Game Thread GAME# 75: BLAZERS @ LAKERS - APRIL 3, 2015 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), ESPN & CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2014-15 Regular Season Record
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
48-26 (18-18 Road)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
20-54 (11-25 Home)



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

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS JEREMY LIN

SG

ARRON AFFLALO VS JORDAN CLARKSON

SF

NICOLAS BATUM VS WESLEY JOHNSON

PF

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE VS RYAN KELLY

C

ROBIN LOPEZ VS TARIK BLACK



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WHEN: 7:30 PM, FRIDAY, 4/3/2015

WHERE: US Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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

BLAKE , FRAZIER , McCOLLUM , CRABBE

GEE , FREELAND , LEONARD , KAMAN

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

BROWN , DAVIS

BOOZER , HILL , SACRE




INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
▪ Dorell Wright (fractured left hand): OUT
▪ Wesley Matthews (ruptured left Achilles’ tendon): OUT
LAKERS
▪ Kobe Bryant (right rotator cuff surgery): OUT
▪Wayne Ellington (right shoulder separation): OUT
▪ Ronnie Price (right elbow surgery): OUT
▪ Julius Randle (tibia fracture, right leg): OUT
▪ Nick Young (fracture, left kneecap): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- BYRON SCOTT




BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Friday marks the fourth and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Lakers in 2014-15.

• Portland has won all three games between these two teams this season (98-94, 106-94, 102-86). The Trail Blazers haven’t swept the Lakers in a season series since 1993-94, when they went 5-0 against LAL.

• Portland has won three consecutive games at the Staples Center after enduring a six-game, three-season losing streak against the Lakers in Los Angeles from 2010-11 to 2012-13.

• The Trail Blazers have won four consecutive games against Los Angeles, and are 5-1 against the Lakers since Terry Stotts took over as Portland’s head coach in 2013-14 (3-8 in the three seasons prior).

• Damian Lillard has averaged 25.9 points and shot 45.0% (87-193) in 10 career games against the Lakers. Lillard has scored 30+ points in four of those contests.

• Damian Lillard has scored 29.3 points in three games against the Lakers this season. He has shot 30-of-52 (57.6%) from the field and 8-of-19 from beyond the arc (42.1%).


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Lakers lead, 118-94
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 64-42
AT THE LAKERS: Lakers lead, 76-30

​

LAKERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES



GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[-Ace-]

Ryan Kelly = barbecued chicken.

 

[stampedehero]

I hope the Lakers wedge the ball in that tight spot all night. We should be mighty pissed after that Barbershop fiasco. Revenge on the dried up Lakers. Be real in the second half and last three minutes of the game. Grab that TITLE .

 

[stampedehero]

The only positive stat for the Lakers is their 9-6 home record when they play East teams. Otherwise they conduct losing streaks and we should be the instigator that delivers them #2

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers vs Lakers Not really a pregame (cause this one stinks)
Maybe it's less of a time to look at the game as it is a time to look at the season? The Blazers are into the stretch run and this game is important. Not only are they in a dog fight for Home court but they can get a series sweep tonight against the Lakers. There is quite a case brewing for a reduction in games and a revision to the way they schedule games in the NBA. Just way to many teams are nursing injuries right now and the few that had injury free seasons are the teams that are in the drivers seat. Currently the Only team i could find with no injuries is the Golden State Warriors. They are of course the only team clearly out in front of all others. The rest of the league sits anywhere from 10 to 13 games back except for Atlanta that sits 6 games behind in the overall look. I decided to look into this because i think it will tell the story of the season in the end. Not just Portland's season but the way the entire league plays out. I have long been an advocate of a 66 game season and no more than 3 games in a week with no B2B's. I feel the quality of basketball will go up and every game will matter more. I think it would lessen meaningless games at the end of the season and make many of the nagging injuries disappear. The All-Star game could be a game played much like the pro bowl in football. After the season is over. Lots of reasons to change the current way the NBA is doing things.

This game for all intents and purposes should be a win for the Blazers. Not only do they need a win but the Lakers need to lose. If the Lakers don't get a top 5 or better pick they lose it to the Suns. So the Lake Show is essentially the "Tank Show" now. I would be highly disappointed if the Blazers lose this one and have to play starters more than 30 mins.

No key match ups but i hope to see plenty of bench players logging minutes

The Clippers play the Lakers twice this week also so seems like Byron Scott and company have more of the same on tap.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!



