Nov. 11 - Hornets at Blazers

[DiamondThief]

Charlotte Hornets
at
Portland Trail Blazers

What: The newly re-minted Hornets make their lone appearance of the season in Portland.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m.
Media: CSNNW (TV); Rip City Radio 620 AM (radio).
Note: The teams offset each other last season, with the Blazers blowing out the then-Bobcats by 30 points. Charlotte turned around and blew out the Blazers in the teams' meeting in Charlotte, also by 30.
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The Hornets (3-4, 0-3 on the road) are coming off a 107-92 road loss to the Lakers on Nov. 9. They are lead by Al Jefferson (22.7 points, 1.9 blocks) and Lance Stephenson (10.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists). The Blazers (4-3, 4-1 at home) are coming off a solid 116-100 home win over the Nuggets on Nov. 9. They are led by LaMarcus Aldridge (22.9 points), Robin Lopez (8.0 rebounds), Damian Lillard (5.7 assists) and Robin Lopez (1.9 blocks).


Hornets' Al Jefferson; Blazers' Robin Lopez

Charlotte Hornets

PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 14 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
PF - 2 Marvin Williams
C - 25 Al Jefferson
SG - 1 Lance Stephenson
PG - 15 Kemba Walker

RESERVES
G - 19 P.J. Hairston; 9 Gerald Henderson; 12 Gary Neal; 5 Jannero Pargo; 22 Brian Roberts
F - 54 Jason Maxiell; 44 Jeff Taylor; 2 Marvin Williams
C - 8 Bismack Biyombo; 40 Cody Zeller 

INJURIES
F - Noah Vonleh (hernia) - out

HEAD COACH
Steve Clifford

Portland Trail Blazers

PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 23 Allen Crabbe
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
F - 88 Nicolas Batum (right knee) - out

HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts

Angi's Take

When you begin discussing the Hornets, you start with "Big" Al Jefferson. Since signing with Charlotte he's become the focal point of the team's scheme. He earned third team all-NBA honors last season and has been a tough match up for the Blazers since his earlier days with the Jazz and Timberwolves. Walker is a talented point guard who can light it up from all over the court and who, despite being 5'11", is a triple-double threat. Stephenson is the new addition who was picked up primarily for defense, but leads the team in rebounds and assists. The rest of the roster is filled with young, yet talented role players. The Blazers are playing their third game in four days (they play the Nuggets in Denver on Nov. 12). Aldridge and Matthews have been reliable game in and game out on both ends of the floor. Lopez and Kaman provide a terrific one-two punch in the middle and compliment each other well when they are on the court together. The Blazers will be missing the all-around game of Batum, who has not missed a start due to injury since March of 2013.  Wright will start in his place, but Batum's position likely will be filled more by a committee involving Barton, McCollum and Blake, if Stotts elects to go small. Batum would have gotten the defensive assignment against Kidd-Gilchrist, who is not exactly the flashiest of offensive players so the Blazers should be able to compensate relatively easy. The Blazers will win if they can defend the rim while staying out of foul trouble. Matchup to watch: Kemba Walker vs. Damian Lillard.

OFFICIALS
Danny Crawford, David Guthrie, Haywoode Workman

FEATURED TWEETS




EXTRA
Not to be self-serving, but as we learned after the Blazers-Nuggets game that the Lakers had beaten these Charlotte Hornets, I decided to calculate the total wins for the season for our "friends" from Southern California. My tweet was then featured on Trail Blazers Pulse.

[SurferGirl]

I think Wright will get the start even though he hasn't played much this season. That might even be better because it won't disrupt the second unit during the substitution process. The more I think about it the more I think it's the right move.

[SurferGirl]

I just saw that Wright will start on place of Batum tonight, according yo the Blazers.

[DiamondThief]

Nov 11, 2014 11:21:51 GMT -8 SurferGirl said:

I just saw that Wright will start on place of Batum tonight, according to the Blazers.

Thank you. I saw that at lunch, but could not update it!

[northwestsportsguy]

Next man up. We can win this.

[Kasey]

let's get revenge for that 30 point loss that they avenged after we beat them by 30!

[DiamondThief]

Stotts is saying that that Nicolas will not travel with the team to Denver with the team for tomorrow's game. I pretty much expected this. Our next game is on Saturday, so that will be his next opportunity to get into the lineup, although Stotts also said he was unsure of how many games he would miss.

[DiamondThief]

Of course, despite what the team reported earlier, Wright may not start in Batum's place, per Stotts, via Casey Holdahl.

[DiamondThief]

Well, now the word from the Oregonian's Joe Freeman is that Allen Crabbe is starting. Why do I get the feeling this will make Jessica happy!

Then again, we could even see Victor Claver start. He started a few games as a rookie in 2012-13.

[Yeseeka]

I think they're messing with me. Is Allen Crabbe really starting?!!!!!!

[Yeseeka]

Nov 11, 2014 18:24:38 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

Well, now the word from the Oregonian's Joe Freeman is that Allen Crabbe is starting. Why do I get the feeling this will make Jessica happy!

Then again, we could even see Victor Claver start. He started a few games as a rookie in 2012-13.

Yes I would like that!

[DiamondThief]

We are hearing all kinds of things as to who will start for Nicolas. I have heard Wright (which Adam and Holton are reporting on the pre-game show), Crabbe or Barton. Your guess is as good as mine at this point, but my guess is Crabbe.

[Kasey]

i would love to see Crabbe start. he deserves a chance. i hope he makes the most of it!

[SurferGirl]

If Crabbe is starting, we won't hear the end of it from Jessica!

[Yeseeka]

Let's go Blazers! Come on Allen, light it up!

[DiamondThief]

Nov 11, 2014 18:59:50 GMT -8 SurferGirl said:

If Crabbe is starting, we won't hear the end of it from Jessica!

Lol No we will not!

[Yeseeka]

Missed, but hustled.

[DiamondThief]

Lillard to Lopez for the Blazers first bucket.

[DiamondThief]

Nov 11, 2014 19:12:38 GMT -8 Yeseeka said:

Missed, but hustled.

I am just going to "like" every comment you make about Crabbe! 

[Kasey]

Are the Hornets going to miss a shot?