Game Thread GAME# 70: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - MARCH 25, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 6:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

Darkwebs · Mar 24, 2015

_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

____PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS____

DAMIAN LILLARD (PG) , ARRON AFFLALO (SG)

ALLEN CRABBE (SF) , LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE (PF)

ROBIN LOPEZ (C)
_________________________________

________UTAH JAZZ________

TREY BURKE (PG) , DANTE EXUM (SG)

ELIJAH MILSAP (SF) , DERRICK FAVORS (PF)

RUDY GOBERT (C)
_________________________________

WHEN: 6:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY , 3/25/2015

WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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

--------------BENCH--------------
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , McCOLLUM , BATUM , GEE

WRIGHT , FREELAND , LEONARD

UTAH JAZZ

COTTON , CLARK , HOOD , INGLES

EVANS , BOOKER , COOLEY , JERRETT

INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
LaMarcus Aldridge (left hand injury): DOUBTFUL
Nic Batum (lower back pain): DOUBTFUL
Chris Kaman (right shoulder strain): DOUBTFUL
Wesley Matthews (ruptured left Achilles’ tendon): OUT
JAZZ
Gordon Haywood (left AC sprain): DOUBTFUL
Rodney Hood (illness): DOUBTFUL
Alec Burks (left shoulder surgery): OUT

HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- QUIN SNYDER

BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES

• Wednesday marks the third of four regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and Jazz in 2014-15.

• Portland has won five of its past six contests against Utah. The Trail Blazers swept the Jazz in 2013-14 for the first time in franchise history (40 seasons).

• Each team has won its home contest in the season series thus far. The Trail Blazers defeated Utah 103-102 on Feb. 3 in Portland, and the Jazz were victorious 92-76 over the Trail Blazers on Feb. 20 in Utah.

• In the last game between these two teams on Feb. 20, Gordon Hayward scored 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Hayward has averaged 23.5 points on 58.6% shooting (17-29 FG, 5-10 3-PT).

• Damian Lillard has scored 22.0 points per game in two contests against Utah this season.

• Robin Lopez scored 11 points and hauled in six rebounds against the Jazz on Feb. 3 in his first game back after missing the previous 23 due to a right hand fracture. Last season, Lopez hauled in a career-high 18 rebounds against Utah on Feb. 21.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 28-22
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 16-10
AT THE JAZZ: Series tied, 12-12

JAZZ'S OFFICIAL GAME NOTES

GO BLAZERS!!!

MAS RipCity · Mar 24, 2015

This game is all about effort. Do we show up like we did tonight? Or does it look like Orlando 2.0?

BlazerBeav · Mar 25, 2015

If ever we could find a time to win in Salt Lake, tonight would be especially big.

Blazer4ever · Mar 25, 2015

I absolutely love Alonzo "the Gee factor". He should get some major playing time tonight.
I personaly hope none of the "doubtful" players get dressed for this game, I want the bench players to get some real minutes.

kjironman1 · Mar 25, 2015

Personally i would shut Lillard and Lopez down for the next 4 games and take the losses. The Playoffs are coming and the Blazers will make the playoffs. Homecourt means nothing this year. Rest them all and get them all back in April to get their timing back. Until then play the seconds and get them some real minutes. One good thing from last nights game was coach Stotts elected to reduce Damian Lillard to 32 mins. I think right now about 30 should be max if he is going to play him.

People have got realize there is no way the Blazers bench is going to beat a team like the Warriors. All the feel good comments are just that. The Blazers never gave the Warrior's a threat to win that game last night. You could see it in Curry's eyes. He knew the entire game they would pull away in the 4th and cruise to an easy victory because the only thing the Blazers could do was go small and try to force mistakes and maybe hit some extra 3's. The Warriors are simply way too good to beat like that on any consistent basis. Would have been a total fluke but it was worth a shot. Glad that is over.

On to the Jazz.... looks to me the Blazers are doomed again on this game. Rudy Gobert will crush any attempt the Blazers try at the rim and there is no player on the floor for the Blazers that will match Derrick Favors. The biggest problem will be scoring. The Blazers just don't have the firepower right now and the Jazz have the best defense in the entire NBA over the last 20 games. They don't really even have a "Puncher's" chance when you look at it. Blazers are simply a feast of turnovers right now and they just don't have anyone making shots to make a team that takes chances pay. The Jazz will force a bunch of turnovers and let the Blazers have the open look from the arc. Of course the Blazers don't seem to be able to make an open three to save their collective lives right now so what makes anyone think this will be different. Until they get their shot back the Blazers are simply a bad team right now.

