Game Thread GAME# 75: ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 30, 2017 - THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

[Darkwebs]

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
HOUSTON ROCKETS
51 - 23
(23-13 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
36 - 38
(20-15 Home)


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

PG

PATRICK BEVERLEY VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

ERIC GORDON VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

JAMES HARDEN VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

TREVOR ARIZA VS NOAH VONLEH

C

CLINT CAPELA VS JUSUF NURKIC

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 3/30/2017​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

HOUSTON ROCKETS

WILLIAMS , BROWN , TAYLOR

WILLIAMS , DEKKER , WILTJER

HARRELL , ONUAKU , NENE

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON

TURNER , CRABBE , LAYMAN

AMINU , LEONARD


INJURIES
ROCKETS
Ryan Anderson (Right Ankle Sprain): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Ed Davis (left shoulder): OUT
Festus Ezeli (left knee): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE D'ANTONI --- TERRY STOTTS



ROCKETS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Thursday’s game marks the third of three regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and the Rockets in 2016-17. Houston leads the season-series 2-0.

• LAST MEETING: James Harden recorded 38 points and 10 assists, and Houston outscored Portland by 13 points in the fourth quarter (34-21) en route to a 130-114 victory at the Moda Center. CJ McCollum led Portland with 28 points.

• The Rockets are averaging 128.0 ppg against Portland this season and are shooting 45.6% (31-68) from beyond the arc.

• Damian Lillard scored 27 points and dished fi ve assists in the last meeting. He has scored 20+ points in five of the past six games against the Rockets.

• CJ McCollum has scored 20+ points in his last three games against Houston, after not reaching that mark in his first eight career games against the Rockets.

• Maurice Harkless is averaging 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds against the Rockets this season. He has scored 10+ in five straight games against Houston. Harkless’ career high of 28 points came against Houston (4/1/13, with Orlando).

• Evan Turner is averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds against the Rockets this season.

• James Harden is averaging 32.0 points, 12.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds vs. Portland this season and has scored 25+ in 14 of his last 16 games vs. Portland.

• Eric Gordon has reached double figures in 18 of 20 career games against Portland. Gordon is averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists against the Trail Blazers this season.

• Trevor Ariza is averaging 17.0 ppg against the Trail Blazers this season on 11-of-15 shooting (8-11 3-PT, 72.7%).

• TEAM RANKINGS: Houston is the second-highest scoring team in the league (115.6 ppg) while Portland is sixth (108.1).

• CONNECTION: Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni served as an assistant coach with the Trail Blazers during the 2000-01 season.

• CONNECTION: Al-Farouq Aminu was teammates with Houston guard Eric Gordon during his rookie season with the L.A. Clippers in 2010-11.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Rockets lead, 105-83
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 50-43
AT THE ROCKETS: Rockets lead, 62-33

​

 

[Darkwebs]

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS RACE

 

[Darkwebs]

LOTTERY STANDINGS

 

[Scalma]

Not these fuckers again.

 

[stampedehero]

Houston has a good 3rdQ and 4thQ finish capability. We have to hold control of these critical periods with a lead under both circumstances. This is what Nurk wants. We should play inspired like Milwaukee just did over the Celtics. .

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Harden always seems to put up 40+ against us on some bullshit, I'll expect it and try not to get mad watching

 

[Haakzilla]

...dare I say, Choke Hard(en)!

 

[Pridan]

Flip of a coin. Hope we roll them.

 

[Mr. Robot]

I dont think Vonleh & Harkless frontcourt is the way to go, but Im willing to give them one more season as starters, and see if they make improvements, if so, Id be fine with one of them as our starter, theyre both young, but Id be very much willing to drafting PF/SF, cause I think that would be the right way moving forward

Id like a player who can defend, we need that..

 

[TBpup]

How good is James Harden? He has a starting line-up of Beverly/Gordon/Ariza/Capela with the 3rd best record in the entire league. Before this season, those 4 would be grounds for a GM being fired.

 

[BrunoSOC]

This is a very big game. Hard game! Hope Damian lead us!

 

[illmatic99]

If we win this one, I will deem we truly turned the corner.

Their strengths perfectly exploit our weaknesses so I got no hope. Expecting Gordon to go off again.

 

[blue9]

In response to the poll question: where's the "Maybe" option? Or, "Hmmm, I just don't know yet"? Or "I'm skeptical, and yet also kinda hopeful"?

 

[Pinwheel1]

How good is James Harden? He has a starting line-up of Beverly/Gordon/Ariza/Capela with the 3rd best record in the entire league. Before this season, those 4 would be grounds for a GM being fired.

