Game Thread GAME# 72: MAVERICKS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 23, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), KGW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
DALLAS MAVERICKS
35 - 35
(15-18 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
36 - 35
(21-12 Home)



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

PG

RAYMOND FELTON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DERON WILLIAMS VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

WESLEY MATTHEWS VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

PF

DIRK NOWITZKI VS NOAH VONLEH

C

ZAZA PACHULIA VS MASON PLUMLEE


-----------------------------------------------------------------




WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), WEDNESDAY, 3/23/2016​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

DALLAS MAVERICKS

BAREA , HARRIS , ANDERSON , POWELL

LEE , VILLANUEVA, MEJRI

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , DAVIS , KAMAN



INJURIES
MAVERICKS
Chandler Parsons (right hamstring soreness): OUT
Jeremy Evans (right shoulder surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Allen Crabbe (illness): PROBABLE
Meyers Leonard (dislocated left shoulder): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RICK CARLISLE --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL MAVERICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

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

• LAST MEETING: Dallas defeated Portland, 132-120, in overtime at the American Airlines Center on March 20.

• Dallas has won both of its meetings against the Trail Blazers this season, marking its fourth season series victory over Portland in the past five seasons (2-2 tie in 2014-15).

• The Mavericks, who have won three straight games over Portland, haven’t won four straight contests against the Trail Blazers since posting a franchise-best 13-game winning streak over Portland from Jan. 17, 2004 to Apr. 7, 2007.

• Since 1999-2000 (16 seasons), Portland is 15-15 against Dallas at the Moda Center. The Mavericks won their lone game at Portland earlier this season on Dec. 1 (115-112, OT).

• Three of the past six games between Portland and Dallas have gone to overtime (both this season). The Mavericks have won all three contests.

• In two games against the Mavericks this season, Damian Lillard has averaged 25.5 points (7-17 3-PT) and 9.0 assists. Lillard logged a double-double against Dallas at home on Dec. 1 (25 pts, 10 ast).

• Allen Crabbe made a career-high six three-pointers (of 10) at Dallas on March 20. Crabbe is averaging 21.0 points on 52.0% shooting (56.3% 3-PT) against the Mavericks this season.

• Dallas guard Deron Williams is averaging 30.5 points (62.9% FG) and 12.0 assists against the Trail Blazers this season. Williams has scored 30+ points twice this season, both of which came against Portland.

• Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 74 games with Dallas last season. Aminu averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five postseason games with the Mavericks.

• Dallas guard Wesley Matthews averaged 15.4 points on 43.8 percent shooting in five seasons with the Trail Blazers from 2010-15. Matthews ranks number one on Portland’s all-time three-point list (826).

• Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts served as an assistant coach with Dallas for four years from 2008-12. He was on the staff during the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA championship season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 77-68
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 49-22
AT THE MAVERICKS: Mavericks lead, 46-28

​

 

[Draco]

Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league so nothing wrong with him being better. Mavs problems are terrible roster construction and constant player turnover.

Stotts is a good coach. Fans compare him to the top5 in the league which isn't fair. Those guys aren't available.

 

[Chris Craig]

Carlisle is the better coach. He is calm and collected...knows what to do in any given situation. He focuses on his team...knows exactly who should be in a game and win...takes timeouts often and even conservatively.

Stotts is a good offensive coach. He is a personable guy who gets along well, but he needs to work more on being a coach and less on being a friend...he needs to take control when necessary and not allow is team to much autonomy. He is prone to become a spectator rather than an active part of the game. Worries too much about the refs...relies too much on the refs.

That said his job got a lot harder this year...

 

[Blazers Roy]

Let's hope Stotts won't ruin another pair of pants in this one.

 

[kjironman1]

I put too close to call because i think overall Carlisle has a better coaching staff. That can make a huge difference. I also would not say he has done as much with less than Stotts has done. The Mavs have way more talent and they should be doing much better than the Blazers. It took them overtime to beat Portland and i doubt that will be the case here. 7 game series this year between these two teams i say Stotts gets the best of him.

 

[riverman]

I'm going with Stotts for a couple of reasons
Portland got way better when Stotts arrived and Dallas got much worse when he left
Stotts has never lost a talent like Rondo over character issues or even had any even minor lockerroom rebellions..no disrespect to Carlysle, could be Kaleb Canales that brought them down a notch or Cuban paying big money to middle talent players

 

[Blazers Roy]

I'm going with Stotts for a couple of reasons
Portland got way better when Stotts arrived and Dallas got much worse when he left
Stotts has never lost a talent like Rondo over character issues or even had any even minor lockerroom rebellions..no disrespect to Carlysle, could be Kaleb Canales that brought them down a notch or Cuban paying big money to middle talent players

Tyson Chandler? Brea? Dirk injury?
I think those little things made them worse after Terry left.

Carlisle is the 2nd best coach in the league, he won a championship with Dallas, built that championship team in Detroit and led the Pacers to a 61–21 (74.4%) season and the ECF where he barely lost.

Carlisle brought players like Monta Ellis,Charlie Villanuava,Deron Williams,Zaza Pachulia and Richard Jefferson from the dead.

Come on, get real.

 

[blue9]

Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league so nothing wrong with him being better.

