Game Thread GAME# 72: PISTONS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 23, 2019 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM, NBATV & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
DETROIT PISTONS
36 - 34
(13-21 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
44 - 27
(27-9 Home)

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

PG

REGGIE JACKSON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

WAYNE ELLINGTON VS JAKE LAYMAN

SF

BRUCE BROWN VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

BLAKE GRIFFIN VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

ANDRE DRUMMOND VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

-------

--------------------------------------------------------------

WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), SATURDAY, 3/23/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



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

-- DETROIT PISTONS --

SMITH , LUCAS , CALDERON

GALLOWAY , THOMAS , WHITEHEAD

KENNARD , ROBINSON III , MIKHAILIUK

LEUER , PACHULIA , MAKER


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

CURRY , SIMONS , TURNER

HOOD , TRENT Jr. , LABISSIERE

COLLINS , KANTER , LEONARD



INJURIES
PISTONS
NONE
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. McCollum (left leg injury): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

DWANE CASEY --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL PISTONS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday’s game marks the first of two meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Pistons during the 2018-19 season. The teams split the season series in 2017-18, 1-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers held the Pistons to 38.8% shooting from the field in a 100-87 victory at Moda Center on March 17, 2018. Damian Lillard led the way for Portland with 24 points (6-19 FG, 3-10 3-PT, 9-9 FT) to go with seven rebounds, eight assists and three blocks while Andre Drummond paced the Pistons with 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-8 FT), 22 rebounds and two blocks.

• In two games against the Pistons last season, Damian Lillard averaged 22.0 points (38.9% FG, 26.7% 3-PT, 100% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.00 blocks.

• Jusuf Nurkic averaged 11.5 points (50.0% FG, 50.0% FT), 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.00 steals and 1.00 block in two games against Detroit last season.

• In two games against Portland with Detroit last season, Blake Griffi n averaged 18.0 points (39.5% FG, 36.4% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 62-54
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 38-19
AT THE PISTONS: Pistons lead, 35-24

 

[Darkwebs]

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS RACE

 

[Darkwebs]

The 3rd seed is right within our reach.

Crazy that OKC was in the 3rd slot a couple weeks ago, and now like an old lady, they've fallen to 8th and can't get up.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Those logos are trippin' me out, man!

 

[andalusian]

Hey x-wing, did you outsource the logos to @hcp?

 

[THE HCP]

The 3rd seed is right within our reach.

Crazy that OKC was in the 3rd slot a couple weeks ago, and now like an old lady, they've fallen to 8th and can't get up.

But lets acknowledge they are 1/2 game out of 5th.

 

[Labinot41]

Time to destroy the next garbage Team

 

[kjironman1]

This is a dangerous game. The Pistons want to stay in the 6th spot in the east. They are battling the Nets to stay away from playing Toronto in the first round.
Don't think for a second this will be an easy game. Blazers need to stay focused and play their game. I see the starting unit match ups as a tough draw. Nurk vs Drummond. Aminu vs Griffin. Harkless vs Brown and Ellington vs Layman.
The only clear advantage is Lillard vs Jackson. Second unit needs to be the deciding factor from what i see.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

But lets acknowledge they are 1/2 game out of 5th.

Having trouble reading the standings? Portland is 44-27. Utah is 5th at 42-29. That's a 2 game difference.

 

[BonesJones]

This would be such a dream. Definitely the best layout in terms of giving us a chance at the championship:

1 GSW
2 DEN
3 POR
4 HOU/UTA
5 HOU/UTA
6 LAC
7 SAS
8 OKC

LAC would be the best possible matchup for us in the 1st round.
DEN vs. SAS in the 2nd would be two beatable teams. SAS could definitely win that series based off coaching and experience, and we'd have HCA in the 2nd round against a team we could beat.

In the WCF, we might not face GS since they'd have to get through OKC and HOU or UTAH. If one of those teams upset the Warriors, we'd have HCA for the WCF as well.

