Game 54: Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers, Tues, 2/19/2013, 8:00 MST / 10:00 EST

[king4day]

.. @


(17-36)_______@_______(25-28)




Location:Rose Garden, Portland, OR
Time:8:00 PM MST / 10:00 PM ET
[B]Channel:Check Local Listings

Projected Starting Lineups

Damian Lillard - Wesley Matthews - Nicolas Batum - LaMarcus Aldridge - J.J. Hickson

Goran Dragic - Jared Dudley - P.J. Tucker - Luis Scola - Marcin Gortat



Preview:

Few teams may have been looking forward to the All-Star Break more than the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. Both will try to break out of losing streaks Tuesday night as Portland hosts Phoenix.

The Suns are trying to thwart their fourth losing streak of four or more games, while the Trail Blazers look to avoid matching a season-high six-game skid. Each team won at home in two earlier meetings this season, and Portland has won the past seven matchups at the Rose Garden -- its longest active home streak against any franchise.

The Blazers (25-28) lost five in a row to end a six-game road trip prior to the break and the finale was particularly bad, falling 99-63 at New Orleans on Wednesday. The point total and field-goal percentage (32.8) were easily the worst of the season for a Portland team which had been operating efficiently, averaging 102.5 points and shooting 49.9 percent in the previous six games.

An already bottom-third defense, though, continues to be exploited. The Blazers are allowing 109.8 points on 52.3 percent shooting -- including 43.5 percent from 3-point range -- over the last five games.

"It's a rough way to go into the All-Star break, losing five games in a row with a big loss, so we just need to get back on track," Nicolas Batum said.

Batum is averaging 15.3 points but has been mired in a slump, scoring nine or fewer in four of the last six games. Having Batum right himself could be especially crucial if Wesley Matthews is out for an extended period after spraining his right ankle in the first quarter Wednesday. Matthews, averaging 14.8 points and a team-high 1.4 steals, didn't return and is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game.

The Suns (17-36) have the worst record in the Western Conference and their 5-23 mark on the road is tied for the league's worst. While Portland's defense has struggled of late, Phoenix's offense has slowed to a crawl, averaging 83.5 points during the current four-game slide -- down from 94.7 on the season.

Sloppy play has plagued the Suns, who have averaged 19.0 turnovers over the last four games. Goran Dragic has 15 turnovers in that span while shooting 37.8 percent.

Finishing games well is another area that continues to hurt the Suns. In their most recent game, they outscored the Lakers 24-9 in the third quarter last Tuesday but fell apart in the fourth to lose 91-85. Phoenix averages 21.9 points on 41.1 percent shooting in the fourth, with both being its lowest for any period.

"It's just the story of our team this season," swingman P.J. Tucker said. "Just not being able to close the game out and being able to be in a position to win the game. It's just something we have to keep trying to get better at."

Phoenix may look to Marcin Gortat after solid performances in the first two meetings when he averaged 20.0 points on 76.9 percent shooting.

Perhaps the Blazers can harness some positive vibes from Damian Lillard after the rookie's Skills Competition victory Saturday -- or at least another good game from him against the Suns. Lillard averaged 24.5 points while shooting 53.8 percent in the two previous matchups.

Source: ESPN

[king4day]

Imagine we won out and went on to win the finals? I'd never question a team again

[mdm692]

What lol?

[Huntey]

Nice poll King!

[mdm692]

I get it. In that case imagine if Beas helps lead the team all the way to the finals averaging 23ppg 11rpg 4apg 1bpg on 45% fg and 40% 3pt the 2nd half of the season . He does all that being the 2nd best player on the team behind Goran Dragic's monster turn around 20ppg 10apg 4rpg 2spg on 50% fg and 42% 3pt the 2nd half of the season.

[mdm692]

Since we are in la-la land and Atl doesn't really seem to be interested in Gortat how about this.

Markieff Morris, Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley, Our 1st(top 5 protected) for Josh Smith and Kyle Korver.

Hawks get what they want which is help at the SF position. Young prospect on a rookie contract and 2 expiring(Brown can be bought out). We can make a front court tandem of J-smoove and Gortat which would make life 1 million times easier for Gortat.

Dragic/Marshall
Tucker/Bassy
Korver/Beas
J-Smith/Scola
Gortat/O'neal

.

