Game Thread GAME# 11: GRIZZLIES @ BLAZERS - NOVEMBER 7, 2017 - TUESDAY, 7:00 (PST), NBCSNW

Have to build on this home stretch.

 

Tough game, a win here is a quality win. Dame don't play very good against them (was guard by tony), they just lost to the lakers so they will be hungry

 

Only 2 games in 7 days now. At home. Blazers should win both.

 

They have a big two. We have a big three. Nurk on Gasol should help us against a guy that averaged 30 vs the Blazers last season. CJ killed them last year and needs to light up the rookie.

 

Interesting that Dillon Brooks is starting over McLemore and Evans. Memphis has a pretty good bench.

 

Who's Dillon Brooks? Pretty sure I put him on ignore a long time ago.

 

McLemore is hurt.

 

This team is such a tease. They have stech of play when they are insanely good. If we play up to our potential for whole games we could be special.

 

Nurkic and Vonleh play well together as starters. I expect that trend to continue with wins during this home stretch. Go Blazers!

 

Memphis is always a rough game for Portland.
On the bright side, get to see how Nurk does against the best two way Center in the league.

 

ALomost like a team that will win a few, then lose a few. Like, I don't know a .500 team maybe?

 

What's the kids name in NYC..... Parsnips Kutalingus? Will he ever be considered a center, the kid is 7'1"

 

Blazers vs Memphis pregame

It's getting to be that time of the season when certain stats and tendencies for teams start to come to light. 10 games in you can get a picture but really 20 is when you can get real player looks. 10 seems to be when you can see what teams are doing.

Portland and Memphis are a couple of teams that just address the game differently. First look is PPG. The Blazers are ranked 12th in the league at 107.2. Buoyed by a big game in Phoenix but evened out by a low scoring game vs Toronto. They have 4 games where they scored 103 points? So i look at that number as being about right. The Griz are ranked 24th at 101.8 PPG. They slow games down a bit and try to wait opponents out.

FG% has been a crazy stat for the Blazers. They simply have missed a bunch of easy shots around the rim. This number was way down but in the last three games has been rising. Blazers rank 26th at 43.5% and will need a number of much better games to get it up in respectable 45-47% areas. Nurk shooting 60-70% a few more times would help a bunch. The Griz are ranked 22nd and are not shooting much better at 44%

3 Pt shooting is where you see big differences. The Blazers have been shooting way better from three ranked 5th at 39.4% buoyed strong shooting from the bench. Pat Con hitting 45% is a plus. The Griz do not fair as well ranked 22nd at 33.7% but they shoot quite a bit more from three. Portland attempts only 25.9 a game and the Griz shoot 30.6 a game. I'll take shooting less at a higher percentage every time. Seems like the Blazers truly are working the game inside/out.

Free Throws have been a nice advantage for the Blazers this season. They have a couple players shooting outstanding in Dame/CJ/ Pat with Nurkic doing well also. They rank 2nd at 81.8%. The Griz are not doing bad. Gasol is a great shooter from all over the court and the free throw line is no exception. They are ranked 11th at 78%

Rebounding has become a dream come true for the Blazers. Offensively they rank 3rd with 11.9 a game. Defensively they rank 6th at 36.7 and overall 3rd in total rebounds at 48.6 a game. Rebounding simply put has kept the Blazers in close games and has propelled them to wins. The Griz are not a rebounding team at all. Ranking 29th offensively 21st defensively and 27th overall. Getting rid of Zach has done them no favors on the boards.

Taking care of the ball has been one of a couple problems the Blazers have had but they are actually middle of the road type team in this area. Ranked 15th in total TO's. The Griz however are the best in the league at taking care of the ball. Ranked #1 with 12.9 a game. If there is an area the Blazers could be in trouble for this game it would be turnovers.

The last real good advantage for the Blazers would be Blocks. The Blazers are ranked 3rd in Blocks at 6.3. Wow! have not seen that in years. The Griz are solid ranked 10th at 5.3. So we will see a couple teams that protect the rim.

This should be a real good game if not exciting. I expect it to be lower scoring but the Blazers need to play their game and not get beat launching three's. I give the edge to the Blazers at home with a 95-90 type score.

Pick is the Blazers bench. They need to beat the Griz. The Starters will be working hard and holding their own but the bench needs to beat the Memphis second unit.

Go Blazers!

Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

7'3" in SHOES FAMS. Do the math, THEN post!

 

Is this gameday info? Not listed on Injury report?

 

Interested to see if Nurk can avoid early foul trouble in this one. Going to be tough though. Marc has been even better this year at using the threat of his jumper to attack off the dribble and draw fouls. Nurk needs to show discipline in these situations.

I also expect our bench units to struggle again unless Terry can find a way to get Turner into more advantage situations in the post--It's another team where Turner won't have the size to attack his direct matchup--which has been a key to him and those bench units being successful. He's truly detrimental to our offense when he's utilized in any other way, as either a scorer or playmaker.

Hoping for a return of aggressive Pat Connaughton (I think lately we've seen how he's negatively affected vs teams with agressivness, length and athleticism) and relentless rebounding from Ed Davis--he should be able to continue his rampage against Brendan Wright.

I really think it's time for a Shabazz Napier sighting though. Sure, they're size concerns when he's out there with CJ, but that unit needs his skillset right now. And if Dillon Brooks is out there with Chalmers I think you can get away with a Bazz-CJ-Turner-Mo-Ed alignment defensively.

Speaking of Mo, I think we need and see a good performance from him. He should be able to avoid foul trouble early which will allow him to be a part of those bench units when Memphis goes small with Parsons at the 4. And although Parsons has looked better physically this year, I think he's a guy Mo can have success against if he brings the right focus and energy tonight.

I also expect both Dame and CJ to have nice games. Conley is always pesky at the point of attack, but I think the Dame/Nurk pnr should open up clean looks in the mid/floater range for Dame and Marc hasn't looked great protecting the rim this year. Brooks/Ennis starting on the wings should allow for CJ to get into a rhythm as well.

Go Blazers

 

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