Game Thread GAME# 8: TIMBERWOLVES @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 7, 2021 - THURSDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
2 - 5
(1-3 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
3 - 4
(1-2 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

D'ANGELO RUSSELL VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

JARRETT CULVER VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

MALIK BEASLEY VS DERRICK JONES Jr.

PF

JUANCHO HERNANGOMEZ VS ROBERT COVINGTON

C

ED DAVIS VS JUSUF NURKIC

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------- JERSEYS -------

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), THURSDAY, 1/7/2021

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------RESERVES --------------

-- MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES --

McLAUGHLIN , HAGANS , RUBIO

OKOGIE , EDWARDS , LAYMAN

VANDERBILT , McDANIELS , REID


---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , HOOD , LITTLE

ANTHONY , GILES , KANTER



INJURIES
TIMBERWOLVES
Josh Okogie (left hamstring strain): QUESTIONABLE
Jaylen Nowell (left soleus strain): OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns (dislocated left wrist): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Rodney Hood (left quad strain): QUESTIONABLE
Zach Collins (ankle): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RYAN SAUNDERS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL TIMBERWOLVES' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• The Trail Blazers Jan. 7 game against the Timberwolves is the first of three meetings between Portland and Minnesota this season. The second two matchups willtake place in the Second Half of the season.

• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers split the season series against the Timberwolves 1-1 in 2019-20, with the home team winning both contests.

• Damian Lillard averaged 24.5 points (37.2% FG, 27.3% 3-PT, 73.3% FT), 3.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in two games against the Timberwolves last season.

• In two games against Minnesota last season, CJ McColum averaged 20.5 points (40.0% FG, 57.1% 3-PT, 71.4% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals.

• Jarrett Culver averaged 7.0 points (43.8% FG), 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in two games against Portland in 2019-20, including a 12 point, six rebound performance on January 9th.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 85-35
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 49-12
MINNESOTA HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 36-23

 

[Darkwebs]

Here's the next game thread.

Just ignore the last game. Remove it from your mind.

 

[kjironman1]

Here's the next game thread.

Just ignore the last game. Remove it from your mind.

Good idea. I'm gonna do just that.

 

[TBpup]

A pathetic Wolves roster.....so a close game?

 

[blazerkor]

I predict that we go up by 20 in the first quarter and then squander that lead over the next two and three fourths quarters before giving up that lead very late and losing. That's like a nightmare scenario that I'm sure would never happen to this team... but if it did that would fucking suck.

 

[B-Roy]

I kind of want to lose. Looking at how this team has performed, and Terry's history....

Makes me think the upside of this team is a 42 win season and another first round out. I'd rather flame out so there's actual pressure to fire Terry's ass (not that I think it would even happen in that scenario)

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I kind of want to lose. Looking at how this team has performed, and Terry's history....

Makes me think the upside of this team is a 42 win season and another first round out. I'd rather flame out so there's actual pressure to fire Terry's ass (not that I think it would even happen in that scenario)

42-30 wouldn't be a terrible record.

 

[TBpup]

42-30 wouldn't be a terrible record.

Not bad at all. Sadly, we are off to our usual slow start and would need to go 39-26 the rest of the way.
Not seeing that unless things change dramatically.

 

[THE HCP]

Here's the next game thread.

Just ignore the last game. Remove it from your mind.

Bro...... YOUR winning % compared to @THE HCP 's needs to be in the game notes!

 

[AldoTrapani]

DJJ has been trash

 

[Serbian]

I do not trust this team one bit!!! T volves by 25.

 

[kjironman1]

Makes me think the upside of this team is a 42 win season

It's been my prediction since the beginning. 42-30 in the season prediction thread.
It gets them the 6th seed and a tough first round but winnable.
it's the equivalent of a 48 win season over 82 games.

This season is very tough to figure? I'm still going with 10-10 to start but hoping for one or two better.

 

[AldoTrapani]

It's been my prediction since the beginning. 42-30 in the season prediction thread.
It gets them the 6th seed and a tough first round but winnable.
it's the equivalent of a 48 win season over 82 games.

This season is very tough to figure? I'm still going with 10-10 to start but hoping for one or two better.

