Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 5: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - 4/29/15, WEDNESDAY, 6:30 PM (PST), TNT & KGW

Let's walk out of the Grindhouse with a W!

I just hope we can take the crowd out early, sustain runs and make timely stops down the stretch.

 

They will probably need their most complete game of the series to make it out of mem with the W. They certainly have it in them, the question is will they carry the confidence and hunger from game 4 over to game 5.

 

Id like to finally hit a higher % of 3s then Memphis for the first time this series.
Memphis is going to throw everything and the kitchen sink at us. They wont ever think they will lose but the longer this series draws out the more chance of another injury hitting the Memphis and the more confidant we get. This is assuming they know Conley is out for maybe the entire series, if he pulls a westbrook and plays tomorrow then I think its more 35/65 we win.

 

Will LaMarcus step up one time this series?

 

Blazers vs Grizzlies game 5 Pregame

Well...There you have it. The Blazers can beat this team. Now to do it in Memphis. That of course is the huge question lurking in just about every Blazer fans mind? Just so many possibilities if in fact they do actually get this win. The problem is keeping your mind from going there and sticking to the task at hand. Lets not talk about getting the series back here. Try to stay away from wondering what could happen in a game 7? Because the only thing that really matters at this point is the first quarter of this game. After the first 12 mins have been played they can worry about the next 12 mins. Yep! that is where the series is now. one quarter at a time. The duel tonight will be between Stotts and Joerger. Every adjustment that has been made to this point in the series will come into play.

Believe it or not when it comes to adjustments Stotts has the advantage going into this game. The ball right now is in Dave Joerger's court. He has got to find a way to fill a huge void left by losing Conely and be able to still guard Portland's perimeter attack. He must also figure out how to guard the paint when the Blazers throw in a 7 footer that can shoot 3's. It's not just making sure Leonard doesn't hit the 3 ball? It's keeping CJ under wraps while keeping a large enough player in front of Meyers to keep him from also waltzing right on in for a Monster Jam in front of the Hometown Buffet. The other problem when dealing with those two things is a crafty little guy named Lillard. It seems that having to deal with CJ and Leonard has loosened the reigns on a very prolific shooter that will burn any team that does not pay attention to him. It has also created a few more assist opportunities. None more prevalent than the open looks and cracks of daylight that the most important player on the floor is now finding. That's right! LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE! When the Blazers can give this man just a solid game all around him he is pretty much unstoppable. The question now is can the Blazers continue to make some open looks while still bringing defensive energy for 4 Quarters?

Last game was a good look but still the Blazers suffered through a "Horrific" third quarter scoring only 13 points. That quarter alone almost cost them the opportunity to keep the series alive. They must play 48 minutes tonight. Going through a scoring drought like that will be very tough to overcome on the road. It would also make things much easier to stay away from falling behind by double digits in the first 10 mins of the game. Many are blaming this on Lopez and are calling for Leonard to start but i do not prescribe to that line of thinking. Over and over again we have seen Portland come out and simply miss point blank open looks to start the game. My thinking here is that everyone knows the Blazers are coming out and setting Aldridge up on the left block to start the game. You know it...I know it...Do you think Gasol and Randolph don't know it? Then after that they will try it a second time and then sometimes even a third? then after they are down 6 or even 8 points they will try something else. Maybe a little wrinkle here could help out LaMarcus? Lopez has been setting great center picks that are leaving huge openings in the lane. Exploit those things and then let LA have a look that isn't on every scouting sheet in the NBA. Just a thought....

I touched on a few things about Lillard and the respect he deserves. There is no question that the Grizz have put a blanket on Lillard this series. They will try to do exactly the same things again. This is the same argument we had about Aldridge 2 or 3 years ago. Teams were paying so much attention to him that others would benefit. Aldridge would have tough shooting nights fighting doubles all night and then when others would pick up the slack the team would prosper. But if they looked bad, he looked bad also. Lillard and Aldridge are playing one of, if not THE best defensive team in the NBA. They absolutely need somebody to open things up for them. A triple and even a quadruple threat is needed against this team. You have absolutely got to play better than them on offense or you will lose. In the playoffs it is a team effort that will win always. No single player heroics are going to get it done. There will only be Lillard Time if there is also LA time, CJ time, AAA Time and Leo Time not to mention Batum shaka lacka Time!

The defense in game 4 was huge. Some of that was due to putting Meyers on Gasol because he is a little faster laterally but remember when Lopez is in there he guards the smaller ZBo at times and LA slides over to cover Gasol. CJ picked up his defense as well as Lillard and Afflalo made a big impact with a couple steals and switching. The biggest difference i watched was that the Blazers made some shots when they got stops. The entire flow changes when you get a stop and then go and score. The defense has time to get back and set up while the Grizz were yet again wondering how to guard CJ, again and again? Defense is always the key in the playoffs. Get a stop but then convert on the offensive side. The Blazers cut back on forcing the ball after a stop and would set up on offense. I would hope they continue that philosophy.

My Pick tonight is Aldridge. Time for the big guy to have a monster game. Again this is all about a team effort but if the whole team is a threat there will be enough cracks in the armor for Aldridge to simply take this game over.

Tonights Refs are Ken Mauer, Brian Forte and Ed Malloy. That is a good crew IMO.

Go Blazers! Do what you got to do. Win or lose leave it all on the court tonight.

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

Yea he needs to step it up down low but he has been dominating Zbo and we would have been swept if that wasn't the case.

Go Blazers.

 

God you are annoying with this. How many places do you post this same shit.

Memphis is one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. This is what they do. They make games ugly. I know you can only comprehend a performance by the box score, but LA is not the problem. You want stats? His first two games on the road in Memphis he had 14 rebounds and 4 blocks in both games. (Oh and averaged 28 pts per)

I can hear you already...."but look at how many shots he took to do it".........And that is true, so somebody else needs to step up on offense and share the scoring burden. Make one of the best defensive teams in the league focused their attention on more than just two players.

 

I would like to add that no one was doing good in games 1 and 2, which forced Aldridge to force his offense. That snow balled because they knew it and played it perfectly.

Dame finally coming out delivered such a game changer. And Leonard coming out was the knock out punch. We need at least 2 players that play above average (CJ, Afflalo, Kaman, Leonard, Batum or Lopez), while Aldridge and Dame did what they did last game and we can win.

 

SlyPokerDog, Fuck off.

Does that count as a personal insult?

 

I'd like the TNT assholes to stop saying Portland is "lucky" that Conley is out.

Memphis is LUCKY that Wesley Matthews, Dorell Wright, Arron Afflalo and Chris Kaman are injured.

Wes alone is more important to the Blazers than Conley is to Memphis.

Fuck Charles Barkley and the Shaq he rode in on.

Go Blazers!

 

Booooooooo!

 

Uh, Conley pretty much tamed Dame though, so we are actually 'lucky' hes out (considering he wasn't injured at the start of this series). I am not entirely sure Wright or a healthy Cave Man would make a difference. I do know a healthy AAA and Wes would though.

 

I think that he was saying we have more than just one player injured.

 

It worked last time so I am posting this again!