 

[Fairly-Hard]

And if they are tanking, shouldn't they be trying to stay behind them

Somebody has to win this game. It’s a home game for them.
The Blazers have like the easiest home stand I have seen in years coming up. Somebody has to win those games also and it doesn’t seem like any of those next 5 games will be easy to lose.

Funny because this was the very part of the schedule a bunch of people were pinning their 50 win predictions on.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Somebody has to win this game. It’s a home game for them.
The Blazers have like the easiest home stand I have seen in years coming up. Somebody has to win those games also and it doesn’t seem like any of those next 5 games will be easy to lose.

Funny because this was the very part of the schedule a bunch of people were pinning their 50 win predictions on.

I'm still holding out for 82-0!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I wonder how Root Sports is liking the first year of this new TV contract?

 

[James lamphear]

This off season Joe might have decision on Dunn and eubanks.

 

[Chris Craig]

Somebody has to win this game. It’s a home game for them.
The Blazers have like the easiest home stand I have seen in years coming up. Somebody has to win those games also and it doesn’t seem like any of those next 5 games will be easy to lose.

Funny because this was the very part of the schedule a bunch of people were pinning their 50 win predictions on.

Of course someone has to win. Home game or not if you are trying to tank you lose. I see one team trying to tank and one team not.

I think the upcoming games will be quite easy to lose with the Blazers playing like they are. San Antonio will play to beat us and likely will. The Rockets who are far enough behind will play to win against us. Etc. Teams can't help but to want to beat us when they play us.

 

[Wade Garrett]

A Football metaphor for the Blazers first half..

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I'm still holding out for 82-0!

Somebody will someday?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Somebody will someday?

As long as it's the Blazers my annual prediction will finally be right and I can do a big I TOLD YOU SO to everyone.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Only down 18 they’re still in it!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Only down 18 they’re still in it!

6 3pt shots!

 

[Fairly-Hard]

As long as it's the Blazers my annual prediction will finally be right and I can do a big I TOLD YOU SO to everyone.

But dog years are like 7 to 1. That might make you pretty old before it happens?