Game Thread GAME# 73: SUNS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 30, 2015 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBATV & CSNNW

[SlyPokerDog]

Portland improves to 28-7 (.800) this season in games decided by 10 points or more, second-best in the NBA (Golden State, .843).

Tonight's win marks the 250th career win for Terry Stotts as an NBA head coach (135 with Portland).

 

[BBert]

Blazers only scored 17 in the fourth quarter. How long will this horrible scoring slump continue?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Tonight's win marks the 250th career win for Terry Stotts as an NBA head coach (135 with Portland).

The Trail Blazers have clinched their 31st playoff appearance, tied for third-most by any team since Portland joined the NBA in 1970.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The Trail Blazers have clinched their 31st playoff appearance, tied for third-most by any team since Portland joined the NBA in 1970.

In four games vs. Phoenix this season, Nicolas Batum has averaged 17.0 points (50% FG, 54.2% 3-PT), 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

 

[riverman]

Blazers and Warriors are the only western conf NBA teams to win 30 homegames this season
(Sly beat me to it again...just read his post)

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Blazers and Warriors are the only NBA teams to win 30 homegames this season

Nope.

The Trail Blazers have won their 30th home game this season (30-7), third-most in the NBA (Golden State, Atlanta).

 

[julius]

If Portland wins against the Clippers, wouldn't that potentially give them the inside leg to the 4th seed, in that if they win the division that supersedes all other tie breaker issues?

Or am I remembering that wrong, and it's still season series?

 

[KingSpeed]

If Portland wins against the Clippers, wouldn't that potentially give them the inside leg to the 4th seed, in that if they win the division that supersedes all other tie breaker issues?

Or am I remembering that wrong, and it's still season series?

No. Division winner is first tie breaker.

 

[riverman]

Nope.

I was too quick...besides the east, I missed Memphis too

 

[KingSpeed]

Portland improves to 28-7 (.800) this season in games decided by 10 points or more, second-best in the NBA (Golden State, .843).

It's amazing isn't it? Look at what that stat means... We've only lost by double digits SEVEN TIMES all season long. That is incredible.

 

[KingSpeed]

I was too quick...besides the east, I missed Memphis too

Memphis hasn't won 30 home games.

 

[KingSpeed]

We've gotten an "x."

http://espn.go.com/nba/standings

 

[KingSpeed]

48-25, 4 game win streak!
1 loss behind Rockets and we hold the tiebreaker
Magic number for division is TWO.

 

[riverman]

Memphis hasn't won 30 home games.

I must be blurry after reading at work all day...now last count I had 3 teams with 30 home wins..GS, Blazers and Hawks.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Portland is 7-2 in their last 9 games against Western Conference opponents with winning records.

 

[julius]

Portland is 7-2 in their last 9 games against Western Conference opponents with winning records.

their 2 losses were against the #1 team in the league and the #2 team in the Western Conference.

Would've been nice had they gotten one of those wins. Or not gone 1-4 on the trip. Hopefully they're finding their groove now.

 

[magnifier661]

Let's get 56 wins this season and clinch the 2nd seed!

 

[KingSpeed]

their 2 losses were against the #1 team in the league and the #2 team in the Western Conference.

Would've been nice had they gotten one of those wins. Or not gone 1-4 on the trip. Hopefully they're finding their groove now.

Kaman missed both games. Aldridge & Batum missed the 2nd half of the Memphis game. All 3 of them missed the GS game. We would've won both if those guys were healthy.

 

[KingSpeed]

Portland is 7-2 in their last 9 games against Western Conference opponents with winning records.

Too many injuries in the 2 losses.

 

[KingSpeed]

Just realized we finished the month with a 10-6 record. That isn't bad at all considering the schedule!

 

[BBert]

Looks like the Trail Blazers have a pretty good team.

 

[magnifier661]

This is what I love to see from our starters....

Aldridge +25
Batum +23
Lopez +16
Lillard +16
Afflalo +20

And look what the key bench players got as well...

Kaman +17
Blake +10
CJ +5

 

[riverman]

I mentioned it earlier but I'm so impressed with Kaman altering his game to cleaning the glass, tip ins and blocking shots. The sore shoulder was a blessing in disguise. He's having a huge impact these days!

 

[crandc]

Blazers looked like UConn women last night (that's a compliment). Play close first half, opponent thinks they have a chance, then BOOM! Blow them out of the arena.

Well, OK, UConn women are cuter....

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I was shocked at how smoothly we completely eviscerated Phoenix. I was enjoying the quarter but didn't realize how much we'd outscored them until about 9 minutes in. I was like "wait, holy crap, we've out scored them by 20!"

 

[stampedehero]

That was Sweet!!! A blowout with a berth. Aim for the Division We need two more and or two OKC losses

 

[stampedehero]

I was shocked at how smoothly we completely eviscerated Phoenix. I was enjoying the quarter but didn't realize how much we'd outscored them until about 9 minutes in. I was like "wait, holy crap, we've out scored them by 20!"

+> Eviseration is hard to come by and that game was at first tenative then it erupted into a dominating affair.

 

[stampedehero]

oh, how I enjoy dark humor

Suns got burned. That was so bad I had to find a place for it.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Judging by this game, our best defensive unit might be Blake, CJ, Kaman, Meyers, Crabbe. That's actually a solid bench unit in general.

 

[stampedehero]

We got a real shot of the 2 or 3 seed just one loss behind Memphis and two behind Houston. We have the tiebreaker for the 3rd seed as we'll be division winner. We have tiebreakers over Houston for the 2 seed. Go Blazers.

+> Accurate Intel. Thanks