Game Thread GAME# 71: BLAZERS @ SUNS - MARCH 27, 2015 - FRIDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBATV & CSNNW

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

• Phoenix has won seven consecutive games at home against the Trail Blazers.

• The Suns rank fifth in the NBA in scoring with an average of 104.2 points per game, while the Trail Blazers are 10th in the NBA in both points scored (102.5) and points allowed (98.1). Phoenix has allowed its opponents to average 103.6 points per game (26th in NBA).

• The Trail Blazers are eighth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.362), while the Suns have allowed the opposition to shoot .355 from beyond the arc this season (23rd in NBA).

• Portland is the second best rebounding team in the NBA (45.7 reb/game), while Phoenix is ranked 15th in the league at 43.5 reb/game. The Suns have yielded an average of 44.8 rebounds to their opponents (26th in NBA).

• Portland and Phoenix have split the first two games thus far, with each team winning its respective home game. The Suns defeated Portland 118-113 on Jan. 21 in Phoenix, while the Trail Blazers beat the Suns 108-87 on Feb. 5 at the Moda Center.

• Phoenix has won the season series over Portland three consecutive times dating back to the 2011-12 season.

• In Portland’s win over Phoenix on Feb. 5, Nicolas Batum scored a game-high 20 points (6-13 FG, 6-6 FT). LaMarcus Aldridge (19 pts, 13 reb) and Robin Lopez (11 pts, 12 reb) both had double-doubles.

• In two games against Phoenix this season, Nicolas Batum has averaged 23.5 points on 17-of-28 shooting (60.7%). Batum has connected on eight of his 14 three-point attempts.

• Nicolas Batum has scored 20+ points on three different occasions this season. Two of those games have been against the Suns (Season-high 27 pts at PHX on 1/12/15).

• Dating back to the start of the 2013-14 season, Eric Bledsoe has averaged 25.0 points and shot 59.2% (25-42 FG) in five games against Portland. Bledsoe set a new career-high in scoring (33 points on 11-of-22 FG) against Portland on Jan. 21 (Current careerhigh:
34 at HOU on 3/21).

• Last season, the Suns won three of their four games against the Trail Blazers.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 117-93
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 64-42
AT THE SUNS: Suns lead, 75-29

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Man, the Suns have B-Knight now instead of Dragic and Isiah Thomas. They're still a good, fun team, but not as much. B-Knight is good though. I think their strongest lineup is with both him and Bledsoe, with Tucker at the 3. I don't get how they didn't at least try to sign T-Rob as a FA, could have made much sense for their team. They're still very deep in the backcourt but other than the Morris brothers and Len, don't have much inside.
Hopefuly we can start getting our players back. Don't understand how "the Gee factor" didn't get any minutes with Batum out. If Batum is out for this game I expect the Gee factor to finally break-out.

To answer the poll question: if the players are ok to play physically I would have them playing, just not as many minutes.
That would enable them to get more rest while still being able to help us win and also would give the bench players more playing time to get ready for the playoffs.

If we are serious about winning a championship, we need HCA for at least the first round and against Cleveland.

Let's go Blazers!!! AHh! Always nervous facing the suns, Dragic or no dragic.

Blazers vs Suns Pregame


Last time these two played here in Portland and the Blazers handed the Suns a 21 point drubbing. It was Robin Lopez's 2nd game back and of course Portland fans got a chance to see Rasheed Wallace back in the Rose Garden. Not really sure why Portland fans are quite so forgiving but they seemed to like seeing him?

This is a tough game to really gauge. For the most part over the past few seasons the Suns have been a tough team for the Blazers to play. Even more so in Phoenix. After the trade that sent Dragic to the Heat it kind of seemed like things changed a bit with the Suns. I am not sure if they are actually even a playoff contender because they sit 3 games behind OKC with 13 games left. They have kind of fallen off the pace and even the last week which logged some pretty good wins doesn't do them much good. The thing is Jeff Hornacek is just not the kind of guy to quit so i expect this team to play hard and continue to try to improve until the very last game of the season. This makes the Suns a dangerous team every night for every team. They will play extremely loose and they will get wins.

Again we are not exactly sure who is going to play because there is still that "Questionable" thing going on with Batum and Kaman. My guess is we will see Nic tonight but not Kaman. Nic has historically had some good games against the Suns so he might want to get into this one. Not to suggest he didn't want to play in others but players do know what teams they play well against and this is one of them for Batum. A shoulder injury on a guy that has had shoulder issues in the past is going to take longer usually so who knows with Chris Kaman?

This is Portlands first game of their third consecutive B2B. How many times do you see a team play 3 two game sets in 8 days? That has got to be some kind of schedule anomaly that defies logic? The Blazers do have a chance to see these guys again on Monday so getting this one could make the next 2 a bit more fun.

The Lillard vs Bledsoe matchup should be the burner tonight but you will also see plenty of Brandon Knight as well. Bledsoe always strikes me as more of a SG even though he is short 6'1". He is very active and he is always a threat to score. Just seems i got used to seeing him in a different role. The Suns are playing better defense now however and their recent stats are looking like they will indeed become a good defensive team. With Bledsoe running the offense they are pushing the pace a bit more but they are also committing more turn overs. Got to take the good with the bad kind of thing.

Morris Bro's will get theirs but they will not cancel out Aldridge and Batum if he plays. Dorrel Wright has filled in nicely in the last few games. Nice to see. Hope we can come to expect it. I know Crabbe has never lost as a starter but to me that only means he will eventually because thinking he is the reason they won those games seems a bit overblown and sensational.

