Post by DiamondThief on Jan 30, 2015 21:50:53 GMT -8
Portland Trail Blazers at Milwaukee Bucks
What: The Blazers look to sweep the season series over the emerging Bucks.
When: Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. (pacific time)
Blazers Media: TV - CSNNW; Radio - Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Bucks Media: TV- Fox Sports Wisconsin; Radio - AM 620 WTMJ.
Previous: Dec. 17 - Blazers 104, Bucks 97.
Note: The Hawks, who won their 18th straight, beat the Blazers on Jan. 30. The last team to beat the Hawks was the Bucks, by a 107-77 score, on Dec. 26. The Bucks lost to the Hawks, 90-85, the next night.
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The Blazers are 32-15, 12-10 on the road and 20-7 against the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a 105-99 road loss to the Hawks on Jan. 30. They are scoring 102.8 points per game (8th in the NBA) and allowing 97.2 (5th). The Blazers, who have dropped seven of their last nine games, are first in the Northwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference. The Bucks are 24-22, 10-10 at home and 7-9 against the Western Conference. They are coming off a 115-110 road win over the Magic on Jan. 29. They are scoring 98.8 Points (17th) and are allowing 97.2 points (5th). The Hawks, who have won three of their last four, are first in the Central Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 88 Nicolas Batum
PF - 12 LaMarcus Aldridge
C - 11 Meyers Leonard
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 - 35 Chris Kaman
INJURIES
C - 19 Joel Freeland (shoulder) - out
C - 42 Robin Lopez (hand) - out
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - LaMarcus Aldridge 24.0
Rebounds - LaMarcus Aldridge 10.2
Assists - Damian Lillard 6.2
Blocks - Robin Lopez 1.5
Steals - Damian Lillard 1.4
FG - Chris Kaman 48.8%
FT - LaMarcus Aldridge 87.9%
3pt - Wesley Matthews 39.6%
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 9 Jared Dudley
PF - 34 Giannis Antetokoumpo
C - 31 John Henson
SG - 22 Khris Middleton
PG - 11 Brandon Knight
RESERVES
G - 19 Jerryd Bayless; 13 Jorge Gutierrez; 00 O.J. Mayo
F - 7 Ersan Ilyasova; 6 Kenyon Martin; 3 Johnny O'Bryant
C - 27 Zaza Pachulia; 8 Larry Sanders
INJURIES
G - 5 Kendall Marshall (knee) - out
F - 7 Ersan Ilyasova (groin) - questionable
F - 17 Damien Inglis (angle) - out
F - 12 Jabari Parker (knee) - out
C - 27 Zaza Pachulia (calf) - questionable
C - 8 Larry Sanders (suspension) - out
HEAD COACH
Jason Kidd
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - Brandon Knight 17.9
Rebounds - Zaza Pachulia 6.6
Assists - Brandon Knight 5.2
Blocks - John Henson 1.6
Steals - Brandon Knight 1.6
FG - Larry Sanders 50.0%
FT - Jarryd Bayless 94.2%
3pt - Khris Middleton 44.5%
ANGI'S TAKE
The Blazers' Aldridge has been more painful to opponents over the past three games than his ligament-torn thumb has pained him. Aldridge is averaging 33.7 points and 10.0 rebounds over that span. He could have an even bigger game against the undersized Bucks. Lillard, who was snubbed for his second all-star game, dished out 11 assists against the Hawks. He has shot 31.2 percent from the field over his past seven games. His match up here against Knight should be a good one. Matthews is a strong defender and is tied for the NBA lead in three point makes. Leonard has been a strong contributor over the past dozen games; he had 8 rebounds against the Hawks and seems to be playing tougher and tougher down low in his recent extended minutes. Blake showed up strong against the Hawks, throwing down 8 points and 7 dimes. Wright has played tough, but needs to shoot more rather than pass off. Bucks' point guard Knight is one of the Eastern Conference's up and coming point guards. He is a quick scorer who is also adept at dishing the ball; similar to what the Blazers just saw in Jeff Teague of the Hawks. Antetokounmpo is a young, exciting player who will represent Milwaukee in the slam dunk competition during all-star weekend. Middleton is a strong shooter who can do some damage. Mayo is coming off the bench, but could compete for a starting role on many teams in the league. Martin has lost a step, but is still a strong contributor. Henson is probably an underrated center, and Pachulia is a solid defender who some Blazers fans were considering as an addition a couple of seasons ago. Former Blazer Bayless has been around the league, but he is now a veteran who can take over a game. He had 19 points in 20 minutes in the Bucks' win over the Magic. The Blazers' keys to win include controlling the boards and cutting down on turnovers. Matchup to watch: Wesley Matthews vs. Khris Middleton.
OFFICIALS
TBA.
QUOTEABLE
Blazers' coach Terry Stotts on finishing games: “We have to find ways to win in the fourth quarter. Most NBA players are a very confident group. I don’t think our confidence has wavered, but that being said, six of those seven losses have come down to the last minute or two. We have to get back to making plays to win those games.”
Bucks' coach Jason Kidd on his team's ball movement: "I think our players take pride in moving the ball, making the next pass. I think they really enjoy playing with one another. That is why you see the ball move. They take pride in being part of the play."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA I
Mascots from all over the NBA are vowing to stop Fropez/RoLo/Robin Lopez's perceived assault on them. Harry the Hawk had circled Jan. 30 on his calendar and received much support from other mascots (however, from what I can see, the "mascots" in their group do not represent any NBA team). Here is the Hawks' media report on RoLo's entrance to the arena. I am pretty sure, judging from this piece, that Harry did not get the best of the situation. By the way, HUGE props to Harry, Hawks' forward Kent Bazemore and Hawks TV's Jessica Taylor for this extremely entertaining report.
EXTRA II
Damian Lillard posted this after he was snubbed to be an all-star (my apologies to the person who posted this, as I can no longer track it). Originally, Lillard had tweeted this but I am told his official tweet has been deleted.
MATCH UP MEME
Blazers center Chris Kaman is not worried about playing Milwaukee
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