Game Thread GAME# 80: JAZZ @ BLAZERS - APRIL 11, 2015 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), KGW

Meyers Leonard is gonna posterize Gobert.

 

Blazers vs Jazz (This is not really a pregame)

Well any realistic idea of having Home court advantage in the first or even the second round is pretty much out the window. Doesn't really matter what they do. If they happen to get out of the first round they will draw the winner of the #1 vs #8 matchup. My real feeling here is that is just doesn't matter who they play as long as it isn't the Spurs in the first round. I feel the Blazers have a reasonable chance to play a solid series against the rest as long as they play it smart here in the last week. I did some research into minutes played. This is huge! San Antonio doesn't have a single player in the top 50 of mins played. Their first player on the list comes along at #57 Danny Green who played 2262 mins so far. Timmy Duncan comes up next at #74 with 2168 mins played. They don't have another player in the top 100. Last night Duncan went all willy nilly against the Rockets going for 29-10 on 12 of 15 shooting. It's like the Spurs have all played 2/3 a season over the entire duration and they are now ready to rumble.

On the flip side of things you have the Houston Rockets. They have James Harden in the #1 spot with 2879 mins played and Trevor Ariza coming in at 3rd with 2833 mins played. Houston is still in a dogfight for HCA and are limping into the Playoffs with a number of injuries to key players. The Blazers have their own "Minutes" problems also. Lillard is trying to keep a streak alive so sitting him is out. His minutes to this point sit at #4 with 2832 mins played. He will jump up a spot or two after tonight. Last night he was second in the entire league. It's a good thing LA is sitting because he was in the top 20 but fell to #24 with 2482. Also, many did not know that AAA was also in the top 20. Afflalo was a starter with Denver and has plenty of mileage this year with 2502 mins played. The Blazers would do well to let these guys warm up and then keep their minutes down for the rest of the season.

What the Blazers need IMO is to get guys rested and healthy. Afflalo needs to rest his shoulder. Aldridge needs to sit and Batum should by all means stay off the court. I would love to see Lillard come in and play his first shift and then go to the locker room and put his street clothes on and watch Frazier log some minutes. It is also time to utilize both Freeland and Leonard as much as possible. I see absolutely no reason to put Rolo or Kaman on the court? Maybe a few minutes to work on timing but are these guys going to improve in the next 3 games? Kaman plays so much better when he is rested. This is a no brainer to me. Dorell Wright had a 4-6 week timeline. That would put him at some time in the next couple weeks. Thing is he will be in the middle of the playoffs and i just don't see trying to break back into the lineup at that point. It is time to push Crabbe and CJ.

Win or lose tonight doesn't matter. What Stotts should be preaching is solid play and smart playoff intensity from his reserves. Games can be won or lost with simple solid decision making and this one is no different. This is a great chance for them to play a solid starting unit.

Pick tonight is Coaches and Training staff. Make some good decisions.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

Here is a link to minutes played.
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/minutes/sort/minutes/qualified/false

Here is a link to Playoff brackets.
http://www.nbaplayoffsbracket.com/2015/index.php

 

Why not rest everybody?

 

It's Crabbe time!

 

Dame will not want to break the streak he has going.

 

Wtf aldridge foot injury? Why didnt I know about this? Fuck life

 

Calm down..... They just don't want him injured before he goes to another team this summer as a Free Agent.
Sly thinks he will be traded but i know better.

 

Afflalo has played more minutes this season than Aldridge!

They rank #21 vs. #24 in the league.

 

AAA 2502 mins Played and Aldridge 2482 mins played.

 

#/life

 

Meyers gets a career night tonight in pts and rebounds. Book it!

 

I got free tickets for tonights game. I've never sat in the 300 level before but I thought what the hell they're free. How far up is row P? Are these nose bleeders?

 

I'm just looking at my guide. It says here the game is on KGW but the guide shows Premier Boxing Champions at that same time. Do I have the correct network?

 

You will see just fine and you will have a great time up there. Enjoy the game.

 

Looking forward to Meyers having a good game, I'd like to see Crabbe play well too, wonder how much Frazier we will see

 

Does anyone know if this is really on KGW tonight? The listing does not have it that way?

 

Blazers.com has it KGWHD. I'll set the recording for channel 8 at 7

 

That is what i have too but the listing says different. Boxing