Now for the positives. Maybe CJ can have another career night? Maybe Gee can bring a bunch of energy. Maybe Dorell Wright can lead the charge like last night's first half? Maybe Meyers Leonard will have a huge game? See what i am saying? There just isn't many at this point. Just play hard and maybe the Jazz will give you a game?

There is not even a collective agreement on who is or should be starting at this point? Should they start AAA or CJ? Should they start Leonard or Wright? Should they start Gee or Crabbe? Last night there were long stretches where they did not have a player taller than 6-7 on the court. That won't work against the Jazz.

No pick tonight. Just Hope Stotts does the best he can to keep these guys playing hard. Keep energy on the floor at all times. Use Blake when Lillard gets even a little tired. Do whatever you can to keep the Blazers close and make a game out of it, because this one has blowout on the road at Utah written all over it.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

Blazer4ever · Mar 25, 2015

If we don't play Rolo we have only two bigs on the roster and one of them is Meyers Leonard.

MAS RipCity · Mar 25, 2015

I don't see the need to rest Robin. He sat out 6-7 weeks early in the season due to his injured hand. If anything, I'd like to see us get RoLo more involved on offense, specifically in pick and roll situations.

HomerLovesKoolAid · Mar 25, 2015

Hopefully, Crabbe will recapture the Idaho magic.

kjironman1 · Mar 25, 2015

MAS RipCity said:
I don't see the need to rest Robin. He sat out 6-7 weeks early in the season due to his injured hand. If anything, I'd like to see us get RoLo more involved on offense, specifically in pick and roll situations.

There is also the fact that he rarely plays much more than 30 mins a game at this point anyway. Maybe keeping him in there will get them another chance to pull out a victory when we really don't expect one?

kjironman1 · Mar 25, 2015

Blazer4ever said:
If we don't play Rolo we have only two bigs on the roster and one of them is Meyers Leonard.

Meyers needs the time. He is going to get starter minutes anyway and it seems stotts will be going with that really small lineup. But like it was pointed out he did have a couple months off already. Maybe just keep his minutes down.

MAS RipCity · Mar 25, 2015

Hood and Hayward are listed as doubtful for tonight's game according to the Jazz beat writer.

Fun in the Sun · Mar 25, 2015

I'm going to this game. I win would be really nice.

e_blazer · Mar 25, 2015

kjironman1 said:
Personally i would shut Lillard and Lopez down for the next 4 games and take the losses. The Playoffs are coming and the Blazers will make the playoffs. Homecourt means nothing this year. Rest them all and get them all back in April to get their timing back. Until then play the seconds and get them some real minutes. One good thing from last nights game was coach Stotts elected to reduce Damian Lillard to 32 mins. I think right now about 30 should be max if he is going to play him.

People have got realize there is no way the Blazers bench is going to beat a team like the Warriors. All the feel good comments are just that. The Blazers never gave the Warrior's a threat to win that game last night. You could see it in Curry's eyes. He knew the entire game they would pull away in the 4th and cruise to an easy victory because the only thing the Blazers could do was go small and try to force mistakes and maybe hit some extra 3's. The Warriors are simply way too good to beat like that on any consistent basis. Would have been a total fluke but it was worth a shot. Glad that is over.

On to the Jazz.... looks to me the Blazers are doomed again on this game. Rudy Gobert will crush any attempt the Blazers try at the rim and there is no player on the floor for the Blazers that will match Derrick Favors. The biggest problem will be scoring. The Blazers just don't have the firepower right now and the Jazz have the best defense in the entire NBA over the last 20 games. They don't really even have a "Puncher's" chance when you look at it. Blazers are simply a feast of turnovers right now and they just don't have anyone making shots to make a team that takes chances pay. The Jazz will force a bunch of turnovers and let the Blazers have the open look from the arc. Of course the Blazers don't seem to be able to make an open three to save their collective lives right now so what makes anyone think this will be different. Until they get their shot back the Blazers are simply a bad team right now.

Now for the positives. Maybe CJ can have another career night? Maybe Gee can bring a bunch of energy. Maybe Dorell Wright can lead the charge like last night's first half? Maybe Meyers Leonard will have a huge game? See what i am saying? There just isn't many at this point. Just play hard and maybe the Jazz will give you a game?

There is not even a collective agreement on who is or should be starting at this point? Should they start AAA or CJ? Should they start Leonard or Wright? Should they start Gee or Crabbe? Last night there were long stretches where they did not have a player taller than 6-7 on the court. That won't work against the Jazz.

