Game Thread POSTPONED - GAME# 15: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - POSTPONED

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
7 - 6
(4-1 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
8 - 6
(4-4 Home)

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

PG

JA MORANT VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DILLON BROOKS VS RODNEY HOOD

SF

KYLE ANDERSON VS DERRICK JONES Jr.

PF

BRANDON CLARKE VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

XAVIER TILLMAN VS ENES KANTER

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------- JERSEYS -------

---

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 1/20/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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-------------- RESERVES --------------

-- MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES --

FRAZIER , JONES , MELTON

ALLEN , BANE , KONCHAR

McDERMOTT , TILLIE , DIENG


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES


INJURIES
GRIZZLIES
Jonas Valančiūnas (health and safety protocols): OUT
Jontay Porter (right knee soreness): OUT
Justise Winslow (left hip displacement): OUT
Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. McCollum (left foot sprain): OUT
CJ Elleby (left foot strain): QUESTIONABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (broken right wrist): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TAYLOR JENKINS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL GRIZZLIES' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers Jan. 20 game against the Grizzlies is the first of three meetings between Portland and Memphis this season, with the second immedietely following on Jan. 22. The third matchup will come in the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers and Grizzlies split the season series in 2019-20, 1-1. The two organizations have split each of the past three seasons.

• Damian Lillard averaged 24.5 points (41.5% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 5.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists in two games against Memphis last season.

• Anfernee Simons scored a season-high 22 points (7-12 FG, 6-7 3-PT, 2-2 FT), to go with seven rebounds and one assist on Feb. 12 last season.

• In two games against the Trail Blazers last season, Ja Morant averaged 21.0 points (35.6% FG, 8.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 5.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.0 steals. Portland was the only team Morant averaged 20+ points and 10+ assists against his rookie season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 51-40
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 28-17
MEMPHIS HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 27-17

 

[Darkwebs]

We are 1-2 in the first 3 games of our 7-game homestand. Disappointing results so far.

We have to find a way to win these next 2 against the Grizz if we want to salvage this homestand.

Memphis is a young, athletic team, but we have the veteran savvy and experience. Gotta put it to use here.

 

[Chris Craig]

Loss

 

[PHXBlazer1]

We need both of these to salvage the homestand

 

[KingSpeed]

Homecourt doesn’t mean anything without fans. What is the timeline for CJ’s return?

 

[Darkwebs]

Homecourt doesn’t mean anything without fans. What is the timeline for CJ’s return?

Blazers will re-evaluate CJ in a week.

 

[tester551]

There is a very real possibility of going 0-2 versus the Grizz.

 

[kjironman1]

Homecourt doesn’t mean anything without fans. What is the timeline for CJ’s return?

Looking like 4 weeks before re-evaluation.
This could be 6-8 weeks?

 

[kjironman1]

So I'm in the "Get the young guys a bunch of burn" camp.
Also they need to get Hoody really going.
CJ Elleby needs to get some looks. He is the 6-6 shooting guard this team needs at times.
I also don't really want to see Lillard try to will wins for the next two months.
Obviously Giles needs minutes. Trent is getting a bunch. Ant needs minutes against starters.
We all know it's time for Little to get some quality minutes.

The Grizzlies, New York and OKC at home are the perfect place to get those players up and going. Win or lose they need to start somewhere.

The thing is i never really like the "Tank" concept. But playing the guys you need to play in order to get them minutes would be a good move IMO.
You are essentially 2 months from both CJ and Nurk coming back. Collins maybe in there at some point right? When is it too little too late?

 

[kjironman1]

Something tells me the Blazers and Lillard will scrape and claw their way to a 25-25 record and hope the guys returning can propel them to the playoffs and get a spot in the play in so they can get swept in the first round. That would suck.

 

[Labinot41]

Put Rodney and Trent in the starting lineup and bring either RoCo or Jones of the bench. I love both but the reality is they both are walking bricks and we can't afford that

 

[TBpup]

This absolutely sucks....but to be fair, with Nurk and CJ they were still getting down 15-20 points a game before the injuries. Now it just makes it more difficult to come back. This team needs a major influx of inexpensive talent and the only way that is happening is through the Draft. This is another great opportunity to do so, but instead, we will scrap our way into purgatory and go no where in the Playoffs. Rinse, repeat.

Play the hell out of Giles, Little, DJJ, Trent, Elleby and Ant. See what you've got and develop them (as much as Stotts develops young players) and get them ready to possibly actually contribute.

#CadeCunninham2021

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think we still have more talent than Memphis, but they will play harder and more together. I'm not satisfied unless we win both, but would be very surprised if we did.

 

[kjironman1]

Game day.

Yeah I'm still going to pull for them and hope they see a win they can and should get today.
Matter of fact i want to see Hood, Trent, Simons, and Giles make an impact and instill some confidence that the season might not be over just yet?

Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[Darkwebs]

Tonight's Refs

James Capers (#19)
Jacyn Goble (#68)
Matt Kallio (#88)

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Once again we face a slow-mo player in Kyle Anderson. The last time we met such a player, in Joe Ingles, he absolutely embarassed us.

 

[wizenheimer]

Once again we face a slow-mo player in Kyle Anderson. The last time we met such a player, in Joe Ingles, he absolutely embarassed us.

CJ was guarding him

 

[illmatic99]

No game tonight. Postponed.

Guessing on the MEM side-- they've been playing some teams that had cases.

 

[kjironman1]

No game tonight. Postponed.

Guessing on the MEM side-- they've been playing some teams that had cases.

That sucks. Guess it gives them some more practice time.

 

[DDolla]

Yes no game, one game rest for CJ and we did not win or lose

 

[BigGameDamian]

Damn, I was looking forward to the game tonight.

 

[Scalma]

One fewer game we have to play without Nurk. Works for me.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Labinot41]

Very good, more postponed games please

 

[e_blazer]

Well, a few practices is not a bad thing at this point.

Also, a great little gap for a trade, Neil. Get ‘er done.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Come on league-wide pause for a month!

 

[kjironman1]

Come on league-wide pause for a month!

That could really help a few teams. Not just the Blazers.

 

[THE HCP]

Looks like I won't be making any money today for my family.

 

[handiman]

Come on league-wide pause for a month!

BlazerBeav is Kyrie Irving??

 

[Serbian]

4 hours before match only 3 players were out in total for grizz. 2 injuries 1 health protocol...not counting jackson who had surgery 4 months ago and hasnt played at all....so how can they cancel the game?! We probably will have 6 days off total rest probably for the best gets Dame the needed rest to reboot and start playing 40 min per game