Edit: Bassy, O'neal and Min/Mem pick for Lee and Melo.

Dragic/Marshall
Lee/Korver
Tucker/Beas
Smith/Scola
Gortat/Melo

[rocky4104]

what have you been smoking guys??!!

i wanna try that too!!

[mdm692]

Phx purp and orng. . Jk.

[mdm692]

On a more serious note. We are going to see some rotation changes and maybe even some starting line up changes. Sounds a bit like Beas might get another shot as a starter. Phraz is about to have a heart attack xD.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/pa...r/?sf9731396=1

Upon taking over, Hunter said he planned to change the starting lineup but he likes the consistency for now.

“We talked about it,” Hunter said. “Tinkered with it. There’ll probably be some rotations that will change. Guys’ time will probably fluctuate a little bit. In that way, there will be some changes.”

Hunter also is looking for more consistency before he names a new starter and that certainly seems to sound a lot like Michael Beasley, who has been a seesaw of output and impact from game to game.

[rocky4104]

On a more serious note. We are going to see some rotation changes and maybe even some starting line up changes. Sounds a bit like Beas might get another shot as a starter. Phraz is about to have a heart attack xD.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/pa...r/?sf9731396=1

you just officially ruined Phraz' day on my birthday!! lol

[mdm692]

Well happy birthday. I hope the suns can get you a win, or loss. Whichever you prefer.

[rocky4104]

Well happy birthday. I hope the suns can get you a win, or loss. Whichever you prefer.

thanks! like i told King, my bday wish is the number 1 pick, so i have my beers and Costco hotdogs ready, all geared up to cheer for my beloved Suns -- and hope we lose tonight

[mdm692]

. Cheers then.

[Phrazbit]

Since we are in la-la land and Atl doesn't really seem to be interested in Gortat how about this.

Markieff Morris, Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley, Our 1st(top 5 protected) for Josh Smith and Kyle Korver.

Hawks get what they want which is help at the SF position. Young prospect on a rookie contract and 2 expiring(Brown can be bought out). We can make a front court tandem of J-smoove and Gortat which would make life 1 million times easier for Gortat.

Dragic/Marshall
Tucker/Bassy
Korver/Beas
J-Smith/Scola
Gortat/O'neal

.

Edit: Bassy, O'neal and Min/Mem pick for Lee and Melo.

Dragic/Marshall
Lee/Korver
Tucker/Beas
Smith/Scola
Gortat/Melo

Well, we'd probably finish the season with 30 wins, Smith probably leaves in free agency, the Hawks would get our pick at 6th or 7th and you wouldnt have to worry about me anymore because I'd light myself on fire.

On a more serious note. We are going to see some rotation changes and maybe even some starting line up changes. Sounds a bit like Beas might get another shot as a starter. Phraz is about to have a heart attack xD.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/pa...r/?sf9731396=1

That quote says he is NOT changing his starting rotations. And at this point I am rooting for a melt-down and complete chaos anyway. Bottom out and get these morons running the team fired. So by all means, let Beasley play more.

[mdm692]

Well, we'd probably finish the season with 30 wins, Smith probably leaves in free agency, the Hawks would get our pick at 6th or 7th and you wouldnt have to worry about me anymore because I'd light myself on fire.



That quote says he is NOT changing his starting rotations. And at this point I am rooting for a melt-down and complete chaos anyway. Bottom out and get these morons running the team fired. So by all means, let Beasley play more.

for even responding let me quote myself again.

Since we are in la-la land and Atl doesn't really seem to be interested in Gortat how about this.

Markieff Morris, Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley, Our 1st(top 5 protected) for Josh Smith and Kyle Korver.

Hawks get what they want which is help at the SF position. Young prospect on a rookie contract and 2 expiring(Brown can be bought out). We can make a front court tandem of J-smoove and Gortat which would make life 1 million times easier for Gortat.

Dragic/Marshall
Tucker/Bassy
Korver/Beas
J-Smith/Scola
Gortat/O'neal

.

Edit: Bassy, O'neal and Min/Mem pick for Lee and Melo.

Dragic/Marshall
Lee/Korver
Tucker/Beas
Smith/Scola
Gortat/Melo

See the phrase in bold means I wasn't being serious and to an extent sarcastic.