No pick tonight. Just Hope Stotts does the best he can to keep these guys playing hard. Keep energy on the floor at all times. Use Blake when Lillard gets even a little tired. Do whatever you can to keep the Blazers close and make a game out of it, because this one has blowout on the road at Utah written all over it.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

Wow, kj, that's a lot of writing. I guess I just don't see that a team that's lost 3 of its last 4 games (including to the Timberwolves) and is missing Hayward and Burks, is such a juggernaut that we have no chance of beating them. Sure, Gobert is a defensive beast, but he does nothing against the perimeter and mid-range games that the Blazers are primarily using now that Aldridge is out. It will be tough, but I think the Blazers have a good shot of winning.

As far as this notion of a need to rest players goes, it's 3 1/2 weeks to the start of the playoffs. It's too soon to start worrying about rest. These guys are athletes who are used to playing and need to play to stay in top condition. Giving them a game or two off the week prior to the start of the playoffs may make some sense, but right now it's about getting healthy and developing some chemistry with the new rotations.

kjironman1 · Mar 25, 2015

e_blazer said:
guess I just don't see that a team that's lost 3 of its last 4 games (including to the Timberwolves)

Yeah they lost an OT game to the Wolves but the other two were to the Warriors in Oakland and the Wizards so pulling their last 4 games is not really looking at what they are now is it? Fact is they are the #1 defense since the break and they have gone 11-5 in that span. They pounded both Houston and Memphis. They are playing at home on a days rest and the Blazers are on a B2B with no post threat whatsoever.
The prospect of a win in this game does not look good even with Hayward on the bench. Remember the Blazers are without 3 starters and their first big off the bench.

kjironman1 · Mar 25, 2015

e_blazer said:
As far as this notion of a need to rest players goes, it's 3 1/2 weeks to the start of the playoffs. It's too soon to start worrying about rest.

Like i said give em the rest of the month off and bring em back to get back up to speed in April. Hit the ground running.

BlazerBeav · Mar 25, 2015

Per the Blazers twitter account, Batum and LA have been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game. Hope lives!

SlyPokerDog · Mar 25, 2015

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

BlazerBeav said:
Per the Blazers twitter account, Batum and LA have been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game. Hope lives!

Great!

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

kjironman- We made 15 threes last night! Not sure where you got "we can't make an open three" from.

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

kjironman1 said:
Like i said give em the rest of the month off and bring em back to get back up to speed in April. Hit the ground running.

4 more losses in a row and you're talking about very likely falling to 8 seed by the end of the season. We need to win now and hold on to HCA for at least the first round. Plus, we need to stay ahead of Cleveland because they would be the team we would possibly meet in playoffs. Look at our home record. Now look at our road record. HCA matters. Only the 95 Rockets have won 4 rounds without HCA and they got really lucky along the way (Barkley's missed free throws, Nick Anderson's missed free throws)

Strenuus · Mar 25, 2015

LA and Batum in the starting lineup FOR SURE.

Rhal · Mar 25, 2015

KingSpeed said:
4 more losses in a row and you're talking about very likely falling to 8 seed by the end of the season. We need to win now and hold on to HCA for at least the first round. Plus, we need to stay ahead of Cleveland because they would be the team we would possibly meet in playoffs. Look at our home record. Now look at our road record. HCA matters. Only the 95 Rockets have won 4 rounds without HCA and they got really lucky along the way (Barkley's missed free throws, Nick Anderson's missed free throws)

We can actually lose every game from here on out and still win our division and be 4th. We wouldnt have HC advantage but unless we go on a 9 to 10 game win streak we will probably lose HC anyway.

Strenuus · Mar 25, 2015

john gobel is one of the officials... wonder if he knows what a goaltend looks like yet.

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

Rhal said:
We can actually lose every game from here on out and still win our division and be 4th. We wouldnt have HC advantage but unless we go on a 9 to 10 game win streak we will probably lose HC anyway.

Ummm if we lose out, OKC only has to win 4 games to overtake us for division and Suns would only have to go 7-4 to kick us out of playoffs altogether.

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

And why do we need a 9-10 game win streak to get HCA? Clippers have same amount of losses and we currently hold the tiebreaker.

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

Strenuus said:
LA and Batum in the starting lineup FOR SURE.

Yes!!! Time to step up and right the ship!

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

Crabbe starting

Strenuus · Mar 25, 2015

Apparently Batum not starting... Crabbe starting. Batum only seeing action "if necessary."

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

Have we ever lost when Crabbe starts?

KingSpeed · Mar 25, 2015

If we get 3 seed, Aldridge deserves MVP votes for carrying us through all his injuries.

Game Thread GAME# 70: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - MARCH 25, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 6:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

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