Blazers @ Wolves, 7pm, FSN?
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:24 pm
Possible starting lineups
Wolves:
Jonny Flynn
Corey Brewer (looking very camp)
Wes Johnson
Kevin Love
Darko Milicic
Blazers:
Andre Miller
Wesley Matthews
Nicolas Batum
Dante Cunningham
Lamarcus Aldridge
UK-Wolf's mini preview
The Blazerrs arrive at Target Center in great form following a 105-100 at Detroit on Sunday night, Lamarcus Aldridge's 36 point effort was enough to beat off the Pistons and that win makes in 4 straight for a play-off chasing Portland. The Wolves are coming off quite an indifferent week, with back to back road wins at New Orleans and Houston where they played some great ball and then a tough road loss to the Pacers where we again, crumbled in the 4th. The Philly game was well, to put it short, a shambles.
This is the 4th and final meeting between the North-West sides this season, the other 3 meetings all being won by the Blazers. Who could forget Wes Matthews 29 point first half performance on January 7th? 7 for 8 from behind the arc in the first half on his way to a career high 36 points against the Timberwolves. LMA as he has been all season, in great form that night too, with 28 points in the game, 18 of which came in the second half. The problem that night was our non-existant perimeter defense, which tonight is my key to the game. The Blazers, despite still being depleted by injury have a potentially good 3 point roster. Matthews, Fernandez, Batum and Mills can all shoot the three and I'm only counting the healthy part of the roster. The Wolves will HAVE to play smart and put a hand up tonight.
One way we can get at the Blazers though is height, the only recognised big I saw on their roster against Detroit was Joel Pryzbilla, who's a decent enough center but has really declined having had an injury hampered few years, surely Darko (if fit), Pek and Love can all capitalise on the lack of height in their lineup. Our bench too, will have to have a big night if we're able to overcome the Blazers, hopefully Ellington, Lazar can bring back the form they had last week and also the second return of Ridnour who before the Philly game had missed 6 games due to a family matter whom we missed very sorely. Portland's thin roster is something we have to profit on, we need to get in the paint and draw some fouls.
Injury news?
I know Darko's been doing some training but I'm still uncertain about his status, if someone gives me a heads up I'll edit the starting line-up. Beas seems to be out until after the all-star break, Stringer Bell has too been training but like Darko, I'm not sure if he'll play tonight. Cheers guys.
Wolves:
Jonny Flynn
Corey Brewer (looking very camp)
Wes Johnson
Kevin Love
Darko Milicic
Blazers:
Andre Miller
Wesley Matthews
Nicolas Batum
Dante Cunningham
Lamarcus Aldridge
UK-Wolf's mini preview
The Blazerrs arrive at Target Center in great form following a 105-100 at Detroit on Sunday night, Lamarcus Aldridge's 36 point effort was enough to beat off the Pistons and that win makes in 4 straight for a play-off chasing Portland. The Wolves are coming off quite an indifferent week, with back to back road wins at New Orleans and Houston where they played some great ball and then a tough road loss to the Pacers where we again, crumbled in the 4th. The Philly game was well, to put it short, a shambles.
This is the 4th and final meeting between the North-West sides this season, the other 3 meetings all being won by the Blazers. Who could forget Wes Matthews 29 point first half performance on January 7th? 7 for 8 from behind the arc in the first half on his way to a career high 36 points against the Timberwolves. LMA as he has been all season, in great form that night too, with 28 points in the game, 18 of which came in the second half. The problem that night was our non-existant perimeter defense, which tonight is my key to the game. The Blazers, despite still being depleted by injury have a potentially good 3 point roster. Matthews, Fernandez, Batum and Mills can all shoot the three and I'm only counting the healthy part of the roster. The Wolves will HAVE to play smart and put a hand up tonight.
One way we can get at the Blazers though is height, the only recognised big I saw on their roster against Detroit was Joel Pryzbilla, who's a decent enough center but has really declined having had an injury hampered few years, surely Darko (if fit), Pek and Love can all capitalise on the lack of height in their lineup. Our bench too, will have to have a big night if we're able to overcome the Blazers, hopefully Ellington, Lazar can bring back the form they had last week and also the second return of Ridnour who before the Philly game had missed 6 games due to a family matter whom we missed very sorely. Portland's thin roster is something we have to profit on, we need to get in the paint and draw some fouls.
Injury news?
I know Darko's been doing some training but I'm still uncertain about his status, if someone gives me a heads up I'll edit the starting line-up. Beas seems to be out until after the all-star break, Stringer Bell has too been training but like Darko, I'm not sure if he'll play tonight. Cheers guys.
(Because you probably will 
)