True. But also a sad statement on NBA coaches. Carlisle doesn't wow me in the least, but he IS one of the better coaches in the league.
What I hope for the most is that someday the NBA will stop with the retreads and start looking for coaches with real talent. But it's such an "old boys club" that that'll never happen.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

TRAIL BLAZERS GAME VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS ON

MARCH 23 CHANGED TO 7 PM TIP-OFF


PORTLAND, Ore. (March 21, 2016) – The Portland Trail Blazers game vs. the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, March 23, at the Moda Center has been changed to a 7 p.m. (Pacific) tip-off, it was announced on Feb. 19 by the NBA.


The game, originally scheduled for an ESPN broadcast at 7:30 p.m., will be aired live on KGW and Rip City Radio 620 AM.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league so nothing wrong with him being better. Mavs problems are terrible roster construction and constant player turnover.

Stotts is a good coach. Fans compare him to the top5 in the league which isn't fair. Those guys aren't available.

That constant player turnover still has the Mavs in the playoffs. Why don't you ask Mark Cuban about Chemistry and baking a cake.

 

[KingSpeed]

That constant player turnover still has the Mavs in the playoffs. Why don't you ask Mark Cuban about Chemistry and baking a cake.

I'm not sold on the Mavs making the playoffs this season.

 

[kjironman1]

I'm not sold on the Mavs making the playoffs this season.

I agree. They played their very best game and had to go to OT to beat the Blazers at home. Blazers have a way better chance of getting in and so does Houston. The question is can the Griz hold on?

 

[kjironman1]

TRAIL BLAZERS GAME VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS ON

MARCH 23 CHANGED TO 7 PM TIP-OFF


PORTLAND, Ore. (March 21, 2016) – The Portland Trail Blazers game vs. the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, March 23, at the Moda Center has been changed to a 7 p.m. (Pacific) tip-off, it was announced on Feb. 19 by the NBA.


The game, originally scheduled for an ESPN broadcast at 7:30 p.m., will be aired live on KGW and Rip City Radio 620 AM.

Are you going? I'm thinking about finding some tickets.

 

[Draco]

I put too close to call because i think overall Carlisle has a better coaching staff. That can make a huge difference. I also would not say he has done as much with less than Stotts has done. The Mavs have way more talent and they should be doing much better than the Blazers. It took them overtime to beat Portland and i doubt that will be the case here. 7 game series this year between these two teams i say Stotts gets the best of him.

I definitely wouldn't say the Mavs have "way" more talent. They have Raymon Felton and David Lee playing significant roles. Lee wasn't even the 12th best player the last two teams he's been on. We saw how destructive Felton was here. The tall scrub Salah Mejri started the second half and played major minutes. Outside of Dirk, who is old and can't guard a chair, Parsons who is coming back from major injury, and Wes who is coming back from major injury that team is comprised entirely off cast off's and nobodies. I'd argue our roster even overachivieing as much as it has is more talented top to bottom. Amazing that Dallas hung in as the 6th seed for so much of the year. They most certainly don't have "way" more talent than any playoff teams.

 

[Draco]

True. But also a sad statement on NBA coaches. Carlisle doesn't wow me in the least, but he IS one of the better coaches in the league.
What I hope for the most is that someday the NBA will stop with the retreads and start looking for coaches with real talent. But it's such an "old boys club" that that'll never happen.

This statement says more about you and your expectations than the talent of coaches.

 

[Draco]

That constant player turnover still has the Mavs in the playoffs. Why don't you ask Mark Cuban about Chemistry and baking a cake.

So being in the playoff hunt is the only goal? This is a team that won a title a few years ago then let starters walk in free agency. They've had one of the best offensive players in the history of the game and a great coach with some random contributors. But if they bring back that exact roster who won a title could they have repeated?

Possibly not but we know for certain all the roster changes they've made and saving for max free agents didn't work.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Are you going? I'm thinking about finding some tickets.

I think so.

 

[Tunchi]

I'm not sold on the Mavs making the playoffs this season.

But yet we get beat by a team you think won't even make the playoffs. Great

 

[Jon]

parsons is out for the season.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Are you going? I'm thinking about finding some tickets.

Strenuus and I will be there!

 

[Orion Bailey]

I think so.

Stren and I will be at Dr. Jacks around 530.

 

[kjironman1]

Strenuus and I will be there!

Okay now we are talkin! I better get on it. Looking for some Tix that you all will be very very jealous of.

 

[Orion Bailey]

better than our free meal club seats?

We should all meet up at Jacks for a pregame drink!!! Dame will be there, hes like a fish!

 

[kjironman1]

better than our free meal club seats?

We should all meet up at Jacks for a pregame drink!!! Dame will be there, hes like a fish!

I hardly think i could beat beat free food. That will be tough for sure.

 

[Spud147]

I think the Blazers going to do some serious home cooking and make up for that OT loss in Dallas with a blow out. Have fun at the game fellas!

 

[Eastoff]

Chandler Bing will be having season ending surgery due to torn meniscus.

 

[fugawibill]

For those of us who live in different time zones, should not the start time be listed as PDT, as the US changed March 13th

 

[Darkwebs]

For those of us who live in different time zones, should not the start time be listed as PDT, as the US changed March 13th

Fixed it. Thanks!

 

[kjironman1]

better than our free meal club seats?

We should all meet up at Jacks for a pregame drink!!! Dame will be there, hes like a fish!

Not gonna make it. I am too far behind at work. Gotta watch this from home and work during the breaks.

 

[illmatic99]

We better have a different defense today.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Change it up, Terry. A decrepit Deron and Dirk should not drop 70 on us again.