Game Thread GAME# 77: BLAZERS @ NETS - APRIL 6, 2015 - MONDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[illmatic99]

Wow. Terry resting guys?!!!

Thanks for listening to me!

 

[illmatic99]

Wouldn't it make more sense to rest those guys against Minny and Utah?

Who knows? Maybe the bench surprises us again and we steal an odd road game in BK tomorrow?

I think they might be getting more rest if they avoid the two cross country flights in two days

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Not counting Blake, who probably volunteered to go, the guys missing the trip are the three oldest/longest tenured Blazers (that are active: Dorrell is out, Matthews is out)... seems like a legit thing.

 

[magnifier661]

Blazers play better when they're the underdog. Having HC also adds pressure. They'll never say it, but I think they lowkey want to start on the road, despite their great home record. When you're at home all the pressure is on you IMO. You're expected to win those games. I like the blazers mentality in those situations as the road team. They got that dog in them.

It was a little odd but I was thinking the same thing. If we can steal one of the two first road games, we can put a ton of pressure on the other team. If we lose one of our first two with HCA, we get a ton of pressure on us.

 

[kjironman1]

The more I think about this the more glad I am these guys are resting. Traveling to the east coast can be fatiguing both physically and mentally. Being over 6' myself I'm sure LMA isn't excited about 8 hours on a plane. This isn't like Joe and Nancy next door taking a fun vacation every 6 months these players will have had to go on 42 road flights this year. We've had probably the most condensed schedule of games in a month this march as in the history of the Blazers franchise. If LaMarcus and the others were feeling 100% I'm sure they would play so I'm glad they are taking the break. It seems rare for pro athletes to make this smart decision and rest when they should; usually players play when they should be resting.

I agree travel is tough but being over 6' is not a problem for these guys. They sit in seats that have a little more room than most of us.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I get why we are doing it but I really hope that decision and one game doesn't cost us home court advantage

Its doubtful we will get HCA now anyway.

 

[KingSpeed]

Rumors are that the Blazers vs Nets will be postponed also.

It's fucking 57 degrees here. There is no blizzard. What the fuck?

 

[KingSpeed]

Ohhhh this is the old thread

 

[Strenuus]

It's fucking 57 degrees here. There is no blizzard. What the fuck?

hahahaha.

 

[Strenuus]

Its doubtful we will get HCA now anyway.

So, would you say HCA is... untouchable?

 

[KingSpeed]

Here's the thing about HCA. Yes, there is pressure to win the first two games at home but regardless, if you get to Game 7, it's in your building. It's a huge advantage. If Dame didn't hit the shot, Houston would've had a major edge heading home. So that is why I want HCA for as many series as possible. But I am on board for resting the guys. Going back to March 24th, they haven't had 2 days of rest in succession and they weren't gonna get it for the rest of the season if they did go to Brooklyn. I was upset at first (especially since I'm going to the game), but now I think we can win anyway. We played the Warriors very well for a half without Aldridge/Kaman/Batum. Yes, we had Wright but I still think we have the guns. We can beat Brooklyn. Oh yeah, as for tonight, Go Lakers!

 

[THE HCP]

The plane was empty today FAMS!

 

[EGame]

I'm ok with Stotts resting some of our key guys and though Im no longer predicting it, a win is still possible. Damian really needs to do work and CJ needs to be the second fiddle. I just wonder who will start at SF? Crabbe? Have Afflalo moves to the 3 and start CJ?

oh never mind I saw the starters on the OP. Is that confirmed or a prediction at this point?

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm ok with Stotts resting some of our key guys and though Im no longer predicting it, a win is still possible. Damian really needs to do work and CJ needs to be the second fiddle. I just wonder who will start at SF? Crabbe? Have Afflalo moves to the 3 and start CJ?

oh never mind I saw the starters on the OP. Is that confirmed or a prediction at this point?

Prediction. It could be Gee for all we know.

 

[BBert]

The plane was empty today FAMS!

Yikes missing five guys. That's crazy.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Gee is important to us tomorrow. He is our best defender against Joe Johnson and Thaddeus Young. I would not start him though as we need him to stay out of foul trouble.

Hopefully AAA and Crabbe can cover JJ. (Hard to believe JJ is 240.)

Meyers needs to be hot tomorrow from deep.

 

[BBert]

I'm ok with Stotts resting some of our key guys and though Im no longer predicting it, a win is still possible. Damian really needs to do work and CJ needs to be the second fiddle. I just wonder who will start at SF? Crabbe? Have Afflalo moves to the 3 and start CJ?

oh never mind I saw the starters on the OP. Is that confirmed or a prediction at this point?

I like this idea. CJ can match up with Brown and put Arron on Johnson backed up by Gee.

 

[EGame]

I like this idea. CJ can match up with Brown and put Arron on Johnson backed up by Gee.

I think it could work, but then when our thin bench gets even thinner with CJ starting than who in the world will score for us? I'd like to see CJ get a start, but think he is much more needed to come off the bench and shoot pretty much all the time.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think it could work, but then when our thin bench gets even thinner with CJ starting than who in the world will score for us? I'd like to see CJ get a start, but think he is much more needed to come off the bench and shoot pretty much all the time.

