Game Thread GAME# 25: KNICKS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 10, 2019 - TUESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

• Tuesday’s game will be the first of two meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Knicks during the 2019-20 season.

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• LAST SEASON: Portland swept the season series with the Knicks, 2-0.

• Damian Lillard averaged 23.0 points (38.9% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 86.7% FT), 5.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in two games against the Knicks during the 2018-19 season.

• In two games against the Knicks last season, CJ McCollum averageded 24.0 points (50.0% FG, 43.8% 3-PT, 100% FT), 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

• In three games against Portland with New Orleans last season, Julius Randle averaged 31.0 points (56.1% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 64.0% FT), 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

• Marcus Morris Sr. averaged 10.5 points (38.1% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 100% FT), 6.5 rebounds and 0.5 steals in two games against Portland with Boston last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 66-47
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 42-14
AT THE KNICKS: Knicks lead, 33-24

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Last game of the home-stand against the worst team in the league.

Surely we can win this one, right? Right?

The Knicks are on a 9-game losing streak. We can't afford to lose this one.

A loss here would show true commitment to adding talent for next season.

A win here (which should happen) helps the Purgatory train.

TBpup said:

A loss here would show true commitment to adding talent for next season.

A win here (which should happen) helps the Purgatory train.

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I don't really get the idea that were stuck in purgatory. Its not like they’re a consistent 8 seed. Theyve been the 3 seed like 3 straight years. Maybe they arent good enough to win a championship, but Ive always considered purgatory the teams that are always like 7–10 and just keep coming back and doing it again. This year sucks no doubt but if the last few years are purgatory then it must pretty much suck to be a fan of about 25 NBA teams.

Injuries or not, there is absolutely no excuse to lose THIS game...

TorturedBlazerFan said:

I don't really get the idea that were stuck in purgatory. Its not like they’re a consistent 8 seed. Theyve been the 3 seed like 3 straight years. Maybe they arent good enough to win a championship, but Ive always considered purgatory the teams that are always like 7–10 and just keep coming back and doing it again. This year sucks no doubt but if the last few years are purgatory then it must pretty much suck to be a fan of about 25 NBA teams.

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The last two years. Three years ago, we were the 8 seed. Year before that, we were 5 seed.

Just win Blazers

This team is yet to be a legit contender. They have yet to win a single conference Finals game. They were swept one year as the #3 seed and only because Ant and Skal went nuclear in a game their coach tried to lose, did they get into the soft side of the bracket or they would have been swept in the second round the next year.

I desperately want them to do better but it's not going to happen with two small guards who don't play much D, so little ball movement and this coach.

So something needs to change before Dame's prime is completely gone.

Health will make a big defense.
A Good Lotto pick could as well.
Losing (and being swept out) in the 1st or 2nd round of the Playoffs again won't do a damn thing.

TBpup said:

This team is yet to be a legit contender. They have yet to win a single conference Finals game. They were swept one year as the #3 seed and only because Ant and Skal went nuclear in a game their coach tried to lose, did they get into the soft side of the bracket or they would have been swept in the second round the next year.

I desperately want them to do better but it's not going to happen with two small guards who don't play much D, so little ball movement and this coach.

So something needs to change before Dame's prime is completely gone.

Health will make a big defense.
A Good Lotto pick could as well.
Losing (and being swept out) in the 1st or 2nd round of the Playoffs again won't do a damn thing.

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We are playing without 3 key players.

Oh we lost to GSW, Pelicans and Cavs. We can not take this game for granted. Gotta play serious and win the game. One game at the time... let’s go!

Darkwebs said:

The Knicks are on a 9-game losing streak. We can't afford to lose this one.

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Makes them very dangerous. Eventually they will win a game. Blazers playing poorly gives any team looking for a win hope.

TBpup said:

This team is yet to be a legit contender. They have yet to win a single conference Finals game. They were swept one year as the #3 seed and only because Ant and Skal went nuclear in a game their coach tried to lose, did they get into the soft side of the bracket or they would have been swept in the second round the next year.

I desperately want them to do better but it's not going to happen with two small guards who don't play much D, so little ball movement and this coach.

So something needs to change before Dame's prime is completely gone.

Health will make a big defense.
A Good Lotto pick could as well.
Losing (and being swept out) in the 1st or 2nd round of the Playoffs again won't do a damn thing.

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How do you know the only reason they made the WCF was because they won the last game?

Tank.

tlongII said:

Tank.

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At least you’re consistent.

