Trail Blazers 87 @ Suns 114 Game Thread - I Am A Trail Blazers Fan - Message Boards - Team

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DHawes22
Posts: 6481

Posted 11/19/2012 9:27 AM

November 21st, 2012
6:00 PM | US Airways Center | Phoenix, AZ
Trail Blazers (5-5) At Suns (4-7)

What To Watch For
Points, Points, Points
Even without Steve Nash, the Suns are still a poor defensive team, allowing the most points per game in the NBA (104.27). And when the Trail Blazers score over 100, they are 4-1 on the season. Considering the team has five wins altogether, it's a safe to say that this team needs to pile on the points if they want to get the job done. For this to happen they must attack the paint, getting easy buckets inside or getting the Phoenix bigs into foul trouble and making a living at the line. Even with offensively gifted post players in Gortat and Scola, the Suns do not have an imposing force inside to deter the Trail Blazers from getting to the rim Keep an eye on Damian Lillard. He should be able to blow by Goran Dragic with his quickness, but watch for his decision making. Does he make the right reads? Will he take the lay-up if given to him? Will he kick it out to an open teammate if the defense collapses on him? Yes, he's a rookie point guard, but these decisions in the paint are ones the truly great point guards can make. This game will be a good step in the maturation process, especially considering it's on the road.

Defend The Arc
The Suns have a lot of three-point shooters, most notably Jared Dudley, Michael Beasley, Sebastian Telfair, Goran Dragic, and Markieff Morris, who can single-handly take over a game with their perimeter shooting. A key early on could be whether Phoenix tries to force it down low to the Polish Hammer and what success comes of it. If he's having his way with Hickson and Leonard, the Trail Blazers could be forced into sending a double team, which would leave their shooters open from downtown. If they're hitting, it could be lights out. Also, it's important that Portland doesn't get into a three-point shooting contest with Phoenix. It's not that we can't match them with the shooters we possess, but our advantage is inside and we should look inside and work our way out.

Trail Blazers @ Suns Game Highlights

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Blazer247
Posts: 503

Posted 11/19/2012 1:52 PM
Man oh man, the number of times we've already said this season "Blazers need to avoid the 3 point shooting tendencies, and focus on taking it inside"... kinda makes me a little sick to think about, but it's ok as long as the team eventually listens!

Hopefully, Aldridge and JJ will lead the inside attack, because I think it's a pretty easy trend to see that when LaMarcus is settling for his outside jumpers, that's what the rest of our guys begin doing as well.

Play SMART, active basketball, Blazers, and you should walk away with a fairly easy win. Then I'll see ya back here for an easy win over the crippled Wolves on friday night, and this weekend we'll be celebrating a positive record!

I am a fan of BLAZER BASKETBALL. Not drafts, not business, not trades, not David Stern. Just BLAZER BASKETBALL.

Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1600

Posted 11/19/2012 2:50 PM
The Suns are loaded with players that have had success against the Blazers. Phoenix will be a formidable opponent for our young team indeed.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

Curvychloe
Posts: 513

Posted 11/19/2012 3:52 PM
We Should beat phoenix,they blow

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

Blazer247
Posts: 503

Posted 11/19/2012 6:19 PM
Tobyus you're right that there are a number of individuals on the Phx roster who've done well against the Blazers, but most of those were on different teams and different offenses when they did. Gortat and Scola I predict will be our bigget problems, but again, our counterparts like JJ and LaMarcus can just play way better than them when our guys are playing well. That's what we need; smart play, playing our game not theirs, and not settling for bad habits. Totally doable!

I am a fan of BLAZER BASKETBALL. Not drafts, not business, not trades, not David Stern. Just BLAZER BASKETBALL.

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/19/2012 7:15 PM
Never play down to the competition is my motto about Phoenix, Sac or any of those type teams. It always gets us in trouble. I think we need to come and and smack em in the first half but good. Last game we had 6 players in double digit scoring, add one more and we win any game. JJ is do to come out of his funk and have a big game. His last 2 have been pretty pedestrian compared to the first 8. I expect him to rock the house and benefit from the double team their going to use against LaMarcus. We should win this one if we play 4 qtrs. Ronnie Price knows Gentry's playbook inside out and should be a factor. Go Blazers!