Agreed. Crabbe could just as easily start at the 2 and match up with Brown, while CJ comes off the bench.

I'm more concerned with the bigs; we have Rolo, Nards and Freeland, and nobody else over 6'6", which basically means 96 minutes to split between those three. FreeNards have exactly 3 games between them where they've played over 30 minutes; Rolo has surpassed 33 only twice. Especially Leonard, who will likely be attempting to defend Thaddeus Young on the perimeter. If I'm Lionel Hollins, I go after that matchup early and often.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Agreed. Crabbe could just as easily start at the 2 and match up with Brown, while CJ comes off the bench.

I'm more concerned with the bigs; we have Rolo, Nards and Freeland, and nobody else over 6'6", which basically means 96 minutes to split between those three. FreeNards have exactly 3 games between them where they've played over 30 minutes; Rolo has surpassed 33 only twice. Especially Leonard, who will likely be attempting to defend Thaddeus Young on the perimeter. If I'm Lionel Hollins, I go after that matchup early and often.

I suspect we may see some Alonzo Gee on Thad Young - especially if one of our bigs gets in foul trouble. At 6'8", Young is only 2" taller than Gee. So, it isn't a horrible mismatch.

BNM

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers vs Nets pregame

Kind of telling how much influence the NCAA has in the sports world when you look at this game and see it is the only NBA game being played tonight. It's good that it was a east coast game and they could at least start it early enough to miss the championship game kind of.

This is actually a fun game to look at from the "Pregame" view. Resting 2 starters and the 6th man makes it pretty tough to say what you got. Vegas is not giving the Blazers much chance but i think some will lose their money. Take Portland to beat that spread.

The original "L' Train Lionel Hollins has the Nets starting to play his way. They take good care of the ball and have good shooters. the reason they make shots is because they do share the ball well and DWill is one of the best in the league. Williams is bigger and stronger than Lillard and usually gives him a tough game. However the last time these two teams met Crabbe and Leonard started and Lillard torched them for 28 and 10. Brooklyn made the mistake of letting Lillard have open looks from 3 and he went 4-6. The Blazers went on to win 97-87. Do you think maybe that game had some impact on coach Stotts decision to rest Batum and Aldridge again? I think so. Leonard and Rolo pounded them for 20 boards and combined for 17 points with a couple blocks and 2 steals. Meyers Leonard is light years better now and they have some film on him so i don't expect him to be overlooked.

The next man up is CJ. Not sure who Stotts goes with on this game at the 3? Listed as McCollum but a little cool breeze might blow through the Barclay's center tonight. It really doesn't matter who gets this start really because we all know coach is going to plug in who is making things happen and that very well might be CJ the way he has been playing. The thing here is the bench is going to feature Joel Freeland and a mix of small ball that might include Gee and Crabbe. The biggest problem i see is matching up against Mason Plumlee and Jarrett Jack. Steve Blake actually needs to step up and keep the second unit together as the Coach will have to rely more on deeper bench players and will not have Kaman to buoy that unit.

BroLo matchup. Who got the best brother? Robin is more colorful that is for sure. Have fun with it. The fact is these guys are twins and they really play hard against each other. To say one is better just doesn't work with me.

Pick tonight is AAA. No question in my mind here. He should torch Markel Brown. This is a total mismatch and i would bet Hollins has to switch Johnson or even Williams on to him. This will give Portland an offensive advantage either at the 1 or the 3. Anyway you slice it if they want to stop Afflalo they will have to give somebody an open look. Again. Portland just matches up well against this team and they very well could win this game with Aldridge, Batum and Kaman resting.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[BBert]

I think it could work, but then when our thin bench gets even thinner with CJ starting than who in the world will score for us? I'd like to see CJ get a start, but think he is much more needed to come off the bench and shoot pretty much all the time.

Having our bench outscore their bench by 20 points just might work!

 

[BBert]

Seriously though, if Stotts pulls this off, will this board give him some respect?

 

[S550]

Seriously though, if Stotts pulls this off, will this board give him some respect?

I will.. But I know if it doesn't we should with the same amount blast him too. With home court advantage being controlled with our destiny by winning out, and we white flag this game I'll be pissed..

 

[BBert]

I hope no one told the Nyets that Laimbiebs can hit the three.

 

[BBert]

I'd love to watch this game.

 

[magnifier661]

I'd love to watch this game.

Why can't you?

 

[BBert]

Why can't you?

No comsuck and I don't do pirated sites anymore since the last time I had to get disinfected.

 

[KingSpeed]

There are never NBA games on NCAAB championship night. The only reason we have a game is because of the cancellation due to the blizzard that never happened.

 

[Strenuus]

There are never NBA games on NCAAB championship night. The only reason we have a game is because of the cancellation due to the blizzard that never happened.

I totally forgot that was tonight.

Mainly, because I couldn't care less about it.