GAME THREAD: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - 12/26/13, THURDAYS, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

GAME THREAD: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - 12/26/13, THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

• The Clippers won the 2012-13 season series against the Trail Blazers 3-1, marking the first time Los Angeles has won consecutive season series against the Trail Blazers since winning the 2005-06 (3-0) and 2006-07 (3-1) season series.

• Five of the last seven meetings between the two teams in Los Angeles have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

• The 101-100 result on Jan. 26 was the fi rst time that both teams scored over 100 points in regulation since March 21, 2008, a 107-102 Portland win.

• Against the Clippers on Jan. 26, 2013 Nicolas Batum recorded his second career triple-double within a week, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

• Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey served as the Clippers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations for two seasons from 2010-12.

Click to expand...

GO BLAZERS!!!​

Can't wait!!

The Clippers will be on the second of a back to back as they play a late 7:30 tipoff game at Golden State on Christmas.

Mo Williams did not practice today (Monday) due to a hip injury but will be re-evaluated before Wednesday Christmas shootaround. I would consider him questionable for now.

Re: GAME THREAD: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - 12/26/13, THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

Draco said:

The Clippers will be on the second of a back to back as they play a late 7:30 tipoff game at Golden State on Christmas.

Click to expand...

The plus side of this is the Clippers will not be sitting around Christmas night working on a game plan to stop us. The negative side is they will come off a game agains a team with a similar offensive philosophy to us, while the Blazers will be coming off a 4 day layoff.

The Blazers need to come out sharp and not dig a hole for themselves early. They often play better in a back to back situation as opposed to a long rest. It seems to take them a while to get their rhythm. This games worries me.

Ok, so I don't like Griffin just as much as the next guy, but you have to respect this:

Big game! Could be a prelude to a bigtime playoff matchup. Go Blazers.

HailBlazers said:

Big game! Could be a prelude to a bigtime playoff matchup. Go Blazers.

Click to expand...

I'm hoping we meet them in the second round.

Pinwheel1 said:

The Blazers need to come out sharp and not dig a hole for themselves early. They often play better in a back to back situation as opposed to a long rest. It seems to take them a while to get their rhythm. This games worries me.

Click to expand...

I'd like to see Lillard be more aggressive at the opening tip. Try to get quick hitting baskets before the defense knows what hits them. We often run plays for Lopez at the start of the game. Have Lillard attack the defense at the start of the game for three possessions then focus on getting teammates involved.

Has there been official word that CJ's out and Mo's in?

BrianFromWA said:

Has there been official word that CJ's out and Mo's in?

Click to expand...

Yes.

CJ is out and Mo is in.

Any update on Mo's injury? The team was supposed to practice yesterday.

Given what happened last night in GS... I'm worried about LAC just coming in and beating us bad. The homer always prevails, but damn, man... last night had to of left a bad taste in their mouth... I expect a scuffle tonight.

Is Ginger playing tonight?

Strenuus said:

Given what happened last night in GS... I'm worried about LAC just coming in and beating us bad. The homer always prevails, but damn, man... last night had to of left a bad taste in their mouth... I expect a scuffle tonight.

Click to expand...

Who we get as the refs will be important. Cp3 intimidates some. Hopefully they will all look at the tape of him getting in the face of the refs last night and crying about calls that were actually called right. You would think at some point it would get to the "boy who cried wolf" stage with the refs. How can they take him seriously when he cries all the time.

Strenuus said:

Given what happened last night in GS... I'm worried about LAC just coming in and beating us bad. The homer always prevails, but damn, man... last night had to of left a bad taste in their mouth... I expect a scuffle tonight.

Click to expand...

GS v Clips was a hard fought tough emotional game. Just what I wanted . . . but then the bogus calls on Blake, losing (when they had so many chances to tie) and CP3 stirring it up after the game certainly throws a wild card into tonight's game. Still Clips are on their 4 game in 5 nights and Blazers have been resting at home for a few days. Clips are going to be fired up to make it a 3-1 in this 4 game stretch, but Blazers are a better team, and at home, they should run over this team tonight.


A win tonight over a top 4 team in the West helps the Blazers in their quest for home court advantage. And with Miami coming into town next, tonight's game seems more meaningful than usual.