P.S. One of the points i made above says quite a bit about the Western conference. Outside of one clear leader the next 5 teams are all within 2.5 games of each other. Injuries and schedule anomalies can have an effect that could change the entire season for any of those teams.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Thunder play Memphis in the early ESPN game, and we are the late game. So, if the Thunder lose, we will have officially clinched the NW division before the game starts, based on tie-breakers. Even better, we can clinch the outright division title by dominating the Lakers tonight.

 

[illmatic99]

ESPN. fuck this. Another game that I won't be able to watch on LP. That's like 4 in a row.

 

[Kaydow]

Blazers vs Lakers Not really a pregame (cause this one stinks)
Maybe it's less of a time to look at the game as it is a time to look at the season? The Blazers are into the stretch run and this game is important. Not only are they in a dog fight for Home court but they can get a series sweep tonight against the Lakers. There is quite a case brewing for a reduction in games and a revision to the way they schedule games in the NBA. Just way to many teams are nursing injuries right now and the few that had injury free seasons are the teams that are in the drivers seat. Currently the Only team i could find with no injuries is the Golden State Warriors. They are of course the only team clearly out in front of all others. The rest of the league sits anywhere from 10 to 13 games back except for Atlanta that sits 6 games behind in the overall look. I decided to look into this because i think it will tell the story of the season in the end. Not just Portland's season but the way the entire league plays out. I have long been an advocate of a 66 game season and no more than 3 games in a week with no B2B's. I feel the quality of basketball will go up and every game will matter more. I think it would lessen meaningless games at the end of the season and make many of the nagging injuries disappear. The All-Star game could be a game played much like the pro bowl in football. After the season is over. Lots of reasons to change the current way the NBA is doing things.

This game for all intents and purposes should be a win for the Blazers. Not only do they need a win but the Lakers need to lose. If the Lakers don't get a top 5 or better pick they lose it to the Suns. So the Lake Show is essentially the "Tank Show" now. I would be highly disappointed if the Blazers lose this one and have to play starters more than 30 mins.

No key match ups but i hope to see plenty of bench players logging minutes

The Clippers play the Lakers twice this week also so seems like Byron Scott and company have more of the same on tap.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!



P.S. One of the points i made above says quite a bit about the Western conference. Outside of one clear leader the next 5 teams are all within 2.5 games of each other. Injuries and schedule anomalies can have an effect that could change the entire season for any of those teams.

I agree with your suggestion for shortening the schedule, but it will never happen. Just too much lost revenue. I'm not really crazy about the idea of lengthening the season for more off days between games either. Actually, I'm fine with that. It's my wife that hates the idea of adding another month to the season since I'm sort of like Ben from Fever Pitch when it comes to my Blazers! Shortening the games to 44 min might help. I don't know. They have to do something though. I'd like to see the players not be allowed to play overseas or for Olympic teams in the summers. Go back to letting the college kids have the honor. Paul George, Kevin Durant are the poster children for how costly those extra games can be. But on a smaller scale, Nic Batum's season has been mostly a disaster due to the fatigue of playing all year without time off. Something needs to be done.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The L*kers are currently the 4th worst team in the league. They have a top 5 protected pick. They are 1.5 games below the Orlando Magic.

If for some reason the L*kers get the 5th worst spot in the league, its likely another team leapfrogs them and they lose their pick, which would kind of fuck the franchise up for several years.

I'm not saying I hope the L*kers win, but I won't shed any tears if they do.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

The L*kers are currently the 4th worst team in the league. They have a top 5 protected pick. They are 1.5 games below the Orlando Magic.

If for some reason the L*kers get the 5th worst spot in the league, its likely another team leapfrogs them and they lose their pick, which would kind of fuck the franchise up for several years.

I'm not saying I hope the L*kers win, but I won't shed any tears if they do.

We need this win badly. Have to have it! LAC and the likes can lose all they want to the fakers though for all I care.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Playoff position versus the L*kers being fucked for 3 or 4 more additional years?

I dunno. The Lakers need the loss more than we need the win.

Just imagine the scenario at the draft lottery, where the Lakers fall to the 6th pick in the draft and lose their pick......it will be glorious. Kobe Bryant there, biting his fucking lip!

 

[BBert]

Yeah, I wish the Lakers would win a few more games. Just not against us.

 

[PDXFonz]

Ryan Kelly = barbecued chicken.

LUNCH MEAT!(I miss Trob)

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yeah, I wish the Lakers would win a few more games. Just not against us.

Every game counts

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Every game counts

For home court advantage definitely.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Please just handle business tonight Blazers!

 

[KingSpeed]

kjironman- Magic, Bird, Jordan, Stockton, Malone, Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing, and more all played 82 game seasons and they were just fine. Jordan actually took the regular season (and preseason!) very seriously and hardly ever missed. I'm not sure why we have to baby the current players by reducing the schedule to 66. And as a fan, I like watching games so I'd rather watch more than 66 games a season. I love back to backs. The more basketball, the better.

