Game Thread GAME# 77: HEAT @ BLAZERS - APRIL 2, 2016 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
MIAMI HEAT
44 - 31
(19-18 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
40 - 36
(25-12 Home)



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

PG

GORAN DRAGIC VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

GERALD GREEN VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

JOE JOHNSON VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

LUOL DENG VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE VS MASON PLUMLEE


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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), SATURDAY, 4/2/2016​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

MIAMI HEAT

RICHARDSON , WINSLOW

McROBERTS , HASLEM , WHITESIDE

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , MONTERO

CONNAUGHTON , VONLEH , ALEXANDER , DAVIS



INJURIES
HEAT
Dwyane Wade (back/neck): OUT
Chris Bosh (calf, blood-clotting): OUT
Tyler Johnson (left shoulder surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Meyers Leonard (dislocated left shoulder): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

ERIK SPOELSTRA --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL HEAT'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday marks the second and final regular season contest between the Trail Blazers and Heat in 2015-16.

• LAST MEETING: Miami defeated Portland, 116-109, at AmericanAirlines Arena on Dec. 20. Chris Bosh had a team-high 29 points (1-19 FG), while Hassan Whiteside logged a double-double with 22 points (10-13 FG) and 11 rebounds.

• In the first meeting between these teams, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 32 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

• Portland is 2-6 in its past eight contests against Miami.

• The Heat are 4-2 in its past six trips to the Moda Center.

• Four of the past six series between these two teams have ended in a 1-1 series split.

• Dwyane Wade scored 18 points against Portland on Dec. 20, 2015, and has now scored in double figures in all 23 career games against the Trail Blazers. Wade has scored 20+ points in 14 of his past 18 games against Portland (nine games of 30+ points).

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 34-20
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 16-11
AT THE HEAT: Trail Blazers lead, 18-9

​

 

[Scalma]

Still not over that Bosh shot few years ago. Every game is a revenge game against these fools.

Oh and Dragic. Our nightmare.

 

[Draco]

Heat play tonight in Sacramento so our game will be their second of a back to back, 3rd game in 4 nights, and final game of a west coast trip. Will they sit their starters? Either way this will be the easiest game we have left this season.

Not only do I think we get the 5th seed; I'm more curious with how many games left we clinch it.

Go Blazers!

 

[illmatic99]

Oh and Dragic. Our nightmare.

Not anymore. Wade has killed that guy's effectiveness.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think I will root for them to win tonight against the Kings. (In triple OT) I don't want them coming in to the Moda center Saturday trying to avoid getting swept on their 3 game western road trip. Losing to the Lakers and Kings would be brutal and only increase Wade's dramatic whining by about 300%. They are currently locked into a 3 way tie for 3rd (in the loss column) in the East. With Boston only 1 game back. It's a big game for them.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Don't underestimate them, they have very good options in every position and their best Center, Whiteside, is coming off the bench. Also Winslaw seems to be a very nice rookie. They're one of the better teams in the East, maybe as good as the Celtics, this isn't supposed to be an easy game

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Our best center comes off the bench too.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Our best center comes off the bench too.

Dude, you really need to control your man-crush on Baseball Pat!

 

[Draco]

fivethirtyeight.com gives us 69% odds at a win.

 

[Tweak]

Wade took a nasty fall last game and isn't playing tonight and "probably" not tomorrow night.

 

[cardova08]

The Heat are up 20 at Sacramento against a Boogie-less Kings. Wade not playing but that team might actually play better without D Wade. They can play up tempo more and the ball doesn't stick. That team is talented and deep, if anyone will unseat the Cavs in the East it will be them, too bad Bosh isn't healthy or they'd have a great chance. The Blazers should win because they're at home, but there is no way this one is a gimme.

 

[Trackjack]

This is very important due we play Golden state the next night. So the focus is on Miami tonight go Blazers.

 

[BonesJones]

If we don't hedge our small ball 4 on Drag if I will lose my shit because he also kills us from the midrange and because Deng isn't a good pick n roll option. It's a lot easier to hedge on a pick n pop because there's less distance to recover and it's a close out instead of a chase from behind. Hell, I say hedge Plumlee too and rotate underneath if need be (they aren't great shooters, plus Amare and Whiteside aren't known as good passing big men. Could rack up a few charges if the rotation is early enough.

The other option is give Dragic the wide open pullup jumpers that he loves.

 

[Draco]

Dwayne Wade (back, neck) walking like 'Frankenstein,' likely to miss 2nd game

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, who missed Friday's game with back and neck issues, said late Friday that he's "very unlikely" to play Saturday againstPortland.

Wade, who averages 19.2 points per game to lead the Heat, was injured on a hard fall during Wednesday's loss to the Lakers and watched Miami's 112-106 victory against Sacramento on Friday from the bench in street clothes.

"It got worse (Friday)," Wade told reporters after Friday's game. "The impact I made when I hit the floor, my lower back is real sore. And my neck from my head hitting the floor is real sore. It's hard to walk normal, and it's hard to look left or right fast. ...

"There's nothing I can do except take it one step at a time, because it's not just my back. It's my back and my neck.(It's) equally bad. When I feel like I can move around, do things I need to do, I will jump back out there."

Coach Erik Spoelstra, who said Wade was walking around like "Frankenstein," said there's no timetable at the moment for Wade's return.

Gerald Green started in place of Wade and scored a season-high 30 points.

Miami (44-31) is tied with the Charlotte Hornets for third place in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining. The Heat have a better division record than the Hornets and would get the higher seed in the postseason if the teams finish in a tie.

 

[Draco]

Joe Johnson played 36 minutes last night, Luol Deng 34, Gerald Green 33. Three guys, Dragic, Winslow and Whiteside played 30 minutes. The Heat were up 20 against the Kings without tech suspended Cousins but the Kings fought back, it was a two point game at the end.

I'd expect they have significant fatigue and like our chances. This is the end of a 3 game in 4 night west coast road trip for them. They certainly are a capable team so we need to play well.

Go Blazers!

 

[theprunetang]

Hell, I say hedge Plumlee too and rotate underneath if need be (they aren't great shooters, plus Amare and Whiteside aren't known as good passing big men.

That is a huge understatement. Whiteside has 29 assists for the entire current season. For as much as he plays, that is unheard of.

 

[illmatic99]

That is a huge understatement. Whiteside has 29 assists for the entire current season. For as much as he plays, that is unheard of.

could be a function of their offense

 

[Blazinaway]

be a good game to watch Whiteside with his looming FA this summer

 

[Draco]

could be a function of their offense

It's not

 

[riverman]

Another game I'll miss...this would be a huge victory if we could pull it off...Go Blazers!

 

[kjironman1]

Coach Spoelstra just confirmed Wade is out tonight. Per Mike Richman. Twitter.

 

[theprunetang]

could be a function of their offense

That probably plays into it a little bit, but I imagine the offense would be adjusted a bit if he was a competent passer. With the amount of minutes he averages though he should have been able to luck his way into more assists. 29 is ridiculous

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I need to go to bed but ill probably wake up and check score. Go blazers.

 

[BBert]

Where dat YouTube link at?

 

[Jade Falcon]

Does anyone have a homer stream? I like the Blazers broadcast.

And please don't give me that reddit crap. Just a strait-up stream will do nicely.

 

[BonesJones]

WTF is up with Gerald Greens hair

 

[DUB]

Nice chase down block by Mo.

 

[DUB]

Fast game. Lots of turnovers, 4 each so far.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Jesus Christ, what a sloppy start! Very surprised we're ahead.

 

[B-Roy]

Clean up the sloppy plays. Seems like guys are not expecting passes.