RealGM

I hope FJS still puts up his great graphics in this thread, but I thought I would get the game thread started since tomorrow is a big game --- our first test against a top WC playoff team since the last time we played the Blazers thirteen games ago. The Blazers are 7-3 over the last ten games and are currently sitting fourth in the WC.

When we played them on Christmas day, we won 117-96 while holding Lillard and McCollum to 31 points on 35 attempts. Two games before that, we beat the Blazers in Portland 120-90 while holding Lillard and McCollum to 31 points again on 31 attempts. In the past, at least one of those two guys, if not both, would light us up.

Rubio practiced with the team today and might play tomorrow. Rubio played and shot well in the two victories over Portland, scoring 38 points on 26 attempts. Even so, I am in favor of easing him back in to action from the bench if he plays tomorrow, though not on a permanent basis.

TEAM LEADERS:


PPG: 26.1
RPG: 10.4
APG: 6.1
SPG: 1.1
BPG: 1.4


PPG: 21.7
RPG: 13.1
APG: 6.2 OUT
SPG: 1.6
BPG: 2.0

Crunch 99 wrote:Rubio practiced with the team today and might play tomorrow. Rubio shot well in both previous games against Portland, scoring 38 points on 26 attempts. Even so, I am in favor of easing him back in to action from the bench if he plays tomorrow, though not on a permanent basis.

I have not read any word regarding Rubio in Bball ref or Espn. I trust in your word, of course, but I will change it in the graphics when Utah Jazz confirm that. Thank you!

Aaron Falk and Andy Larsen reported that Rubio was upgraded from OUT to QUESTIONABLE late yesterday.

Aaron Falk: "Ricky Rubio returns to practice, listed as 'questionable' for game against Portland"
https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/ricky-rubio-returns-practice-listed-questionable-game-against-portland

Andy Larsen:

I hope Rubio sits this one out. I would like to see the Mitchell at PG experiment against a non-G league team, otherwise we all know the narrative will live on forever that he is the best PG on the team. Rubio on the other hand can only lose reinjuring himself or not playing at 100%. To deal with Lillard is no joke .

LesGrossman wrote:I hope Rubio sits this one out. I would like to see the Mitchell at PG experiment against a non-G league team, otherwise we all know the narrative will live on forever that he is the best PG on the team. Rubio on the other hand can only lose reinjuring himself or not playing at 100%. To deal with Lillard is no joke .

I get a sore hamstring sitting at my desk just thinking about guarding Lillard.

LesGrossman wrote:I hope Rubio sits this one out. I would like to see the Mitchell at PG experiment against a non-G league team, otherwise we all know the narrative will live on forever that he is the best PG on the team. Rubio on the other hand can only lose reinjuring himself or not playing at 100%. To deal with Lillard is no joke .

Unlike my fellow Jazz fans, I don't think Mitchell is the answer long-term at PG. There is no way he can guard the upper echelon PG's in the league and also carry us offensively. For Mitchell to be successful he needs to play along side a big, defensive PG. Having another offensive threat would help immensely. (Exum has been great, but I'm not ready to call him a starter)

I hope Rubio plays tonight because we need him, otherwise Lillard and McCollum will kill us.

I hope Ricky picks up right where he left off before he got hurt. He was playing well.

Good start!

I like how Gobert is rolling to the basket on those high picks.

Blazers getting a ridiculous amount of lay ups.

Rudy has improved so much with his catching and his confidence on the offensive end. GREAT to see, hope it continues to blossom.

Gobert's rebounding is looking great this year.

what a move by Donovan...

Cmon Ricky.

Apart from our paint defence I like the first quarter. need to be better on the defensive end to win this tho.