GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NBATV

[Darkwebs]

WHEN: 7:00 PM, SATURDAY, 1/25/2014

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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S T A R T E R S

VS

BENCH ROTATION

TIMBERWOLVES

BAREA , SHVED , BUDINGER , MBAHAMOUTE , CUNNINGHAM , TURIAF


TRAIL BLAZERS

WILLIAMS , MCCOLLUM , ROBINSON , FREELAND




INJURIES
None



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RICK ADELMAN---- TERRY STOTTS




BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday will mark the second of four regular season meetings between Portland and Minnesota. The following two meetings will be on Feb. 8 in Minnesota and finally on Feb. 23 in Portland.

• The Timberwolves won the first matchup, 120-109, against the Trail Blazers on Dec. 18 in Minnesota.

• Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers in the first matchup against the Timberwolves, scoring a game high 36 points, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out six assists and recording three steals.

• The Trail Blazers have won 21 of the last 24 regular season meetings against the Timberwolves.

• Portland has won 11 of the past 12 games against Minnesota at home.

• Eight out of the last 11 matchups between the two teams have been decided by 10 points or greater.

• Portland has scored at least 100 points in eight straight games against the Timberwolves.

• Timberwolves Head Coach Rick Adelman played three seasons with the Trail Blazers from 1970-73. Adelman later served as head coach of the squad from 1989-94, earning two Western Conference titles.

• Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham played for the Trail Blazers from 2009 until he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats on February 24, 2011.

• Minnesota guard A.J. Price was teammates with Portland guard Earl Watson during the 2009-10 season while playing for the Indiana Pacers.

• Earl Watson and Minnesota forwards Kevin Love, Shabazz Muhammad and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute all played collegiate basketball at UCLA.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UP HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 68-27
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 37-11
IN MINNEAPOLIS: Trail Blazers lead, 31-16

GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[TBpup]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

As much as I would like LaMarcus to go 'lunch-meat' on Kevin Love, this is more about winning the game against a division rival and a little payback for getting blown out in Minnesota.

Lillard needs to resume his Killard status and the bench needs a game where they really contribute.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

As much as I would like LaMarcus to go 'lunch-meat' on Kevin Love, this is more about winning the game against a division rival and a little payback for getting blown out in Minnesota.

Lillard needs to resume his Killard status and the bench needs a game where they really contribute.

Agree. Need this win. Need a big game from Lillard. Bench needs to make shots at home.


But LA torching Love and exposing Love's bad defense would be nice little bonus for the night.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

I thought The HCP got to do the remedial games. (?)

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Lanny from Oregonlive is being honored tonight for being the long time super fan that he is.

Has been a season ticket holder since day 1.

 

[BBert]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

LaMarcus likes to play with a chip on his shoulder. Love starting instead of him in the ASG should provide such a chip.

Dame will be Dame tonight.

Wes will want payback for the last one.

This shit is about to get real.

 

[illmatic99]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Should be an easy win. Minny spent all their effort in their first close win of the year last night in GS

 

[illmatic99]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

BTW, saw this over on realgm.

Drives: Any touch that starts at least 20 feet of the hoop and is dribbled within 10 feet of the hoop and excludes fast breaks. Measures the total number of drives as well as the points, assists and shooting percentages on drives to the basket.

I knew Dame was bad, but not that bad!

 

[BBert]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Should be an easy win. Minny spent all their effort in their first close win of the year last night in GS

This game will be NSFC (Not Suitable For Children).

 

[BBert]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

BTW, saw this over on realgm.

...

I knew Dame was bad, but not that bad!

Yeah, that's been posted here. Conclusion: He needs a teardrop/floater and he needs to improve on passing out of the drive.

 

[Sinobas]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

I think Portland will blow Minny out of the Moda Center tonight, payback for their loss. Interesting stat on the drives. It is kinda pathetic. Damian really needs to improve that aspect of his game. He'd be averaging over 2 more points a game if he were only in the middle of that pack.

 

[MickZagger]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Lanny from Oregonlive is being honored tonight for being the long time super fan that he is.

Has been a season ticket holder since day 1.

That's cray cray!

