Post by DiamondThief on Feb 9, 2015 17:50:22 GMT -8
Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers
What: The Lakers are in Rip City to take on the Blazers.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. (pacific).
Lakers Media: TV - TWC SN - 710 AM ESPN.
Blazers Media: TV - KGW; Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Previous: Jan. 5 - Blazers 98, Lakers 94. Jan. 11 - Blazers 106, Lakers 94.
Schedule: April 3 - Blazers at Lakers, 7:30 p.m.
Note: The Blazers can clinch the season series with a win.
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The Lakers are 13-39, 6-21 on the road and 6-28 against Western Conference opponents. They are coming off a 106-96 home loss to the Nuggets on Feb. 10. They are averaging 99.3 points (15th in the NBA) and allowing 106.3 (25th). The Lakers are fifth in the Pacific Division and 14th in the conference.
The Blazers are 35-17, 22-5 at home and 17-11 against Western Conference opponents. They are coming off a 109-98 road win over the Rockets on Feb. 8. They are averaging 102.6 points (8th) and allowing 97.5 (8th). They are first in the Northwest Division and fourth in the conference.
Lakers' Jeremy Lin; Blazers' CJ McCollum
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 4 Ryan Kelly
PF - 28 Tarik Black
C - 50 Robert Sacre
SG - 2 Wayne Elllington
PG - 6 Jordan Clarkson
RESERVES
G - 17 Jeremy Lin
F - 5 Carlos Boozer; 21 Ed Davis; 11 Wesley Johnson; 0 Nick Young
INJURY REPORT
G - 24 Kobe Bryant (rest) - out
G - 10 Steve Nash (ankle) - out
G - 9 Ronnie Price (elbow) - out
F - 30 Julius Randle (leg) - out
C - 27 Jordan Hill (hip) - out
HEAD COACH
Byron Scott
STATISTICAL LEADERS (per game)
Points - Kobe Bryant 22.3
Rebounds - Jordan Hill 8.0
Assists - Kobe Bryant 5.6
Blocks - Ed Davis 1.2
Steals - Ronnie Price 1.5
FG - Carlos Boozer 52.4%
FT - Nick Young 90.4%
3pt - Wayne Ellington 38.2%
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 Allan Crabbe; CJ McCollum
F - 18 Victor Claver; 41 Thomas Robinson; 1 Dorell Wright
C - 11 Meyers Leonard
INJURIES
C - 19 Joel Freeland (shoulder) - out
C - 35 Chris Kaman (ankle) - out
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Pts - LaMarcus Aldridge 23.7
Reb - LaMarcus Aldridge 10.3
Ast - Damian Lillard 6.3
Blk - Robin Lopez 1.5
Stl - Damian Lillard 1.5
FG - Chris Kaman 48.4%
FT - LaMarcus Aldridge 87.0%
3pt - Wesley Matthews 39.8%
ANGI'S TAKE
The Lakers have been in a downward trend for a while now. They are just two games from being at the bottom of the Western Conference and have lost 10 of their last 11. Injuries have not helped that, as five of their primary contributors are out. Coach Byron Scott has gone with a young starting group the past couple of games, allowing his more experienced players to come in off the bench. Young has pretty much taken the lead when it comes to this team, but that's not saying too much. He scored just 9 points in the last meeting against the Blazers in Los Angeles. Johnson had a solid game last time out against the Blazers with 17 points on 7-14 shooting (3-5 from three-point range). Clarkson scored 20 points in the team's Feb. 8 loss to the Cavaliers. Boozer came away with 13 points and 9 rebounds and Davis pulled down 8 boards the last game out against the Blazers. The team will miss Price, who dished out a game-high 12 dimes in that contest. The Blazers have won three of their last four games. Lillard, who has played well over the past couple of games, scored 39 points in the first matchup and 34 points in the second, over the Lakers. Boozer should be no match for Aldridge, who leads the Blazers in scoring, rebounding and free throw percentage. Matthews didn't have a great offensive night against the Rockets, so this could be a bounce back game for him. This also could be a good bounce back game for Batum, who has scored just 7 points over the past two games, though he did have 10 rebounds on Feb. 7 against the Mavericks. Kaman, filling in for then-injured Lopez, scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the last game against the Lakers. Leonard, who had 10 points in that game, is coming off a 12-point, 6-rebound performance against the Rockets. McCollum has averaged 11.3 points over his past three games. Going to Lopez early and often against the undermanned Lakers front line could be a good start for the Blazers in this one. Matchup to watch: Robert Sacre vs. Robin Lopez.
OFFICIALS
Monty McCutchen, Courtney Kirkland, Leon Wood.
QUOTABLE
Lakers coach Byron Scott on defending Lillard: "It was pretty much the same things I saw the last game against them. We played them really tough, and then Damian kind of takes over. We tried to pressure him, we tried to trap him at times, but he just made some great shots. He's just a heck of a player."
Blazers guard CJ McCollum on his recent play: “I think I’ve been playing well. I’ve been being a lot more aggressive, looking for my shot, looking to create and just having fun, enjoying the game. I think that’s been the difference. Just trying to be aggressive and assert myself and make an impact on the game.”
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Graphic courtesy of David.