Pinwheel1 said:

Who we get as the refs will be important. Cp3 intimidates some. Hopefully they will all look at the tape of him getting in the face of the refs last night and crying about calls that were actually called right. You would think at some point it would get to the "boy who cried wolf" stage with the refs. How can they take him seriously when he cries all the time.

Click to expand...

Yeah, CP3 flops and cries EVERY time he misses a shot and half the time when he makes one. He's easily the biggest whiner in the league. I don't know how he didn't get a technical last night, especially when Blake Griffin got two for far less. Paul was all over the refs, screaming in their faces, and nothing. You could tell they wanted to give him a T, but didn't want a technical FT to be the difference in the final minute of a close game. That's bullshit. Paul deserved a T, and was daring the refs to give him one.

The Clippers are all going to be chippy tonight. I hope they take their anger out on the officials and not the Blazers.

BNM

Treaty_of_Batum said:

Still Clips are on their 4 game in 5 nights and Blazers have been resting at home for a few days.

Click to expand...

The Clippers had the 23rd and 24th off so it would be 4 games in 6 nights.

Tonight's game should be interesting. The officiating could play a big part. The Clippers (aka: Flop City) are second in the league in FTA/G at 29.3 (the Blazers are 16th at 2.5 FTA/G). But, the Clippers get considerably more calls at home (32.6 FTA/G) than on the road (26.4 FTA/G). And, since the Blazers are a MUCH better FT shooting team than the Clippers, as long as the refs don't go overboard to appease the Clipper whinefest, the difference in FTM, should not be significant (based on seasonal averages, to date). The Blazers average 18.3 FTM/G at home and the Clippers average 18.6 FTM/G on the road. I could definitely live with a -0.3 point differential at the FT line tonight.

The Clippers are also a MUCH different team offensively on the road than they are at home. They are 12-2 at home and the main reason is they are extremely efficient on offense at home. Their Offensive Eff at Home is 129.1, 2nd in the league. On the road, they are 8-8 and their Offensive Eff drops down to 109.8. That's a hug discrepancy between home and road performance, something that is typical for a young team, but unusual for a veteran team like the Clippers. By comparison, the Blazers have an Offensive Eff of 120.4 at home.

So, by the numbers, this should be a win for the Blazers. But, of course, the numbers are just averages. The Clippers will probably come out fired up after last night's emotionally charged loss at Golden State. I just hope the Blazers don't come out flat after four days off. They will need to match the Clippers' intensity early and not fall behind by 20 points in the first half. If the game is relatively close at the half (single digits), the Blazers should win. The Clippers will have lost their emotional edge and fatigue will become a factor. The Blazers are well rested, seem to own the 3rd quarter lately and are great at closing out close games.

Go Blazers!

BNM

REF ASSIGNMENTS FOR TONIGHT:

Mike Callahan John Goble Violet Palmer

This could be interesting.

Hope we win by enough of a margin to play the 3rd string for half of the 4th qtr! Go Blazers!

Re: GAME THREAD: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - 12/26/13, THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

I'll be checking in a little later cause I have band rehearsal. Let's go Blazers!!!!

Re: GAME THREAD: CLIPPERS @ BLAZERS - 12/26/13, THURSDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), TNT

magnifier661 said:

I'll be checking in a little later cause I have band rehearsal. Let's go Blazers!!!!

Click to expand...

"One time at band camp ... "

Chris Haynes ‏@ChrisBHaynes

#Blazers G Mo Williams (right hip contusion) is probable for tonight's game against the Clippers.

We should have a drinking game on how many flops Violet 'falls' for tonight.

Strenuus said:

REF ASSIGNMENTS FOR TONIGHT:

Mike Callahan John Goble Violet Palmer

This could be interesting.

Click to expand...

Damn it could not get much worse than that crew. I was hoping for refs that "let them play", not fall for every trick in the book.

Violet Palmer?

Literally the worst official i the history of the league

Mediocre Man said:

Violet Palmer?

Literally the worst official i the history of the league

Click to expand...

Steve Javie, Dick Bavetta, and Joey Crawford say hi.

We won the honorary captain contest for this game, so I got my brother in-law and neice tickets for Christmas, since she's in the age category for that. She'll have a blast meeting the players.

BlazerAce said:

Steve Javie, Dick Bavetta, and Joey Crawford say hi.

Click to expand...

Those guys are currupt. She's incompetent.