Game Thread GAME# 52: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - FEBRUARY 8, 2015 - SUNDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

I pretty much had to have my wife hide all the sharp objects and take my car keys last night after that game. Didn't want to get to close to any bridges or cliffs. The fact is they win that game 99 out of 100 times so i guess we all can get over it right.

The reason i do game previews is because i don't like to get too caught up in wins or losses in February. Would have loved to see a win last night but you can't let the Mavericks beat you twice. Houston is on tap tonight and there is a lot to be getting prepared for.

First and foremost is the fact that Houston is without Howard tonight. Kind of sounds like the years are catching up to him quickly but understand at this point in every teams season the most important thing is to stay healthy and make the playoffs with everyone playing well. Both of these teams will make the playoffs and what happens tonight will actually make little difference in the end. What we as Blazer fans should want to see is another good showing and the chance to win at the end.

With Howard out the Rock-etts will impose a smaller lineup so the Blazers will have some size advantage but lets not get all giddy just yet. This team now becomes exactly what the Blazers have been having problems with. They will cruise the passing lanes and get out and run. They will play scrappy defense and run the shooters off the three point line. LaMarcus will now have to carry this team and hope to get some help in the end again. Help from someone else is exactly what was missing last night. If he can get it tonight the Blazers will stay in the game. If not????

So how many of us really don't like the "Beard". Say what you want about Harden but the guy is truthfully the league MVP to this point of the season. I watched some of the film on him this year. His ability to create a shot out of nothing is truly remarkable. He also gets to the line at a rate no Blazer even thinks about. The thing about tonight is he will be on his home court so expect an "Oscar" winning performance on just about every drive. Any chance Lauren Holtkamp could be the ref tonight? Maybe she would throw a few T's his way? It's okay they can't fine me. I do this for free. So i can say whatever i want. Going to be up to Mathews and Batum to hold Harden under 40 tonight.

We also have the Lillard vs Beverly thing going tonight. With Lillard starting to make some shots again this might be the matchup to watch. The thing is Lillard is now playing different. One thing is the "drive and dish" is becoming a bigger part of his offense as well as scoring and getting to the line. He did start making some 3's last night. So the Rockets will need to stay on him.

Batum...Batum...Batum. This is a huge problem. Nic got 10 rebounds last night but he went 0-8. This is a major problem when teams know they don't have to guard him. It is killing the entire offense at times. Everything has already been said. My opinion is still SHUT HIM DOWN!

The bench tonight is the key to this game. The longer they can hold on the more chance this will be a good game. Steve Blake was the key last night and he will need to do it tonight as well. CJ is getting better by leaps and bounds with just about every game. It's only a matter of time till CJ gets hot and goes for 20-25 points. Mark my words here. He is a shooter and shooters get hot eventually.

Pick tonight is Lopez. The big guy should be starting to get his game shape back and he will have all the room in the world to work tonight. If the Rockets decide to stop Aldridge and Lillard then you will see Batum and RoLo working all night. This should be fun to watch.

Last night was tough to watch but if the Blazers pull out a win tonight my wife will be able to bring out the cutlery again. Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

Let's get this out of the way now...

Jinxspeeeeeed!

 

I'd trade Kaman for Ross

 

It's time to see what our boys are made of after last night's debacle. Do they come out and compete or do they sulk and let the Mavericks beat them twice? Also, how weak are the Houston bigs? If we don't pound the ball in the paint, I'll be livid.

 

I love Stotts but the one thing that baffles me is his resistance to calling timeouts when the opposition goes on a run. He really hates calling timeouts. Many times when we're not matching a team's hustle, I'm sitting at home screaming....take a time out. Stop the bleeding! All that said, I like our chances tonight

 

mags quit posting, somebody has to pick up the slack around here

 

I've been looking forward to this game all year. Go Blazers.

 

Well we wanted to play hungry, it's mealtime in Houston

 

kjironman- Mavs didn't beat us twice this year. We destroyed them in Portland. I have no doubt we would win a series against Dallas in the playoffs,

 

Yep

 

We drafted Dorsey. Was he part of the Batum trade on draft day?

 

I know this is off topic but the Oregon State Beavers are undefeated! Who saw that coming?

 

Rockets?