Game Thread GAME# 58: BLAZERS @ KINGS - MARCH 1, 2015 - SUNDAY, 3:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

Is it just me, or does that picture make Cousins look like a deranged ped?

 

Kings are playing much better under George Karl. Cousins is a beast down low. Hell he made the all star team over Lillard and Silver said it was because he had more coaches votes.

We lost against them in Sac this season.

If we bring equal or more hustle and energy I think we win. After that it comes down to talent and execution where we have an advantage. Just can't let them want the game more than us.

 

Portland IMO still not playing that well. I think it's a tough game against a team that's in it's honeymoon period with it's new coach. Plus, they just come off a loss against the Spurs. They will be ready to kick it in gear versus Blazers.

 

Cousin's is at best 50/50 to play with his injury. And you know POR isn't going to forget the loss from earlier to the Kings.

 

If Cousins is out thats a huge loss for them. Heck we've lost to lesser opponents so we're not guaranteed of anything but we'd be enormous favorites.

Rudy Gay was playing out of his mind when they beat us.

 

I agree we aren't playing well but I think these last two victories could very well give us the impetus to do so, this is the time of year to start getting it together after a lousy middle patch

 

I always worry a bit when it comes to Sunday afternoon games. These guys play most of their games in the evening and i feel they kind of have an internal clock going on. Of course they also travel quite a bit and move time zones but it still seems to have it's effect. Not always bad but you just never know?

The Kings are pretty much having mid-season tryouts right now. The addition of George Karl and the injuries to both Collison and Cousins has the team looking for guys to step up. This usually means you get some people you don't regularly see playing at a much higher level. It also makes them hard to gauge so you never know? George Karl is very good at putting a competitive team on the court using a number of journeyman players. He has that in Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore and Carl Landry. This is why they will win some game like they did last week against Memphis.

This game could be the proverbial "Trap" game. With the big win Friday vs the Thunder and the Clippers coming up you might have a tendency to look past the Kings. The Blazers would do well to play well early and get these guys down and hold them down. No need to let them stay close and think they can win this.

The Blazers have a couple on court advantages today. Lillard vs Ray McCallum is one big one. Lillard has started to use that explosive first step to get by his man recently. The Kings also are without Cousins so he will probably get to the rim easily. After getting burnt a couple times Ray will most likely cheat and we all know what happens when Lillard has room to shoot. It ain't pretty for opposing teams. I would bet Dame has one of the biggest games of the year if his shot is falling.

Next advantage is Aldridge. Landry can't guard LA so look for Thompson to slide over to help. This of course opens up the lane or an open look for the shooters. Gee? It sure is nice having LaMarcus Aldridge isn't it? You might see Karl go with Reggie Evans for times this game as he does know how to handle LA in the paint. I just don't see Omri Casspi doing the job for them defensively. This looks to me the the Blazers simply need to turn up the heat offensively and the Kings won't be able to keep up. If the Blazers play solid defense this should go into the win column.

Don't look for Batum to score bunches today. The Blazers need him to stop Gay. That should be his job and he will be fine if he can do that. The only way the Kings stay in this is if Gay drops 40. He can do it if you let him so they need Nic to put the brakes on Rudy Gay.

The Kings are pretty much forced by injuries to go small assuming Cousins does not play. This tells me you will probably see more of the small lineup we watched at the end of the Thunder game. They very well might put LA in at Center and move Batum to PF with Dame, Wes and AAA giving the Kings headaches on defense. There is a time and a place and this looks to be one of those times.

Pick today is Lillard. I just can't see him not having a huge game if his shot is falling. If he is driving he will get calls and go to the line also. 30+ maybe even 40 for Lillard today.

Go Blazers!

kjironman is a fan!!!

 

We got to get a picture of Gee without the Denver uniform on. I will work on it if you would like?

 

The question is will they defeat the mighty Mascot Destroyer! This could get interesting.....

 

You'd have to ask whoever does the photoshop for NBA Player headshots.

 

Wow nice write up brother!!!!

 

DeMarcus Cousins officially out for today's game.