God help us

[Shooter]

No Hickson, Batum, or Matthews tonight against the Lakers? Yikes. Now even our one last goal of the season -- keeping the Lakers out of the playoffs -- looks doomed.

Considering the difficulty of the Lakers' remaining schedule, and the need to win the No. 8 seed outright given that Utah holds the tiebreaker, a loss in Portland could potentially spell doom for L.A.'s playoff hopes.

Add to those facts the likelihood that Portland will be without Nicolas Batum, J.J. Hickson and Wesley Matthews, as Blazer's Edge points out, and this should really be a game that L.A. handles with ease.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/4/10/4209062/lakers-vs-trail-blazers-preview-2013/in/3974341

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Nah... Blazers are going to win.

 

[Natebishop3]

If ever there was a time for Dame to drop 50, this would be the time.

 

[BlazerBeav]

No way do we lose to THEM in Rip City!

 

[Blazinaway]

If ever there was a time for Dame to drop 50, this would be the time.

Nards and Barts go for 50! LOL

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Nards and Barts go for 50! LOL

With our defense, we may need all three to go for 50 to win.

 

[MickZagger]

If ever there was a time for Dame to drop 50, this would be the time.

Well, he's halfway there.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Well, he's halfway there.

...and then the Lakers reminded the refs that they are a "good defensive team"

 

[Haakzilla]

...they put up one helluva fight though!

 

[Shooter]

...they put up one helluva fight though!

Lillard was amazing, but Kobe was even more amazing . . . unfortunately.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Lillard was amazing, but Kobe was even more amazing . . . unfortunately.

Note to Stotts: if you ask Lillard to come out and he gives you the hairy eyeball, let him stay in. Dude knows when he's hot.