Post by DiamondThief on Mar 22, 2015 22:00:29 GMT -8
Golden St. Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers
What: The Warriors make their only appearance of the season in Rip City to face the Blazers.
When: Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. (PT)
Warriors Media: TV - CSN Bay Area. Radio - WMFS.
Blazers Media: TV - none. Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
National Media: TV - TNT
Previous: Nov. 2 - Warriors 95, Blazers 90.
Schedule: April 9 - Blazers at Warriors.
Note: This is the second straight game which pits the Blazers against one of the top two teams in the Western Conference.
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The Warriors are 56-13, 23-11 on the road and 33-8 in conference games. They will be coming off road contest against the Wizards on March 23. They are scoring 109.7 points per game (1st in the NBA) and allowing 99.3 (10th). The Warriors, who have won their last five games and 10 of their last 11, are first in the Pacific Division and first in the Western Conference.
The Blazers are 44-24, 28-6 at home and 24-15 in conference games. They are coming off a 97-86 road loss to the Grizzlies on March 21. They are averaging 102.6 (9th in the NBA) and allowing 97.9 (7th). The Blazers, who have lost their last four games, are first in the Northwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference.
Note: The records and rankings above are from prior to the Warriors' game against the Wizards. They will be updated as they become available.
Warriors' Stephen Curry; Blazers' Damian Lillard
GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 40 Harrison Barnes (10.5 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.4 ast)
PF - 23 Draymond Green (11.8 pts, 8.1 reb, 3.6 ast)
C - 12 Andrew Bogut (6.2 pts, 8.0 reb, 2.6 ast)
SG - 11 Klay Thompson (21.9 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.9 ast)
PG - 30 Stephen Curry (23.3 pts, 4.3 reb, 7.9 ast)
RESERVES
G - 19 Leandro Barbosa; 7 Justin Holiday; 34 Shaun Livingston; 4 Brandon Rush
F - 9 Andre Iguodala; 10 David Lee; 20 James Michael McAdoo; 5 Maurice Speights
C - 31 Festus Ezeli; 1 Ognjen Kuzmic
INJURIES
G - Klay Thompson (ankle) - probable
HEAD COACH
Steve Kerr
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - Stephen Curry
Rebounds - Draymond Green 8.1
Assists - Stephen Curry 7.9
Blocks - Andrew Bogut 1.7
Steals - Stephen Curry
FG - Andrew Bogut 55.7%
FT - Stephen Curry 91.2%
3pt - Klay Thompson 43.5%
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 88 Nicolas Batum (9.4 pts, 5.9 reb, 4.8 ast)
PF - 12 LaMarcus Aldridge (23.5 pts, 10.4 reb, 1.8 ast)
C - 42 Robin Lopez (9.8 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.0 ast)
SG - 4 Arron Afflalo (13.8 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.7 ast)
PG - 0 Damian Lillard (21.3 pts, 4.7 reb, 6.2 ast)
RESERVES
G - 5 Steve Blake; 23 Allen Crabbe; 3 CJ McCollum
F - 33 Alonzo Gee; 1 Dorell Wright
C - 19 Joel Freeland; 11 Meyers Leonard
INJURY REPORT
G - 2 Wesley Matthews (achilles) - out
F - 12 LaMarcus Aldridge (hand) - doubtful
F - 88 Nicolas Batum (lower back) - doubtful
C - 35 Chris Kaman (shoulder) - doubtful
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - LaMarcus Aldridge 23.6
Rebounds - LaMarcus Aldridge 10.5
Assists - Damian Lillard 6.2
Blocks - Robin Lopez 1.5
Steals - Damian Lillard 1.3
FG - Robin Lopez 53.1%
FT - Damian Lillard 85.8%
3pt - Meyers Leonard 43.7%
ANGI'S TAKE
It has been four-and-half months since these teams have faced each other. Portland was outscored 7-0 within the final two minutes and botched a late sideline inbounds play led to the five-point Golden St. win. The Warriors rely heavily on their "Splash Borthers" backcourt of Curry and Thompson, the latter of which returned to the lineup against the Wizards after sitting three games with an ankle injury. He scored a game-high 29 in the first meeting. Curry, a leading candidate for NBA MVP, scored 21 in that contest and is always potent. Bogut is a capable defender who probably won't light it up on the offensive end. the same could be said for Barnes at small forward, though he could break out with a favorable match up. Holiday was been impressive in the three games Thompson has missed. Barbosa tallied 13 points off the bench in the first meeting between these teams. The Blazers are full of question marks as they have not only lost four straight, but may be without up to four of their major contributors. Aldridge was already playing with a torn ligament in one thumb and a sprain in the other. Despite being listed as questionable, if Aldridge can play, he will play. Regardless, Lillard will be called upon to have a big game on both ends of the court. Stotts could put Afflalo on Curry and Lillard on the ailing Thompson, but whether he will is another story. Lillard will have to be effective. Lopez, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting, could have a good game here if they go inside to him early. With Aldridge and Batum ailing, Afflalo could find himself the next man up. McCollum scored 15 against the Grizzlies and was one of the more active Blazers on both ends in that game. In order to win, the Blazers will need to protect the ball and their bench needs to score at least 38 points. Matchup to watch: Stephen Curry vs. Damian Lillard.
OFFICIALS
TBA.
QUOTEABLE
Blazers' guard Lillard on the loss to the Grizzlies: "It was a tough game to begin with and after (the injuries) it became a little more tough. But I think we're still a good team. We've just got to keep playing and keep believing and we'll be fine."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
This tweet by Kasey on Trail Blazers Pulse sums up the Blazers' recent road trip.
MATCH UP MEME
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