Game Thread GAME# 59: BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - MARCH 4, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), ESPN & CSNNW

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Darkwebs, Mar 2, 2015.

?

Which Blazer shoots with the most arc on their jumpshot?

  1. Aldridge

    44.0%
  2. Batum

    12.0%
  3. Matthews

    12.0%
  4. McCollum

    28.0%
  5. Other

    4.0%
  1. Darkwebs

    Darkwebs Awakened to emptiness Staff Member Moderator

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    [​IMG]






    ---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] PG [​IMG]

    DAMIAN LILLARD VS CHRIS PAUL

    [​IMG] SG [​IMG]

    WESLEY MATTHEWS VS J.J. REDICK

    [​IMG] SF [​IMG]

    NICOLAS BATUM VS JORDAN HAMILTON

    [​IMG] PF [​IMG]

    LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE VS SPENCER HAWES

    [​IMG] C [​IMG]

    ROBIN LOPEZ VS DeANDRE JORDAN



    WHEN: 7:30 PM (Pacific), WEDNESDAY, 3/4/2015


    WHERE: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
    [​IMG]



    TV BROADCAST:

    [​IMG]
    AND
    [​IMG]


    RADIO BROADCAST:

    [​IMG]


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




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


    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    BLAKE , MCCOLLUM , AFFLALO , GEE
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    WRIGHT , FREELAND , LEONARD , KAMAN

    LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
    [​IMG][[​IMG][​IMG]
    RIVERS , WILCOX , JONES
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    TURKOGLU , DAVIS , UDOH




    INJURIES

    TRAIL BLAZERS
    NONE
    CLIPPERS
    ⦁ Matt Barnes (strained right hamstring): OUT
    ⦁ Jamal Crawford (right calf contusion): OUT
    ⦁ Blake Griffin (right elbow surgery): OUT






    HEAD COACHES

    [​IMG] - VS – [​IMG]
    TERRY STOTTS --- DOC RIVERS




    :reading:BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2015
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  2. Darkwebs

    Darkwebs Awakened to emptiness Staff Member Moderator

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    Reserved
     
  3. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    I feel good about this one.
     
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  4. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    So glad we have Lopez and Freeland back for this one. We can't let DeAndre Jordan dominate the boards the way he has been. He has 8 straight games of at least 15 boards, including games of 27, 26, 22 and 20 TRB. He had 17 points on 8 - 8 FG and 18 TRB the last time we played the Clippers, but that was without Robin and Joel. Just gotta box him out and not let him beat our bigs back for easy dunks.

    BNM
     
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  5. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    A quick look at the standings has the Clippers just a half game behind Portland and Houston a full game ahead with their loss last night. As we all know the Blazers have yet to beat the Clippers this year so this game is indeed very important. At this point of the season exactly what game is not? Some are looking for the Blazers to "win out" the rest of the season but we all know that ain't gonna happen. Blazers should however be in great shape tonight to make a game of this and like usual be in a position to take this one at the end. Here is why...

    Clippers are hurting a bit and the Blazers are getting healthier. No listed injuries for Portland is something we have not seen for a while and even the players that were playing hurt seem to be much better off. The Clippers will be without Griffin but Paul and Jordan have been making plays and carrying the load in his absence. The difference maker for the Clippers has been Jamal Crawford. JC has been coming off the bench but there is no doubt he is going to have a starters impact when he is out there. The calf injury might sideline him tonight but even if it doesn't his outside shot has been coming up short and he is not attempting the mesmerizing crossover nearly as much. Look for Crawford (if he plays) to move inside to score.

    CP3 is the other issue the Blazers must deal with. What we have been seeing out of him is a limited amount of shots from beyond the arc and a lot of mid range with those high arching floaters that may or may not be a shot at all. Some seem to just get picked out of the air by Jordan for what looks to be a planned OOP. The problem with guarding that shot is defenders start to get called for goaltend if they get in the way of it? It works at an unbelievable rate for the Clippers.

    The Clippers defense is lock tight at times and at others they seem to get confused and rely on Jordan to protect the rim. Barnes plays a big role here and again (if he plays) he will draw whoever is scoring for the Blazers. You can figure Jordan will clog the lane and Paul will be all over Dame. Hawes will get the task of trying to guard Aldridge. I like this matchup because LA can get his shot off but if he tries to go around or up and under on Hawes he will find Jordan looking to cap him. If Aldridge is making his outside shots things always go easier for the Blazers. The key for the Blazers offense tonight will be the wings. As you can see Aldridge, Dame and Rolo will be in a dogfight. If the Blazers can depend on Batum and Matthews tonight, all will go very well for them. If we suffer through another dismal performance from these two this might be a very long night.

