GAME THREAD: BLAZERS @ KNICKS - DECEMBER 7, 2014 - SUNDAY, 4:30 PM (PST), CSN

Blazers @ NYK Game Preview (12/7/14):

Them: 4-17, 4th in NBA Atlantic Division

Our Last game: W v. MEM 88-82, 12/4/14.

Their Last game: L @ CHA, 103-102

Changes to their roster

Injury Updates: CJ McCollum, Out (finger). Will Barton (day-to-day)
New York: Andrea Bargnani (out), Cleanthony Early (day-to-day)

Matchups:

PG: Damian Lillard v. Jose Calderon (12.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.9apg, 47% 3pt)
SG: Wesley Matthews v. Iman Shumpert (9.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.1apg)/JR Smith (9.5ppg, 3.4apg, 30% 3pt)
SF: Nic Batum v. Carmelo Anthony (23.2ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.4apg)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge v. Amar’e Stoudamire (12.8ppg, 7.8rpg)
C: Robin Lopez v. Samuel Dalembert (4.2ppg, 5.6rpg)

Give-a-Rip (City) Factor—a.k.a. why you should watch: First game on a long road trip (for some chat about it, take a look at this shameless plug). A chance to get off the offensive schneid. To see how jacked up Derek Fisher (and his implementation of the Triangle Offense) is. To see if Barton, Leonard, and Robinson will combine for more than 20 minutes. To see some long-range shooting between Dame/Wes and Calderon/Prigioni. To see if Amar’e’s carcass (can you use two apostrophes like that) does enough that LaMarcus actually has to play defense today.

Current Power Rankings:
RipCityTwo (PtldPlatypus): (24) A spate of injuries to their starters would actually be the best thing that could happen to this squad. A Larkin/Hardaway/Early lineup will only happen in my imagination.

ESPN: (27) The committee happened to be in the building for the Knicks' two finest performances of the season: Cleveland away and Dallas away. Yet our ability to brag about this promptly perished after we dared to follow the Knicks to OKC, where they no-showed against the returning Russell Westbrook?

Covers.com (26) I don't care if they run the triangle or around in circles, this team stinks.

NBA.com (27) Pace: 92.1 (30), OffRtg: 100.8 (22), DefRtg: 107.2 (26), NetRtg: -6.4 (25)
The Knicks are a weird team. They rank seventh in 3-point percentage, but 22nd in offensive efficiency. And they rank first in opponent field goal percentage in the restricted area, but 26th in defensive efficiency. The problems are that they don't get enough shots near the basket, can't defend shots away from it, and have a huge free throw disparity.

Link to Grandpa Blaze's Prediction Game
No MediocreMan's Over/Under game today

Links to other team’s site(s): http://www.nba.com/knicks/ Knicks’ NBA page

Final Thoughts: Interested to see how long Stotts leaves the starters in. But I think our offense is too much for their D, and our Defense too strong for whatever is being called an “offense” in Gotham. I get the feeling that some of you in the forum would look less overmatched than Fisher, and I can’t possibly see Phil Jackson look uncomfortable enough. Blazers big, and resting the guys early.

Blazers 122
NYK 97

 

I think our last loss here was the blowout that was the final straw for coach Nate.

 

I believe their starting lineup has Acy at PF and Amare at C

 

Wow the thread start looks amazing! I like the new head to head matchups pictures!

Repped

 

I like that Dame's all "YOINK!"

 

Easy win if Lillard plays of course

 

Does anyone know the back story as to why in the hell the Knicks would trade Chandler for Calderon. It just doesnt make any sense to me. Did they want to get rid of Felton that bad?

 

Was that a serious question?

 

Well yes I get that, what Im asking if is that is what fueled the trade and was Chandler was a casualty of that. Im trying to understand why they got rid of Chandler and only got Calderon in return.

 

This is great ...

[video]http://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2014/12/05/CrabbeWesStottsFun05DEC14mp4-3455995[/video]

 

That was hilarious!!!! Haha

 

I really think we need to trade a starter to help the chemistry here.

</BGD>

 

Lol!

 

I think they're secretly holding hands behind the ball.