Blazers (19-19) @ Wolves (20-19), 7:00pm CST

[C.lupus]

Umm, so we need a gamethread. This will do nicely:



Lots of intriguing storylines...

Portland will want revenge for the embarrassment at home last week.

Love V. Aldrich, the rematch.

Ridnour V. Crawford, who will be the starting SG for the Wolves?

Pek V. Vanilla Gorilla, will Joel get teabagged?

Batum V. Johnson, umm, how 'bout that Kevin Love?



Let's go!

[Klomp]

Pek V. Vanilla Gorilla, will Joel get teabagged?

No Pek tonight, so no.

[Krapinsky]

This would be a HUGE win for us. However, w/o Pek, I don't like our chances against a desperate team.

[J~Rush]

F****?

[Narf]

This would be a HUGE win for us. However, w/o Pek, I don't like our chances against a desperate team.

If you have children, I wouldn't let Darko hear you say that.

[C.lupus]

F****?

It's Spanish.

[Klomp]

Sounds like its a big game for POR:

The Blazers absolutely need to get this game as it is one of the more 'winnable' games in this 7-game stretch. If they were to lose, they likely drop behind Utah to 11th place as the Jazz play the hapless Bobcats. 11th place with games coming up at Boston, Chicago, Indiana, NY etc....not exactly a recipe for moving up in the standings.

[Calinks]

Portland is going to try and destroy us!

[Basti]

No Pek for this game either? Bummer. Expecting Darko to have a 2nd straight good game isn't really realistic, either.

Love needs to score 35+ points for us to win, I think.

[teamwillow]

I just expect the Wolves to win...especially at home

[Chocobanana]

go wolves!

[Saltine]

Starting center Nikola Pekovic will miss his second consecutive game tonight against the Blazers because of continued pain and some swelling on his ankle bone.

Darko! will start in his place for the second straight game, this time with the assignment of trying to keep the ball out of Portland All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge's hands.

Pekovic tried running today, but said he still felt some pain.

He said x-rays are negative and he doesn't consider the injury serious.

"No, no, no," he said when asked if it was serious. "For sure, just a few days. Little rest, it will be fine. See how it feels tomorrow, hopefully it will be fine."

So Darko! gets the start again with instructions to push Aldridge as far away from the basket as possible.

Yes, big Pek is better suited for that.

Aldridge comes into tonight's game having been limited to just 14 points Saturday against the Wolves and 10 points Monday against New Orleans.

The most telling tidbit: He hasn't attempted a free throw in his last three games.

The Blazers tonight start a seven-game trip while the Wolves head out on one Sunday.

Both teams are chasing that eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/141835363.html

[Piecake]

Well, Luckily, I think the blazers are a team where we can play Love and Williams significant minutes. I think Williams can guard LMA fine, and their centers are offensively challanged. Camby, LMA, and Prz really dont scare me on the boards as well, so hopefully that isnt an issue

[Grits n Gravy]

i predict victory

[Hambone93]

This name worries me. The blazers will have made adjustments, and I don't think we can rely on aldridge having another off game. This should be a fun game to watch though, both teams really want this one.

[lobishome]

Revenge !!

[Basti]

Darko! [...] Darko!

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/141835363.html

Why did I have to chuckle when I saw the exclamation points behind Darko's name?

[Ambrosius]

Good night fellows! Interesting game tonight, lots of questions to be resolved, good feeling after last game...

Aroooooo

[Klomp]

Why did I have to chuckle when I saw the exclamation points behind Darko's name?

He's been doing it awhile, so I've started doing Zgoda! when I reference him

[Chocobanana]

nice pressure!
WES!!!!