Post by DiamondThief on Dec 5, 2014 23:08:26 GMT -8
Portland Trail Blazers at Detroit Pistons
What: Portland is in the Motor City for the only time this season to take on the Pistons.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. (pst).
Blazers Media: TV - KGW; Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Pistons Media: TV - FS Detroit; Radio - 105.1 FM.
Note: The teams don't play again until March 13 in Portland.
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The Blazers (16-4, 6-2 on the road) are coming off a 103-99 road win over the Knicks on Dec. 7. They are led by forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and guards Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews. The Blazers are averaging 103.4 points (8th in the NBA) and giving up 96.0 points (4th). The Pistons (3-17, 2-10 at home) are coming off a 96-94 home loss to the Thunder on Dec. 7. They are lead by center Andre Drummond, forward Greg Monroe and guard Brandon Jennings. The Pistons are averaging 93.1 points (26th) and giving up 99.6 points (12th).
Pistons' Brandon Jennings; Blazers' Damian Lillard
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
F - 18 Victor Claver; 41 Thomas Robinson; 1 Dorell Wright
C - 19 Joel Freeland; 35 Chris Kaman; 11 Meyers Leonard
INJURIES
G - 3 CJ McCollum (finger) - out
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Pts - LaMarcus Aldridge 22.3
Reb - LaMarcus Aldridge 9.9
Ast - Damian Lillard 6.3
Blk - Robin Lopez 1.6
Stl - Damian Lillard 1.4
FG - Robin Lopez 53.0%
FT - Damian Lillard 86.9%
3pt - Damian Lillard 39.7%
DETROIT PISTONS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 25 Kyle Singler
PF - 6 Josh Smith
C - 0 Andre Drummond
SG - 5 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PG - 7 Brandon Jennings
RESERVES
G -14 D.J. Augustin; 8 Spencer Dinwiddle
F - 31 Caron Butler; 13 Luigi Datome; 33 Jonas Jerebko; 35 Cartier Martin; 9 Tony Mitchell; 10 Greg Monroe
C - 50 Joel Anthony
INJURIES
G - Jodie Meeks (back) - out
HEAD COACH
Stan Van Gundy
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Pts - Greg Monroe 14.3
Reb - Andre Drummond 11.7
Ast - Brandon Jennings 6.2
Blk - Andre Drummond 1.8
Stl - Josh Smith 1.1
FG - Greg Monrie 47.2%
FT - Brandon Jennings 84.7%
3Pt - Kyle Singler 40.6%
Angi's Take
This game is a story of two teams going in separate directions. The Blazers have won their past four games and 13 of their last 14. They also boast a five-game road winning streak. Aldridge's play has been so exceptional that he was named the Western Conference player of the week for De. 1-7. He has eight games of at least 10 rebounds, something which he will need to look do against the Pistons' formidable front line. Lillard and Matthews are a one-two punch in the backcourt that has the potential to be as good as any in the league. Lopez is a fierce, solid defender and rebound, and an underrated scorer and Batum seems to be awakening from his early season shooting slump . Kaman and Freeland are turning into one of the strongest bench front lines in the league. Blake leads the NBA in assists among bench players, and while Crabbe came into the league known for his shooting ability, his defense has been excellent since he was brought into the rotation. The Pistons seem to be in free fall as they ride a league-high 12-game losing streak. Drummond is solid in the center role, though he gives up about three inches to Lopez in this match up. Caldwell-Pope is coming into his own as an NBA player and scored 19 in the Pistons' loss to the Thunder. Jennings is an experienced point guard who paces the team's offense. Smith is a force inside and Oregon native Singler fills out the other starting wing position. Monroe has been coming off the bench, but leads the team in scoring and often will pair with Drummond. Butler and Augustin are steady veterans who will occasionally post some big numbers. Jerebko is fairly capable in backing up the small forward spot. The Blazers can win this one if they win the rebounding battle, control the pace and shoot the ball well; around the 47 percent mark or better. Matchup to watch: Wesley Matthews vs. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
OFFICIALS
David Jones, Kane Fitzgerald, Dedric Taylor
QUOTABLE
Blazers' forward LaMarcus Aldridge on playing on playing the second of a five-game road trip: “We don't mind being on the road. We enjoy basketball. We're so close and our chemistry is so good where it doesn't matter if we're home or on the road.”
Pistons' forward Josh Smith on his team's defense: "We have to do a better job collectively on the defensive end. We can't let people penetrate our lane and need to be balanced on the defensive end."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
Sagar Trika tweeted this and I think it simply shows how great people, in addition to great players, the Blazers have on their roster.
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Graphic courtesy of David.