I was thinking the same thing when I looked at the matchups above. Not saying those other players a horrible but it goes to show you how important it is to have the right players for your system. Ryan Anderson usually starts and Gordon comes off the bench with 16+. But everything goes through Harden and they all know their roles.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Capela shot 90% from the field last game against the Warriors (9-10) but everyone else shot below average.
Harden was 5-20, Gordon 3-9, Williams 5-14, Nene 1-6. I doubt that will happen twice in a row. We need a big game from both Dame and Cj.

Interesting they only played 8 guys with Anderson being out. The Warriors played 12

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Listening to the radio yesterday, while several hosts talked about the renaissance for this season, and how it's likely better that the Blazers win the 8th seed in the playoffs rather than a pick in the late-lotto, if for no other reason than building back the positive vibes of a winning culture.

They seem to forget, if we make the playoffs, we still get the lotto pick. I'll take the playoffs (and building a winning culture) and the lotto pick over tanking.

 

[blue9]

Listening to the radio yesterday, while several hosts talked about the renaissance for this season, and how it's likely better that the Blazers win the 8th seed in the playoffs rather than a pick in the late-lotto, if for no other reason than building back the positive vibes of a winning culture.

They seem to forget, if we make the playoffs, we still get the lotto pick. I'll take the playoffs (and building a winning culture) and the lotto pick over tanking.

I get what you're saying, and agree with it, but we wouldn't actually get a lotto pick - we'd get a draft pick. There is a difference.

 

[Trackjack]

One thing Harden has bad left wrist that he said it bother him when shoots.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I get what you're saying, and agree with it, but we wouldn't actually get a lotto pick - we'd get a draft pick. There is a difference.

I did not realize we caught Miami and Indiana in the loss column. And Atlanta and Milwaukee are only two losses ahead. The Bucks are on a role but the Hawks just lost Millsap. Shit we could drop to 18th if we keep winning. We need those eastern teams to win.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Dougnsalem]

 

[Reep]

Test 1: Can you decisively beat a division rival in an important game to both teams: PASSED
Test 2: Can you compete with a solid playoff team on your home court: TBD

This game is about confidence and swagger to me. If you beat, or at least strongly compete with, Houston then you feel like maybe you deserve to be in the playoffs. If you get dominated at home then you may have to do some soul searching.

 

[Natebishop3]

Pat Beverley looks more and more like a homeless person every single day.

 

[Scalma]

How good is James Harden? He has a starting line-up of Beverly/Gordon/Ariza/Capela with the 3rd best record in the entire league. Before this season, those 4 would be grounds for a GM being fired.

Huh? Harden is surrounded by nothing but above average shooters and a rim running center. That offense is a machine and makes it almost impossible for teams to double Harden. It's completely built to compliment his game. It's nothing but impressive.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Huh? Harden is surrounded by nothing but above average shooters and a rim running center. That offense is a machine and makes it almost impossible for teams to double Harden. It's completely built to compliment his game. It's nothing but impressive.

Yeah but did you say that before the season? Not many people on this board did.
But who knew Gordon and Ryan Anderson would finally stay healthy........and Harden would actually pass the ball to them.

 

[illmatic99]

I like ET on Harden more than Moe. Think he can stay closer to him and won't pick up bullshit fouls. I might start ET tonight.

And go to him in the post on offense to force Harden to try on defense.

 

[blue9]

I did not realize we caught Miami and Indiana in the loss column. And Atlanta and Milwaukee are only two losses ahead. The Bucks are on a role but the Hawks just lost Millsap. Shit we could drop to 18th if we keep winning. We need those eastern teams to win.

ATL, BOS, and WAS have really failed us - I expected them to improve our CLE/MEM picks.

 

[Scalma]

I like ET on Harden more than Moe. Think he can stay closer to him and won't pick up bullshit fouls. I might start ET tonight.

And go to him in the post on offense to force Harden to try on defense.

I'd just put Aminu on harden, but I agree about ET over Harkless.

Btw is harden even playing? Doesn't he have some hand injury

 

[TBpup]

Yeah but did you say that before the season? Not many people on this board did.
But who knew Gordon and Ryan Anderson would finally stay healthy........and Harden would actually pass the ball to them.

Exactly right. Gordon has never been able to stay on the court. For this game, Anderson isn't among the listed starters, Ariza has been a moron at times, Beverly is nice defensively but little else and Capela before this year was never anything in the least bit special. Harden (and D'Antonio) have built a system that helps compliment those players but that is easily the least talented roster outside of Harden of the top-5 teams in the league.

 

[BigGameDamian]