Game Thread GAME# 72: CELTICS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 23, 2018 - FRIDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
BOSTON CELTICS
48 - 23
(24-10 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
44 - 27
(25-12 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

TERRY ROZIER VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

JAYSON TATUM VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

MARCUS MORRIS VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

AL HORFORD VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

ARON BAYNES VS JUSUF NURKIC

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), FRIDAY, 3/23/2018

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

-- BOSTON CELTICS --

LARKIN , ALLEN , BIRD

NADER , OJELEYE

YABUSELE , MONROE


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

NAPIER , BALDWIN IV , CONNAUGHTON

TURNER , LAYMAN

SWANIGAN , COLLINS

DAVIS , LEONARD , PAPAGIANNIS



INJURIES
CELTICS
Jaylen Brown (concussion protocol): OUT
Kyrie Irving (sore left knee): OUT
Daniel Theis (Left Knee ): OUT
Marcus Smart (Right Thumb Sprain): OUT
Gordon Hayward (Left Ankle Rehab): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (sore back): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. Wilcox (G LEAGUE): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

BRAD STEVENS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL CELTICS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday’s game marks the second and final regular season meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Celtics in the 2017-18 season.

• LAST MEETING: Al Horford made a 20-foot turnaround jumper with one second remaining to give the Celtics a 97-96 victory over the Trail Blazers in Boston on Feb. 4.
Horford led the Celtics with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while CJ mcCollum
led the Trail Blazers with 22 points, three rebounds and three assists.

• Damian Lillard recorded 21 points, three rebounds and nine assists against the Celtics on Feb. 4. Lillard has averaged 25.7 points and 7.7 assists in his last three games against Boston.

• Maurice Harkless had 19 points (7-12 FG, 5-5 3-PT) and eight rebounds against the
Celtics on Feb. 4. His fi ve three-pointers were a career high.

• In three games against the Trail Blazers with Boston, Al Horford has averaged 17.0
points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.00 blocks.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Celtics lead, 66-45
IN PORTLAND: Celtics lead, 29-26
AT THE CELTICS: Celtics lead, 37-19

​

 

[Darkwebs]

A new win streak starts here!

 

[BlazerBeav]

Gotta get a bounce-back win against that lineup.

 

[blazerkor]

This game should be a good one to get us back on track. Another win streak is coming. We will end the season with 50 or more wins. Go Blazers!!!

 

[BrunoSOC]

Time to win again. Dame and CJ have they worst night ever. Won’t happen again

 

[-Ace-]

Wow, Aron Baynes can play PF and C, AND look like two different people!

​

PF

ARON BAYNES VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

ARON BAYNES VS JUSUF NURKIC
​

 

[Chris Craig]

We got this

 

[BonesJones]

Some of all of them

 

[TBpup]

Both teams will be well rested. It will be interesting to see if BOS gets back any of their banged up players. They are a MASH unit right now. Irving isn't making this trip and Brown is still in concussion protocol.

 

[illmatic99]

Lets see how we bounce back. Will really show how tough this team is if we come out and put em away quick

 

[BrunoSOC]

We need to win this.

 

[Jon]

lets get this W and start a new streak!

 

[RickyJoe]

Wow, Aron Baynes can play PF and C, AND look like two different people!

That's understandable since he is a Cougar!!

 

[illmatic99]

Casey just tweeted that Nurk is questionable due to a sore back.

REST HIM!

We don't need our big man having back issues in the playoffs

 

[Labinot41]

Casey just tweeted that Nurk is questionable due to a sore back.

REST HIM!

We don't need our big man having back issues in the playoffs

No need to Rest him if he feels good, because he only plays 25 minutes per Game, i like to see how for real THIS Nurkic is, baynes and Horford are good Defenders, i like to see how he plays against them

 

[THE HCP]

No need to Rest him if he feels good, because he only plays 25 minutes per Game, i like to see how for real THIS Nurkic is, baynes and Horford are good Defenders, i like to see how he plays against them

You want to see how our starting center plays against Baynes and Horford? Why? How in the hell does that apply to the success of our team as we come down the stretch and into the playoffs. Call me confused on this one. And another thing, are you the guy who wears JORTS or is that the other foreigner?

 

[Labinot41]

You want to see how our starting center plays against Baynes and Horford? Why? How in the hell does that apply to the success of our team as we come down the stretch and into the playoffs. Call me confused on this one. And another thing, are you the guy who wears JORTS or is that the other foreigner?

They are good defenders and Boston is one of the best defensive teams, Remember last Game in Boston? Nurkic started great in the 1st quarter and then he was terrible. I like to see if he has some consistancy now.

 

[rotary111]

Rest him if he needs it. Davis and Collins/Myle (Papa?) will be fine if everyone else plays well.

No way Dame and CJ miss every 3 they take again.

We will win!

 

[Cippy91]

 

[Sarni]

I am fairly confident about this one. If they had Irving and Brown then I would maybe be a little worried but with the line up they are likely to put out there we should get the job done. Their bench options are extremely uninspiring.

 

[DDolla]

Just Win Blazers!

 

[SIeepwalker]

If we lose this....... SEASON OVER !

 

[BonesJones]

No need to Rest him if he feels good, because he only plays 25 minutes per Game, i like to see how for real THIS Nurkic is, baynes and Horford are good Defenders, i like to see how he plays against them

Because showing you something is what's most important to the team.

 

[BigGameDamian]

If we lose this....... SEASON OVER !

If we loose it's because the refs fucked us over.

 

[stampedehero]

Without those key Celtic players, we have to hold the 4th Q in our favor.

 

[Labinot41]

Because showing you something is what's most important to the team.

You just afraid that he goes back in lazy shit mode and then you have to defend him as you allways do even when he plays terrible

 

[LayneStaley]

I’m sensing a cream session, Blazers by 9.

 

[kjironman1]

Post game seems like a total waste of time being i watch the game and know every bit as much as the guys talking. Pre-game i watch if i happen to be a few minutes early watching the game. But really if i'm early i find time to make myself something to eat or check in with S2. Pregame tells me very little either. I do like to see what the question is for Pick to Click.

 

[illmatic99]

Haven't had a hot shooting Dame game in a while. Let's get that 3pt% up again. My fantasy team desperately needs this, prolly more than the Blazers do.

 

[Chris Craig]

Did Dame have his kid yet?