Game Thread GAME# 12: PACERS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 14, 2021 - THURSDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
INDIANA PACERS
7 - 4
(3-1 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
7 - 4
(3-2 Home)

______________________________
---------POSSIBLE STARTERS---------

PG

MALCOLM BROGDON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

JUSTIN HOLIDAY VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

EDMOND SUMNER VS DERRICK JONES Jr.

PF

DOMANTAS SABONIS VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

MYLES TURNER VS JUSUF NURKIC

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

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

--

WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 1/14/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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



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

-------- INDIANA PACERS --------

HOLIDAY , McCONNELL , LEVERT

MARTIN , STANLEY , McDERMOTT

SAMPSON , BITADZE

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES , KANTER



INJURIES
PACERS
Caris Levert (just traded to Pacers): DOUBTFUL
T.J. McConnell (personal): PROBABLE
Goga Bitadze (right ankle sprain): QUESTIONABLE
Jeremy Lamb (torn ACL, left knee): OUT
Jalen Lecque (left ankle sprain): OUT
Brian Bowen (groin): OUT
T.J. Warren (stress fracture): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Keljin Blevins (personal reasons): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

NATE BJORKGREN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL PACERS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers Jan. 14 game against the Pacers is the first of two meetings between Portland and Indiana this season. The second matchup will come during the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers and Pacers split the season series in 2019-20, 1-1. Portland has won 10 of the last 12 matchups with Indiana, dating back to the 2014-15 season.

• Damian Lillard scored 50 points (14-23 FG, 8-12 3-PT, 14-16 FT) to go with six rebounds, 13 assists and one steal against Indiana on Jan. 26, 2020.

• In two games against the Pacers last season, CJ McCollum averaged 28.0 points (45.8% FG, 42.9% 3-PT, 100% FG), 2.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

• Domantas Sabonis averaged 23.5 points (59.4% FG, 81.8% FT), 12.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in two games against the Trail Blazers last season, including a 27 point, 14 rebound, 11 assist triple-double on January 26th.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 57-35
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 36-10
INDIANA HOME: Pacers lead, 25-21

​

 

[Darkwebs]

The Blazers had to expend a lot of energy (clearly not on the defensive end, though) to make a come back- twice in the same game- in the victory against the Kings. And now play the tail end of a back-to-back game, flying from Sacramento to Portland, to host one of the best teams in the East currently. This game may be the biggest challenge of the young season so far. I know this Portland team is resilient and doesn't know how to give up, so I expect a real battle out there.

Keep our streak alive, and get win number 5! Go Blazers!

 

[Darkwebs]

Oh yeah, this will begin the Blazers' 7-game homestand! We have to rack up the W's during this 2-week stretch.



And what in the world are we gonna do if Blevins misses another game? How will we survive?

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Jon]

Jordan Kent is boring.

 

[THE HCP]

No Oladipo? Seems like we catch a lot of teams while they are missing their star players......anybody else notice this?

 

[Strenuus]

Darkwebs not having caris in a pacers uniform already?

I was about to annoit you the woj of game threads, too!

 

[THE HCP]

Darkwebs not having caris in a pacers uniform already?

I was about to annoit you the woj of game threads, too!

Now THAT would be #FakeNews

 

[jlprk]

No Oladipo? Seems like we catch a lot of teams while they are missing their star players......anybody else notice this?

Well, let's consider the clues. Does this always happen while you're at work?

 

[THE HCP]

Well, let's consider the clues. Does this always happen while you're at work?

HA!

 

[jlprk]

Jordan Kent is boring.

Exactly what I've been thinking lately. He sounds like an sing-songy, agreeable teen girl. Kevin tried to excite us. Bring back Callabro! Shouldn't have tried to cut his pay. He felt bait & switched.

 

[blazerkor]

I had to say Callabro, I didn't love him but he is the only professional out of the three. So many vote for Barrett, he's like the obnoxious friend that keeps telling you everything your watching and at the same time is fanboying out. I do not get why people want a cheesy guy like that back in the booth. I do not have any good ideas to replace Kent but our Comcast and the Blazers should.

I do know that I want Lamar to be replaced by a guy who is more fun and a former NBA player (preferably a Blazer alum). By the way @jlprk I can not disagree with you that we should bring Callabro back because like I said, I don't know who else there is to get. I do know that we are being absolute cheapskates when it comes to our broadcast team and the product we're getting shows that.

 

[mook]

Eh, I guess I'm all alone out here on Jordan Kent island. I kind of like his personality.

With all the current technology though, we ought to be able to select from several play by play teams. I'd like to hear a couple of standup comics announce a game. Or a racist and a social justice warrior. Or the old guys from the muppets. Mix it up.

 

[blazerkor]

Eh, I guess I'm all alone out here on Jordan Kent island. I kind of like his personality.

With all the current technology though, we ought to be able to select from several play by play teams. I'd like to hear a couple of standup comics announce a game. Or a racist and a social justice warrior. Or the old guys from the muppets. Mix it up.

Or pool all of that money together and get some really quality guys in there.

 

[illmatic99]

Barrett's bipolar announcing drove me insane. And he was super biased. Did not like him at all-- they did Rice a disservice pairing him with MB.