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

As much as I would like LaMarcus to go 'lunch-meat' on Kevin Love, this is more about winning the game against a division rival and a little payback for getting blown out in Minnesota.

Lillard needs to resume his Killard status and the bench needs a game where they really contribute.

Interestingly the win percentage of the team is higher for LA than Dame when he scores 30+. So I'm absolutely ok if LA goes 'lunch meat' on KLove. The numbers are there to supports such a cause

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

LaMarcus likes to play with a chip on his shoulder. Love starting instead of him in the ASG should provide such a chip.

Dame will be Dame tonight.

Wes will want payback for the last one.

This shit is about to get real.

Would be great to see Dame Dame be Dame Dame tonight.

He hasn't looked real hot here of late.

 

[Wolvesguy14]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

BTW, saw this over on realgm.

I knew Dame was bad, but not that bad!

Wow, I didn't know that. Two things that are keeping Dame and Rubio from being top 5 point guards.

 

[Strenuus]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Wow, I didn't know that. Two things that are keeping Dame and Rubio from being top 5 point guards.

To be fair, Lillard can at least hit shots... especially in the 4th.

 

[Wolvesguy14]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

To be fair, Lillard can at least hit shots... especially in the 4th.

But Rubio also does everything else better (Keep in mind, I do think Lillard is better).

 

[Strenuus]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

But Rubio also does everything else better (Keep in mind, I do think Lillard is better).

Except for FT % and turnovers (though marginal)

Anyway, we play two different systems, where Lillard is technically our PG, but Batum (and pretty much all of our starting 5) are facilitators in their own right. Still, 21/6 is not too bad.

 

[Strenuus]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

FWIW, here's the ref assignments for tonight:

Danny Crawford John Goble James Williams

 

[DUB]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

But LA torching Love and exposing Love's bad defense would be nice little bonus for the night.

Unfortunately Love won't guard LA, Pekovic will.

 

[riverman]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Unfortunately Love won't guard LA, Pekovic will.

Love doesn't guard anybody, ever...

 

[TBpup]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Unfortunately Love won't guard LA, Pekovic will.

You mean General Zod Pekovic?

 

[maxiep]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

You mean General Zod Pekovic?

Let's hope LA makes Pekovic look like another character played by Terence Stamp

 

[PapaG]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

You mean General Zod Pekovic?

I think you meant Non.

 

[NorthBayBaller]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

But LA torching Love and exposing Love's bad defense would be nice little bonus for the night.

So sounds like you've got this one in the bag then?

 

[PapaG]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

So sounds like you've got this one in the bag then?

It's the NBA. Anything can happen on a given night. I expect a high-scoring and fun game, and Love and LMA to try and show who's boss.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Minnesota is 4-6 in the 2nd of a B2B game this season (wins over Utah, Boston, Philly, and @ Milwaukee)

Twolves are the only team in the NBA with a +1 or better point differential (+5) who also do not have a record better than .500. Below is an explanation for why:

Minn has won by an average of 25 points in 11 of their 20 wins this season.

19 over OKC without Westbrook at home, 2nd game of the season
23 over LAL on the road
29 over Cleveland at home
18 over Boston at home
30 over Brooklyn at home
27 over Detroit on the road
22 over Wash at home
22 over Mil on the road
31 over Philly on the road
27 over Char at home
26 over Utah at home

Minnesota is also 1-10 in games decided by 4 or less. They have not shown an ability to defend when it matters, or close out games with any significant success all season. It's been blow out or bust.

But hey, Rubio made his first 4th quarter basket in 19 games, so they've got that going for them.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Fucking NBA tv blackout my league pass again. It's bullshit to pay for something and you don't get the service.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Who was the biggest All-Star starter snub?
LaMarcus Aldridge 44% ( next most votes - Chris Paul 22%) 50k total votes cast

Should LaMarcus Aldridge be an All-Star starter?
Yes 76% - 24k votes cast

I guess China doesn't vote on ESPiN's Sports Nation

 

[Buffalo Blazer]

Re: GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - JAN. 25, 2014, SATURDAY, 7 PM (PST), CSNNW AND NB

Fucking NBA tv blackout my league pass again. It's bullshit to pay for something and you don't get the service.

I agree. I haven't had a Portland broadcast in awhile.