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

commontongue
Posts: 1436

Posted 11/19/2012 9:11 PM
The only way we win this game is to attack repeatedly. Keep them on their heels. Push the rock with every board we grab. The Suns are still a perimeter squad. They rely heavily on three's to keep them in games. Wesley and Batum have to play big on D in order for us to have a chance. Dont be surprised to see Barton deactivated and Freeland re-instated for this game.Claver should get some early run too. He's an athletic wing that should be able to get some boards and at least be disruptive on D.

I am a fan of Rip City Basketball

Blazer247
Posts: 503

Posted 11/20/2012 1:10 AM
Also worth noting that Gortat had a bit of a spat today about Gentry and his teammates... word is he's unhappy because he says Gentry is running the 'same offense they had for his old team' despite the new players (sound like any ex-coaches we know?), and that Gortat isn't getting enough touches in the plays.

Unrest usually either means we could benefit from a lack of Suns chemistry, or it means that Gortat is gonna be waiting to explode and have a big night... so either way, if we can disrupt Gortat, it's a pretty good weakness in their roster

GO BLAZERS

I am a fan of BLAZER BASKETBALL. Not drafts, not business, not trades, not David Stern. Just BLAZER BASKETBALL.

Jihad Jihad
Posts: 23

Posted 11/20/2012 6:59 AM
Should be an easy win. Phoenix is terrible and Gentry doesn't have a clue. #1 scoring option is Beasley and he won't let Gortat see the court for some unknown reason.

I am a fan of a bottle of Tanquerray and a Shot-Gun.

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/20/2012 10:52 AM
I think we should use guys in the post to get Gortat in foul trouble early. He's going to be edgey to begin with. I'd let guys like Jeffries and Claver frustrate him early. Jeffries knows how to get under a guy like his skin. Biggest thing we need to do is make shots! Get to the line and take their peremeter shooters out of the game

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

CarlJ1
Posts: 398

Posted 11/20/2012 4:43 PM
Use the Suns dissension to our advantage get a good start and take their confidence early we do that we should win.

I am a fan of Respect, Loyalty, Honor & Pride the same thing the Blazer & their true fans are made of RIP CITY STAND UP!

Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/20/2012 4:57 PM

Batum vs Beasely is the key matchup i think. Who ever wins this will win the game. Batum needs to be aggressive this game on both sides

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Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1600

Posted 11/20/2012 11:54 PM
Weather's so bad up here, guys won't want to come home from Arizona.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

Hoop#22
Posts: 73

Posted 11/21/2012 2:45 AM
Phoenix are much troubled team , we need to take advantage of that. Last season we came there as undefeated team and they hammerred us by 20 because of 3 point shooting , we need to be aware of that and don't let Dudley, Brown and Dragic get hot from there.

I am a fan of PDX since 89/90

BLASER
Posts: 606

Posted 11/21/2012 1:21 PM

take there shooters away and force them to try to take it inside

I am a fan of JJ Hickson Posterizing The Opposition

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/21/2012 4:05 PM
Batum and JJ are game time decisions. Batum has a cold and JJ has a sore shoulder. I say start Jeffries and let him take Gortat charges to take him out of the game early. If Nic is out, it's going to be Claver or Babbit. With 2 starters not possibly playing our bench is going to need to really step it up big time.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1600

Posted 11/22/2012 3:15 AM
Eat well, be merry, then beat the Timberwolves.
Don't let this game fade you, push it out of the way and win the next one.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

Curvychloe
Posts: 513

Posted 11/22/2012 4:54 AM
Phoenix always sees to own us at home. Jerks (mod edit...offensive language)

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

BDawg
Posts: 1458

Posted 11/22/2012 9:05 AM

No JJ. No rebounding. No interior presence. No defense. No win. Opposition shoots 59.7% you're going to lose 100% of the time.

Agree with Chloe. Suns own us there.

I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/22/2012 9:21 AM

Happy Thanksgiving all! We deserved to be blown out in that game. More turnovers than assists, no rebounding no scoring....just a horrible effort. Hands down our worst game of the season.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

commontongue
Posts: 1436

Posted 11/22/2012 12:24 PM

Equally disturbing to watch was the only one playing with any pride was our newest acqusition. L.A. just looked off from tip. And the Morris Bros., must hate our guts. Morris' twin on the Rockets treats us the same way. I heard they were actually triplets, and the third comes in at halftime.

All jokes aside, horrible loss. I think Leonard learned alot from Gortat about being physical. Damian Lillard is the truth. That is all.

I am a fan of Rip City Basketball

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