I was so pumped we hired Calabro, but that excitement waned after hearing his broadcasts. He did TV calls like they were radio ones. I don't need narration of every dribble/shot clock count/pass when I can watch it. I think he was conditioned to do this from his time in Seattle when they used the same broadcast for both TV and radio. Combine that with his constant mistakes, I found him far less impressive than his resume indicated.

I like Kent. He might be a bit plain, and Hurd need to build chemistry, but I see potential. I just wish they were not so rosy about everything. Announcing teams can point out negatives as well (especially Hurd)-- and neither seems to be able to do that. The whole commentary needs to get elevated. Hurd never even points out zone defenses, much less changes in weakside defense, or plays, etc. With this commentary and the gimmicky camera shit and Brooke, it just seems like they're catering to a casual audience and not the diehards. It is what it is.

 

[illmatic99]

Eh, I guess I'm all alone out here on Jordan Kent island. I kind of like his personality.

With all the current technology though, we ought to be able to select from several play by play teams. I'd like to hear a couple of standup comics announce a game. Or a racist and a social justice warrior. Or the old guys from the muppets. Mix it up.

I want the option to hear just the on-court action. Stick a mic in center court and let it be. The shoes squeaking, the cursing, the defensive calls, etc etc. I haven't played pickup in nearly a year now, and I just miss that.

 

[kjironman1]

Tough game. Pacers are no joke.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers backcourt played massive minutes last night.
Pacer won't have their full team due to the trade.

Battle of attrition. Go Blazers!

 

[DDolla]

The Pacers don’t shoot a lot of 3s so this might be a battle inside.

 

[Scalma]

The problem is this year more than ever you're leaning on the announcers to make up for some of the lost energy of no crowds. Is it fair? Kinda, I mean it is part of their job, it’s just magnified this season.

Kent is just boring. He sounds like an anchor doing highlights. Hurd carries the broadcasts on his back. Maybe he’ll improve over time. I still like him more than Barrett. That dude always gave off negative vibes. He’s lucky he had a fun drunk as his partner who balanced his bullshit out.

 

[Scalma]

Pacers like to play big. They pair Sabonis and Turner up quite a bit. Wonder how well defend those two. I would put Nurk on Sabonis and let Roco take Turner since he averages over 4 threes taken per game. This might actually be a game for Giles to get some minutes.

 

[Cugel]

Pacers front two are very very good. No way nurk can deal with sabonis. He's too agile. Zach is missed. And those holiday brothers did a number on curry too. Tough game for sure for portland

 

[wizenheimer]

I doubt that Levert will have been cleared for this game...?

he sure was a bad matchup for Portland last season...he torched the Blazers

 

[DDolla]

Pacers front two are very very good. No way nurk can deal with sabonis. He's too agile. Zach is missed.

At least they don’t shoot 3s. That’s Blazers weakness, defending the 3s

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Barrett's bipolar announcing drove me insane. And he was super biased. Did not like him at all-- they did Rice a disservice pairing him with MB.

I was so pumped we hired Calabro, but that excitement waned after hearing his broadcasts. He did TV calls like they were radio ones. I don't need narration of every dribble/shot clock count/pass when I can watch it. I think he was conditioned to do this from his time in Seattle when they used the same broadcast for both TV and radio. Combine that with his constant mistakes, I found him far less impressive than his resume indicated.

I like Kent. He might be a bit plain, and Hurd need to build chemistry, but I see potential. I just wish they were not so rosy about everything. Announcing teams can point out negatives as well (especially Hurd)-- and neither seems to be able to do that. The whole commentary needs to get elevated. Hurd never even points out zone defenses, much less changes in weakside defense, or plays, etc. With this commentary and the gimmicky camera shit and Brooke, it just seems like they're catering to a casual audience and not the diehards. It is what it is.

I don't think one can have a wrong opinion, but my take is
M&M: Amazing
Calabro: Uninteresting, would rather listen to opponent's broadcast.
Hurd & Kent: meh, their occasional unrealistic positivity baloney is really hard to take.

 

[THE HCP]

I doubt that Levert will have been cleared for this game...?

he sure was a bad matchup for Portland last season...he torched the Blazers

So strange, another game where we play a team without a key player......or is it just @THE HCP ?

 

[Pinwheel1]

So strange, another game where we play a team without a key player......or is it just @THE HCP ?

True but the Pacers won at GS without Olidipo. So not playing without Levert should not be a problem for them.

 

[THE HCP]

I was so busy yesterday and saw some random ass tweets, for about an hour, I thought Harden had been traded to the Pacers...... and I was like Oh Shit! You never want to play the star who was just traded for their first game. I remember when the Bucks traded Ray Allen for GP and we played them the next night here in town. I swear Payton KILLED us!

 

[wizenheimer]

So strange, another game where we play a team without a key player......or is it just @THE HCP ?

 

[Chris Craig]

I loved Mike and Mike. They were a great duo.

In Barret I enjoyed having a guy calling the game who called out the refs.

Rice was always hilarious to listen too. Always talking bout food. "Shouldn't had those nachos"