Told u this team sucks

 

[kjironman1]

Told u this team sucks

Interesting definition of "Sucks" but of course we expect that from you.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I put "other" on the poll. I would say tie between Trent and Melo.

 

[illmatic99]

Went thru the numbers and did a quick passes/min calculation.



Of course this is oversimplifying it. More relevant would be passes per touch.

 

[Chris Craig]

A pathetic Wolves roster.....so a close game?

Probably a loss

 

[illmatic99]

We need to stop calling CJ a ballhog. By nearly every metric, he is almost on par with Dame in the passing regard. I wonder if there's a difference between this year and last.

Trent, otoh? dude is a chucker.

But it's all systemic. Looking at team numbers, we are 29th in the league in passing, yet again. Only Orlando is behind us. This is Terry Stotts' offense

 

[TBpup]

We need to stop calling CJ a ballhog. By nearly every metric, he is almost on par with Dame in the passing regard. I wonder if there's a difference between this year and last.

Trent, otoh? dude is a chucker.

But it's all systemic. Looking at team numbers, we are 29th in the league in passing, yet again. Only Orlando is behind us. This is Terry Stotts' offense

CJ has definately improved his passing. Still goes Iso too much for my preference, but certainly not as often.

Trent has become a complete chucker but this was not expected and why I didn't want Melo back. Gary is always on the court when Melo is and he KNOWS if he doesn't shoot it the first chance he gets, he will never get it back once it hits Melo's hands. He is in a contract year and needs to prove himself. Those two forces create a disaster of an outcome.

 

[illmatic99]

CJ has definately improved his passing. Still goes Iso too much for my preference, but certainly not as often.

Trent has become a complete chucker but this was not expected and why I didn't want Melo back. Gary is always on the court when Melo is and he KNOWS if he doesn't shoot it the first chance he gets, he will never get it back once it hits Melo's hands. He is in a contract year and needs to prove himself. Those two forces create a disaster of an outcome.

it's Terry's offense. The passing culture just isn't there. They think because they had the third highest ORTG last year, this sorta game is OK. Just listen to what Terry says in his PCs. Dude always attributes any critiques about offense to missed shots, ignoring that we probably take the most contested/tough shots in the league.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Went thru the numbers and did a quick passes/min calculation.

View attachment 35880

Of course this is oversimplifying it. More relevant would be passes per touch.

View attachment 35882

Wait, how can you have more passes than touches ?

 

[illmatic99]

Wait, how can you have more passes than touches ?

I only considered front court touches. Can't stratify by passes only in the front court unfortunately.

Here is the passes per all touches:

 

[julius]

At least Melo has shown he can score, the fact that Blevins is a black hole on offense is laughably insulting to the basketball gods.

Looking the roster, there is no excuse for Portland to lose. They're more talented top to bottom. So clearly, it's going to be a loss.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

At least Melo has shown he can score, the fact that Blevins is a black hole on offense is laughably insulting to the basketball gods.

Looking the roster, there is no excuse for Portland to lose. They're more talented top to bottom. So clearly, it's going to be a loss.

Definitely, it's a disgrace that Blevins is on the roster. Your 14th guy is somebody who should be passing all the time; trying to make the players who can be in NBA rotations better.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Interesting definition of "Sucks" but of course we expect that from you.

Its the truth and finally everybody is seeing it

 

[AldoTrapani]

Remember Dame mvp talks? Lmao

 

[kjironman1]

Its the truth and finally everybody is seeing it

If this team starts to gel defensively and they win 42 or more games i would guess less people would say this team sucks.
But you have your soapbox and you can step up on it all you want.

 

[AldoTrapani]

If this team starts to gel defensively and they win 42 or more games i would guess less people would say this team sucks.
But you have your soapbox and you can step up on it all you want.

Kj this team sucks. Every year dame and Cj has this team starting the season like this then around the all star break they supposedly start to click and play catch up for the rest of the season. It’s bullshit and I’m glad ppl ain’t falling for that shit anymore

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[James lamphear]

At least Melo has shown he can score, the fact that Blevins is a black hole on offense is laughably insulting to the basketball gods.

Looking the roster, there is no excuse for Portland to lose. They're more talented top to bottom. So clearly, it's going to be a loss.

We are talent on offense but defense we not talented at all.