 

[trailblazer18]

This would be such a dream. Definitely the best layout in terms of giving us a chance at the championship:

1 GSW
2 DEN
3 POR
4 HOU/UTA
5 HOU/UTA
6 LAC
7 SAS
8 OKC

LAC would be the best possible matchup for us in the 1st round.
DEN vs. SAS in the 2nd would be two beatable teams. SAS could definitely win that series based off coaching and experience, and we'd have HCA in the 2nd round against a team we could beat.

In the WCF, we might not face GS since they'd have to get through OKC and HOU or UTAH. If one of those teams upset the Warriors, we'd have HCA for the WCF as well.

That is a dream scenario! You are giving me hope. Don't crush my hope..haha

 

[kjironman1]

Having trouble reading the standings? Portland is 44-27. Utah is 5th at 42-29. That's a 2 game difference.

He said out of fifth so maybe someone else is having trouble reading?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He said out of fifth so maybe someone else is having trouble reading?

Ah--I see now that he was talking about OKC, not Portland. My mistake.

Apologies @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsTheHCP, I misread your post.

 

[Chris Craig]

Having trouble reading the standings? Portland is 44-27. Utah is 5th at 42-29. That's a 2 game difference.

Was he talking about OKC?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Was he talking about OKC?

Very possible

Ah--I see now that he was talking about OKC, not Portland. My mistake.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[TBpup]

But lets acknowledge they are 1/2 game out of 5th.

Having trouble reading the standings? Portland is 44-27. Utah is 5th at 42-29. That's a 2 game difference.

Ah--I see now that he was talking about OKC, not Portland. My mistake.

Apologies @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsTheHCP, I misread your post.

One of you is posting like you just finished a 5th....

 

[kjironman1]

Does Danny Marang run the Blazers Twitter?

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[B-Roy]

The 3rd seed is right within our reach.

Crazy that OKC was in the 3rd slot a couple weeks ago, and now like an old lady, they've fallen to 8th and can't get up.

Yeah fuck OKC.

 

[BigGameDamian]

This would be such a dream. Definitely the best layout in terms of giving us a chance at the championship:

1 GSW
2 DEN
3 POR
4 HOU/UTA
5 HOU/UTA
6 LAC
7 SAS
8 OKC

LAC would be the best possible matchup for us in the 1st round.
DEN vs. SAS in the 2nd would be two beatable teams. SAS could definitely win that series based off coaching and experience, and we'd have HCA in the 2nd round against a team we could beat.

In the WCF, we might not face GS since they'd have to get through OKC and HOU or UTAH. If one of those teams upset the Warriors, we'd have HCA for the WCF as well.

We also thought we had a dream matchup last year and look what happened.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yeah fuck OKC.

 

[BonesJones]

We also thought we had a dream matchup last year and look what happened.

So you think the Clippers compare to the Pelicans in terms of how well they exploit our weaknesses?

 

[kjironman1]

So you think the Clippers compare to the Pelicans in terms of how well they exploit our weaknesses?

The Blazers had swept the Pels last year as i recall. Most everyone felt the Blazers has drawn a favorable matchup. I do not recall anyone thinking otherwise.

 

[hoopsjock]

The Blazers had swept the Pels last year as i recall. Most everyone felt the Blazers has drawn a favorable matchup. I do not recall anyone thinking otherwise.

I'm pretty sure it was 2-2 and AD didn't play in a couple of them.

 

[kjironman1]

I'm pretty sure it was 2-2 and AD didn't play in a couple of them.

Yeah i looked it up. They split 2-2. And the wins were close.

 

[kjironman1]

I just got my tickets to this game. That's what happens when i get insomnia and start playing around on the computer. Silly KJ.... If you would have stayed in bed you could have just watched the game on TV....

 

[THE HCP]

That's what happens when i get insomnia and start playing around on the computer.

Me, I watch this!

 

[kjironman1]

Me, I watch this!

View attachment 25277

Dreaming about the good ol days again i see. You can't go back to that life bro. Blazer fans everywhere would be lost without seeing those ads covering up the score during free throws.

 

[Chris Craig]

Me, I watch this!

View attachment 25277

I could take those guys