Post by DiamondThief on Mar 28, 2015 21:50:06 GMT -8
Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers
What: The Suns hope to rise in Rip City as they take on the Blazers.
When: Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. (PT)
Suns Media: TV - FSAZ. Radio - AZ Sports 98.7 FM.
Blazers Media: TV - CSNNW. Radio - Rip City Radio 620 AM.
National Media: NBATV.
Previous: Jan. 21 - Suns 118, Blazers 113. Feb. 5 - Blazers 108, Suns 87. March 27 - Blazers 87, Suns 81.
Schedule: N/A.
Note: The Blazers magic number to earn a playoff berth is one. To win the Northwest Division, it is three.
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The Suns are 38-36, 17-18 on the road and 20-25 in conference games. They are coming off a 109-97 home loss to the Thunder on March 21. Thunder on March 29. They are averaging 103.8 points (4th in the NBA) and allowing 103.4 points (23rd). The Suns, who have won four of their last six, are third in the Pacific Division and 10th in the Western Conference.
The Blazers are 47-25, 29-7 at home and 27-16 in conference games. They are coming off a 120-114 home win over the Nuggets on March 28. They are averaging 102.5 points (10th in the NBA) and allowing 98.1 (9th). The Blazers, who have won their last three, are first in the Northwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference.
PHOENIX SUNS
PROJECTED STARTERS
SF - 15 Marcus Morris (10.5 pts, 4.6 reb, 1.6 ast)
PF - 11 Markieff Morris (15.5 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.2 ast)
C - 21 Alex Len (6.3 pts, 6.6 reb, 0.5 ast)
SG - 17 P.J. Tucker (9.0 pts, 6.4 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 - 3 Brandon Knight (ankle) - out
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 1.5
Steals - Eric Bledsoe 1.7
FG - Brandon Wright 65.3%
FT - Brandon Knight 87.8%
3pt - Brandon Knight 39.7%
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
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%
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
SUNS: The Suns seem to be going backwards in their quest for a playoff spot. The March 27 loss to the Blazers did not help. Marcus Morris continued his strong play of late, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in that game. His twin brother, Markieff, added 15 and 9, respectively. Bledsoe, one of the quicker point guards in the NBA, shot just 5-20 from the field and finished with 13 points. Len is no threat to score and is a below-average rebounder for a center. He can affect shots in the middle. Tucker is a defensive-minded guard/forward. Knight is a very quick point guard in his own right. Green is a solid scorer who scored 12 points against the Blazers. Goodwin, Brandan Wright and Price also are likely to see some time for the Suns.
BLAZERS: Portland has won three straight after dropping their last five. Aldridge is the story here. He is averaging 29.5 points in his last two games, including 27 and 9 in the Blazers March 27 win in Phoenix. Afflalo busted out for his Blazers-high 21 points on March 28 against the Nuggets and seems to be getting more and more comfortable in the offense. Batum fought through a stiff back to contribute 15 points and 7 assists against the Nuggets. Lopez can control the middle against the Suns. Lillard has not put up big scoring numbers the past two games, but dished out 10 dimes against the Nuggets. Kaman is averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds over the past two games. McCollum and Blake also can be factors off the Blazers bench.
THE SUNS WIN IF: They keep the Blazers out of the paint, contest the three-point shot and defend the pick and roll.
THE BLAZERS WIN IF: They control the tempo, hold the Suns to 42 percent shooting and win the rebounding battle.
MATCH UP TO WATCH: Damian Lillard vs. Eric Bledsoe.
OFFICIALS
Scott Foster, Brian Forte, Derek Richardson.
QUOTEABLE
Suns' Eric Bledsoe on missing shots in the March 27 loss to the Blazers: "I thought they were good shots. They just didn't fall. Everybody got good looks at the rim, but we were missing. Especially me."
Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge on leading the Blazers to the March 27 win: "I was just trying to find a rhythm, and then I made one shot, and then kind of played off of that. My teammates kept looking for me. I was just trying to make shots for us."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
It was Mascot Night on March 28 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter to celebrate the birthday of Portland's "Blaze" (second from right). Some of the mascots dropped by set on Trail Blazers Pregame to visit hosts Adam Bjaranson and Michael Holton. Word has it that later during the game, Robin Lopez encountered "Slamson" of the Kings (far right) and "Clutch" of the Rockets (front). Stay tuned for more on that.
MATCH UP MEME
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Graphic courtesy of David.
