Post by DiamondThief on Mar 26, 2015 18:27:12 GMT -8
Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns
What: The Blazers are desert to face the Suns.
When: Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. (PT)
Blazers Media: TV - CSNNW. Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Suns Media: TV - FSAZ. Radio - AZ Sports 98.7 FM.
National Media: NBATV.
Previous: Jan. 21 - Suns 118, Blazers 113. Feb. 5 - Blazers 108, Suns 87.
Schedule: March 30 - Suns at Blazers.
Note: Robin Lopez spent the first four seasons of his career with the Suns.
Forum: To comment, please login or register.
The Blazers are 45-25, 17-18 on the road and 25-16 in conference games. They are coming off a 92-89 road win over the Jazz on March 25. They are averaging 102.5 points (10th in the NBA) and allowing 98.1 (10th). The Blazers, who have lost five of their last six games, are first in the Northwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference.
The Suns are 38-34, 21-16 at home and 20-23 in conference games. They are coming off a 108-99 home loss to the Kings on March 25. They are averaging 104.2 points (5th in the NBA) and allowing 103.6 points (23rd). The Suns, who have won four of their last five, are third in the Pacific Division and ninth in the Western Conference.
Blazers' Dorell Wright; Suns' Markieff Morris
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 88 Nicolas Batum (9.4 pts, 5.9 reb, 4.8 ast)
PF - 12 LaMarcus Aldridge (23.4, pts, 10.4 reb, 1.8 ast)
C - 42 Robin Lopez (9.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.0 ast)
SG - 4 Arron Afflalo (13.7 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.7 ast)
PG - 0 Damian Lillard (21.4 pts, 4.8 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; 35 Chris Kaman; 11 Meyers Leonard
INJURY REPORT
G - 2 Wesley Matthews (achilles) - out
C - 35 Chris Kaman (shoulder) - questionable
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - LaMarcus Aldridge 23.4
Rebounds - LaMarcus Aldridge 10.4
Assists - Damian Lillard 6.3
Blocks - Robin Lopez 1.5
Steals - Damian Lillard 1.3
FG - Robin Lopez 52.4%
FT - Damian Lillard 86.8%
3pt - Meyers Leonard 43.7%
PHOENIX SUNS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 15 Marcus Morris (10.4 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.6 ast)
PF - 11 Markieff Morris (15.5 pts, 5.9 reb, 2.3 ast)
C - 21 Alex Len (6.3 pts, 6.6 reb, 0.5 ast)
SG - 17 P.J. Tucker (9.0 pts, 6.5 reb, 1.6 ast)
PG - 2 Eric Bledsoe (17.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 6.0 ast)
RESERVES
G - 25 Reggie Bullock; 20 Archie Goodwin; 3 Brandon Knight; 1 A.J. Price; 23 Marcus Thornton
F - 22 Danny Granger; 14 Gerald Green; 12 TJ Warren; 32 Brandan Wright
C - 30 Earl Barron
INJURY REPORT
G - 2 Eric Bledsoe (illness) - questionable
G - 3 Brandon Knight (ankle) - questionable
G - 23 Marcus Thornton (toe) - questionable
HEAD COACH
Jeff Hornacek
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points - Eric Bledsoe 17.3
Rebounds - Alex Len 6.6
Assists - Eric Bledsoe 6.0
Blocks - Alex Len 1.6
Steals - Eric Bledsoe 1.7
FG - Brandon Wright 65.6%
FT - Brandon Knight 87.8%
3pt - Brandon Knight 39.7%
NOTE: We use a different standard than the NBA for the individual statistical leaders. Our leaders apply to players who have played at least half their teams' games this season; in this case, roughly 33 games, as well as other basic statistical minimums.
ANGI'S TAKES
BLAZERS: Portland is trying to right the ship and the tough win over the Jazz was a good start. Down by 10 entering the fourth quarter, Dorell Wright got it started, while Lillard and Aldridge finished it. Lillard had 23 points and 12 assists, and Aldridge gutted through multiple hand injuries to pour in 19 points while grabbing 9 rebounds. However, the Blazers do not win that game without the passion and leadership of Wright, who scored 8 of his season-high 15 points in the fourth quarter. The Blazers are 8-0 this season when Crabbe starts, and the second-year man from Cal did not disappoint, playing some tough defense and hitting a big three in the final stanza. Batum is not listed on the official injury report as of March 26, so he could make his return after a two-game absence. McCollum, who scored 12 in the last meeting against the Suns, is averaging 14.3 points in his last four games. Freeland was very effective against the Jazz.
SUNS: Phoenix is fighting for a playoff spot and is just three games behind the Thunder for eighth position. Goran Dragic is gone and this is Bledsoe's show now. He's a quick, effective point guard who can score and get his teammates involved. The Morris twins can be formidable, having combined for 43 points in the loss to the Kings. Tucker will rebound and play some defense. Len is not a big thread offensively, but he can protect the rim. He had 9 rebounds and 4 blocks against the Kings. Brandan Wright provides some defense off the bench and Green is a proven scorer. Knight has been battling an ankle injury, but is one of the few point guards in the league who are quicker than Bledsoe. Warren and Goodwin could see some minutes off the bench. Former Blazer Barron can provide size in the post, but may not see action.
THE BLAZERS WIN IF: They control the tempo, hold the Suns to 42 percent shooting and win the rebounding battle.
THE SUNS WIN IF: They keep the Blazers out of the paint, contest the three-point shot and score in transition.
MATCH UP TO WATCH: Damian Lillard vs. Eric Bledsoe.
OFFICIALS
TBA.
QUOTEABLE
Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge after the Feb. 5 win over the Suns: "I think now our defense is better. I'm at the rim more, I'm in the paint more, so I think it's just a mindset of knowing, I'm in the paint, so go and get it."
Suns' Markieff Morris after the Feb. 5 loss to the Blazers: "It was just one of those games. We came out real sluggish and lackadaisical and they got out to a good lead on us."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
The Blazers, already without Wesley Matthews, were missing Chris Kaman and Nicolas Batum. Despite being shorthanded, they pulled out a gritty win over the Jazz. Allen Crabbe, who started in Batum's place, said after the game: "Everybody gutted up and played with heart at the end." The Blazers are a perfect 8-0 with Crabbe in the starting lineup this season.
MATCH UP MEME
To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.