If we loose this game then Stotts is chair will start get really hot. My worry you just might see more and more iso ball by our key scorers if this start going south really fast. But that going be the case then we don't have to worry we will in the lottery. The reason I say that we already had Dame and CJ going iso but when didn't shoot well we still had decent defense to stay in games. This year we have a terrible defense and our bench really non existent this year. Year might good game by someone hear and there but just can't count on it every night. Will cost Stotts his job maybe or maybe not due Olshey can say it's not his fault due to all the injuries.

kjironman1 said:

How do you know the only reason they made the WCF was because they won the last game?

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Because they werent going to beat the Warriors?

I wonder if Stotts would ever get fired.
He can take his pants off in the middle of a timeout and then proceed to take shit on the logo and Neil would still protect him.

Bruno_Sabino said:

We are playing without 3 key players.

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And what did that repsonse have to do with the post?

Mhh

Labinot41 said:

Mhh

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Am I wrong for thinking that if he was only averaging 17 & 10 in China that he wouldn't do much over here?

PtldPlatypus said:

Am I wrong for thinking that if he was only averaging 17 & 10 in China that he wouldn't do much over here?

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Wow. We just had this discussion a day or two ago too. Yeah, crappy numbers there; but I'd grab him fast. Cheap. Tons of energy (that we desperately need). I THINK he could really help us.

OneSport3 said:

Injuries or not, there is absolutely no excuse to lose THIS game...

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Don't worry. Dame is feeling great, and he said I could play him 48 minutes to get the win. I got this!

We lost to a gleague warriors team, so would not be surprised to see us lose this game at all.

Terry Stotts said:

Don't worry. Dame is feeling great, and he said I could play him 48 minutes to get the win. I got this!

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I'm still available, if you want to cut back on Dames minutes. Just give me a yell....

Terry Stotts said:

Don't worry. Dame is feeling great, and he said I could play him 48 minutes to get the win. I got this!

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Thanks coach. Now, maybe try to run some offense instead of just letting CJ dribble the leather off the ball.

Darkwebs said:

Last game of the home-stand against the worst team in the league.

Surely we can win this one, right? Right?

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< No more of these!

Darkwebs said:

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
NEW YORK KNICKS
4 - 19
(1-9 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
9 - 15
(4-6 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

FRANK NTILIKINA VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

RJ BARRETT VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

MARCUS MORRIS VS KENT BAZEMORE

PF

JULIUS RANDLE VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

TAJ GIBSON VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

-----------------------------------------------------------------
------- JERSEYS -------

---

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


WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 12/10/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

----- NEW YORK KNICKS -----

SMITH Jr. , PAYTON , ALLEN

ELLINGTON , TRIER , DOTSON

BRAZDEIKIS , BULLOCK , KNOX II

PORTIS , RABB , ROBINSON


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr.

LITTLE , HEZONJA , HOARD

TOLLIVER , LABISSIERE , BROWN



INJURIES
KNICKS
Wayne Ellington (sore left Achilles): QUESTIONABLE
Reggie Bullock (neck): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Gary Trent Jr. (right hamstring strain): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MIKE MILLER ------- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL KNICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

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I would have predicted that we win but with that last disaster against Oklahoma City and my reticence to denigrate the Blazers, I'm gonna sit this one out.

Bruno_Sabino said:

We are playing without 3 key players.

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can we agree that people are leaning way too heavily on this excuse?

* start with Hood: it's clear Portland wasn't going to beat the Lakers even if Hood had played the whole game. So, essentially, the Blazers were 9-14 with Hood. His injury has had no impact on the won/loss record yet, and he's been around for just about every minute of the crappy play

* last season, the Blazers were 11-2 with CJ out; In the regular season, they were 8-2 without Nurkic, and CJ & Nurk missed many of the same games. And from when Nurk went down till game 1 of the WCF, the Blazers were 16-6

* everybody knew Nurkic was going to be out till at least sometime in January. His absence was already baked into the equation, and factored into expectations. Last season, they had Kanter, this season, they have Whiteside. Kanter does a couple of thing better than Whiteside, but Whiteside does some things better than Kanter. It's essentially a push

* finally, Collins. Zach had 0.1 winshares in 3 games. Multiply by 8 (for 24 games) and he would have 0.8 winshares...less than 1. Double it because of Olshey stocking nothing behind him, and maybe, with Zach, Portland has an 11-13 record right now. But if Zach doesn't go down with injury, it may very well be the Blazers don't have Melo so there might be an offset that drops the Blazers back to 10-14. I think even the most rosy homerific scenario would put Portland at .500 with Zach

yeah, Portland 'would' probably be a better team with those 3 guys (but remember, no Whiteside). But Hood was injured 3 days ago, and Portland went 16-6 without Nurk last season and 11-2 without CJ (and 7-2 without both). Why were they so much better without Nurkic and CJ last year, than without Nurkic and Zach this year? What has happened so far this season can't all be explained away with the injuries excuse because we have some extremely relevant benchmarks from 8 months ago