Pick tonight is Afflalo. PJ Tucker is a defensive guy and he is bigger than AAA. My thinking here is if Nic plays and has a good game there will be some defensive switching going on? Afflalo might be the benefactor of a mismatch and get some easy looks. All things point to this being a Batum or Aldridge game but something tells me AAA will be "The Man" tonight.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

Blazer4ever said:

To answer the poll question: if the players are ok to play physically I would have them playing, just not as many minutes.
That would enable them to get more rest while still being able to help us win and also would give the bench players more playing time to get ready for the playoffs.

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I agree. There also could be another option that would read "Depends on how things unfold?" If the Blazers find themselves in a position that will not make any difference obviously they rest the guys. If one more win does make a difference to get HCA then sure. Play them and try for the win.

kjironman1 said:

Blazers vs Suns Pregame




Pick tonight is Afflalo. PJ Tucker is a defensive guy and he is bigger than AAA. My thinking here is if Nic plays and has a good game there will be some defensive switching going on? Afflalo might be the benefactor of a mismatch and get some easy looks. All things point to this being a Batum or Aldridge game but something tells me AAA will be "The Man" tonight.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

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Tucker reminds me of AAA a lot actually. PJ has picked up his offensive game recently as well, so that'll be a really good match up to watch.

kjironman1 said:

I agree. There also could be another option that would read "Depends on how things unfold?" If the Blazers find themselves in a position that will not make any difference obviously they rest the guys. If one more win does make a difference to get HCA then sure. Play them and try for the win.

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Yes, But I would also want the players to be ready for the playoffs by not sitting too many games out. At least the last few games I want them to play, to be 100% in game-shape.

Win or Loss
I predict someone will complain about Stotts not playing x player...

Pregame update
I just got word both Batum and Kaman have been updated to "Probable".
Source Channel 2 news Portland KATU. Not sure where they got it?

kjironman1 said:

Blazers vs Suns Pregame

Last time these two played here in Portland and the Blazers handed the Suns a 21 point drubbing. It was Robin Lopez's 2nd game back and of course Portland fans got a chance to see Rasheed Wallace back in the Rose Garden. Not really sure why Portland fans are quite so forgiving but they seemed to like seeing him?

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Even though by most accounts Rasheed was a major league dick and probable racist, I absolutely loved him on the court. I loved his game, his respect for the game, and of course his intensity. I don't think I ever saw Sheed flop. I respect his apparent burning need for justice and equality (just call the game fair both ways Ass Holes). It was pure bullshit that the refs implemented a premeditated strategy of giving him unwarranted technicals early in games to try to shut him up. Best of all, Sheed was a Lakers Killer. Long live Sheed!

Man, looking at those series numbers, we're almost as bad in Phoenix as we are in SLC. Be nice to get wins in both this week.

BBert said:

Even though by most accounts Rasheed was a major league dick and probable racist, I absolutely loved him on the court. I loved his game, his respect for the game, and of course his intensity. I don't think I ever saw Sheed flop. I respect his apparent burning need for justice and equality (just call the game fair both ways Ass Holes). It was pure bullshit that the refs implemented a premeditated strategy of giving him unwarranted technicals early in games to try to shut him up. Best of all, Sheed was a Lakers Killer. Long live Sheed!

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I remember when I was 17-18 or so, played paintball with him at my friends house (Owner of the old Paintball station on 99). Him and his crew came. They loved to toke, LOL. That was a good day; funny watching such tall dudes hunker down in a bunker.

blue32 said:

I remember when I was 17-18 or so, played paintball with him at my friends house (Owner of the old Paintball station on 99). Him and his crew came. They loved to toke, LOL. That was a good day; funny watching such tall dudes hunker down in a bunker.

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Haha. That's cool. One testimonial for not being a dick.

H.C. said:

Win or Loss
I predict someone will complain about Stotts not playing x player...

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Right? It's ridiculous.

kjironman1 said:

Pregame update
I just got word both Batum and Kaman have been updated to "Probable".
Source Channel 2 news Portland KATU. Not sure where they got it?

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Earlier today, O-Live said Batum is starting and Kaman is probably playing.

Kaman is playing? Yay.

Blazer4ever said:

Kaman is playing? Yay.

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We would've beaten Grizzlies if we had him. We never have all our bigs when we play Memphis. If healthy, we will beat Grizzlies in 6 in playoffs.

KingSpeed said:

We would've beaten Grizzlies if we had him. We never have all our bigs when we play Memphis. If healthy, we will beat Grizzlies in 6 in playoffs.

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I don't think we'll play the Grizz in the playoffs. Somebody else will beat them in the first round.

KingSpeed said:

We would've beaten Grizzlies if we had him. We never have all our bigs when we play Memphis. If healthy, we will beat Grizzlies in 6 in playoffs.

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I love you, Eric. I could just pinch your cheeks.

KingSpeed said:

We would've beaten Grizzlies if we had him. We never have all our bigs when we play Memphis. If healthy, we will beat Grizzlies in 6 in playoffs.

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Well....You are a positive fan i'll give you that.

Suns down a point guard tonight, that's a plus

GO BLAZERS! CRUSH THIS TEAM FROM THE TIPOFF!!

blazers by 12.

EGame said:

blazers by 12.

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whaaaaaa... Positivity? God, you're sexy.

LET GO TRAIL BLAZERS!

AA midrange pull up!

AAA primes the pump!

Nice double on LA by Len.

LA will have to be aware of the late weakside double.