Post by DiamondThief on Nov 8, 2014 2:18:39 GMT -8
Denver Nuggets
at
Portland Trail Blazers
What: Denver makes its first appearance of the season in Portland.
When: Sunday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m.
Media: TNT (TV); Rip City Radio 620 AM (radio).
Note: This is first of a pair of games between the teams over a three-day span.
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The Nuggets (1-4, 0-2 on the road) are coming off a 110-101 home loss to the Cavaliers on Nov. 7. They are lead by Randy Foye (12.8 points), Kenneth Faried (9.0 Rebounds), Ty Lawson (7.8 assists) and JaVale McGee (2.4 blocks). The Blazers (3-3, 3-1 at home) are coming off a tough 106-102 road loss to the Clippers on Nov. 8. They are led by LaMarcus Aldridge (22.0 points), Robin Lopez (7.8 rebounds), Nicolas Batum (6.2 assists) and Chris Kaman (62.5% FG).
Nuggets' Kenneth Faried; Blazers' Robin Lopez
Denver Nuggets
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 21 Wilson Chandler
PF - 35 Kenneth Faried
C - 25 Timofey Mozgov
SG - 10 Aaron Afflalo
PG - 3 Ty Lawson
RESERVES
G - 4 Randy Foye; 11 Erick Green; 14 Gary Harris; 5 Nate Robinson
F - 8 Danilo Gallinari; 1 Alonzo Gee; 7 JJ Hickson
C - 34 JaVale McGee; 23 Jusuf Nurkic
INJURIES
G - 3 Ty Lawson (ankle) - will play
F - 00 Darrell Arthur (suspension) - out
F - 7 JJ Hickson (knee) - will play
HEAD COACH
Brian Shaw
Portland Trail Blazers
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 88 Nicolas Batum
PF - 12 LaMarcus Aldridge
C - 42 Robin Lopez
SG - 2 Wesley Matthews
PG - 0 Damian Lillard
RESERVES
G - 5 Will Barton; 25 Steve Blake; 23 Allen Crabbe; 3 CJ McCollum
F - 18 Victor Claver; 41 Thomas Robinson; 1 Dorell Wright
C - 19 Joel Freeland; 35 Chris Kaman; 11 Meyers Leonard
INJURIES
none reported
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
Angi's Take
Don't let it be said that the Nuggets do not have talent. The question is if, and perhaps when, they might put it together. Games against them could be easy to overlook. The Nuggets could be a team battling for a final playoff spot in the Western Conference in April. Several Blazers fans feel the Blazers missed out in the 2011 draft by not drafting Faried over Nolan Smith. While Faried has not had the strongest of starts this season, he is always fierce match up nightmare. Gallinari is back from last season's injury and provides an effective shooting punch off the bench. As I write, it is uncertain whether Lawson will play. If he does, he is an above-average point guard. The Blazers are coming off a stinging loss in Los Angeles to the Clippers in which they held a nine-point lead at halftime but were derailed, quite frankly, by biased officiating beginning in the third quarter. I would expect the Blazers to respond with a chip on their shoulders. Aldridge is doing very good things and Lillard is on track. Matthews has scored 12 and 14 points in his last two games, but has shot the ball relatively well. The Blazers have been able to take advantage of Lopez offensively early in games due to mismatches on the opposing defense. Kaman has been a blessing to the team. The Blazers can win this if they play consistently over the course of the game and contest the Nuggets' shots. Matchup to watch: LaMarcus Aldridge vs Kenneth Faried.
OFFICIALS
James Capers, Steve Anderson, Sean Corbin
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