 

[KingSpeed]

The L*kers are currently the 4th worst team in the league. They have a top 5 protected pick. They are 1.5 games below the Orlando Magic.

If for some reason the L*kers get the 5th worst spot in the league, its likely another team leapfrogs them and they lose their pick, which would kind of fuck the franchise up for several years.

I'm not saying I hope the L*kers win, but I won't shed any tears if they do.

Let the Lakers beat the Clippers but not us.

 

[KingSpeed]

I just looked up some recent Laker box scoresl. Holy rap, Clarkson is playimg well. Lillard better be ready for that.

 

[HailBlazers]

Go Blazers!

 

[kjironman1]

kjironman- Magic, Bird, Jordan, Stockton, Malone, Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing, and more all played 82 game seasons and they were just fine. Jordan actually took the regular season (and preseason!) very seriously and hardly ever missed. I'm not sure why we have to baby the current players by reducing the schedule to 66. And as a fan, I like watching games so I'd rather watch more than 66 games a season. I love back to backs. The more basketball, the better.

Magic's career ended early, Birds career was derailed by back problems. Jordan took how many seasons off? Stockton played more 82 game seasons than any i can think of but he did have problems for both of 98 and 99. Interesting how durable Malone was also. Hakeem only played 3 82 game seasons his entire career very seldom logging more than 60. We all know Robinson missed a year and was injured all the time. Really? You Think these guys all played 82 games a season and were just "Fine"?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

How sweet would this soundbite be:

"The 6th pick in the draft...goes to the Los Angeles Lakers...."

 

[-Ace-]

LUNCH MEAT!(I miss Trob)

I only say barbecued chicken because at the last couple of games, a guy a few rows behind me has been shouting it whenever LA has been getting the ball and posting up on our side of the court.

 

[stampedehero]

Blazers vs Lakers Not really a pregame (cause this one stinks)
Maybe it's less of a time to look at the game as it is a time to look at the season? The Blazers are into the stretch run and this game is important. Not only are they in a dog fight for Home court but they can get a series sweep tonight against the Lakers. There is quite a case brewing for a reduction in games and a revision to the way they schedule games in the NBA. Just way to many teams are nursing injuries right now and the few that had injury free seasons are the teams that are in the drivers seat. Currently the Only team i could find with no injuries is the Golden State Warriors. They are of course the only team clearly out in front of all others. The rest of the league sits anywhere from 10 to 13 games back except for Atlanta that sits 6 games behind in the overall look. I decided to look into this because i think it will tell the story of the season in the end. Not just Portland's season but the way the entire league plays out. I have long been an advocate of a 66 game season and no more than 3 games in a week with no B2B's. I feel the quality of basketball will go up and every game will matter more. I think it would lessen meaningless games at the end of the season and make many of the nagging injuries disappear. The All-Star game could be a game played much like the pro bowl in football. After the season is over. Lots of reasons to change the current way the NBA is doing things.

This game for all intents and purposes should be a win for the Blazers. Not only do they need a win but the Lakers need to lose. If the Lakers don't get a top 5 or better pick they lose it to the Suns. So the Lake Show is essentially the "Tank Show" now. I would be highly disappointed if the Blazers lose this one and have to play starters more than 30 mins.

No key match ups but i hope to see plenty of bench players logging minutes

The Clippers play the Lakers twice this week also so seems like Byron Scott and company have more of the same on tap.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!



P.S. One of the points i made above says quite a bit about the Western conference. Outside of one clear leader the next 5 teams are all within 2.5 games of each other. Injuries and schedule anomalies can have an effect that could change the entire season for any of those teams.

+> I like everything you said. Regular season is way to long and the back/back and loaded week schedules are ridiculous. However, if the owners want to pay a player outragous money then they are the idiots. I don't have to buy a NBA ticket or dealwith the hassels or parking,traffic and 12 dollar beer. Who wants to see the Sixers anyway??

 

[riverman]

Very few wins make me feel quite as satisfied as a Laker smackdown even if they suck this season! Go Good Guys!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Haha. Bandwagon ass L*ker fans:

http://www.tmz.com/2015/04/03/lakers-tickets-ticket-prices-plunge/

 

[Darkwebs]

We are getting close to clinching the division

 

[Darkwebs]

This is it. We're 26.3 seconds from clinching.

 

[Darkwebs]

This stupid OKC game is still on?! C'mon already!

 

[BBert]

Watching MEM game. My god NBA refs are fucked.