    The injuries again will be the question for the Clippers tonight as far as their bench is concerned. The reason their bench is so good is Crawford. Without him and possibly Barnes while moving Hawes into the starting position it puts them in the same place the Blazers were only a few short weeks ago when Kaman was pulled from the second unit. The Clippers will have to rely on TurkeyGlue and Little Rivers to get-er-done. At this point it looks like the Blazers bench is in a better position to perform.

    One of my very least favorite things to watch in the NBA is the Hack-a- Shaq/Howard/Jordan. The NBA has absolutely got to do something about this. Intentional fouling however is safer and more controllable than not allowing it and having the opposing team foul the guy and try to make it look like it was not intentional. That of course would lead to huge ego's and tempers becoming inflamed and eventually fights. Reggie Miller i think said it best..." Maybe they should just get better at making FREE THROWS?" . If the Blazers are down 8-10 with 5 mins to go look for Stotts to implement this strategy. Jordan is just way too valuable on defense to take him out. To this point he is only making around 50% or just under on free throws so it does work. When the guy starts to miss it is almost painful to watch. I find myself cheering for him except against the Blazers of course. He will get better. You do all remember Duncan could not hit a free throw either when he was younger right?

    Pick tonight is Batum. I was tempted to go with Wes but he will have to handle Reddick so the biggest advantage goes to Frenchy. Earn that contract Nic!

    Go Blazers!

    kjironman is a fan!!!
     
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  6. BlazerBeav

    BlazerBeav Well-Known Member

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    Gotta get this one to give us momentum into tomorrow night against Dallas.
     
  7. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    Big game!
     
  8. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Getting tired of all these good Blazer games being on national TV while being blacked out on league pass.

    This game can be a statement win for us if we can get it. Hope Dame plays well-- CP has consistently dominated him more than any other PG in the NBA in his 3 years.
     
  9. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Looked up the numbers. Head to head in 6 games:

    CP: 5-1 record, 21 pts, 11 asts, 4 rebs, 3 stls, < 2 TO, with 51% FG
    Dame: 1-5 record, 17pts, 6asts, 4rebs, 4 TO, with 46% FG
     
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  10. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Last game Blazers had no Rolo or Freeland so i expect him to do a bit better. Also there will be another option for scoring with AAA so maybe a few more assist numbers as well not to mention Batum is hitting some shots. If Aldridge's shot is falling and the wings are scoring Lillard will be fine.
     
  11. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Ahhh! Wish I could watch on LP! But, regardless, huge game! LETS GO BLAZERS!!!
     
  12. blue32

    blue32 Who wants a mustache ride?

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    Let's hope Dame gives CP3 a bitchslap from the 'clutchman'.
     
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  13. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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  14. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    I have church tonight so I will be with you guys in spirit!!!
     
  15. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    The Clippers are the dirtiest team in the league. Notice the number of fights and technical fouls?

    Last game, Rivers backed up his son for fighting with Garnett. I don't like Garnett, but Austin had paragraphs and paragraphs of quotes criticizing Garnett after the game (while Garnett stayed away from reporters, as he should), and his father said Austin should have hit him. No class.
     
  16. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    They just said a Jalen Rose interview with Damian Lillard is coming up on ESPN at some point tonight.
     
  17. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    Great post, but I disagree that Jordan's FT shooting will improve. He's now in his 7th season and still only shooting .410 from the stripe (career FT% = .422). If he hasn't gotten better by now, he's not likely to. He's only had one season in 7 above FT% = .500. Wilt played 15 years and never got any better (his FT shooting actually got worse over the course of his career), Shaq played 19 years and never improved his FT shooting - and Jordan is worse than both of these guys ever were.

    Duncan was never anywhere near as bad as these guys. He only has one season in 17 below 60% and that was .599. His FT% was .662 as a rookie, up to .690 his second year an a very respectable .761 in his third season.

    It sucks that teams foul Jordan for possession, but they do it for a reason - it works. When he misses 18 FTs in a game, it's the equivalent to 9 TOVs, only better as it also stops the clock. It's within the rules and just one example, of many, of exploiting an opponent's weakness to your team's advantage.

    BNM
     
  18. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    Father and son, too!

    BNM
     
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  19. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    You may very well be right about Jordan and free throws. The thing i was going on was actually someone like Joel Pryzbilla. He went 7 or 8 years below 50% and finally hired a shooting coach after that he got up as high as 68% but really never any better than that. There was a noticeable difference with his shot after the coach worked with him. I just can't see in this day and age a player not making this their number one priority at that level when teams are using it to take a championship away from you? If the Clippers do indeed make it deep into the playoffs this will be their biggest challenge. 2nd round or WCF's the stakes become bigger and the pressure even more intense.
    Here is a link on Joel FT shooting.
    http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/przybjo01.html
     
  20. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Holy Trinity Batman, he's right!
     

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