Game Thread GAME# 47: BLAZERS @ HAWKS - JANUARY 30, 2015 - FRIDAY, 4:30 PM (PST), CSNNW

PROBABLE STARTERS





VS









WHEN: 4:30 PM (Pacific), FRIDAY, 1/30/2015​

WHERE: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA




TV BROADCAST:



RADIO BROADCAST:


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BENCH

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , MCCOLLUM , BARTON , CRABBE

WRIGHT , CLAVER , ROBINSON , LEONARD

ATLANTA HAWKS

SCHRODER , JENKINS , BAZEMORE , SEFOLOSHA

SCOTT , BRAND , ANTIC , MUSCALA





INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
▪Nicolas Batum (right wrist sprain): QUESTIONABLE
▪ Joel Freeland (right shoulder strain): OUT
▪ Robin Lopez (fractured right index finger): OUT
HAWKS
▪ Shelvin Mack (left calf strain): OUT





HEAD COACHES
- VS –
TERRY STOTTS - MIKE BUDENHOLZER




BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

HAWKS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES



GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

Game 47, POR @ ATL (38-8, 21-3 at home), 1/30/15
ATL: 1st in Eastern Conference, 1st in Southeast Division

Our Last Game: L @ CLE, 99-94

Their Last Game: W v. BKN, 113-102

Last Meeting: ATL 115, POR 107 1/5/15

Injuries: POR--Lopez (out), Freeland (out), Batum (day-to-day), Aldridge (day-to-day)

Matchups:
Lillard v. Teague (17.2ppg, 7.5apg, 2.6rpg, 1.7stl/g)
Matthews v. Korver (13.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.9apg, 53.4% 3pt)
Batum v. Carroll (11.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3stl/g)
Aldridge v. Millsap (17.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.7stl/g)
Kaman v. Horford (15.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.3apg, 1.4blk/g)

Power Rankings:
ESPN: (1) The Hawks, thanks to win streaks of nine and 16 games and 10 wins in a row against Western Conference opposition, are just the 10th team in history to play at least 32 games and lose only two of them. Six of the previous nine -- since we know that was your next question -- went on to win it all.

NBA: (1) Pace: 96.1 (17) OffRtg: 107.3 (5) DefRtg: 99.6 (4) NetRtg: +7.7 (2)
The Hawks' 16-game winning streak has built them a seven-game lead atop the Eastern Conference, and we'll find out Thursday how many All-Star selections that has earned them. Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap have the standard stats, but Kyle Korver and Al Horford are the most important elements of their top-five offense and top-five defense, respectively.

Link to GrandpaBlaze's Prediction Game
Link to MediocreMan's Over/under

Final Thoughts: Once again, their team is scrappy on the defensive end, getting a hefty amount of blocks and steals. I expect that Dame will continue his crappy shooting post-Adidas switch, but LMA and Wes have a decent chance of winning their matchups. Meyers Leonard (who'd have thunk I'd be saying this?) can exploit bench bigs by pulling them out and opening it up for Blake P&Rs and Wes second-unit post ups, b/c I think that Budenholzer doesn't let open 3s happen ever. Regardless, I have to pull for the Blazers to have a big offensive bounce-back night, to do just enough to limit Korver and Teague from 3, give up midranges to Horford (who's actually way better than LMA at what LMA does most--51% v 39% on 10-23' jumpers) and Millsap and ride out the win. Yes, that'll be tough against ATL's 3 all-stars, but what are the odds of them winning 18 straight? That's like flipping a coin and getting 18 heads in a row, right? /nonstatguy

Us 115
Them 106

 

That is fantastic. Let's hope they can back it up.

 

Coming to you live from the Atlanta Public Library!